14 days to go. Today’s preparation involves; How to Not Get Malaria. (WARNING This is a kind of mental overload one today; hard-core plant nerds only) So I’ve deliberated long and hard around the whole Malaria situation. If I get it before the ceremony, I won’t be able to have wood. Post-Iboga is inconvenient but less of an issue. There is 1 anti-malaria pharmaceutical safe to use with Iboga; Malerone, which I’ve been advised by the person leading us in to take. However he won’t be :P. Malerone is also used as treatment if one gets Malaria. It should be noted that in South East Asia resistance to ALL anti-malaria medications are reported. Symptoms of Malaria include; shaking chills, sweating, fever, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle pain - sounds like an Eboga trip! So telling the difference might be hard, at first anyway. After Iboga wears off you start to feel much better, malaria well, much worse.. Malaria isn’t a virus like I first thought, but a parasite by the name of Plasmodium spp. (there are 4 types). It spreads via the blood, and attacks the integrity of your own red blood cells multiplying and destroying, essentially. Sounds brutal. I have no intention of experiencing ANY of this mind you. This book ‘Herbal Antivirals’ is a Godsend. Well human-send actually. It’s extremely well researched, well-referenced, and easy to navigate companion for any herbal medicine practitioner or enthusiast. I use it and it’s partner ‘Herbal Antibiotics’ often as they explore, in detail, verified information around plants specific to a strain of bacteria or virus, breaking down into the constituents of plants and their actions. A must have natural medicine guide. Herbal medicine with proven anti-malarial actions include Boneset and Isatis. Boneset is from the family Composite, Genus Eupatorium, with tens of species, more commonly Eupatorium perfoliatum. Boneset is anti-inflammatory, Immunostimulating, Cytotoxic, Antiviral, Anti-plasmodium used specifically to treat malaria making it a midlevel antimalarial. There is too little information/studies on it with too much difference in spp. for me to be sure it’s safe with Iboga.. Isatis tinctoria from the Brassicaceae family is a broad spectrum antiviral, directly virucidal, inhibits viral replication, inhibits virus attachment to cells, potentiates the effectiveness of viral vaccines, is immune stimulating, anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory. It is the chemical component Tryptanthrin that is potently anti-parasitic against malaria. From its actions it appears to be safe with Iboga as a herbal medicine. Interestingly Elderberries (Sambucus nigra) have been shown to exasperate malaria by potentially activating Th1 cytokines. AVOID! Herbs with proven Plasmodium killing powers include: Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, which I definitely can’t mix with Iboga due to its QT-prolonging effects and the fungi… Cordyceps sinensis which is a potent immuno-adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, strengthener of heart beat, anti-arrhythmic, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, antiviral & anti-microbial with actions specific to Plasmodium spp. Cordyceps shows very low CYP450 inhibition YESSSS. This I definitely CAN use with Iboga YAYY A WIN. Also sounds like it would help support the entire body with the wood. Stories talk of the mushroom Iboga was served on, was it Cordyceps!? Lesson today is; get some Cordyceps & research Isatis PRONTO to make sure it doesn’t have anthraquinones in it - big no no (I feel like it might as it's used as a natural dye and so are anthraquinones) (I’m taking the Malerone with me; trust Allah but tie thy drugs to my back…) --------------- 13 days to go. Today's preparation involves TUNING IN TO MY BODY. I have been really busy at work & in the garden, readying my nest and my various projects for thyme away. And it’s also become a useful distraction to busy my mind away from what’s really going on. Which is fear. To be honest I'm feeling quite anxious about the wood journey the closer it comes to me. I had wood recently to be in communication with it. It was a very smooth experience, lower dosing than Bwiti style. It actually brought up anxiety on the journey as I saw myself in Gabon amidst a marathon of Eboga. It was the first moment I really felt in my body how intense this whole reboot is. It was also the ‘easiest’ experience I’ve ever had on wood with not only clear visions, but an dynamic dialogue of interaction between us; good material and a sensitive nervous system. So I am reminding myself now how dear a friend this plant has been to me. And building our trust together, rather than doubting its presence in my life. Eboga may be direct, but it’s spirit is very loving and caring. As if an old ancient tree with the enthusiasm of a toddler yet patience of a grandfather was stirred from its sleep, to tell you the secrets of the universe. We can hardly keep up with the density of information this giant condenses and dumbs down for our human processes to compute. After conjuring up such a giant, you can hardly go to bed after just a cuppa, nope, you guys JUUUST dropped acid and the night has only begun. He keeps you there reminiscing about the past and clearing the brain junk so that you might actually experience a moment of true connection and absolute clarity towards this Cosmic giggle. Long after you are too tired to think anymore let alone care, wishing he would just go to bed Eboga is still there rattling away stories, but he begins to drift with you into colour and flow. But not to fear, Eboga keeps you entertained with sporadic witty commentary on life as it jams star-data in your skull. A slightly soothing touch amidst the storm that is a meta-analysis of your psyche. You are acutely aware of how overwhelming it all is, yet simultaneously completely (dare I say peacefully?) detached from it. Each moment lasts lifetimes, yet when the morning dawns you can't understand how fast the night passed. This is the master plant medicine guru. I feel better already! Channelling courage & strength today. Oh I pulled this card whilst embodying this feeling. --------------- 12 days to go. Today's preparation involves; ADVENTURE! In the form of an epic bike ride (epic in the form of angles not distance; I live in the hills). Mmmm I love the sedation of cardio exercise. Endorphins are mildly addictive to me, super helpful for bringing the energy down out of my brain and into my body. Where I much prefer to reside... A 40 minutes bike ride through the beautiful Sunny Coast hinterland, followed by yoga, balance and handstand/headstand practice in the wintery sunshine, and a 40 minute ride home. I can officially now say I feel lazy. Something I rarely feel. For me, I find the hardest part about