sacred tobacco, holy mushroom
teachings and reflections from these sacred plant teachers
For the past six months, I’ve been in a deep study with sacred tobacco and holy mushroom through my medicine teacher, an indigenous Mexican woman studying and training in the Mazatec tradition. I prayed for a teacher and mentor to guide me in this work for many years, and to have found her is an incredible gift. She is showing me how to form not only a physical relationship with these sacred plant teachers, but also energetic and spiritual ones. She’s helping me to better understand the history of what has been done to these sacred plant teachers. Many of them, including mushrooms, and especially tobacco, have been colonized, stolen, filled with harmful chemicals and poisons, and sold back to the people for profit. Completely corrupted by capitalism, consumptive culture, and white supremacy.
I’m learning that being in right relationship with these teachers is an act of reclamation—an act that so many have been unable to take. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to walk alongside them.
They continue to speak to me in simple truths with powerful, life-changing wisdom. When I’m communicating with them, I hear their guidance resonating deep inside of me, awakening an inner knowing, lighting a spark, pulling back a veil.
I wanted to share a few of the many profound teachings that have been flowing through from the sacred tobacco and holy mushroom:
more being, less healing
I recently sat in a challenging medicine ceremony. It was full of moments of overwhelm and anxiety, getting lost in my mind, spinning out about all I’m responsible for, guilt swirling in the pit of my stomach. The next day, I got to attend an Inipi ceremony (sweatlodge) held by some of my cherished friends. It was a supportive way to follow the tough medicine ceremony from the night before. While in the lodge, I could feel the fire and stones burning away the anxiety, overwhelm, and guilt from the night before.
My friends holding the Inipi ceremony spoke extensively about how we get so caught up in having to heal everything—our ancestors, the earth, past traumas of all sorts, etc. They shared how this incessant focus on healing takes us away from being, from living.
They offered us the invitation to shift our focus away from healing and towards celebrating and flowing with life, towards just simply being in the present moment. They gave the simple yet powerful example of a bird—we don’t see birds going around thinking I’ve got to heal my ancestors, my relationship with my kids, and repair that rupture with that friend...they are just present with what is, moment to moment. I’m excited to lean into this wisdom, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.
healing my body through pleasure is the most potent form of healing
Speaking of healing—we are often told that healing has to be hard. That healing takes effort, resources, and lots of support. And sometimes it does. But it can also be gentle, soft, tender, and easy. It can be juicy, luxurious, and sensual. It can be joyful, abundant, and most importantly, pleasurable. Attuning to this more feminine way of healing is a radical act, maybe even a rebellious act? Capitalism, individualism, and all the other toxic programming that make up the soup we’re swimming in try to make us forget about this softer, pleasurable way of healing. I have found so much gratitude and growth in remembering it.
healing my body is healing the land
When I first came to my medicine teacher, I told her I still felt that my body was separate from the earth and the land I live on. A simple practice that’s helped me experience and remember that I’m not separate from the earth is going into our orchard or under the giant ash tree next to our house, lying face down on my belly, and getting very still and quiet. In this state, I can feel the earth breathing below me, and it helps me remember that my body is an extension of her body.
the element of air carries our prayers—sing and speak them aloud
When I first came into my relationship and study with tobacco, I felt least connected to the element of air. Tobacco has shown me the power of the element of air and reminded me that our breath and air are the first thing we experience when being born and the last thing we experience when dying. When I practice my tobacco prayer smoke ritual, the wind will often pick up, and tobacco will share his wisdom as it’s blowing past me.
Another big part of my study with tobacco was moving through resistance to smoking. I, like many of you, have been taught my whole life that smoking is bad, causes lung cancer, and will kill me. That can be true, especially when smoking manufactured cigarettes full of chemicals without a prayer or intention. So much changes when we’re communing with this plant in its purest, natural form, holding a deep prayer and intention while doing so. My teacher taught me a powerful ritual for cleansing and blessing myself and the plant before working with it. It was a struggle in the beginning to feel ok with smoking, but going through that challenge and discerning what feels right for me has been medicine in and of itself.
it’s all about love, all creation comes from love, come back to love, again and again
We can all use this reminder, right?! So simple yet sometimes so hard to do.
don’t lose your sense of child-like wonder and awe — find it, remember it, and return to it often
Having almost 10-year-old twins gives me many, many chances to be in my child-like wonder and awe. Living on one of the most magical, beautiful pieces of land I’ve ever seen gives me many chances, too. And still I find myself blown away when I’m immersed in those moments filled with awe, there truly is no feeling like it.
it’s not about feeling happy, it’s about feeling everything
Feeling exists on a spectrum—you can only experience joy to the extent that you're capable of experiencing sorrow. The deeper we know pain, the deeper we know pleasure. Opening up to feeling deeply isn’t an easy path, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Sometimes it feels like a curse, but most days, it feels like a gift.
take a step and then take a step back—reflection and integration are everything
We all know how deep the productivity programming runs in this culture. Capitalism tells us that if we’re not productive, we’re not worthy. These plant teachers have shown me the importance of reflection and integration. The importance of not having to rush. They remind me to take a step forward and then to pause before taking another. We must take time to breathe, to look around, to see where that last step landed us. My medicine teacher talks about the Mazatec saying “tofl tofli” meaning little by little/one step at a time. And Lao Tzu reminds us that, "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
I hope some of this wisdom from the sacred tobacco and holy mushroom brings you just the medicine you need. If there is something here that has resonated with you, feel free to forward this email to someone who might need to hear it today, too.
1 - I recently heard the founder of Clevr interviewed on a podcast, and I was intrigued. Clevr makes instant superfood lattes and teas. I ordered a few flavors, and I cannot recommend them enough. They’re delicious, low to no caffeine, full of adaptogens and superfoods, and make a wonderful coffee replacement. I’m not being paid to recommend them, I’m just really enjoying them :)
2 - Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund’s mission is to ensure a future where Indigenous Peoples, their medicines, and knowledge thrive for generations to come. I donate a percentage of the proceeds from all my medicine ceremonies to their work. I highly recommend supporting them if you can.
3 - I’m excited to share that my in-person women’s medicine ceremonies are growing and happening regularly. It’s a huge honor to journey with women and to create and hold these safe and sacred spaces. To be fully witnessed in our wholeness by a circle of women is medicine in and of itself. The next women’s medicine ceremony will be happening beneath the beautiful autumn leaves in September. Visit my website to learn more and connect about ceremony.
I’m also feeling so inspired by the virtual microdosing support I’m offering and the beautiful people I’m getting to hold space for in this practice. Visit my website to learn more about microdosing.
4 - In a previous Substack writing some time ago, I committed to doing a daily practice for a full year. While I haven’t necessarily done a practice every single day, most of my days are spent with at least some amount of time devoted to somatic and spiritual practice and ritual. My medicine teacher recently asked me to start doing a morning practice first thing upon waking. I’ve committed to doing a 5 to 10 minute practice at my altar every weekday morning upon waking. I’ve kept it up for over a month now, and it’s feeling so supportive and nourishing!
Thanks for reading and being here.
With love and gratitude,
Waverly
♡