Having Spiritual Trips on Natural Drugs

Are Natural Psychedelics Used In Religious Ceremonies?

Many people wonder if there are any natural psychedelics used in religious ceremonies around the world. It is an interesting topic, as it introduces the idea that psychedelics and psychoactive substances that alter the mind (and thus perception in many cases) can be considered spiritual experiences. This is of interest for many reasons, ranging from historical to legal, and everywhere in between. The short answer is YES, there are natural psychedelics used in religious ceremonies still to this very day, as well as ancient preparations which are no longer in use today. Many of these religious uses of psychoactive substances attribute the use to spiritual bolstering of some kind (giving shaman the ability to see visions, predict the future, or even diagnose illness, for example). Let’s go over some of the things psychonauts (psychedelic experience enthusiasts) and the cultural, religious locals do in order to prepare themselves for having a spiritual trip on a natural plant.

Check out What Religions Use Psychoactive Drugs and Herbal Teas That Were Used in Religious Ceremonies to read a little more about some of the traditional preparations of these natural psychoactive substances.

Physical Preparation

Pursuing a safe spiritual trip on a natural plant involves a lot of dedication ahead of time. Jumping directly into an ayahuasca experience after being an avid consumer of alcohol for years on end, for example, can completely destroy the experience. Using a psychedelic plant to achieve a spiritual trip involves physical preparation in form of eating healthy (usually strict diets are involved), avoiding alcohol and other drugs, and being mostly physically healthy. Being physical active is a plus, as it means the body’s organs are more likely to be functioning at their prime and most likely to be able to work the drug through the body.

Remember, each plant is different, and likewise, many preparations of these plants are different as well. The different variations can have a range of effects on the body and mind, thus physical preparations from plant preparation to plant preparation can vary. Usually when a psychoactive plant is used in a religious ceremony or for a spiritual purpose, there are guidelines and preparation methods which accompany it, specifically in order to keep the users safe. This is also done to create an optimum spiritual experience (who wants to have a spiritual journey, only to vomit their guts out and nothing more?). Most religious followers in these sects and cultures which use these concoctions and extractions do so with full submission to the ways of the religious ceremony. If it requires purging or dieting for weeks on end, the people will do it in order to have the best possible spiritual experience. And nearly each psychedelic preparation is different in terms of diet from religion to religion. For example, for more information about the preparation of Ayahuasca, check out How Ayahuasca is Made.

Mental Preparation

Mentally preparing for a spiritual journey is almost just as important as physically preparing. This is because having a bad trip can be a really awful, haunting experience; And depending on the drug, it can last a really long time. DMT for example, in the right preparations (such as a traditional Ayahuasca preparation) can last hours upon hours. Literally, the lack of the right mental preparation can make a “hell” of a difference. Understanding the history of Ayahuasca is important, as its ‘roots’ lie in the jungle (pun intended, although the vine that makes Ayahuasca work really does come from the jungle). Basically, the Ayahuasca drink is meant to give shaman a chance to become feline, cat-like in nature and sometimes talk to the Gods. There is a huge, emotional connection to nature that can be felt and only understood after having an Ayahuasca experience. Some people even report seeing large cats and jungle like features emerging from within the room during their trip (especially if experience Ayahuasca in nature). The jaguar is the most popular cat to see while on Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a powerful drug that is meant to totally “cleanse” the mental and physical stresses from the body. Approaching it with respect is often paramount in achieving the appropriate, desired results of a spiritual awakening.

What Plants Provide Spiritual Trips?

These are the most common plants that are used to create spiritual trips or spiritual journeys (they are in alphabetical order).

Ayahuasca: DMT [N,N-Dimethyltryptamine]

Ayahuasca is most popularly used for shamanic and spiritual rituals throughout all of South America, especially near the Amazon and jungle regions. The primary psychoactive ingredient in the Ayahuasca beverage is DMT, although many recipes and related-concoctions (ayahuasca analogs included) exist that can provide similar effects with substitute ingredients.

Peyote: Mescaline

The Peyote and similar cacti offer mescaline, a psychoactive substance that is protected for use by members of the Native American Church in the United States and Canada. Peyote has been used in many South American Indian and Mexican-Indian rituals as well. Mescaline is one of the only illegal substances in the United States that is directly permitted for use by a religious entity.

Magic Mushrooms (aka Teonancatl): Psilocybin and Psilocin

Magic mushrooms offer the psychoactive substances Psilocybin and Psilocin, which are powerful hallucinogens. The Teonancatl is one of the most popular hallucinogenic drinks prepared from the mushrooms and used for religious purposes throughout Aztec and Mexican-Indian religious tribes. They also have powerful spiritual and healing uses throughout many South American tribes.

Fly Agaric Mushrooms: Ibotenic Acid and Muscimol

Fly Agaric mushrooms are legal in many places, including the United States. The traditional preparation involved a single shaman performing a filtering ritual. The filtering ritual meant the shaman would sacrifice their own liver and kidneys, consuming large quantities of a fly agaric mushroom drink and collecting the resulting urine. This urine was learned to contain higher concentrations of the psychoactive [and hallucinogenic] substances, after being filtered through the body.

Morning Glory & Hawaiian Baby Wood Rose: Lysergic Acid Amide [LSA]

While the general psychonaut population believes LSA to be weaker than LSD, the Native Americans and several Mexican tribes have found many ways to make Morning Glory or Hawaiian Baby Woodrose tea. The teas are extremely hallucinogenic and absolutely highlight the psychoactive properties of these beautiful flowers. They are extremely emotionally and mentally influential and can cause powerful spiritual trips.

Salvia divinorum: Salvinorin A

Salvia is one of the most powerful hallucinogenic plants currently known to man, and especially when it comes to religious use. Salvia has a strong history of being used by shaman to have spiritual journeys, spiritual awakenings and to predict the future. Salvia is a vision-inducing plant, even capable of creating life-changing experiences.

Last Words from the Shaman on Plants that Create Spiritual Trips

Everyone’s trip on a drug is generally different. Some people may experience outlandish trips that seem they came straight out of hell, while others will have a mostly peaceful time…sometimes on the same exact drug with the same exact dose from the same preparation. Some people prepare differently (ahead of time) for a spiritual trip and it greatly influences how their trip plays out. Some of the stronger drugs (like DMT and mescaline) can be more difficult to prepare for and even with weeks or months of preparation, a trip can still go sour. And even then there are other people who totally wing it and wind up fine. The trip itself can be drastically different, with some people having deeply meaningful, life-changing experiences that they easily call a spiritual trip…and other people finding the trip mostly jibberish, meaningless or nonesensical. Having a positive spiritual trip is more likely when following in the more traditional, well-known paths (like taking part in traditional Ayahuasca retreats).

Disclaimer: The Botanical Shaman does not condone illegal drug use and cannot be responsible for any spirit walks you decide to take. We are required to remind you to check your local and applicable laws before using any plants for their psychedelic, psychoactive or spiritual properties.