Eboga eating to be the physical endurance and strength it asks of me to work with the plant in such a beneficial way. I tend to need to drink coconut water throughout the journey to keep my energy up or else I can collapse into an exhausted puddle unable to sit myself up to purge. After countless experiences working with this master plant medicine teacher I know to be strict with myself. If I feel sick I get up and enter into the purge, even when I have no energy to draw from I create it. Iboga is a big journey and I find if I prepare for our sessions, with a strong heart and cardiovascular system, I keep up better & integrate more into my being. If I see something challenging I don't look away, I know Iboga will just rewind and repeat til I get it anyway (not to worry if you can't manage this though, as there is so much lesson for both you & the plant in learning from the way that you react and respond). I try to go right into the shadow if it's presented to me. For too long in my life I have looked away from the painful things in hope to avoid pain, but this has kept my aversions in my periphery, dragging attachments around with me (this is where the high functioning anxiety comes from). Where consciousness goes, energy flows. With a solid grounding and safe home to launch from, it serves me well to look my murky shadowy bits right in the eyes, and penetrate beyond story. To follow the uncomfortable feelings and make home in me. --------------- 11 days to go. Today I am feeling super sleepy. Like I am between the dream world and this world. It's hard to clear my mind. So I'm listening to music, and allowing myself to be slow and steady. Plans are for deviating away from. I trust in the flow of the universe, where it's leading me, how it holds me. It's as if this song were Eboga speaking to me. "My little life bound friend, where have you gone? Who set you down, do you remember from where you were born? This little life bound body that you keep, It's never yours, was never yours.." Listen here: Ayla Nereo - Life Bound Friend --------------- 10 days to go; yay nearly single digits. Today looked like this: more singing. I find it grounding to say the least. I finally feel I am moving beyond the nerves and into this super excited space. I feel capable, willing, and ready. Bring it on world. Watch here:Wayfaring Stranger --------------- 9 days to go; SINGLE DIGITS :O Today I've been thinking about dreams, a lot. I lucid dreamt again, which I do fairly regularly (once a month?). In this dream I awoke to my own consciousness at Uluru, a huge sacred rock in the red centre offo Australia. The heart. I used to live out there and it was amazing to re-kinnect with true Australia. When I knew it was a dream I began exploring the land in wonder and joy. Until I met the edge of the dream. This is a common theme in a certain layering of dreaming for me. That the dream has a scene, set & storyline and freewill only can be exercised within the boundaries (there are ways around this though :D). 3 times now in the many lucid dreams I've had over the past years I have been told by a voice, not my own, that answers my struggles and tells me the 'Code of Conduct' in dreamland and tricks to hack the matrix. 1st voice showed me the boundaries of the dream 'You can go to there, at the edge of the forest'. As if the simulation ceased to exist past there, which was true, I would hit a wall. 2nd time I tried to jump dreams dramatically and was unable to, as I tried waves erupted around me trying to drown me. A bodiless woman told me "You can't upset the dream that much, stay within the story, it has something to teach you". Now I know both of those truths and test them often. When I met the edge of this dream and all began fading to white, I just walked backwards and everything came back into focus. It was then that I was told by an old woman's voice to, "Find the source of water in the dream". I can't shake this from my mind now and can't wait to remember this one next lucid dream! --------------- 8 days to go, 7 days to go. If time isn’t real, why am I imagining it speeding up? Yesterday I received some unconscious feedback from a friend, reflecting on me. I say reflecting but since it came out of intoxication, it was probably more accurately judgement. It was a medicine circle that I had, for the first time ever, decided to share some live music at. I was very nervous, as when I sing I feel super vulnerable, no matter how confident my ego pretends to be, I greatly fear the rejection or judgment of those around me in that vulnerable space. Hearing this remark about my poor display of music even years on really hit me in the heart yesterday, and reminded me of my soft spots. I felt hurt. I had this upset dialogue playing out that I will never be enough, and starting listing all of the things I give to try to prove this outdated opinion wrong. I soon decided that this really wasn’t worth my energy (as if I need to prove my worthiness!? please..) and kind of laughed at how small minded the whole thing was. Humans are kind of annoying, living in a constant state of agitation and expectation for the world to satisfy it. Not my monkeys, not my circus. I also had to spend a bit of time reminding myself how happy I am that I do try, that I haven’t given up and criticise those that do, with full knowledge that this world is both kind and cruel. Self parenting this child-like primate-mind. Today I received the most beautiful email from a girlfriend who sat circle with me last year, full of poetry and reflection of her experience. I resonate with it so much, her personal journey with the plant, her lessons, her joy and gratitude. It brought tears to my eyes, and goosebumps all over my body. This is why I do this ‘work’. Oh to be in purpose is such a gift. And that gift is a challenge en route to more gifts. Now I just can’t stop laughing, life is this ridiculous miracle (like WTF I just woke up in this monkey suit!?) and it’s such a power to hold it in full spectrum. In these moments, I feel the weight of the universe flowing through me effortlessly. I am in gratitude and honour to be in its presence. <3 #malaria #antimalarial #boneset #isatis #cordyceps #licorice #plasmodium #malerone #eboga #iboga #ibogapreparation #plantmedicine #music #exercise #passions #luciddreaming #dreaming #matrixhacking #selflove

