After having shared my traumatic experience that I had in the Amazon with you I received many messages and questions regarding integration.
Unfortunately there is little emphasis on integration in most medicine spaces and people are often left ungrounded, lost and fragmented.
Especially when we had a difficult experience at the start of our medicine path we might not know how to feel about it all afterwards. Should we ask for help? Will we ever be “normal” again? Have we embarrassed ourselves?
These are the questions one might have.
For some people the lack of help with integration can lead to them never entering a medicine space again, which is unfortunate.
After big experiences we can feel fragile and hyper-sensitive and open to all kinds of energies. So it is very important that we don’t expose ourselves to big crowds and noisy environments straight afterwards and it’s advised to avoid challenging and confrontational situations if possible.
Sometimes our body feels like we have been in a battle and energetically we might have been (especially when the space holding was poor), then even more self care is required. Take sufficient rest, be very gentle with yourself and listen to your body, eat good, healthy food and drink a lot of water. Surround yourself with people who can hold space for you and can “let you be” until your are ready to share. Find a body worker who you trust and receive loving touch, helping you to recalibrate.
A lot can move and be shaken up in a ceremony so make sure you give it time to settle again, as the new YOU will still be unsteady on their feet.
You might have had some uncomfortable revelations, something that you did not want to see before or admit to yourself is now undeniable. If that’s the case be compassionate with yourself, forgive and know that there was a reason why you could not own this truth before. Be grateful for what was revealed to you and take small steps towards making amendments or having those conversations that you have avoided before.
Your heart will be wide open, which can be scary for your mind and also your Ego. Try to watch your thoughts and the feelings behind them and when negativity and worry come in acknowledge this for a moment, without identifying yourself with this energy. It is important that you can hold yourself lovingly in this space with acceptance until these feelings dissolve. A few big breaths will help you to “land back’ in your heart.
Old stories will want to get your attention and maybe this time you can see them as such, the “old stories” of disempowerment and unworthiness. This is your opportunity to explore why you have created these stories in the first place and to write new empowered ones.
If you feel you are not yourself after the ceremony, you haven’t landed, something is missing, then possibly parts of your soul have not arrived back and were left in other dimensions.
This will need some expert help. Please ask the facilitator and if they are not available or you don’t trust them, then ask for recommendations from the community. We have all been in difficult spaces and had to ask for help. Also remember, there is never anything to be embarrassed about.
Big medicine journeys, especially for those who are generally ungrounded, can lead to a feeling of not belonging here. Know that there is a reason why you have a physical body in this life time. For now we still need you here and most importantly we need you to be in your body.
There is a yearning to go back to source which many of us know, but please remember that you ARE spirit, an eternal soul, this life time is merely a blink of an eye, and being in a body right now is a privilege. When you enter medicine spaces please know that what comes trough is asking to be embodied, so you can fully arrive in your current incarnation.
A ceremony is only the start of walking your path with direction in a more sacred and humble way. To integrate it is highly recommended to have a regular spiritual practice, which can be yoga, meditation, shamanic journeying, nature walks, creative writing, music... Whatever brings you into a place of joy, presence and gratitude is wonderful.
Invite more sacredness, more ceremony into your life, starting with creating an altar in your home. Place a beautiful piece of fabric on a surface, add a candle, possibly items that represent each of the elements, pictures of your ancestors, deities that you resonate with and sacred items that you collected.
Additionally to your individual practice it is recommended to connect with your tribe on a regular basis.
And please communicate. Tell us about spaces that you feel are not held well, let us know what you need.
No one should be left after a ceremony feeling anxious and disconnected. This can be part of the process, but help should be offered to resolve this.
Medicines are magical , but this path is not to be underestimated.
Let’s hold each other accountable so we all have better experiences. Thank you for reading ⭐️
