Learning Directly from a Plant Spirit in Dieta

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.