21 days of preparation for Iboga (way more actually, trust me I’ve been preparing all year!). But now for the time to go into acute body mind spirit preps. I will be focusing on unlocking my intentions and clarifying my mind, preparing my body physically with herbal medicine, diet & acupuncture, and fully activating my spirit through dream recording, body movement, and song. Each day I will post the focus on my preparation, and in 3 weeks I will disappear into the jungles for about 3 weeks. For me, the ceremony begins today in ways. The day I leave is New Moon (perfect) and the ceremony will conclude for me at the turning of the New Moon in July, just before my 27th birthday. The timing of the entire Initiation is beyond perfect. I’ve kept my day by day preparation blogs here, to have an example of what herbal medicine & plant medicine preparation can look like. ---------------------- 21 days to go. Preparation today involves herbs & supplements. Pre-Iboga I focus on particularly on: - High strength Milk Thistle for liver support; the ibogaine is metabolised into its also potent & active metabolites by the liver, so it is important that this organ isn't too overloaded and working concisely. Liver disease is a exclusionary factor for Iboga. - Magnesium in a bioavailable form such as this one; Mg Citrate. This offers cardiovascular support which helps strengthen and prepare the heart for the intensity to come! The wood is a strong heart medicine, and lengthens the heart's QT interval, which can become dangerous if the heart is prone to abnormal sinus rhythms or any medications & foods are also doing this at the time. Clear electrical communication throughout the cells and nervous system are also a plus with Iboga, and Mg being an electrolyte is integral for this. - Gut mix: I use diatomaceous earth, psyllium husk, clay and Golden Seal. Please note Golden Seal will interact with Iboga, being a cytochrome p450 inhibitor. Substances that inhibit liver enzymes will also affect the breakdown of ibogaine. They MUST NOT be combined. I will stop using the Hydrastis soon. Having a clear digestive track, and regular bowel motions is an important preparation pre-wood. You don't want to be constipated and have the wood sitting in your bowels risking impaction. If you also have rapid & chronic diarrhoea it will be hard to gauge the dose that has metabolised. IBS and IBD can be exclusionary factors for these reasons. So that's today for me! Next week I'll stop the Golden Seal, for now it's helping to heal my guts as a potent natural medicine. --------------------- 20 days to go. Preparation today involves NOT DRINKING CAFFEINE>>> I find this helps! ALOT. Chai mmm based on rooibos, not black tea. It's important to remove stimulants from the system pre-wood. And yes, caffeine is a stimulant. When you have the wood, you become acutely aware of how you have tuned your nervous system in general and especially the last month. The less sharp stimulation, the smoother the experience. And since Iboga is a jittery experience in itself, smooth is welcomed. People become quickly addicted to caffeine, and also quickly desensitised to just how stimulating it is. Having caffeine with cardamon, ginger and gentle aromatics helps for sure. But ultimately, anything consumed daily becomes habit and the body relies on it for maintaining the baseline, to regulate the bowel, for energy and so forth. Best for occasional use only. I find the ritual of drinking a warm soothing morning cuppa something habitual and self-soothing and, hey, enjoyable in itself, so I use caffeine free chai as a replacement. This has helped me to quit both coffee and caffeine now. Highly recommended. Rooibos is a herb form the South African plant Aspalathus linearis with a yummy earthy flavour and low tannin content. High in antioxidants it's said to lower blood pressure, help with stomach cramps, improve insulin response, and is good for the kidneys as a herbal medicine. https://www.freshchaico.com.au/c…/caffeine-free-masala-chai/ --------------------- 19 days to go. Preparation today involves; tuning in with family. What's the deal? Why is it so important? Why is it so hard to walk away from? How does this relate to our mission on Earth to birth ourselves fully? For me, a major theme for this year is family. I've made a point of it in the preparation for Iboga; a plant that strips back your ego, and designed perceptions of self, down to the roots of your lineage to the real deal Self. After honouring & celebrating the passing of my granddad this weekend, today has been a wash of love and gratitude to family. I'm just reflecting on the feeling I am embodying in a kind of raw way. Super emotional download, definitely triggered something deep as I got teary, yet blissed throughout. <3 deep and big from my heart today. Listen here: Ancestry & Iboga --------------------- 18 days to go. Preparation today involves; MUSIC! Singing is essentially all my body wants of me right now. mmmmm Ode to Iboga; a chant I wrote over a year ago for an instrument I didn't yet have access to. I do now thanks to my new shruti box. Here is [part thereof] a dedication to the great spirit that animates all life. I have acquired, on this journey. I have acquired a self, on this journey. More than I can carry. Once I know it served me; thank you for your teaching. Now it's time to leave me... Watch here:Ode to Iboga --------------------- 17 days to go. Preparation today involves; 🥥🥥🥥 COCONUTS! (Any excuse really, the 2nd most divine Earth food, after Cacao of course mmmmmm). It's important to have an over-abundant electrolyte count pre-wood. Why is that so incredibly important? As in life-saving level important.. Electrolytes are minerals with ionic charges. For us great apes this includes Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Bi-carbonate, Chloride, and Phosphate. These charged up constituents regulate the electrical charge of the fluid in and around cells, & therefore regulate the flow of nerve impulses from brain to body, from cell to cell. Electrolyte osmosis through the body; the flow of ions in a liquid medium. Drinking too much water that is deficient in electrolytes will actually pull minerals from the body to maintain balance. Iboga inhibits Potassium, Calcium and Sodium channels. If you are deficient in these minerals this increases your risk of a cardiac arrhythmia as the body’s muscles need all 3 of these minerals to contract. The heart is a big muscle, relying on your intake of minerals to prevent weak or excessive contraction aka a heart attack. So not to fear! Coconut saves the day as a natural medicine. You can turn around a low electrolyte count in just 3 days of AGGRESSIVE supplementation. So I’m drinking 1 a day now. Plus using this as an excuse to eat more coconut oil, coconut butter and flesh where possible. Food of the Gods. Did you know you can use fresh coconut water in an emergency drip as IV fluids as it’s sterile inside that nut! However the potassium levels are quite high so this is last resort blood; some people have died and had negative side effects as it’s not identical to blood plasma. Still kind of cool. 