The Ayahuasca Chronicles, #1 - Ayahuasca 101; the Shaman's Perspective

Meet the Shaman: Zach Poitra

Zach Poitra has been an Ayahuasca curandero (healer) and shaman in the Amazonian Mestizo shamanic lineage since 2010. Being one of very few westerners trusted and accepted by the Mestizo people to act as guardian of their cherished shamanic culture, Zach is in a unique position to bring knowledge of these traditional healing methods to the west.  

He was born of Chippewa Indian heritage in the Pacific Northwest, and spent several of his formative years on South Dakota’s Rosebud Indian Reservation.  A smart and creative kid -- though lacking in any meaningful career desire or direction -- he nonetheless followed the west’s culturally accepted path toward higher achievement and set out for college.  

Though an uninspired student at best, he still graduated with enough fanfare to land a coveted gig with a typical, produce-or-perish, boutique investment banking firm. He then proceeded to clock a driven, successful and highly profitable decade in the industry as an  institutional stockbroker.  Professionally astute and financially successful though he was, he still couldn’t shake a nagging inner void that no amount of money or professional achievement seemed to fill.  

In short, he was in full-on spiritual crisis; though at the time, he didn't have the knowledge or the vocabulary to identify it as such.

He began to explore -- slowly, at first -- the more esoteric side of himself that'd been long ignored.  It began with Yoga in the weekends, then several “self help” modalities and workshops.  Longer forays into Landmark Forum and NLP.  A string of Vippassana Buddhist meditation retreats would follow.  These provided some amount of solace, but the puzzle of his emptiness, remained incomplete.  Was it that specific pieces were missing, or that he simply couldn’t connect those disparate pieces he did have remained a mystery.   

By 2008 he’d heard enough stories of  plant medicine, Ayahuasca and of the strange healing practices native to the Peruvian jungle to seriously rouse his interest.  He read everything available on the subject (which was very little at that time), and in early 2009, found himself in Jenaro Hererra, Peru, seated in his first series of  Ayahuasca ceremonies, and participating in a full-blown Mestizo shamanic “dieta”.  

From Zach's perspective, and to borrow a riff from the Grateful Dead, what a long strange trip it’s been.

Zach, in the ceremony circle. Peru, 2009

By 2010 he’d quit his job, sold or given away all his worldly possessions, and relocated deep within the Peruvian jungle.  Then began the long, arduous process of immersion and apprenticeship within the Mestizo shamanic culture.  From 2010 through 2014 he studied intensely under Maestro Gumercindo Galindo Shapiama and Gumercindo’s father, Maestro Don Roldan Galindo, who identified Zach early-on as a gifted healer.

By early 2014, following what can only be described as a grueling apprenticeship, he’d himself had been bestowed the title of “Maestro” within the Mestizo shamanic lineage.  An accomplished and respected shaman now in his own right, he is the founder of the La Familia Medicina retreat center in Peru, and the Camino Do Amor and Iglesia Del Despertar Ayahuasca shamanism churches.  

I consider myself fortunate to call Zach not only a good friend and business partner, but my life and spiritual coach as well.  It’s my pleasure to introduce him to the Steemit community.

“Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up. This is the trick. This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood. This is the shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering it’s a feather bed.” — Terrence McKenna

It’s difficult to accurately convey how profoundly influential Zach’s work has been in my life.  I have become an altogether better coach, entrepreneur and visionary as a result of that process.  Hell, I’ve simply become a better, more complete and effective human being through my guided and dedicated work with plant medicine.  

Zach is not only an accomplished shaman in his own right, but also a coach / guide of apprenticing shaman.  In short, he is a true (and literal) maestro in his chosen craft.  A man possessing a level of mastery we should all aspire to within our own unique callings.

What follows is Zach’s explanation of the most commonly asked question surrounding the use of plant medicine, and of Ayahuasca specifically: how does Ayahuasca work?

