Avenida Guardia Civil #515 Iquitos, Peru

Transcription

1 Blue Morpho Sacred Plant Optimization Guide Avenida Guardia Civil #515 Iquitos, Peru

2 A Word from Blue Morpho Founder, Hamilton Souther Sacred Plants and Blue Morpho have been my joy, passion, journey, education and love for over a decade. As I have grown and evolved, so has our center. Over the last years, I have worked on a very special project now called Activated Balanced Consciousness (ABC). As the name implies, it is a methodology that transforms you by activating and balancing your consciousness. Sacred Plants generate a shift in consciousness. To ensure that this shift is welcomed and positive, I have created this Sacred Plant Optimization Guide to provide you with the information you need before embarking on your Sacred Plant Ceremony. When human consciousness is activated and balanced, life- improvement becomes inevitable. All of the things we have searched for in our lives and our spirituality become possible. We can heal, find purpose, encounter fulfilling romance, guide our children with love and awaken our heart to passion, joy, fun and peace. The power and applicability of Activated Balanced Consciousness is vast. We can use it to address life issues as well as increase personal intelligence, performance and capacity. It is the guiding methodology for all of our worldwide retreats and charity endeavors. My journey has led me to dedicate my life to helping humanity, initially as a shaman at Blue Morpho, and now as a visionary leader with the Blue Morpho Foundation ( Each year, our philanthropic work helps thousands of people improve their lives. Our goal now is to expand and take on important social issues facing our communities, beginning with healing PTSD, depression, and the trauma of domestic violence. Whether you decide to join us for a Blue Morpho Retreat or simply use this guide independently, it is a true pleasure to be able to share this essential information with you and to continue this work globally. Hamilton

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS TRADITIONAL SHAMANISM... 3 Amazonian Shamanism... 4 Traditional Shamans... 5 BLUE MORPHO MASTER SHAMANS... 5 AYAHUASCA AND ADMIXTURE PLANTS... 7 TRADITIONAL ICAROS... 9 BLUE MORPHO MEDICINE WORLD SHAMANISM GENERAL PREPARATION FOR CEREMONY INTENTIONS FOR CEREMONY AYAHUASCA CEREMONIES AYAHUASCA CEREMONIES AT BLUE MORPHO BLUE MORPHO AYAHUASCA GUIDELINES Guidelines For Days Between Ceremonies PRE AND POST- CEREMONY DIET INFO Pre- workshop Recommendations During Your Retreat After the Workshop The Difference Between an Ayahuasca- safe Diet and a Shamanic Plant Dieta SHAMANIC PLANT DIETAS POST CEREMONY EVOLUTION AND INTEGRATION BLUE MORPHO VIDEO INTEGRATION PACKAGE MODERN SHAMANISM INTEGRATION COURSE BY BEING HERE INTEGRATION COURSE IN GRATITUDE

4 Traditional Shamanism Traditional Shamanism comes from a collection of tribal societies and ancient spiritual practices from around the world. The commonality between all forms of shamanism is a belief in spirits. To a traditional shaman, spirits are a common part of everyday reality. During their lives, shamans cultivate relationships with specific spirits. As a shaman grows in his or her practice, these relationships grow stronger, as does the diversity of spirits with whom he or she works. Many tribal traditions practice shamanism with the support of Sacred Plant Medicines. These are typically visionary substances that are administered in the context of a ceremony. The style, duration and context of the ceremony is defined by the characteristics of the plant. For instance, an ayahuasca ceremony may last only 4 hours while a San Pedro (Huachuma) ceremony may go as long as 12 hours. In shamanism there are thousands of individually identified spirits that are organized into groupings or hierarchies. Each grouping or hierarchy is defined by the type and relative power of the spirits that comprise it, and each has what we call a head medicine spirit. The head medicine spirit is the highest and purest expression of that medicine form. This spirit exists as the manager or chief of all the other spirits of that group. Every sacred plant has a head medicine spirit. The shamans build their primary relationships with these spirits, which allows them direct access to the purest and strongest medicine forms within each particular tree or plant. This makes for an efficient and very effective practice. Medicine practice can be summed up by a few simple intentions. A great way to learn more about a particular shaman or group of shamans is to ask about their intentions and which spirits guide them. The shamans at Blue Morpho guide the spirits and ceremonies with the following intentions: 1. Healing: The process of bringing damaged or wounded parts of you back to wholeness. 2. Cleansing: The releasing of dark, heavy or unwanted energies out of you and out of your space. 3. Straightening: The process of realigning the crossed, disharmonious or afflictive energies within you. 4. Transformation: Personal and spiritual growth and evolution. 5. Learning: Receiving knowledge about yourself, the universe, life, consciousness, shamanism, spirituality and divinity. Throughout the ceremony, the shamans will call spirits into the space to help you with the above intentions. They can manifest and relate to you in a variety of forms. Sometimes you feel them. Sometimes you see them in the shapes and patterns of the visions. You may have a flash of insight or sudden understanding. You may just start feeling better as an issue you are working on is suddenly resolved. All of these are examples of the way spirits work with you during ceremony. The shamans will also be playing several different musical instruments. The mainstay of traditional Amazonian shamanic practice is a leaf rattle called a shakapa. This makes a gentle rustling sound that helps to guide, direct and move the energies of the ceremony. You may also hear the shamans playing buffalo drums, medicine bowls and a variety of chimed instruments

5 Traditional Amazonian Shamanism Ayahuasca shamanism has been practiced in the western Amazon region for thousands of years. These practices have been passed down through tribal lineages and bloodlines for at least this length of time. The shamans of tribes and villages serve as medical doctors, spiritual healers, as well as being the keeper of knowledge. It is this knowledge that awards them the status, rights, and responsibility of their practice. At Blue Morpho, we are very open to sharing our knowledge of the shamanic arts with you. We hope that this will not only enhance your experience with us here in the Amazon, but that you will return home with a deeper knowing that will continue to inform and affect your life in positive ways. Many traditional shamans and lineages have unique elements of practice that make their lineage distinct from other lineages. This is true of Don Alberto s lineage. These distinctions include what plants the shamans use to heal, how they cook their ayahuasca, how they apply their knowledge, and what belief systems they maintain. One of the main focuses of traditional medicine practice is healing. Ayahuasca can be used to address all kinds of ailments including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual forms of sickness. All of these afflictions are manifestations of what we call crossed energies. Crossed energies manifest as a result of disharmonious patterns within you and in your life. Ayahuasca medicine is used to straighten these crossed energies to bring you back to a state of balance and harmony. The purge and cleansing that occurs during the ceremony is part of the process of straightening these energies. To call or invoke spirits, a shaman will sing or whistle icaros. Icaros are part of a specialized spiritual language that the shaman uses to communicate with and guide the spirits. The icaros we sing at Blue Morpho are in a mixture of Spanish, Quechua, English, and a spirit dialect. The icaros invoke the spirits into the space to guide and direct all the energies of the ceremony, including your own