🥥🥥🥥🥥 ❣️❣️❣️❣️ --------------------- 15 days to go. Today’s preparation involves; Not freaking out that I miscounted and lost a day. Okay after not freaking out. Gardening! I live off plants and herbal medicine, in gratitude for the abundance they offer me, and anyone who honours them actually they don’t mind as long you as respect their needs. Plants are so freaking cool & easy going that they essentially grow themselves with just a bit of this and that. Turning such a small thing, a cutting, a seed, into a huge something, which then seeds into sometimes hundreds of plants. That’s some good profit margins there. Plus offering shade to conserve moisture, carbon and nutrients into the soil, food & medicine for eaters of plants.. Okay enough about how much I love plants. In my reality, I may not have any pets (well I do have a duck that refuses to acknowledge my authority & has kind of disappeared…) or children. But I do have a tonne of plants. In the ground. In pots. And going away is always a stressor in regards to HOW TO KEEP THE PLANTS ALIVE. I’ve gotten a lot better as the years ripen. I now have automatic watering systems in place, but as the seasons change, and water levels, it’s a work in progress. Too much water, too much sun, what if a wind hits how much faster will they dry? Fortunately I watch the plants day in and day out, seeing how they are responding to the life force. And have a pretty good idea as to what time it is in my little plant world. Plant medicine and the natural world is how I map time passing. Here’s to not coming home to dead bodies of botanical friends. But if so, just plant more gardens. #eboga #iboga #ibogapreparation #plantmedicine #coconut #caffienefree #milktthistle #goldenseal #magnesium #gardening #music #passions

I consider dreaming to be one of the most important experiences in my day, it most certainly is what I most look forward to nuzzling into bed; another adventure. 7-9 hours of psychoanalytical time with oneself nightly, gently, powerfully and restoratively is invaluable. An opportunity for self reflection and Self kinnection. Here are my main takeaways from dreamstates: 1. LUCIDITY: Dreams teach us free-will and how to use it. They remind us of the plasticity of life. Our abilities to manifest quickly and effortlessly in the dream-realm apply to the heavier densities of the physical ‘waking’ world, but it takes clarity, focus & training in the use free-will (how to use it, how to abuse it) helping to experience the direct connectivity between our mind-manifestations & experiences. What could be more powerful than remembering that you are somewhat asleep and choosing to wake up? 2. COMMUNICATION: Tapping into information that our ‘conscious’ minds are not prioritising, blocking out, or just not able to access in physicality. Information bubbles up from the deep layers of our own psyches, and in from the cosmos, revealing fragmented aspects of ourselves in need of integration, informing us of likely potentials that are solidifying into the physical as or before they occur based on our current choices (this allows us to experience the consequences of our actions & change directions), and a general all access pass to interacting with everything within (& without) the realms of imagination including communing with ancestors, animals, plants, spirits, allies, enemies, and Earthly people just too far away to hang out with day to day :). Think healing trauma & finding forgiveness without needing anyone (dead or alive) as a third party. Think time travel for unlocking memories. How about hanging out with friends & family on the other side of the world? 3. TRAINING: Levelling up, practicing mad human skillz, & general spirit-mind-interface hacking of ze matrix. As one begins to access more free-will, remember their lucidity, and consciously communicate with their surroundings, what could be done with with that? Upgrades! Human 2.0 is just the beginning in the dream-state, where you can consciously conjure up anything, practice living your dreams in a place of time distortion to see how they feel before waking them into physical reality and explore the inner workings of your own mind, where it fits into & how it interacts with the universe to essentially write the manual for your life. This is where one can quickly & safely learn the tricks of awareness & lucidity to heal, grow, change, and become. Maybe you’re dreaming, and if you wake up how will you know that this dream is over? Start waking up to yourself in the physical, see how it is reflected in the clarity of your dreams, teaching you greater human adaptability, for deeper dream awareness, and so it goes for seamlessly endless potential. One constant stream of awareness.. Dreaming is a free and natural medicine teacher! #dreaming #luciddreaming #freewill #human2point0 #sovereignty

As natural earthly beings we share the Earth as Common heritage. What we all have in common, is Earth. We need to stand up for what we stand on. About 5 years ago, my dearest friend invited me to participate in a Foundation that he had established, essentially an idea that birthed through him to return us to our roots, our birth rite. I joined the cause, and became an integral participant in this movement, little did I know at the thyme of saying Yes. Those kind of YESes lead to good places me thinks. The FreeEarth Foundation is a Private (not PUBLIC), non-government and not-for-financial-profit organisation. It has been established in a way that it cannot be owned, merely directed by a team of volunteer Principal Participants that make decisions for the direction of the movement, me being one of those! :). Our guiding principle is; terra nullius redux – return to the land belonging to no-one. We do not observe land ownership. Due to the law of impermanence everything is temporary, thus ownership especially over something as vast and wyld as land is absurdity. Fixation or stagnation on an illusion of privatisation. To own is to be owned. We observe stewardship, custodianship, but we go a step further into a space where no hierarchy of control is required. Consider recoginising the sovereignty of nature itself, nurturing itself, aware of itself, we are not looking down unto it caring for it, but across to it all around us, apart of it. We share space, to co-habitat for one another in sustenance and flourishment. We recognise this as our sovereign rite as members of Earth. A co-habitation of mutual respect. We have various projects that support human expression and advancement in the arts sciences, and humanities, especially sustainable food & energy production. We are clear in our vision, and make a point to invest in ethical and conscious creations. We are therefore supported in our actions. We personally donate much of the finances that we create to the Foundation to see it blossom. It has been a beautiful journey thus far seeing it grow up beside us. It is also humbling to work for