Dedicated to my dearest friend and teacher, Ninawa Pai da MataRapé or Hapé is a powerful Amazonian based snuff medicine that has been served and utilized for thousands of years. It represents the force of the forest and acts as an ally spirit to and for our spiritual growth. At first, Hapé acts as a medicine of sickness, bringing out of us all that is hidden, dark and ignored. We are confronted with immense pain and un-comfortability. We set our intention and allow this power to shake us and push us to our utmost limit.The first leg of the journey...

Challenge, pain, sickness, old age and eventually death are a fundamental part of the human journey. No matter how much we try, avoiding this natural progression is not possible, and is not intended. We might be able to skip some of the stages, however, we all know, that at the right place and at the right moment, this life, with all of its beauty and glory will find its end.

I’ve often heard the concept of darkness, evil entities and dark shamanic practices within the realm of medicine work and especially when relating to Ayahuasca. There is a common misconception that when taking Ayahuasca as a sacrament we open a gateway to the astral planes and without discernment attract dark beings that can affect and impact our lives. And so, the natural conclusion would be to stay clear from these types of practices and thus be more protected or shielded from such influence. My own experience and what I have learned through my shamanic and Spiritism studies is that seeing...

There are many ways to sit with mother Ayahuasca. There are ceremonies of light and ceremonies of darkness. Circles of singing and circles of silence. Religious ceremonies and those of just dancing and happiness. In many ceremonies though, the theme of death and resurrection is almost always present. The first cup signifies the choice and willingness to face the dark. The courageous act of closing our eyes and facing our inner world. Be it what may, we are choosing to visit the darkest recesses of our subconscious and bring them out to light. We take a leap of faith, knowing...

In India, ancient scriptures divide spiritual paths into two main roads. The path of the monkey and the path of the cat. The path of the monkey implies, that similarly to the way the baby monkey has to reach and cling to his mother when she moves around, the practitioner has to make his own efforts in order to reach the peaks of spiritual experience. It is the aspirant who has to practice, meditate or in other words work towards his spiritual goals. The path of the cat on the other hand is the path of devotion. The kitten walks...