6 Traditional Shamans Traditional shamans come from tribal societies and local villages around the world. They live in and by the context of their own cultures and communities. Often, they do not share the same worldviews or beliefs of Westerners. This is important to take into consideration when participating in ceremony with local or traditional shamans. You always want to make sure that the local shamans are professional and respectful of your boundaries and needs. If you ever question your safety or the professionalism of a local shaman, do not participate in ceremony. Politely decline continued ceremonies or treatment and go to a safe location like a local hotel and then make your plans. Each shamanic tradition is unique to the tribe or community that practices it. This creates a wide variety of shamanic practices worldwide. Research the type of plants, shamanism and ceremonies that you are interested in before jumping into ceremony. It s important to have a basic understanding beforehand of the culture from which a shaman and his or her beliefs and practices developed, as these will be fundamental to the outcome you will have in ceremony. Blue Morpho Master Shamans Blue Morpho Master Shamans practice a unique synthesis of a variety of shamanic disciplines. Our shamanism incorporates traditional Amazonian medicine practice, Modern Shamanism, and universal mystical philosophy, all taking place inside our unique ceremonial space we call The Medicine World. Each of these disciplines is a standalone, potent practice. Together, they form a healing and transformational modality that makes Blue Morpho shamanism a one- of- a- kind experiential journey. Hamilton Souther: Master Shaman and Founder of Blue Morpho. Hamilton focuses his work on Universal Spiritual Philosophy. He is bilingual in English and Spanish, has a Bachelor s degree in Anthropology, and has studied shamanism in California, Cusco, and the Amazon. Hamilton was given the title of Master Shaman by Alberto Torres Davila and Julio Llerena Pinedo after completing an apprenticeship under the two. He guides ceremonies and leads shamanic workshops, in which he shares Activated Balanced Consciousness

7 Don Alberto Torres Dávila: Master Shaman and Medicinal Plant Expert. Alberto leads ayahuasca ceremonies and shamanic healing. He has over 40 years as a spiritual healer and over 4,000 ayahuasca ceremonies in his collective experience. He began his healing path at the age of 8 under the constant guidance of his grandfather, who was also a Master Shaman. After his grandfather passed away, Alberto was taken under the wing of Don Julio Llerena Pinedo, and the two entered into lifetime pact of shamanic medicine. When not working with Blue Morpho, he continues his healing practice as a curandero in his local town. Alberto is considered one of the most powerful healers in the Ucayali River region. Don Julio Llerena Pinedo: Master Shaman and Medicinal Plant Expert. Julio passed away in 2007 at the age of 89. Before passing, he pledged his alliance to the lineage and the mesa. Don Alberto received the inheritance of Julio s medicine and guides ceremonies in accordance with the 35- year pact of medicine between the two. Don Julio apprenticed directly under the tutelage of the Doctor Spirits (Genios of the medicinal plants) of the jungle during isolated diets in the highlands outside of Pucallpa. In his collective experience, he has had over 4,000 ayahuasca ceremonies and has healed thousands of patients in the Peruvian Amazon. Malcolm Rossiter: Master Shaman and General Manager. Malcolm has been working with people in the fields of health, nutrition, fitness, and spiritual well- being for over two decades. Now at Blue Morpho, he combines this experience with a dedication and love for ayahuasca medicine practice. In 2006 he started traveling the world, working with Ayahuasqueros from a wide range of heritages and lineages. In 2008 he attended his first Blue Morpho tour and appreciated the perfect blend of Traditional Shamanism and Universal Philosophy. He returned to Blue Morpho many times over the next few years and finally moved to Iquitos in January 2010 to become a member of the Blue Morpho staff. Christian Gearhart: Master Shaman and Lodge Facilitator. A U.S. Navy Veteran, Christian first began using shamanic practice with Blue Morpho in 2007, seeking relief from years of physical, emotional and psychological pain that had been piling up since childhood. Christian continued the healing work with us as a guest until January 2011, when he accepted his shamanic calling and became a member of the Blue Morpho team. Christian s highly disciplined practice is accented with his light- hearted, approachable demeanor. His practice fuses serious, powerful personal transformation with fun and humor, helping people release trauma from the past and re- connect with their inner child to experience the wonder, love, heart, joy and spiritual connection we all had as children. When not at Blue Morpho in Iquitos, Christian works with the Blue Morpho Foundation in Colorado

8 Ayahuasca and Admixture Plants The ayahuasca tea is made from a combination of two plants: the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and chacruna (Psychotria viridis). The ayahuasca vine and chacruna, along with several other admixture plants, are processed, mixed together, added to large pots and cooked over an open fire for 8+ hours. In Don Alberto s lineage, the ayahuasca vine is described as the power source and the chacruna is described as the light. In Western terminology, the chacruna contains DMT and the ayahuasca vine contains an MAOI inhibitor, the combination of which allows the DMT to be orally processed. It is the uncanny synergy of these two plants that forms the basis for all ayahuasca practice in the Amazon region. Many lineages, including ours, work with a number of admixture plants. These admixture plants consist of medicinal tree barks (palos) and roots that bring a practical and powerful diversity to the overall experience. They help to structure and support the ceremonies, each offering a specific form of medicine and energy that affects the movement and expression of the ceremonial experience in different ways. This variety of plants enables the shamans to work with a greater number of medicine spirits, increasing their capacity and shamanic abilities. This is the equivalent of a Western doctor having a well- stocked medicine cabinet that allows them to treat as many ailments as possible. The following is a selection of medicinal plants and their properties that the Blue Morpho shamans work with: 1. Ayahuma Bark (Couroupita guianensis) Dead Head Tree. Provides protection and is used in healing susto (soul loss from spiritual fright or trauma). 2. Capirona Bark (Calycophyllum spruceanum) Provides cleansing and protection. It is noted for its smooth bark, white flowers, and hard wood. 3. Chullachaki Caspi Bark (Byrsonima christianeae) Provides cleansing to the physical body. Used to transcend physical body ailments. 4. Lupuna Blanca Bark (Ceiba pentandra) Provides protection and stabilizing energies. 5. Punga Amarilla Bark Yellow Punga. Provides protection. Used to pull or draw out negative spirits or energies. 6. Remo Caspi Bark (Aspidosperma excelsum) Oar Tree. Used to move dense or dark energies

9 7. Wyra (Huaira) Caspi Bark (Cedrelinga caeniformis) Air Tree. Used to create purging, transcend gastro/intestinal ailments, calm the mind, and bring tranquility. 8. Uchu Sanango Root (Tabernaemontana sanango) Head of the sanango plants. Provides power, strength, and protection. 9. Shiwawaku Bark (Dipteryx odorata) Brings purple medicine to the ceremony. Provides healing and protection. 10. Camu Camu Gigante (Myrciaria dubia) Provides medicine and protection in the form of warding off dark and demonic spirits. 11. Tamamuri (Brosimum acutifolium) This plant manages thousands of spirits to protect the ceremony and send away energies that are purged from the participants. 12. Huacapurana (Lodgesiandra angustifolia) Giant tree of the amazon with very hard bark. Its inclusion offers a strong grounding presence in the ceremony. 13. Mapacho Tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) A jungle tobacco native to South America. Used for protection and healing. Also used as medium to transmit spirits from one location to another. Note: The above botanical data is for informational purposes only. Due to the sheer size and diversity of the Amazon region, very little official scientific research has been conducted with many of these plants; some variations in species classification and exact detail may be present