donations, giving as one is willing and able to do so, rather than exchanging time for work that one is not interested in for money that can't buy back time. Did I mention how supported we are? This mentality, this reality is creating a bundle of wealth for FreeEarth to invest into land; the jewel. As FreeEarth cannot be owned by individuals, this land will be held under a community of people aligned in the intention to let go of the old paradigm of fear, scarcity and ownership, and co-operate under the new reborn paradigm of custodianship, abundance and respect for the land. We do not participate in win-lose exchanges, which is really lose-lose when you zoom out. We co-create exchanges that benefit all parties involved and, utilising clear communication, negotiate life together. FreeEarth is accomplishing this goal (and more) without creating mortgage, a binding contract of debt 'til death. By investing in win-win realities, we experience exponential growth in our abundance. To read more about this movement please check out our website below: (to be updated to its private domain soon & the link will be adjusted). www.freeearthfoundation.wordpress.com #FreeEarthFoundation #suveranlore #sovereignty #plantpersonhood #natureteacher

Another day on Earth, another Earth Day. "Of this earth I walk, creation is what feeds my soul." Yesterday we celebrated Earth Day, here on the blue planet on the 22nd of April. April is quite the month of celebrations for herbies, with Herbalist Day last week on the 17th (Happy belated Herbalist Day fellow plant lovers!). So what can we bring into our lives with these natural medicine reminders over the turn of the seasons? "Only happy when you've got it only makes you miss the journey." Autumn is in full swing here on the Sunshine Coast. There's a chill in the evening air, a freshness to the morning crisp, the days are creeping shorter and there's a breeze sweeping past each day, in true Autumnal style. Letting go of the summer warmth with its long hours of light, knowing winter is coming and it will be many moon cycles 'til Spring, is part and parcel of being present and riding the waves of Earth. Showing up to today, waking up, rising up, and cultivating gratitude for our lives on this beautiful planet is how each of us can show respect to nature and ourselves on Earth Day, remembering nature isn't just a far away escape to the forest, it's all around us, the cityscapes, our homes, we are nature. And natural medicine is our birth rite. "Home is what Mother Earth has given you, and Mother Nature makes us individual." It can be challenging tuning in to the present moment. There is so much freedom today and yet so much disconnection from the consequences of our choices. We are simultaneously more connected on a global scale and yet isolated from one another and aspects of ourselves, our Earth. It's hard to deny that the health of our home is asking us to pay attention, to take responsibility over her, over ourselves. Reality is, trying to change the world is an overwhelmingly feat, and a sense of already losing shadows our ability to even try, we resign to apathy. Never underestimate the ability to change one life, your life, and the exponential rippling effect this has on your family, your friends, your community. If every person just took responsibility over their own choices, we would all be sorted. What can you do for yourself, to cultivate greater health for happiness today? "Doing nothing is an easy choice." Earth Day reminds us of our commonality, our shared land, our one home, that has lived long before us. Thyme to rise up people and be here for our journey through space on this garden of a rock, a blink in the universe. Yes; let's learn from our history. Yes; let's consider where we are going. But if we project ourselves forward to a time of resigned destruction or hopeful Eden, are we empowering ourselves to respect this planet? Are we distracting ourselves from our custodianship with her? Are we fuelling anger, guilt, escape? Be here, now, and make it count. #earth #motherearth

“I hear the answers appear when you just stand still.” Missy Higgins As I reflect on the past 4 days spent in silent meditation, I feel a deep sense of peace in myself. In my place in my body, with perfect timing and placement. I remind myself of the experience of impermanence, in the field of mind and matter, the one we reside in most days. It is so clear that it is my own attachments that leads to the suffering and that I am the chief cause and liberator of my own suffering with my awareness and reactivities. A lifetime, how many life times, or programmed responses to what it based on what was, what isn't. Each day I practice sitting with these responses, digging a little deeper into their whereabouts, and letting go, always letting go. Rising and passing away. Whilst I don't completely resonate with the entirety of the Buddhist world view on the topic all that earth life is suffering (this I don't dig..) and the only way to liberate us from suffering is through a path of attachment (this is dig!) which ultimately leads to non engagement (this I don't dig..) to the point of transcendence (this is dig!). I feel there a time in our lives, especially as we grow older with the passing moments, as we begin to fade into the waking dream, to become more and more internalised, introverted and quiet about things, it's fitting; natural even. And I feel there is also a time for engagement and riding the waves of elation and pain, balancing acceptance of what is yet non-complacency and determination to make positive change. That we are here in the perfect blend of atmosphere and elements to co-create wonders. Here the Buddhist precepts of not causing disharmony to ourselves and one another is a good guidance in how we go about these revolutions. So I utilise these reminders and skills to cultivate loving detachment as I continue to show up with my heart's vulnerabilities eager to feel, to explore, to bruise, to mend, all with one stream of awareness running through me. I am one conscious river or consciousness experiencing its own consciousness flowing and interacting with itself. I am the witness of my own existence. I am the manifest of the un-manifest. I surrender to the subtleties of nature’s medicine. #meditation