But in preface, we ought to first ask the following: what’s the difference between Ayahuasca and other psychedelics? 

Note: from here forward, my own comments and interjections will be italicized. 

Zach Poitra and shaman Amy Wharton, Paleo f(x) 2016

So Zach, let’s set the stage with that question.  That is, what, in your mind, separates ayahuasca from recreational drugs... or psychedelics, for that matter?  

For a very long time I had difficulty in articulating why ayahuasca is not a “drug” to people unfamiliar with plant medicine in general, or specifically, ayahuasca.  This is exacerbated by the extreme differences in the way Amazonian and Western cultures view both consciousness and altered states of reality.  I would try to explain ayahuasca’s medicinal benefits.  I would tell them to consider the (now somewhat ample) scientific research. 

The response after these explanations was usually a blank stare and a response like, “so it is like 'shrooms then?”  After being frustrated for a long time with this, I think I’ve come up with what might be a relatively articulate way of explaining to Westerners about the misunderstood “drug” issue.

Recreational drugs intoxicate, and technically so does ayahuasca. This, however, is where the similarity ends.

Recreational drugs are taken to escape daily life, pain, heartbreak, loneliness, depression, etcetera, whereas ayahuasca is drunk to heal and connect with other people and the larger universe.  It is taken to confront, deal with, accept and/or, if appropriate, let go of issues or perspectives that might be holding one back.

Recreational drugs provide a temporary escape.  They act by masking the symptoms of the problem.  And it should be noted that pharmaceuticals prescribed for these issues act in a similar manner.  As soon as the high is over, the problems return… and with the added bonus of a hangover, a stone-over, or withdrawal.  In fact, after the effects of a recreational drug have worn off, the problem the person was trying to avoid may have gotten worse. The worsening of the issue can be due to ramifications of the drug use itself, or due to the initial issue gaining strength from avoidance.  At its worst, drug usage (both legal and illegal) can set the stage for the proverbial “downward spiral” of pain and drug addiction.

Solutions and healing with ayahuasca can be dramatic and permanent. Ayahuasca tends to go to the source of the problem and can provide the opportunity for the participant to straighten it out.  The realizations and healing that happen during and after an ayahuasca ceremony can have a tendency stick around.  In fact with ayahuasca realizations, learning, and healing can continue for some time after ceremony as the medicine continues to do it’s work for days, weeks, or even months.  

All of this said, there it is very important to remind people that the concept of a “magic bullet” can develop around ayahuasca, or shamanism for that matter.  It is important to remember that there is always effort, work and integration required by the person going through the healing process.  There are no free rides, as it were. 

From a personal perspective, I would add that the shaman-directed ayahuasca experience has expertly facilitated, in a manner of speaking, face-to-face mediation between the essential “me” (my consciousness), and any issues affecting my consciousness.  No matter how hellish or how blind I may be to these issues (there’s some nasty stuff lurking in my subconscious!), ayahuasca finds a way to act as an expert liaison.  And she’ll push you to your absolute limit (but not over it!) to foster a resolution.   

Ok, so with that in mind, how does ayahuasca work its magic?

This is somewhat challenging because the perspective taken by shamans or curanderos (healers) is very different from the western scientific, reductionist viewpoint.  Therefore, I will not get into the western scientific definitions of how ayahuasca works.  If this western scientific perspective is of interest to you, there is a significant amount of that information available via the internet and various books.

A couple of my favorites being any / all of Rick Strassman’s work, as well as James Fadiman’s, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide.

First, It is important to point out that from a shamanic standpoint the difference between spiritual healing and emotional or physical healing is non-existent.  The shamanic perspective is that the spiritual or energetic system is directly correlated with the mental, physical and emotional systems.  In fact, the perspective is that if we can correct the imbalance in the energetic and spiritual systems, it will flow through to the mental, emotional and physical systems such that they become balanced.  