10 Traditional Icaros The icaro is a specialized spiritual language that the shamans use to communicate with spirits, invoke spirits, guide and direct ceremonies, and guide your experience. The shamans learn icaros directly from the medicine spirits. Icaros are expressed through vocalization, and are a major system of delivery of the shamans spiritual energy. They are used for many purposes during ceremony: to bring on mareación (the visionary effects of the ayahuasca), take mareación away, call in different plant spirits, call in the spirits of others or the deceased, take away dark spirits and dark energies, and manage the ceremony. Icaros are either whistled or sung, and can be expressed in any language. The shamans at Blue Morpho generally sing in a spirit dialect that is a mixture of Spanish, Quechua, English and different sounds. The icaro acts as a link in ceremony between the participant, the shaman, and the medicine spirits. Traditional shamans believe that every living thing has an icaro and that these icaros can be received once the spirit has decided to grant you its medicine powers. The singing of icaros is usually accompanied by the shakapa a leaf rattle that is used to carry the rhythm of the ceremony. The shaman will use the shakapa to direct energy and the icaros, as well as to send away dark or unwanted spirits

11 Blue Morpho Medicine World Shamanism Before we go into sacred plant ceremonies themselves I want to take the opportunity to discuss with you the importance of the ceremonial space. This space includes the physical area of the ceremony and the locations/states you will encounter during vision. Making sure that you or the ceremonial leaders are providing the most advantageous space possible is key. The ceremonial leader is in charge of maintaining and directing the ceremony. You always want to make sure that your ceremonial leaders are trained, proficient, and of clear, clean intention. Take the opportunity to speak with them and ask them about how they hold space and ensure your safety. You want to make sure you feel 100% committed to the ceremony before starting. At Blue Morpho, we hold a shamanic space I have termed The Medicine World. The Medicine World is the shamanic expression of a single, unified spiritual philosophy I created to answer the question of safety and repeatability surrounding shamanic practice. It is the result of 13 years of dedicated spiritual exploration and learning. The core principle of this philosophy is Love. In practice, the Medicine World is a specialized shamanic space that is built from universal principles. At Blue Morpho, we hold and guide our ayahuasca ceremonies from within the Medicine World and by the principles that govern it. This allows us to do all of our work in a space that is based entirely in Love rather than conflict. Traditional Sacred Plant ceremonies are held in a rigid, dualistic paradigm (good/evil, light/dark). The Medicine World revolutionizes the traditional Sacred Plant experience, eliminating the need to engage in dualistic battles in order to get healing. This does not mean that you won t be faced with challenges or come up against your own duality. Rather, it means that you will be in a space that is entirely loving, gentle, caring and supportive while you go through this process. The Medicine World creates a safe and stable container that is built in and holds everything as Love. This allows you to begin and end your journey, right here and now, in Love. This is part of what makes Blue Morpho shamanism so unique. We hold a space that enables the process of traditional shamanic healing to be carried out with tremendous speed, efficiency and efficacy. This approach enhances healing and transformation while simultaneously allowing you to go beyond your boundaries and limitations in ways that were not previously possible. The key principle of the Medicine World is that everything comes from and is an expression of Love. Love can be defined as: the simultaneous and singular origin, essence, and manifestation of everything that is. The Medicine World is based on a breakdown of nine definitions that extend from this core principle; seven of these are universal states of being, and two are specific to Blue Morpho shamanic practice

12 If you learn the definitions below, you will have a much deeper understanding of the Medicine World and how to hold it during ceremony. It can be a lifesaver if anything goes wrong in your ceremony. You can call on the definitions and find support. A universal definition is something that applies to all human beings regardless of age, gender, race or politics. The universal definitions are: 1. Love is Here This is literal. It means that no matter where you are, Love is not only available to you because it is here, but it is also the literal expression of Here, which is the space you are always in. You are where Love is. 2. Time is Here Time refers to the container that allows for the physical manifestation of existence, or the physical manifestation of Love. A synonym for Time is Universe. It is the one container that holds everything we know, providing a space for all to exist in time. 3. Being is Here The expression of Time enables existence, or Being. Being is the expression or manifestation of the singular essence Love in Time as something created. It is You, the Being, as Love expressed in time. 4. Consciousness is Here The emergence of the Being in time creates an awareness of time. This is Consciousness. 5. Motion is Here Being conscious of time creates Motion, literally the Motion of the Universe as it is experienced by you, the Being. Consciousness is the vehicle by which Motion is experienced and expressed. 6. Interaction is Here The motion of time leads to the Interaction of the Being with time. This is the Interaction of the Universe upon and with itself. 7. Self is Here The interaction of the Universe in motion creates the Self. This is the fully expressed and manifest being in time that is aware of its own existence as an entity living and experiencing time. All seven of these states or definitions are Universal. Together they create the architecture of the human being. This is who you are. You will notice that each of the seven definitions is equated to Here. This means that all seven universal definitions are not sequential, but simultaneously occurring at one location: Here. This is precisely what makes these definitions universal. They are simultaneous and synonymous in definition, yet experienced uniquely in their expression. These seven states function no matter what belief system you ascribe to, regardless of your cultural or social heritage. They exist irrespective of life circumstances, past, present or future; they are 100% the same for everyone and everything. What this philosophy does is create a container that holds all of duality as a singularity. It does not deny the existence of duality, but rather holds and contains it within and as universal. We mentioned earlier that traditional shamanism is dualistic in nature; this is true for all spirit- based practices. You need a dualistic

13 framework in order to have experience of spirits, self, the world and everything in it. This is the realm that shamanism inhabits. When you combine the seven universal definitions with traditional shamanic methods, practices and knowledge, you have an unmatched structure for personal transformation, healing, evolution and learning. In order to unite the seven universal definitions with traditional shamanism, you need to make a philosophical and practical bridge. The following two definitions, unique to Blue Morpho Shamanism, create the shamanic link required to complete the Medicine World: 8. Your heart is the origin of your own love. Choose it. The heart is the origin and center of your love. This heart- centered love is the original healing medicine inside you. You have the choice to focus on this love and healing. 9. Set intention to follow medicine. All spirits and spaces are in the Medicine World, and all spaces are filled with Love and Medicine. In the Medicine World, all spirits and spaces move in the direction of Love. Once you have made the choice of heart- centered love, you can find medicines. Medicines are thoughts, feelings, words, visions, or spirits that can guide you back to your heart- centered love. These two definitions allow the self to engage in all of the traditional and modern shamanic practices that the Blue Morpho shamans perform, inside the greater Medicine World, held as Love. This means that no matter what you are experiencing during your ceremonies, both Love and Medicine are available to you immediately. This space is designed for you to address any problem that needs a solution, any trauma that needs healing, and any form of suffering that needs to be alleviated. This is the basis for our medicine practice. As mentioned, this approach enhances the healing and transformation while simultaneously allowing you to go beyond your boundaries and limitations in ways that were not previously possible. When you incorporate the Medicine World with traditional Sacred Plant medicine practice, you have an incredibly powerful and transformative healing modality. All of these elements come together in an elegant and beautiful dance that is perfectly orchestrated for you to get the maximum benefit from your experience with us

14 General Preparation For Ceremony Once you have made plans to participate in ceremony, preparation is key. You ll want to have a period of time that can be completely dedicated to the entirety of the ceremony. The type of plants you are using will dictate the amount of time you need. Make sure you do not have any other plans after the ceremony and allow ample time (at least a day or two) to integrate. This is usually easy as most ceremonies take place at night. Relaxation activities are the very best to do before ceremony. This can be stretching, yoga, meditation, sleeping, resting or calm breathing. It is common to experience anxiety before ceremony, so all of these activities will help you stay as centered and calm as possible. With the breath, release any emotions or anxiety as it comes up. Use the time right before ceremony to focus on your reasons for attending the ceremony and what you would like to get out of it. Having these two things clear in your mind before starting will help keep you on that path through the ceremony. Wear comfortable clothing. Blue Morpho does not require specific dress, but bear in mind that some traditions do

