It requires discipline and profound trust to let go and open to the unknown. Not for the faint of heart. But the feeling is truly exquisite and rewarding for adventurous souls.

We all tap into the mysterious in our own ways. Sometimes, it's as simple as getting lost looking at the night sky, sitting on a mountain top, taking a swim in the ocean. We can tap in in our dreams, or connection with plants and animals. We can feel it moving us as we dance, paint, sing and express ourselves. We go into ritual and ceremony to connect to the intelligence and mystery of spirit. It's this feeling state of the mysterious that is so rich with originality that nourishes our soul.

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔?

꧁ ∞ 𓆸 ∞ ꧂

☽ "𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗫𝗜𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬" : 𝗥𝗘𝗝𝗨𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 + 𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 ☾

Reishi is known all over the world for being a superfood. It has incredible physical actions - supporting the immune system and endocrine system; it has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anticancer properties; it can lower blood pressure and cholesterol; it's an adaptogen; and much more. There are countless scientific studies on the benefits to the physical body.

But what has people really drawn to reishi is it's impact on the mind and the 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩.

➤ Reishi promotes a deep sense of peacefulness, calms the mind, relaxes the nervous system, and 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮.

➤ In Traditional Chinese Medicine (where it's been documented for 2000 years), it supports 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙣. Shen is energy that keeps us rejuvenated and inspired. It is this energy that provides insight and creativity.

➤ Reishi helps us focus - and we can use this however we'd like. We can use the heightened awareness for spiritual practice, meditation or creative projects.

When I dietted Reishi, I noticed a train of negative thoughts would start to come toward the door of my awareness, but they didn't come through. The negativity stayed outside, and only positivity and acceptance and delight in the present moment of being remained. I slept deeply and woke up refreshed and full of energy. I felt an aliveness, a fullness in my energy field that nourished and inspired everything in my day. I was motivated and felt strong.

From Taoist Master Herbalist Rehmannia Dean Thomas (Founder of Shaman Shack) about 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨:

“We have long known that mushrooms benevolently affect consciousness. Reishi is not psychotropic and does not alter perception, yet it benefits mental clarity and helps instill a reverent attitude. Reishi enhances spiritual enlightenment, and seems to “weave us into the mycelial web of life.” The subterranean relationship of fungi with plants is called mycorrhiza. Humans attempted to sever ourselves from this relationship through disassociation with the ground (pavement, shoes, tires, etc.). 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚; 𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝. Nature is calling us to reunite for common survival, and that is why I believe reishi and other tonic herbs and superfoods are emerging in our consciousness that this time.”

We start a Soft Dieta with 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶 November 24! Read more here!

For those of you who know me, you know how much I love working with plants - especially in dieta. I have always been a lover of nature, as long as I can remember. The serenity, nourishment and joy of being out in the mountains all through childhood drove me to become an environmental engineer and sustainable business consultant.

In 2010, I had an awakening...down in the Peruvian jungle with ayahuasca. It's a story for another time, but what hit me hard was having a direct connection to the spirit of the plants and the heart of the universe. Quite different than what I learned while training to become an engineer. The experience in the jungle hit 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 and in the 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 - it literally blew (who I thought was) "me"  - away. I knew this connection with plants was an important piece for my life.

The Amazonian traditions focus on plant dietas - where one creates a sacred container for working with the spirit of a plant - sometimes for healing,  sometimes for learning the healing properties of the plant and often for both. Creating a container for the spirit of a plant varies by the tradition, by the plant, and by how deep you intend to go. You do not have to do a dieta to work with plants - there is communication, flower essences, oils, baths, growing plants, ingesting in other formats (tinctures with alcohol, honey, etc). But to go in deep with one plant in this way, has been one of the most profound explorations of consciousness, and one I love.

I have spent years in various dietas with a variety of Amazonian plants. It's strict - in isolation in the jungle, with limited food, requiring discipline of mind, heart and spirit. Some plants are more intense than others - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

⋗ ⋗ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗮? It's not only to learn from the plant, and to heal, but also about learning about yourself, the Earth, humanity and spirit. You have to learn to sit with yourself. There are no distractions - no phones, computers, junk foods, social activities, etc. It's you, the plant, and spirit talking. It's not for everyone, and I know plenty of people who say "You are crazy, I've never do that!" And there are many who are being called to the jungle to work in this way.

⋗ ⋗ My intention in offering soft dietas in this way is to help bring people back to these practices and their own connection to spirit and the Earth. When we are disconnected from spirit, the plants, ourselves, and each other, we cannot create a world that we are all praying for.

⋗ ⋗ Starting soon, I'm supporting a "soft" dieta - a modified version with 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶. This is a "soft" dieta - meaning it differs from the traditional Amazonian dieta, more suited for working in the modern Western world. But we still create a sacred container to go in deeper with the spirit of reishi. This is another level than taking reishi as a supplement. There is a focus and intention to connecting with the spirit, and 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩. This dieta is done from home with some limitations on food. With support, you create a sacred container, making space for the connection to flourish. It does require discipline and focus, but the experience is absolutely beautiful.

⋗ ⋗ Please reach out if you'd like to learn more.

If we are to turn this world around, we are going to need a reconnection to spirit in profound ways. With all the plant medicine ceremonies taking place all over the world, I hope that we can remember collectively what this is all about.
It is a unique journey for everyone, and there is no one right way or one right tradition that will take us there. We can learn deeply from those who've gone before us, our elders, and the incredible indigenous and spiritual traditions around the world. And ultimately, we take what we've learned and embody it, 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚. This is bringing the divine experience of plant medicines into the world - through our own being.

Next week, starting October 27, we will host a soft dieta - a 2 week journey working with the spirit of 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗭𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗜. In this journey, we learn how to sense, feel and embody the plants' healing and wisdom. So we can bring the spirit and the divine out into the world. (Read more here.)

I'm also offering opportunity for 1:1 work in the 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 for those who are wanting to go deep into their own experience of plants and the divine. (Read more here.)

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚.