How to Prepare for a Sacred Medicine Ceremony
Sacred medicine ceremonies are a way to connect back into yourself, heal mental illness and physical diseases, and increase your relationship with the divine (or God). But many people are afraid to do sacred medicine work because they worry they might go crazy or do something to harm themselves. Let’s dispel some myths right now.
The truth is, any unpleasantness that you experience while on a sacred medicine journey is just your reflection staring back at you. Whatever surfaces are the things that already exist in your mind. And isn’t it better to confront these traumas, so that you have awareness of what negative frequencies live inside of you? This way you can ultimately heal them and transcend into your most healed version. So there is nothing to be afraid of.
The most commonly used sacred, natural medicines for ceremonial work include psilocybin (magic mushroom), hapé (tobacco), peyote, marijuana, and grandmother ayahuasca. Each of these medicines have feminine or masculine principles that can assist you in your healing. The feminine medicines, like ayahuasca, help facilitate purging of emotional and physical trauma and connect you to divine feminine energy. The masculine principles, like peyote, help facilitate grounding and connect you to divine masculine energy. All sacred medicine can help you do shadow work.
Modern science is catching up to what indigenous cultures have known for centuries: that sacred plants can help heal mental health. Magic mushrooms are being used to treat depression and substance abuse. Outside of ayahuasca being known to heal trauma and physical illnesses, it’s also been described as equaling 10 nights of therapy in one drink.
No matter what sacred plant ceremony you plan to partake in, here are some tips to help you overcome fear and go into your ceremony with intention and healing.
How to prepare for sacred medicine leading up to the ceremony
Photo by Ehud Neuhaus
First, make sure the ceremony or session is being led by someone you trust.
Clean up your diet at least one to two weeks before the ceremony to make sure your body is pure enough for the medicine to work and facilitate healing. You can fast on fruit juices or plant-based foods. Ayahuasca ceremonies are usually led by a two-week “dieta” that recommends which foods you should and shouldn’t eat.
If doing a personal mushroom ceremony, make a playlist of vibe-y music that helps you feel safe, loved, and joyful.
Do your own research and trust your intuition, but avoid reading stories on the internet that are meant to scare you away from healing.
Talk to trusted friends and associates who’ve also healed thanks to plant medicine.
Write down or mentally make note of your intentions going into the ceremony. You will find afterwards that you usually receive insights or downloads related to those very intentions. (More on this below.)
Practice your breathing, as this will carry you through the ceremony whenever you feel overwhelmed or anxious. Start a daily breathwork practice.
How to prepare for the day of the sacred medicine ceremony
Wear comfortable clothing and surround yourself with or bring cozy things, like pillows, blankets, and soft lighting.
Make sure you are fully hydrated, and have plenty of water nearby.
Right before ceremony, do some breathing and light body tapping to release stagnant energy in your body.
Once the plant is ingested, remember to breathe and stay calm.
Bring a notebook for integration during and after the ceremony. Jot down any insights or downloads related to your previous intentions, or anything new and unexpected that came up for you!
Most importantly, surrender to the magic, healing, and wisdom that is contained in these sacred plant medicines. Trust that the divine is guiding you toward your highest self, and open yourself up to receive all of the love and joy that you deserve in this world!
Medical disclaimer: The content in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on for health or personal advice.