15 Intention For Ceremonies In traditional ayahuasca medicine practice, there are only three reasons to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony. The first is to have your crossed energies straightened. The second is to learn. The third is to practice medicine. As a participant in ceremony, only the first two apply to you. With the incorporation of the Medicine World, there is another intention that you can include. This intention is Love. From a traditional shamanic perspective, all afflictions, fears, and illnesses are the result of crossed energies. Ayahuasca will straighten crossed energies. When your energies are straightened, your afflictions will be relieved, you will receive the answers to your questions through direct realization, and you will experience personal transformation and spiritual growth. Having intent for ceremony is very important to the overall experience. The intent expresses all of your reasons for participating in ceremony. Your intention is to have your energy straightened and to learn. The shamans provide a collective intention for each ceremony when they prepare the bottle of ayahuasca and when they serve each individual. This forms the principal intention. In a workbook, list all of your reasons for participating in ceremony. It will help formulate your ideas. These can be what you want to release, what you want to gain, or what you want to learn

16 Ayahuasca Ceremonies Ayahuasca ceremonies present specific challenges inherent to this plant tea. There are a wide variety of ceremonial styles and restrictions that differ from one shamanic lineage, culture, or center to another. Considering this, it makes sense to describe how we present ayahuasca at Blue Morpho rather than trying to account for all of the differences between styles. It is important to note that all traditional ayahuasca cultures have consistent restrictions in conjunction with ceremony to ensure your safety. This cannot be emphasized enough. The differences between cultures and restrictions usually equate to the duration of restriction, not the restriction itself. As an example, one culture may ask that you abstain from alcoholic beverages for 1 week after ceremony while another may ask for 1 month, but the restriction is present in both. Due to the increase of global interest in ayahuasca, over the last decade many cultures and centers have done away with the traditional cultural safeguards in the face of western pressure to minimize restrictions. This is dangerous, but it explains some of the different ideologies now being passed around the ayahuasca industry and western ayahuasca culture. If you are going to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony, follow all the guidelines and dietary restrictions, as they will ensure your safety and the positive outcome you seek

17 Ayahuasca Ceremonies at Blue Morpho The Blue Morpho ayahuasca experience is designed to address all aspects of your life at the same time. It is an experience that generates and supports total transformation and life improvement. Ayahuasca is immersed in a longstanding Amazonian tradition of plant- based healing and medicine practice. As part of the Blue Morpho Way, the medicine practices of traditional shamanism are wielded to support you on your journey towards living a life filled with more love, beauty, joy and compassion. Where healing is just the beginning, this is an experience that transforms the entirety of who you are. Our intentions with ayahuasca are to 100% support you on your journey. We are here to help guide every step of the way. The following information outlines some basics in order to prepare you for ceremony. This covers everything from the setup of the space, to what you should do if you need help, to working with the ayahuasca and ceremonial tools. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with this information as much as you need. The Logistics: All ayahuasca ceremonies take place in our ceremonial house. Arrive between 5:00 and 5:30pm to find your spot. Sometime during the daylight before ceremony, have a walk around the ceremonial house so you are familiar with the layout, including where the bathrooms, showers and sinks are relative to your ceremonial space. At 6pm there will be a pre- ceremony talk; the ceremony begins at 6:30pm. Your Ceremonial Space: You have the option of laying down on a mat or sitting in a chair. Bucket for vomiting into, spitting into, disposing of your toilet paper. Tissue paper for wiping your mouth off, blowing your nose, etc. Tin cup with a small amount of water in it used for washing your mouth out but not for drinking during ceremony. Pillow and blanket for your comfort; you may request more if desired. The Beginning of Ceremony: Maestro Alberto will come into the ceremony house around 6:30pm. He will begin the ceremony by whistling an icaro into the ayahuasca bottle (for more information on icaros, please see the Appendix Traditional Icaros ). You will be guided through the serving process. Once everyone drinks, the lights will be turned off and the ceremony will begin. Once you drink the ayahuasca, it is your job to just relax as much as you can and let the ayahuasca do its work

18 Everyone reacts to the experience differently, so you want to give yourself and ayahuasca the time and space to become acquainted. It can take between minutes for the ayahuasca to take effect, so the best thing to do during this time is relax and ease yourself into the experience. Conduct During the Ceremony There are six trained helpers in the ceremonial house. They do not drink ayahuasca, and are there to change your buckets, help you to the bathroom or shower, or pour water on your head if needed. If you need a bucket change, call out bucket or bandeja If you need help to the bathroom, call out bathroom or baño If you need a shower, call out shower or ducha If you still feel like you need more help, call out help or ayuda and one of the shamans will come help you. Flashlight or headlamp keep it on the low or red setting, point it down, cover it with your fingers when in use, and only use when necessary. Please do not leave the ceremonial house until the ceremony is formally concluded. Please refrain from touching other guests during the ceremony. Please stay in your individual spot during ceremony, either in your chair or on your mat. You may of course get up to use the bathroom area during ceremony but please, no wandering around the space. The moment you feel like you have to use the toilet, do so immediately, no matter how many times you have to go. Please do not throw toilet paper in the toilet. Please discard all toilet paper or hygiene products in the waste bins next to the toilet due to the septic system. Do not drink anything caffeinated after lunch. Do not drink water after 6pm, and please do not drink water during ceremony (only washing and rinsing your mouth out). Comfortable, loose fitting, and easy- to- maneuver clothing is best for ceremony. Your Ayahuasca Experience Everyone experiences ayahuasca differently. Regardless of what you have heard or read, your ayahuasca experience is going to be entirely unique and personal to you. People experience ayahuasca visions in a variety of ways, not just visually. The visions are only one small part of the ayahuasca experience. Every ceremony is different. You will never have the same experience from ceremony to ceremony. You are 100% unique and different every time you come to ayahuasca. No matter what your experience is, everyone is still receiving a tremendous amount of healing, transformation and medicine. Purging Ayahuasca is a purgative, which means that it helps you purge or expel unwanted or afflicting energies. This includes emotional, mental and physical energy. There are many different kinds of purging in ayahuasca, and all are completely normal and part of the process. The most talked- about purges are the physical purges like vomiting and diarrhea, but these are just one part of the purging process. If anything negative comes up, that is the purge working; that is what is coming up and out of you. The experience of these energies is the release. Let them go and relax with the breath. Types of purging include: energetic, yawning, crying, laughing, bodily sensations, bodily movements/ shaking, intense emotions, mental turbulence, sweating, getting really hot or cold. When we purge, we are purging to love

