Shamanic journeying with plant spirit medicines is a long practiced ritual in many cultures across North, Central and South America. The plants that take us on a journey to another realm are called Entheogens "that which bring us closer to god" or "generating the divine within". These plants have medicinal properties that are easily identified such as alkaloids or tannins which act on the physical body to promote healing. They also work on an emotional and spiritual level in ways we haven't yet been able to quantify. Science will talk about DMT, the spirit molecule, as the reason behind our colourful experiences with plants like peyote, san pedro and ayahuasca. while other modalities such as homeopathy will attribute a plant's effect on our mind and body to its energetics, and the imprint it makes on the vibration of water. 

What makes a plant, a plant spirit, may be due to several attributes. Plants with hallucinogenic properties such as DMT qualify. Perhaps its use in a ceremonial manner in a space made sacred by being dedicated to the event, cleansed energetically, and orchestrated by a shaman or mystic as with cacao, ayahuasca, iboga and peyote. 

Some plant spirit medicine's ask that the participants do a diet before to help the medicine work. Cleansing the body in this way is ceremonial and practical. Removing toxins and heavy food from the body allows the medicine to be taken up easier and work deeper. Some foods can inhibit certain properties of the plant medicines such as food high in tyramine with the plant medicine ayahuasca. This is where water fasting may play a vital role.

Water fasting on its own is transformative. It has the power to detoxify the body of years of toxins, heal illnesses and make a connection to the greater life force known as the Universe, Creator or God. Water fasting is a stand alone treatment. So what if it was used to clean the body and get connected before journeying with a plant spirit? 
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This February we are combining the sacred act of water fasting with the transformation and healing power of plant spirit medicine. The water fast will be used as the cleanse before the plant ceremonies as a dieta would commonly be used for. Only this is as high level dieta. 
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At this point our participants will be ready to go deeper and experience the plant medicine. Three ceremonies separated by 24 hours of integration, talking, and spending time in nature. The medicine guide for this part is none other than Christina Sol. She has been working with the medicine, The Paloma Blanca, for over 15 years. She is a medicine guide, a shaman and mother. She'll be the first to tell you that she is ALSO a grandmother. Having Christina hold the space for the work that happens during these ceremonies is integral. As a mother, Grandmother and shaman Christina sets a safe space, held in loving strength for the difficulties on the road ahead. Ceremony can last between 2 and 5 hours (sometimes even longer depending on the person). The experiences can be ecstasy, difficulty and anywhere in-between. 

This is the first time that water fasting will precede any of Christina's ceremonies and the results will be interesting to behold.

If you are interested to learn more about Sacred Medicine Journey and being part of the retreat we would be happy to hear from you. Our results will be shared here for everyone to read about so stay tuned. Fasting as a dieta before plant spirit journeying is a unique field to explore. We begin February 4th! 

Sending Love and many blessings,
​Ariel

Juicing is awesome. And here is why...

1. Nutrient Absorption- Vegetables and fruit are full of vitamins, minerals and enzyme. Juicing allows these nutrients to diffuse into the blood stream without the slowing or binding effects of fiber. The rapid nutrient absorption helps to heal up our organs and tissues. Juicing can assist with weight loss, decreasing inflammation, immune boosting, intestine repair, eye health and more!

2. Tastes Great- there are so many delicious fruit, vegetable and herb combinations, juice is never boring. Even the colour is enough to brighten your day.

3. Digestion Break- although not a true water fast, juice cleanses take the burden off the digestive system to breakdown and metabolize food. We were all told to eat for energy but it is surprising how much MORE energy you can have on day 7 of a water fast than most days eating a healthy diet. The truth is that metabolizing is energetically expensive, not to mention all the things that we put in our body that do not function to improve health: things that taste good, look good or are fast and easy. Giving the digestive tract a break from metabolizing allows it to rest and repair. 

4. Detoxifying- Juicing for detoxification is a great way to give the body what it needs to remove metabolic waste, toxins and toxicants.  The liver is our organ of detoxification. To carry out the many metabolic reactions, it needs a lot of vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants.  All of these things can be obtained through a juicing detox which not only gives the intestines a break, but tastes great!

Start your day with Green Juice 
Ingredients: 
2 leaves cabbage (red or green)
1 head of romaine lettuce
handful cilantro
1/2 green pepper
1/2 - 1 green apple
Juicer
Directions: wash the vegetables very well by soaking them in a basin and making sure you get off all the dirt. Slice the vegetables and spinach into juicer sized pieces. Juice all the ingredients and DRINK WITHIN 15 MINUTES - to prevent the oxidation of the nutrients in the juice. 
Dose: you can have up to 5 green juices per day! But remember, it can't be stored. 

For more detailed information about juicing, juicers and recipe check out my article in The Natural Path called Juicing Your Way To Radiant Health.