Taking it a step further, there really is no difference between these “systems” as they are all part of the greater Whole.  This perspective can be confusing for westerners as we have been conditioned throughout life to view our bodies in a reductionist vs. wholistic manner.  That is, the idea that the mind or emotions are completely separate and somehow isolated from the physical body.  To sum it up from a shamanic perspective, what we are looking for is connection.  Connection  to the divine, to the world, and to all sentient beings.  The shaman, in tandem with ayahuasca, seeks flow and harmony with all energies.

Energy channels, and unrestricted flow

We speak of ayahuasca “cleaning” internal channels such that they “vibrate” and/or flow as they were designed.  Each internal string being tuned to the correct frequency, so to speak.  And, in that way, one can begin to find solace from old negative energies, as well as become immune to energy that may attempt to cling to one in the future.  Can you elaborate on that idea?

When the connection (channel) is clear and operating correctly, that leads to proper and efficient flow (energetic flow) which then enables harmony and well being in a spiritual, energetic, emotional and physical sense.

Many other ancient spiritual/healing “systems” take this approach as well.  For example, we can look at both the Chinese medicine/Taoist cosmology with their meridian system, or the Indian Yogis who talk about the nadi system.  These two approaches both talk to the concept that we are energy bodies with various energy sub systems.  Some systems, like the physical system, simply being denser forms of energy.

These viewpoints ultimately do not differentiate between the spiritual, energetic, mental, emotional and physical.  These are simply creating smaller systems within the larger to simplify their comprehension. However, they still keep the larger system in mind when tinkering with any of the subsystems.

Because of this wholistic view regarding our connection to the divine via the energetic or spiritual body, there is no differentiation between the words “sacrament” and “medicine”.  In our view ayahuasca is a sacrament, and we treat it as such.  It is a sacrament that quite literally cleans and opens the channel to the divine.  

Ayahuasca is a sacrament that contains “Christ Consciousness”, “Buddha Consciousness”, “Divine Consciousness”, “Gaia Consciousness”, and “Unconditional, Universal Love”.  From my perspective, the terminology regarding the essence of this consciousness is not important (in fact sometimes the terminology can cause hindrances).  One can come to their own conclusions via direct experience as to how to best describe the essence of the sacrament ayahuasca.  

I’ve found that these descriptions are generally formed from a context of the individual’s cultural /spiritual / religious background.  Which makes sense, as we are all speaking about the same, hard to describe phenomena, and are trying to verbalize what, in many cases, is beyond description.  

Dissolving energy blockages

When we take Ayahuasca into our bodies it is that “higher consciousness” or “higher vibration” that interacts with various “energies” that reside in our bodies.  These “energies” are either in alignment with the resonance of the sacrament or they are not.  The energies that are not in alignment with this higher vibration tend to be products of various negative traumas that we have experienced and held on to in our lives.  Holding on to these traumas tends to cause tension or constriction in the system such that they cause “energetic blockages”.  

These blockages then cause “energetic pools” that stagnate and one might say that they start to become “putrid” over time.  These blockages and pools disrupt the normal and natural flow of energy in the system, manifesting as such things as negative thoughts, depression, anxiety, feeling disconnected from the world and other people.   

Ayahuasca, as it permeates one’s system, will start to loosen and clean out these energetic blockages in a myriad of ways.  Sometimes the cleaning is quite physical; vomiting, deficating, sweating, crying, and shaking just to name a few manifestations.  Sometimes the cleaning is through visions or lessons where one re-experiences a past trauma, negative thought pattern, or action.  Or, one may receive direct and clear instructions on how to live life in a healthier way.

Post-ceremony integration is key

“Cleaning the channels” is a continual, life-long process, and it is truly a practice that requires daily attention.  Everyone is different in their starting point and in their expression of the process.  It can be quite challenging at times, particularly when the sacrament brings forth things that we have been avoiding or suppressing for some time.  However, as the process progresses, the cleaning becomes subtler and subtler.  This happens as we clean out the denser energies and as we become more versed with our interaction with ayahuasca.