19 Do your best to focus on releasing to love, rather than focusing on the negative elements of your experience. During this experience, the more you relax and focus on the icaros and your heart, the easier it is to release. Blue Morpho holds a space where fight, triumph, and struggle are no longer necessary; you can easily and effortlessly release anything back to love. If you experience a problem and need help or just need someone to talk to, please come to one of the shamans we are available 24/7. Tools to Use While in Ceremony Relax let the ayahuasca and the experience do what it needs to do. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is. Breathing long, slow, deep breaths. Focus on the icaros simply bring your mind to the shaman s icaro, like you would a song, and follow its energies. Water water is an amazing healing spirit/energy. If you feel like the effects of ayahuasca are getting too intense, call out agua or water and our helpers will slowly pour water over your head. We also highly recommend taking a shower to calm the experience. Movement it can be helpful to move your body with the rhythm of the shakapas and icaros tap your finger on your thigh, bob your head, etc.; this can be really helpful for keeping the energies flowing freely. We are always here to serve and help guide you during your stay with us do not hesitate to come to us for help. End of Ceremony Ceremony goes from 6:30pm until 11pm. The lights will be turned on at 10pm, but the ceremony will continue for another hour. The shamans will stay for this period of time to help settle the ceremony and bring it to a calm end. After the ceremony is formally concluded, you are welcome to go back to your room, have a swim, sit outside the ceremony house and look at the stars, or stay in the ceremony house and rest. You are welcome to sleep in the ceremony house many people do it is a nice space to sleep in after a ceremony. If you are still strongly feeling the effects of ayahuasca, stay in the ceremonial house until you are feeling stable and grounded. We ask that all new guests check in with one of the shamans before going to bed. It is okay to drink water and non- caffeinated tea when the ceremony is over. There is a tea and water outside of the ceremony house

20 Blue Morpho Ayahuasca Guidelines As I stated earlier, there are many different approaches and lineages that use ayahuasca. If you will be attending an ayahausca center, you want to find the one that best suits your personal needs and reasons for attending. The wide variety of styles and approaches makes it impractical for me to discuss them here. You need to research information on the different centers that reach out to you, and then take time to come to an informed decision about where to attend and why. The Blue Morpho experience is very unique, personal and powerful. Over the 14 years that we have been guiding and helping others through this experience, we have fine- tuned our approach to best serve the needs of our guests. Our principal concern is your safety and well- being. To this end, we have created some basic guidelines to follow. We hold a space of respect and non- judgment. This is important to allow you the freedom and space to be yourself and have the experience that you came here for. We create this safe container in order to support your process, no matter what is happening. It is also important that you give other guests the space they need to process their experience. This ensures that everyone receives the support they need during their stay. We are here to help. We encourage you to come and talk with the shamans at any time, for any reason. We are all trained to help guide you through this process. It is very common to have challenges manifest. We are here to help you through whatever is coming up. This space is built for YOU. If there is anything that you need to talk about, please do so. Food restrictions while at lodge: During your stay here, we ask that you only eat what we provide for you. Ayahuasca is a very sensitive plant medicine and it can react in unpredictable ways with other foods. Please limit ALL food intake to what we provide during meal times. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you have any food that you ve brought with you, we ask that you give it to one of the shamans for safekeeping. We will return it to you on the last day of the tour. This is for your safety and well- being. Recreational drugs and alcohol: No recreational drugs or alcohol are permitted during your stay. This includes other sacred plants (cannabis, san pedro, mushrooms, coca leaves, peyote, etc.) as well as any other street drugs (cocaine, heroin, meth, etc.). If you have brought any of these with you, please give them to one of the shamans or Blue Morpho staff. Pharmaceutical medications: Western medications are also restricted during your stay. There are two exceptions to this rule: malaria medication and birth control pills. If you are currently taking these medications, you may continue to do so, but please make sure you take them in the morning with breakfast. This allows ample time for your body to process them before drinking ayahuasca. If something

21 comes up during the tour where you feel you need to take any other pharmaceutical, please DO NOT take anything until you talk with one of the Blue Morpho shamans. Sexual activity is not permitted: We hold a very strict no sex policy while you are with us on tour, and ask that you abstain from sex for 3 days after the tour ends. This includes any kind of sexual activity: masturbation, kissing, fantasizing about sex, having sex in your dreams, etc. This also includes flirting or sexually suggestive behavior. Ayahuasca can open people s energies in intense ways. These energies are being worked- on and released. Sexual activity can disrupt and counteract this process. It is critical that you do your best to allow these feelings and energies to flow without engaging them. If you do develop an attraction for someone while here, please wait until the tour is over to explore what this is for you. If you are having trouble managing yourself and need to talk to one of the shamans, please do so. Promise to do no harm: We ask that you promise us and yourself that you will do no harm to yourself or others during the tour. If you are feeling that you may be a danger to yourself, it is vital that you come to us immediately. We will help guide you through the process to release these impulses. Remember, you are here for healing and positive transformation. Please stay at the lodge! There are guided jungle walks and boat rides offered throughout the week, but DO NOT go into the jungle alone or into the river at all. If you want to go into the jungle, only go on a guided trip or with one of the guides. The river is not swimmable the current is very fast, there are lots of debris and many kinds of biting creatures. Please remain in the lodge at all times unless you are on a guided trip. Guidelines For Days Between Ceremonies While the highlight of your experience may be centered on the opportunity to drink ayahuasca, much of the transformative and healing work happens during the day between ceremonies. At Blue Morpho, we consider the entire week with us a single evolutionary experience. There is very little differentiation between being in and out of ceremony. As the week goes on, you will understand more of what we mean by this. The physical effects of drinking ayahuasca can continue well beyond the ceremony into the following day. Even if you don t necessarily feel the effects, once the ayahuasca is in your system it will continue to work with you throughout the whole week and beyond. Purging also continues outside of ceremony. The spirits are working with you to bring to the surface whatever you are here to address, release, purge or experience. Because we hold the entire week as a single process, often what comes up during one ceremony isn t brought to conclusion until later in the week. Many times the movement generated in ceremony is just the beginning, while the bulk of your process is resolved during daytime hours. For this reason, it is common to have intense feelings, emotions, mental turbulence or challenges arise at any time. Know that this is a normal part of the process. You are still purging and the medicine spirits are still working with you. What you are experiencing is what is coming out and being purged. It is essential that you take care of yourself during your time here. Self- care is of primary importance. You have all the support here that you need. If you are ever experiencing something that you think you cannot handle, the shamans and staff are here to help

22 There are a number of things that we recommend to help keep the momentum of the medicine- work moving forward: 1. Getting enough alone time and social time: If you need time alone, please see that you are getting the time you need. Take care of yourself. Also be mindful that spending too much time alone may not be the best thing for you, even if you think that s what you need. People often form lifetime friendships here and it can be very supportive to interact and share with others when you need company or are having difficulty. 2. Talking to the shamans anytime you need to: The shamans are here for you. We are professionally trained to support and guide this experience, both in and out of ceremony. In many cases, just having a sit- down with one of the shamans is enough to help take the next step forward. 3. Daily excursions: The lodge staff leads at least two excursions each day. The guides are professional, bilingual, and offer a host of information on the jungle, local flora, fauna and culture. These trips are an excellent way to get your mind off anything that is troubling you, or simply to have a change of scenery. Ayahuasca is part of the Amazon jungle and it is great to get out and experience more of what the local area has to offer. 4. Maintaining lodge rules: As the week progresses, it is good practice to keep reinforcing the lodge guidelines. The experience can be very intense and leave you feeling pretty raw on the days following ceremony. Be mindful of your personal process while keeping yourself safe within the guidelines. 5. Swimming and regular showering: Just like in ceremony, water is incredible medicine for helping to smooth the ayahuasca experience. There is a pool at the center of the lodge for you to use. If you are feeling down, tired but unable to sleep, or simply need something to do, spend some time in the pool. It is also recommended that you take showers often. We suggest that you take cold showers as much as possible. The cold water can really balance the ayahuasca that s still moving through your system. 6. Physical activity: We often have yoga offered during the day. You are welcome to participate as you see fit. You may also do some other kind of physical activity that suits your needs. Be mindful that your physical body may not operate the same as it does at home. Only do what you can comfortably handle. 7. Getting enough rest: Sleep patterns can be very erratic and abnormal during your stay at Blue Morpho. Sometimes people are up all night and sleep only during the day. Some sleep in small chunks throughout the day but not at night. Some sleep very little, while others sleep much more than usual. Know that this is part of the process and do your best to get the rest you need. The general idea with all of these guidelines is to do what you need to in order to keep the process moving. The ceremonies initiate a kind of momentum within you. This is the transformative process. It is to your benefit to do what you can to harmonize with this movement instead of fighting or indulging in it. Let the journey unfold and be as kind and gentle with yourself as possible