Things I’m hoping to learn from my thyme in the jungle from an ethnobotanical and sustainability point of view, on this plant medicine path; - Iboga scarcity - how real is this issue based on decline in animals spreading seed (elephants), environmental concerns and over-harvesting? - Harvesting sustainably - is there a way to harvest the root bark without killing the plant and is this actively used as a method? - Sustainable cultivation of Iboga by communities - how to move forward with this to set up community based plantations? - The age of plants - what age are most plants being used and is there a difference in the quality and medicinal value of the plants as they grow older? - African herbal medicine - what other herbs are being using in traditional Gabonese herbalism, separate to Iboga and in particular synergistically with Iboga? - Creation stories around Iboga within the spiritual context of Bwiti and connection to the spirit realms, dream world, ancestor planes and devas. - Active fungi - Iboga mythology mentions a mushroom that sometimes the Iboga is to be served on, any links to active fungi in the area or use of psilocybin containing mushrooms used as herbal medicine? - Female and male Iboga plants - which ones are used for which plant medicine purposes and why? - Cousins and cultivars or Tabernanthe iboga - are there other Ibogas that offer similar constituents and how are they used similarly and differently as herbal medicine? - Particular medical and cultural uses of Iboga as natural medicine - General seed collecting, information gathering and kinship forming Any plant heads out there want to add to this list please get in touch. Or have the answers to my questions. Opening a plant portal.. #iboga #fungi #ethnobotany #travel #Gabon #sustainability #plantmedicine You can buy Eboga Flower Essence | Tabernanthe eboga

In 3 months time I will be staying in an exceptionally isolated rural village in the Gabonese jungles. Right in the heartland of West-Central Africa. I’ll be learning more about one of favourite plant medicine allies; Tabernanthe iboga, and to do this I will be going through an initiation process held by the mothers of the Mabanji tribe that I’m staying with, so I will become an apprentice of the Women’s sect of Bwiti-Boumba Mabanji (the women’s way). Bwiti is open to all people, and Iboga is a sacrament of transition into this world view, used as a natural medicine and agent of insight. Initiation involves a week of song, dance, celebration, and ceremony. There will particular herbal medicines and foods that I must eat, and practices of cleansing that I will undergo to enhance the communication with the plant spirit. The Mabanji are of mostly Pygmaea ancestry, and since Iboga use has been learned through the Pygmaea use, this particular tribe is practising a very ancient lineage of ceremony and plant medicine use. I can barely contain the levels of nervous excitement I feel, readying myself for the unknown potentials about to unfold around me and become me. I am ready, I am open. More to come! As I will be filming aspects of the adventure to compile a mini-documentary of the realness and rawness of this whole crazy endeavour. 
Vlogging and blogging this amazing opportunity. Stay tuned! #iboga #Gabon #ethnobotany #plantmedicine #travel #mabanji

If you've spent any face-to-face time with me you may have noticed the series of small dots of scars somewhat delicately lining my arms and legs, reminders from my extensive Kambo use. For your information, not all people wear their Kambo markings for so long, I just happen to have fast keloid production and heal quickly forming small white raised scars. I have always been fond of them, reminders of each episode I have surrendered myself to the hands of an ancient natural medicine, and let go of more layers of my story, my attachments, and my pains. Kambo is the Amazonian frog Phyllomedusa bicolor, also known as the Giant Monkey Frog. It resides deep in the jungles of the Amazon, and is a large, green, docile frog with no predators. This is due to the strong excretions of poison that it permeates from it's glands, making for an effective defence system and a life free from fear. These excretions hold great value to different tribes of Amazonia, who have for may centuries followed the call of the frog after the rains, and gathered this poison from the frog's glands before returning it to the wyld, making sure to not hurt the frog, which is considered bad luck. The white sticky excretions are then dried over a fire onto the wood of Capirona tree also known as Mulateiro, Latin name Calycophyllum spruceanum. This large jungle tree holds medicinal value in unto itself, being used as an antifungal and antimicrobial herbal medicine. The venom is now wrapped up in dried leaves on the stick, and able to be reactivated with water for medicinal use when needed. The Matses are a well known tribe working with Kambo, but a few other tribes utilse this natural medicine as well including the Ticuna, Matis, Kanamari, Kaxinawa, Katukina, Kulina, Yaminawa, and Marubo, ranging across Eastern Peru to Western Brazil, and from Northern Bolivia up to Southern Colombia & Venezuela as well the Guineas. Using the ember of a small stick, small holes are burnt into the skin, to remove the first superficial layer to reveal the pink skin underneath. Small dots of Kambo poison are then applied topically to these holes, also known as 'gates' and remain there for the duration of the process. This is the only way Kambo is applied, it is not ingested. And now for the potential natural medicinal value. What's it all for? Well such a revered and respected animal is giving these tribes a lot. There are stories of Kambo presenting itself to the Matses in an Ayahuasca vision at a time when their tribe was strife with illness, or so I’ve been told. The healing potential of the venom allegedly saved their tribe. Kambo venom is full of a multitude of identified opioid peptides, some of which cross our blood brain barrier and act on our own endogenous opioid system. It has powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral and immune stimulating/modulating actions on our bodies as well as understudied analgesic actions and anti-addictive and resensitising properties specific to opioid dependency. When used in combination with ample water (2-3L drunk immediately before use) this natural medicine has the potential to detoxify the whole system including the liver and biliary pathways, as it triggers both the immune response, as well as all eliminatory pathways, whilst holding strong in it's antimicrobial and antiviral nature to prevent pathogens from re-attacking. When properly hydrated pre-Kambo this gives the body an opportunity to flush heavy metals from cells, move toxins stored in the lymph and re-adjust its immune response to fight embedded virus', parasites' and autoimmune conditions. A small dose of poison can trigger the immune system to wake up and get moving. “The difference between a medicine and a poison is the dose,” according to herbal medicine genius Paracelsus. I liken it to how the painful injection of histamines that Nettle, when used as herbal medicine, offers through being touched. It re-sensitises and re-tunes the body's fight against itself in the autoimmune condition of arthritis. Whilst under