I often tell people that working with ayahuasca is not akin to taking your car to the mechanic.  You don’t just show up a ceremony, and ayahuasca just magically “fixes” you.  Quite the contrary.  You are only given seeds and possibilities in an ayahuasca experience.  But you have to do the work!  Even though the experience itself may (and will likely) rock your world, it is only the beginning.  The real work is what follows, the integration of all that was learned in the ceremony.  And this is the “process” Zach is referring to above.

Once we achieve what might be called a “baseline of energetic cleanliness” which could also be described as “all channels (relatively) clear” one may notice a feeling of connection.  This feeling or experience is a direct connection with the consciousness of the sacrament.  This connection then, can open up further to larger spiritual “vistas”.  In turn, we can then tap into a larger wisdom, broader perspectives, and deeper understandings that we were not able to access before.  These “spiritual vistas” are open to everyone -- they are, in fact, our birthright! -- any lack of access to them being due to the presence and persistence of our energetic blockages.  With the channels clear, one is then free to experience a sense of  connection, flow and harmony.

I find myself in that rather magic window now, of still remembering what it was like to be a complete novice, and yet having had 35+ ceremonies under my belt, at least with a tad bit of experience.  And I think if I had one piece of universal advice to give folks contemplating an ayahuasca encounter, it would be this: come into a ceremony willing to meet aya halfway, and be prepared to do the heavy lifting.  This is *your* life we’re talking about after all; not the shaman’s and not Aya’s.  It is best to be willing, too, to do the daily follow-on work required to cement those positive changes.  It’s in the integration that real, lasting, life change happens.

left to right: the author, Zach Poitra, shaman Amy Wharton, shaman Scott Latham, Dr. Dan Engle.  At the Paleo f(x) 2016 panel on plant medicine

No magic bullet

As mentioned prior, it is critically important to reiterate that Ayahuasca is not a “magic bullet”.  That is, ayahuasca cannot (nor, would she) simply “fix” you.  When doing any kind of spiritual work whether it be meditation, mantra, prayer, yoga etc., there is a large personal component as one needs to put forth their own significant effort in the process.  The practices or techniques will not bring forth results without this effort.  As ayahuasca is a sacrament and a spiritual practice, the same requirement applies.

The ceremony itself only plants the seed of what must be nurtured and cultivated long after the “thrill” of the ceremony has passed.  Continued integration of what was realized in ceremony is where the real work — and benefit — is found.

As one approaches Ayahuasca and this practice, it is strongly suggested that one accept that this practice involves significant amounts of personal responsibility and commitment.  It is important to understand, particularly in the beginning, that there most likely will be some challenges and discomfort.  One needs to commit to the process, trust the process and keep moving forward through the process.  It is not an easy path, but it is a path that can be extremely rewarding.

So there you have it.  In future Ayahuasca Chronicles posts, I'll cover trip reports, integration techniques, how to prep for a dieta or plant medicine experience, integration techniques, and much, much more.  As well, feel free to let me know if there's something I haven't thought of that you'd like to see addressed.  I'd be glad to cover it!

Heal thyself, harden thyself, change the world ~

Keith

Interested in more information on this transformative process?  You can contact Zach and the fine folks of  Iglesia Del Despertar at [email protected]

And for another, more Western view, of the benefits of Ayahuasca: check out this article published in Frontiers in Pharmacology: The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization

From that article:

…We provided converging evidence that while DMT is a substance which produces powerful psychedelic experiences, it is better understood not as a hallucinogenic drug of abuse, but rather an agent of significant adaptive mechanisms like neuroprotection, neuroregeneration, and immunity…

Maybe we in the west are beginning to soften our hard-stance grouping of all “drugs” into the same bin?  One would hope.

Upward and onward.