23 Pre and Post- Ceremony Diet Info Before you participate in a sacred plant ceremony, there are some important ways to prepare. This preparation is key to ensuring a very productive and safe sacred plant experience. Part of the sacred plant experience includes some dietary and behavioral restrictions for the time leading up to, during, and after your ceremony. These restrictions are in place to help you receive as much as you can from the experience and to keep you safe. They act as safeguards for your overall health and help you prepare your mind, body and spirit. These standards are manifestations of traditional knowledge that guide and structure the experience of working with the plant medicines. Each Sacred Plant Medicine has its own traditional, culturally- based restrictions. Following these ensures a safe experience. Do the research first, and follow the guidelines before and after ceremony. In our lineage, we follow the same restrictions whether we are working with ayahausca or San Pedro. It is important to note that we follow the restrictions out of safety, not ideology or dogmatic belief systems. Our Recommendation: Before the Workshop The pre- tour restrictions include eating a clean and healthy diet that meets these guidelines: Refrain from overly sugary foods during the week of your ceremonies Refrain from consuming any sugar (including fruit) on the day of the ceremony Stop consumption of marijuana and alcohol at least one week prior to ceremony. For all other recreational drugs, please refrain from consumption for at least 30 days before ceremony. Refrain from eating pork for at least one week before ceremony. Discontinue use of all over- the- counter pharmaceutical medications at least one week before the ceremony* *IMPORTANT* For any prescription or over- the- counter medications that you are taking regularly, please contact the ceremony facilitator to discuss your personal situation. It is very important to disclose your entire medication history, as ayahuasca contraindicates with many different pharmaceutical substances. At Blue Morpho, we handle each person individually to ensure that you will be able to participate safely. During Your Retreat If you come on a retreat with us, all of your food requirements will be accommodated during your time at Blue Morpho. All of the food and beverages served during our workshops meet the guidelines of a safe ayahuasca diet; they contain no sugar, no red meat, no alcohol, and are prepared with lots of fresh vegetables and other local ingredients. You will be responsible for making sure that you consume only the food and beverages that we provide during the workshop. All other food consumption is prohibited. This also includes refraining from consumption of recreational drugs or alcohol, as well as any pharmaceutical medications that haven t been expressly permitted by us during the application process. The following foods should always be avoided in combination with ayahuasca: Meat that is not fresh, especially liver (fresh meat and fresh liver are safe) Smoked, fermented, pickled (herring) and otherwise aged or dried fish, lox; any fish that is not fresh Sausage, bologna, pepperoni, salami, corned beef Aged cheeses (cottage cheese and cream cheese are safe)

24 Protein extracts Liquid and powdered protein dietary supplements Brewer s yeast, yeast vitamin supplements, or yeast extracts Fermented tofu, fermented bean curd, fermented soybean paste, soy sauce Canned soups, or soups made with protein extracts or bouillon Miso soup (contains fermented bean curd) Shrimp paste Sauerkraut Fruits that are bruised or even slightly overripe, especially bananas and apples Raisins and other dried fruits, fig newtons, etc. Avocados, if ripe or overripe (slightly under- ripe avocados are fine in moderation). Guacamole should be avoided. All forms of alcohol, especially red wine, sherry, vermouth, champagne, brandy; beers and ales, including nonalcoholic; whiskey and liqueurs such as Drambuie and Chartreuse Dairy products that are close to the expiration date or that have been unrefrigerated (fresh yogurt is safe) Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Fava beans, especially if overripe Peanuts in large quantities Raspberries in large quantities Spinach, New Zealand prickly or hot weather in large quantities Chocolate in large quantities Caffeine in large quantities (note: in a few rare individuals, there may be a severe interaction with even small amounts of caffeine) Due to the nature of ayahuasca medicine practice, during the workshop you will also be required to abstain from any and all sexual conduct. This includes sexually suggestive behavior. This is essential to not only your safety but to gain the maximum benefit from your experience. We will talk on each of these points in greater detail during our first day at camp. After the Workshop One of the most exciting things about experiencing ayahuasca is that its medicine continues long after the physical experience. The spiritual energy and the transformative power of the medicine become a part of you, and you bring this with you as you venture out into your life. To guide and support this post- tour process of integration in a way that helps to maximize your well- being and continued growth, there are also some restrictions for you to adhere to. No sugar (including fruit) for three days after the final ceremony No sexual conduct of any kind for three days after the final ceremony No recreational drugs (including other plants) or alcohol for one week after the last ceremony No pork for 30 days after the final ceremony The Difference Between an Ayahuasca- safe diet and a Shamanic Plant Dieta One of the principal practices of Amazonian shamanism is what is known as la dieta, which translates to the shamanic diet. This is a very specific and well- defined period of time where an apprentice, shaman, or participant forms an agreement with one or more plants that he or she will "diet" the plant. The dieter is agreeing that the plant spirit will enter his or her body in order to teach, cure, and guide him or her. Shamanic plant dietas usually begin when the plants are ingested in the form of a mild tea. The participant is then meant to be in isolation with limited human interaction, eating a very bland diet and maintaining sexual abstinence for an agreed amount of time. The length and severity of these restrictions vary in accordance with the plant that is being dieted, the conditions and purpose of the dieta itself, and tradition. The

25 participant is meant to make contact with and learn directly from the spirit of the plant(s) being dieted. The dieta is one of the primary means of apprenticeship and training in Amazonian shamanism. The dieta is not the same as an ayahuasca- safe diet, which was outlined in the previous section. In other words, a diet that is safe to consume while drinking ayahuasca is not necessarily part of what is referred to as the shamanic dieta. The restrictions for and the commitment to the shamanic diet are more extensive, both during and after the workshop, than the requirements for drinking ayahuasca safely. The shamanic dieta has a very distinct focus, intention, and structure both physically and spiritually. At Blue Morpho, we offer ayahuasca retreats throughout the year and we also hold a few specialized workshops that are exclusively for shamanic dieting. These include medicinal tree diets as well as the Sanango diet. *All of this information is covered during each workshop. This page is for informational purposes only. Regarding your dietary and medical needs, you are advised to seek professional counsel before making any health or medical decisions. Shamanic Plant Dietas The shamanic dieta is a process of deep purification, transformation and learning within traditional Amazonian shamanism. It is an opportunity for you to commune directly with the plant spirits in the ancient traditions of the jungle. The focus of the workshop is on exploring and integrating the experience of the shamanic dieta in ways that translate to direct and meaningful changes throughout all aspects of your life. Shamanic dietas can be utilized for physical, mental, and emotional healing, as well as for spiritual growth, learning, and profound personal transformation. Shamanic dieting is one of the principal modalities of Amazonian plant- based healing and medicine practice. As part of Blue Morpho's unique approach, the practices of Amazonian shamanism are wielded to support you on your journey towards living a life filled with more love, beauty, joy and compassion. Where healing is just the beginning, this is an experience that transforms the entirety of who you are. The Dieta Process This powerful process begins with you and your connection to the physicality of the plants handling the medicinal tree barks, helping to prepare ayahuasca, ingesting the tree barks themselves and it continues as you develop a unique relationship to the plant spirits. Over the course of the week, your relationship with the plant spirits will deepen and evolve. As this happens, you will also evolve. The learning is direct, experiential and entirely based upon your own connections. The formal dieta initiates when you ingest the barks of several medicinal trees in a mild tea form. This transfers the energy and spirit of the trees into your physical body. The tree spirits offer their medicine, and through this communion they energetically transform and teach you from within. Once the bond is created, they become part of your entire being. You are then given the opportunity to develop your own style of relating to these spirits and their medicine. The result of this process is continued growth, learning, connection and communion for the rest of your life. The traditional shamanic dieta also consists of a carefully restricted food intake for at least 6 days. You can eat only a few very bland foods, such as green plantains, yucca meal, chicken, eggs, and one type of fish. No salt, sugar, or oil is allowed. This limited food intake purifies your body so that the spirits of the plants you are dieting can absorb and integrate within your entire energetic structure. You are offering the plant spirits your time, energy, dedication and focus; in exchange, you receive their medicine as the plant spirits teach and guide you