the influence of Kambo one can experience a range of signs of detoxification including diaphoretic, pyretic, emetic, swelling of the face, and peristaltic symptoms. All of which begin promptly after the administration of Kambo, and most of which stop soon after removing the poison. Kambo works so hastily on the body by moving through the lymphatic system, accessible just under the skin. Traditionally it is used as a natural medicine to treat bad luck, mind fog, illness, lack of purpose, even naughty kids. Panema is the state of mind fog and disillusionment that disconnect you from your path. in modern times can translate to depression and mental states of disharmony. Alongside this it can be a powerful adjunct therapy in other diseases including post-viral fatigue, autoimmune conditions, addiction recovery and poor immunity. If you're thinking by this point you may benefit from the healing power of Kambo, just remember it is necessary to receive Kambo from an experienced provider, as Kambo is nothing short of hard core. It is a heart medicine, physically strong on the heart, and not appropriate for people on heart medicines, with a history of heart disease or with high blood pressure. To surrender to this experience, you need to be in the hands of someone you feel safe to be guided by, and able to follow their direction. You must be fully hydrated before hand with mineral rich water to prevent the seriousness that states of depleted electrolytes can induce. By following these simple & strict guidelines, Kambo becomes an option for many people to address the states of disharmony inside their bodies from a completely holistic perspective. Viva la Kambo! #kambo #ayahuasca #opioid #lymph #frogmedicine

Iboga is a Rite of Passage, and like all rites of passage, there will be something ‘given up’, and something ‘given to’. It is an opportunity to mark the death of one’s youthful learnings; programs that were written in the past in response to outgrown environments; programs that we wrote, and that now rule us. It is simultaneously a time to mark the birth of the new phase in life, a maturing of oneself. It is through this dying process, a dying to ourselves, that space for new-ness and rebirth is born. In the past our elders decided when we were ready to transition into the next life stage, now we are own masters, and with that comes a responsibility to know ourselves. Like any Rite of Passage, we approach such an experience with preparation; we earn the experience, it’s not something we necessarily repeat time and time again. And yet time and time again we are able re-utilise and re-visit such experiences through reflection - integrating and deepening the information we were shown, the places we visited and the lessons we learned. We will explore here some of the ways in which we are able to sustain ourselves through an Iboga experience; how to get the most out of a session with this intelligent and precious plant teacher. There is an invitation here to enter into a life-long relationship with an ancient entheogen that can nourish us for years to come. We are sharing what we have found has a lasting effect, based on witnessing and experiencing countless visits to Dr. Iboga. So how does one approach this opportunity? Some people would chose to wear their finest Selves, to leave a good impression on the Iboga spirit. With such high standards, we will likely never consider ourselves ready. Being ‘pure’ is not synonymous with ‘having no baggage’. Purity is about transparency - owning the truth of a situation as it is, not as we want it to be. Regardless, there is nothing one can hide from Iboga. The Iboga experience has been likened to a meeting with a stern fatherly figure. The crucial analogy here is that while a father may be direct, and lack the soft subtleties of a mother, his unconditional love is unshakable, and his guidance is to the point; simple and free from ambiguity. Iboga is as judgemental of us as we are to ourselves, a true mirror of sorts. We find that by treating such an experience with the utmost humility and respect, we in turn treat ourselves with humility and respect, and experience a gentle and kind interaction with Iboga. This is the basis of all psychological and intentional preparation for Iboga. Any human experience is more potent with a specific intention - where consciousness goes, energy flows. To begin working with one’s intention before meeting Iboga will allow the experience to deepen. It gives Iboga a language to work with and a set of symbols to relay meaning with. Take time before hand to develop a dialogue within yourself. Broaden your language and understanding around your intention. Iboga works with what you give it, and like most mind-manifesting medicines, is much stronger as an adjunct therapy, where an intentional context has already been established. Any preliminary psychological work merely allow Iboga to fast track your personal development. Iboga is like 3 years of therapy, in 1 night; best to use those fleeting hours wisely, precisely, consciously. You are not the victim to your Iboga experience, you are a participant, and you will learn to become a co-creator of your own life, no more the victim of circumstances past. The physical preparation is a little different. Iboga is a heart medicine, physically strong on the heart, and symbolically connecting us to the heart of our very existence, our genetic lineage and the very grounding which we have built our sense of Self upon. It is negligible and arrogant to not consider the stress Iboga will put on one’s heart. A simple ECG will bring to light any pre-existing stress on the heart, and rule out those unfit for Iboga. Specific blood tests for namely the liver and kidney function combined with a thorough medical history will also rule out contraindicated conditions. Traditionally Bwiti consider deaths as weak individuals, unfit for the heaviness of this life. Statistically death is extremely unlikely by following these basic preparatory guidelines. There are certain psychological states which can be enhanced and amplified through Iboga in ultimately a detrimental way to the individual’s mental health. These too can be uprooted and directed to a more fitting therapy for the present time pre-treatment. While a cleaner system means clearer communication, it is not advisable to undergo any heavy purgative cleansing pre-treatment for risk of dehydration or toxicity in the system. We work with a more gentle physical clearing for ideally 2-4 weeks post treatment: Silybum mariunum as an hepatoprotectant and inflammatory mediator, Plantago ovata as a mucilage to rectify bowel transit time, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids as antioxidants for cardiovascular health, and Magnesium citrate as a bioavailable cardiotonic to improve