How to prepare for a plant medicine experience
This week, Russ and I have been preparing to host two beautiful women for a private retreat. We do a major cleaning and clearing of our house. I prepare nourishing meals with local, organic food. We hike. We connect with each other and with the spirit of the Land. We ask for guidance.
We prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and energetically so that we’re clear vessels to hold a safe and healing space.
Our guests also need to prepare for ceremony to get the most out of the experience. If you choose to journey with plant medicine, the preparation of your body, mind, and spirit is vital. Here are some things to consider:
Practice grounding & centering yourself
Wherever you choose to do ceremony, it’s vital to ensure that you are in a safe environment so that you can relax and surrender. This will contribute to having a positive and meaningful journey.
Before your experience, get in the habit of practicing meditation, earthing, breath work, or taking walks while connecting with the lifeforce energy of nature. Do something that relaxes your body and quiets your mind, so that you can access this peaceful place on your journey.
Craft intentions to give your ceremony direction
When you journey with plant medicines, parts of your brain that don’t normally communicate are connected with each other. This makes you highly suggestible to new perspectives - which is wonderful if you’re prepared with your intentions.
Ask yourself: What would I like to heal, release, access, expand into, or gain new awareness about? Then write down 1-3 (or more) intentions. If you want to release something - such as an unwanted pattern or behavior - add the positive state that you’d like to invoke.
An intention is like a prayer. It gives you clarity on your purpose for working with the plant medicine. Your intentions direct your journey and communicate to your Higher Self what it is that you’re seeking. Intentions help focus the energies to support you.
After you’ve written your intentions, it’s equally important to release expectations and stay open to the magic that unfolds.
Give your mind the information it needs to relax
If you have questions about how plant medicines work, watch the excellent Michael Pollan Netflix series "How to Change Your Mind." You’ll learn what to expect both psychologically and spiritually so that you can relax into your experience.
If you're feeling called to slow down and heal, Return to the Mother Personal Healing Retreats offer a transformative 4-day journey in Taos, NM—where nature, ceremony, and plant medicine support deep restoration and reconnection with your true self.