26 There are certain restrictions that you will have to follow during and after the dieta. For instance, during the dieta, you are not allowed to use soap, cosmetics, or toothpaste, and you must avoid direct physical contact with others (except for the shamans). After the dieta, you are not allowed to have ANY sort of sexual contact (including masturbation or fantasizing) for 30 days; and you cannot consume pork for at least 6 months. Dieters should stay in the shade (out of the sun) and spend most of their time relaxing (not hiking or taking part in any physically strenuous activity). You will also remain relatively secluded from non- dieters as much as possible. There are several other restrictions, and the shamans may provide additional guidelines that you should follow. Restrictions during the dieta at the camp: No western medications during diet at camp, including contraceptive pills and malaria tablets No cosmetics, including repellant, soap and tooth paste No strenuous physical activity No leaving camp unless as part of a specific group activity No touching anyone, including hand shaking and hugging No coffee or black teas (herbal teas are allowed) Only eat and drink what we serve during the diet, and only from your plate of food Restrictions after the shamanic dieta: No sex for 30 days No alcohol for 30 days No pork for 6 months No Western street drugs for 30 days Shamanic dieta activities during the workshop: Identifying and learning about each plant that you are dieting and how their spirits can help guide you. Talks with Maestro Don Alberto to help you understand the dieta experience from his perspective. Guidance to receive relevant insights, healing and knowledge from the spirits during ayahuasca ceremonies. Learning how to build lasting connections with the tree spirits that you will bring home with you and continue to learn from. River boat trips to experience the beauty of the surrounding jungle. Guided meditative jungle walks to help strengthen your connection to the plant spirits. The Commitment Traditionally, the shamanic dieta is only taken on by a shaman, shamanic apprentice, or as a part of certain types of healing. We suggest the dieta for people who are very interested in deep transformation through the practice of Amazonian shamanism. This requires full commitment on the part of the dieter. One of the most significant elements of the dieta experience is maintaining the 30 day and 6 month restrictions following your time here at Blue Morpho. This part of the journey is fundamental to allowing the plant spirits and their medicine to fully integrate into your body, mind and spirit. Your learning will continue during this time, and far beyond it. This is truly a remarkable, life- changing experience. Please ensure that you are committed to the whole process

27 Post Ceremony Evolution And Integration Once you have participated in ceremony, it is time to integrate. Unfortunately, this part of the process is often left out. The majority of the shamans and centers cannot offer this service. At Blue Morpho, we decided to answer the question of integration and offer support to anyone who has participated in Sacred Plant Ceremonies, regardless of where they participated. Your Sacred Plant Ceremony experience is much more than just your time in ceremony. In many ways, your journey with the medicine and its transformational power begins after your ceremony experience. Your intentions for taking this journey were not only to have the experience, but to have the experience be meaningful and directly applicable to your life back home. The transformation that occurs through ceremony can continue to reverberate and guide you for months and even years to come. It is important to keep this in mind and allow yourself enough time and space to let the process unfold. To help support your continued evolution, we have found that directly applying a variety of integration tools can be of tremendous value. Like your work with sacred plant ceremonies, it is your participation in and dedication to your own growth that plays the most significant role in transforming your life. Integration is ultimately what makes the changes you experience permanent, as what you integrate becomes a stable and lasting part of your daily reality. The integration is the transformation. The following section outlines three highly recommended programs and options that can support your integration and continued evolution once you have had your peak experience

28 Blue Morpho Video Integration Package The best decision to make after Sacred Plant Ceremonies This is Blue Morpho s Flagship Integration Process. When done with love and medicine, Sacred Plant Ceremonies are a gift that keeps giving. From participating in just a few ceremonies, you can continue to experience direct change in your life over the course of 6 months to 1 year. Integrating and guiding this ongoing process is the most important part of any life- changing experience. When you integrate, you make the change real, lasting, and complete. This is the moment to begin integration. Like the Sacred Plant Optimization Guide, the Blue Morpho Integration Package synthesizes the most important skills and activities for integrating Sacred Plant Ceremonies and Peak Life Experiences into a convenient video- based course. It can help you integrate any major life experience or transition, whether it originates in Sacred Plant Ceremony, a yoga retreat, a new job, a move or breakup, etc. Integration is the most important part of any life changing- experience, and now it is easy and straightforward with Activated Balanced Consciousness. This Integration Package includes videos that: Guide you to center, ground, feel and connect. Explain the process and the basic skills you need to integrate. Exemplify effective integration ceremonies. Lead you through guided meditations to relax, fall asleep, release anxiety and open up to the transformational process. Click Here To Begin Your Integration

29 Modern Shamanism Integration When you want to go one step deeper: Modern Shamanism Modern Shamanism is an online course and community that teaches core shamanic principles and tools for daily life enhancement. It is a holistic approach to shamanic life, encompassing mind, body, heart and spirit. It is a profound tool and program for anyone interested in learning shamanism, as well as anyone interested in personal growth and exploration. It is designed for the modern world and seeks to solve many of the problems that arise from modern culture's loss of shamanic practice. The course is available online, allowing you to access a lesson and activity each day. These activities include a variety of shamanic tools and practices that you apply directly to your life, as you live it. The movement of Modern Shamanism is to ultimately unite your normal life with your shamanism. This unification is the hallmark of a Modern Shaman. Some of the themes explored throughout the Modern Shamanism course include: Setting sacred space, conducting ritual Connecting with your guides and power animals Shamanic journeying Exploring different realms (Under, Upper, Divine) Performing your own soul retrieval and shamanic healing The Strata Dimension Spirit communication Personal transformation using spirits Geometry of spirits Advanced shamanic space Journeying in the Middle World Shamanic vision Learning powers and abilities Training your mind Perceiving life as a Modern Shaman Shamanic creativity Learning shamanic knowledge A natural extension of your work at Blue Morpho Tours, more information on Modern Shamanism can be found here: Modern Shamanism is a toolbox for facing everyday problems and turning them into solutions in the most harmonious way