electrical conductivity and signalling of the nervous & cardiovascular systems. It can not be overstated how important an abundant electrolyte count is going into an Iboga journey. One must be overly hydrated as there will be a loss of fluids in some way, be it purging through perspiration, emesis or the bowels. This is easily addressed by switching all fluids to coconut water for the 2-3 days leading up to the experience. The after-Self-care begins alongside the initial pre-treatment preparation. There is a window of opportunity for profound growth in the first month post-Iboga, and the healing potential of this phase as the nor-ibogaine is slowly metabolised out of the fat cells into ibogaine, will only be unlocked with preparation. After-care is as important as the Iboga experience itself. Iboga is going to dig up the deep stuff, and what you do with the next month of your life will define where it settles; back down into the loose soil for regrowth, or are you planting new more sustainable seeds in this fertile time? Your mind will be elastic and impressionable - fill it with self compassion and direction. Now is the time to cultivate all aspects of your being in the simplest of way, giving daily attention to the creative, intellectual, financial, spiritual and emotional parts of your life. It will always be the neglected aspects of ourselves that motivate unhealthy behaviours. It is wise to have a plan in place to surrender to with sessions pre-booked with counsellors and body therapists, ideally ones open to psychedelic therapies. Having a supportive environment to return to will aid in a smooth integration, so familiarising one’s close network with the Rite of Passage you are undertaking is important. When we consider the cost of Iboga as a medicine not just financially as a treatment method, but also energetically the time it takes the plant to age into its optimal alkaloidal content (roughly 8 years minimum), the limited conditions it grows in, or the fact that the individual plant will die to be harvested for its root stock; its knowledge exchanged for its life, only then can we begin to understand how we must treat this sacred experience. With rumours of a dwindling Iboga population, fatalities attributed to the mistaken consumption of cardiotoxic ‘iboga cuts/replacements’ on the web, and a general lacking in safe Iboga use and quality control world-wide, we have a responsibility as custodians of this plant to consider how the future of Iboga is being decided right now by how we chose interact with it. The longevity and integrity of the use of Iboga in the West will be determined by our ability to take Self responsibility. Participants seeking Iboga must ensure they are fit for treatment as a basis. Any deaths are not only largely avoidable, but they are extremely damaging to families, and to the entire Iboga and entheogenic movement as a whole. We cannot rely on Iboga as the antidote for our dislocation and disconnection, it will not save us. Iboga is a catalyst , it is not a cure, and the integration of our personal development is our own responsibility. Developing a sustainable approach means we get the very most out of each and every journey with Iboga, and we only approach it in the context of an holistic therapy. It’s time we evolve the jungle approach into an integrative health system. #iboga #riteofpassage #initiation #eboga #bwiti #gabon #ibogapreparation #ecg #afterselfcare #entheogen #plantmedicine

So you may have heard me mention this plant here and there, which I tend to do as I am a big advocate for Iboga therapy, in the context of its psycho-spiritual and medical value. It has an intricate and complex effect on our mental-physical interface and possesses the potential to rewire, repair and restore our vital health as an adjunct tool in holistic natural medicine. Iboga or Eboga refers to the West-African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, from the apocynaceae family. It has a long history of use by the tribes of West-Central-Africa, namely Gabon & Pygmaea cultures for such purposes as ceremony, celebration, initiation, connectivity and divination in the form of a plant medicine. The Gabonese continue to use the plant today traditionally for Bwiti religious rites of passage, medicinal purposes and ritualistic experiences to connect with spirit and one another. It is considered a powerful sacrament of transition to travel between life stages. This plant medicine has many effects, depending on the intention, dose, environment and the individual. Most noticeably Iboga has adaptogenic, anti-viral, anti-depressant, and anti-addictive qualities by inducing a stimulating, oneirogenic (dream-inducing), visionary, introspective, purgative and often peak-experience. The plant’s root bark has high concentrations of ibogaine, a psychoactive indole alkaloid with dissociative properties. However the plant has many active alkaloids and components that synergise together powerfully to trigger the body's own healing process including its active metabolite nor-ibogaine. Iboga is especially well known for its anti-addictive properties, most notably when it comes to opioid dependencies. When it comes to opioid addictions Iboga has the potential to remove all withdrawals almost immediately, which is somewhat of a charm this ancient plant teacher offers, being a non-opioid itself, that is an extreme rarity. Through a process that is mentally, emotionally and spiritually introspective, one can be rapidly detoxed from many deep rooted addictions on both the physical and metaphysical levels. The process interrupts both the physical & psychological dependencies through a mental defragmentation & a physical reset, a new beginning and rebirth of the Self, attenuating withdrawal symptoms, cravings and inducing spiritual exploration & inner-self-work. Through self reflection the individual can address one’s deep rooted beliefs and conditionings in a profound way, when used in combination with preparation and integration work and other healing modalities. You can check out the work I am apart of abroad with Mulai Lagi (New Beginnings) Iboga at www.newbeginningsiboga.org. This organisation is a volunteer based private foundation working charitably for sustenance with the intention to make this plant medicine sustainably accessible for the global tribe. Check out my work with Eboga the master teacher at Mulai Lagi Iboga: www.newbeginningsiboga.org #iboga #eboga #ibogapreparation #afterselfcare #initiation #opioid #addictionrecovery #addiction #riteofpassage #bwiti #gabon #mulailagi #pygmea #entheogen #plantmedicine

So now, I am officially a Herbalist! Graduated my college with an Advanced Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine. Feeling proud, and passionate. I know who I am, and I know my purpose. #herbalist