30 When you return home, there are inevitably going to be challenges, whether this is in your relationships, at work, at home, in finances, with other people s negativities, or anything in between. The task of normal daily living can make these new self- realizations that you ve had difficult to put into practice. Modern Shamanism sets out to resolve the modern dilemma of life without spirit. It helps teach you the fundamental techniques required to create strong, positive connections with spirits so that you can better maintain harmony in your own everyday life. The Teachings Many of the techniques shared and used at Blue Morpho are available for you to further explore in Modern Shamanism. But as a gift and to aid in your post- tour integration, we would like to share with you the following five simple exercises. These exercises alone are only a peek into the realm of Modern Shamanism, but they are fundamental lessons that will help you build a strong foundation for your integration. Exercise #1: Grounding Exercise Intentional Walking This exercise will help bring you to a singular focus. In doing so, you quiet the story in your mind and break free of bombarding thoughts that seem to never stop. It recreates mindfulness so that you can return to your path. Often when we go through changes it is easy to get ungrounded and to rise up into our concepts about our life and experiences. When this happens we need to get back into our bodies and really stay connected to physicality. Here is one of the many simple Modern Shamanism grounding techniques that you can use to get out of the mind and connected once again to the earth. Get barefoot either outside or inside, whichever is practical. Connect to your feet and really focus on feeling them connected to the ground. Feel all sensations. Bring your mind completely to your feet. Walk around taking steps holding your attention on your feet. If your mind wanders, bring it back. Connect to the earth beneath your feet. In Modern Shamanism, we look at your habits as rituals or ritualistic behavior. It is something you do each day, the same way over and over again. If you are doing the same thing each day, you can t expect to evolve and integrate change. You have to change little by little how you live. Daily rituals offer immediate ways to change your day. Certain ones will help you connect to and maintain connection with spirits and guides throughout the day. Each activity reinforces spiritual connection and the evolution and integration of shamanic practice. These are simple ways to blend shamanic focus and intent with a modern life. The benefits of the shamanic practice are found in how you live all the time, and these activities bring the practice seamlessly into daily life. Exercise #2: Gratitude Statements First thing in the morning, begin with 20 gratitude statements. It is important to break free of our dualistic and negative thoughts. We constantly label things good and bad, and that prevents us from breaking free of negative experiences. For this reason, you should give thanks to 10 things you consider to be good as well as 10 things that you consider to be bad. Choose these 20 statements and repeat them each morning for at least 7 days. If you would like, continue for 30 days to really see how this simple exercise can shift your thinking

31 You can start your gratitude statements with: I am completely and totally grateful I am totally grateful for Exercise #3: Shower of Water Healing This shower exercise is like a cleansing shower for your soul. It s important for you to really reach down deep inside yourself to connect. You must use it as a tool to relax yourself and let go. In the shower (basic version): While entering into the water stream in the shower, invoke the spirit of the water. Say, I call on the spirit of the water to cleanse my body physically and to cleanse me energetically. Remove all energetic blocks and cleanse away any and all spiritual attachments. Free my body, mind and spirit. Focus as the water washes everything away and penetrates your being. Feel the water go into the depths of your body. Allow the spirit of the water to enter you and travel through your body, cleansing and reenergizing you. You may repeat this invocation and process as many times as necessary. You can repeat the saying verbally or inside your mind. Do whatever you feel connected to. Exercise #4: The Breath of Love The breath represents a flow of life force through your body. Without this energetic life force, you will experience a burning need for it. You will learn to harness the energy of life that brought you into this world. You ll understand air and you ll intentionally bring the pure life force into and out of you. The result is that it will continually ground you and center you. When you feel yourself getting tense, change your breathing patterns. Start taking long, slow, deep breaths. Inhale to the count of 4 and exhale to the count of 4 while focusing on the breath itself. Imagine that you are breathing in love and exhaling love. Do this for 7 breaths and relax as much as possible with each breath. Do this type of breathing before any activity that would normally be difficult or anxiety- provoking. Exercise #5: Affirmation Statements Affirmation statements are powerful tools when you focus and concentrate on what the meaning found in the statement represents. It is not enough to say them without being connected to their powerful meaning. Also, repetition is key. Say these statements throughout the day. When you do, focus on and be mindful of the meaning of the statement. As a Modern Shaman, you will learn how to gain the maximum power from affirmations. You will get benefit from these even if you just say them a few times, but feel free to continue connecting with their meaning as much as you can: I am the only one I can ever be I live in my heart and think with my mind I am worthy of love I am capable I integrate all change with grace and ease I love myself I am the giver and receiver of love. I give and receive love to myself from myself Click Here To Begin Modern Shamanism Now

32 By Being Here Integration Course Are you ready to be here, present, healed and centered? Most of us live in a world of distraction. Our incessant thoughts disrupt the experience of being HERE, centered, balanced, awake and alive. This is key to integration. By Being Here, presented by the Blue Morpho Foundation, transforms you into the kind of person that others are drawn to. It centers you in a way that makes you feel better and enhances the experience of everyone you interact with via the interaction itself. Imagine if you could feel completely at ease in a group of people and know that they like you because you are centered, relaxed, and present. To live free of social anxiety, fear, and emotional pain is a dream for many. By Being Here makes this possible! What Do You Need To Know To Get Started? By Being Here is a series of 90 transformative exercises presented one per day. Each exercise is designed to develop the focus we need to be present as we change how we feel, think, and experience life. Each exercise can be practiced whenever and wherever you are, taking only 10 minutes or less. They are calisthenics to awaken your mind and center your awareness. You will learn by doing, and you will begin to experience life and people in the ways you always wanted. 90 daily consciousness- shifting activities Helpful Daily Hints to trump fear and anxiety A road map to feeling your very best A dedicated community of like- minded people Instruction on how to find your Truth Click Here To Begin Your Transformation All proceeds from By Being Here go to fundraising for Blue Morpho Foundation's Cure PTSD Now initiative and are tax deductible in the U.S

33 In Gratitude Your decision and commitment to your own personal transformation is commendable. Each moment you spend dedicated to changing your life for the better is to be honored and celebrated. Each of those moments that you share as part of the Sacred Plant Medicine family is deeply cherished. We know how many challenges and obstacles can manifest on your journey to get here, so your presence and participation is a success in and of itself. We wish you continued excellence, healing, beauty, learning, and of course, all the love in the world. Our thanks and gratitude go out to you for shining your spirit. We look forward to working with you once again. - Blue Morpho Team Blue Morpho Foundation The Blue Morpho Foundation (BMF) is a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and humanity on all fronts. All proceeds go to fundraising for the Cure PTSD Now initiative and are tax deductible in the U.S. The Blue Morpho Foundation does not work with or endorse the use of medicinal plants. The BMF teaches via its core philosophy, the Blue Morpho Way, which serves as a guide to live life based in heart and love; this universal understanding can lead to the awakening of your ultimate truth. By engaging this path, the inevitable outcome is the merging of science and mysticism, physical reality with spirituality, and duality with oneness. The BMF is the manifestation of Blue Morpho Founder Hamilton Souther s dream and lifelong dedication to bettering humanity through shift in consciousness. One of the hallmarks of the BMF is that it makes mysticism practical. As such, our courses not only help you develop a stronger connection to love in your life, but also awaken personal healing, improved romance, transcendence of fear, confidence, financial growth and loving relationships. They are designed to be an all- around life improvement experience. You may find out more on the Blue Morpho Foundation by visiting: