Post-Ceremony Self Care: Why It’s Essential
By Kristin “K” Blinman
Coming home after a plant medicine experience brings a veritable slurry of emotions, mind-scribble, body-talk, and the sometimes rude awakening of settling into regular life contrasted to that safe, nourishing container.
Not that homecoming precludes a bumpy ride, in fact, it’s also a gift of this work/play to return back home feeling rejuvenated and connected to ourselves, our loved ones, and this beautiful, blue dot in the cosmos we call Mother.
But as with any huge unearthing, plant medicine or otherwise (big life changes, physical injury, trauma, spiritual awakening, etc.) we’re bound to experience the pendulum swings of integrating all that’s been revealed. Since we rarely have the full picture right away, most of what’s been shaken loose isn’t in our immediate awareness - and we never know when the timing will be just right for it to trickle in. Or tidal-wave in.
That being said, I want to provide some groundwork for helping to understand the why-behind-the-what of this transition period, as well as some helpful suggestions, drawn from my own and others experience, to support you in your journey!
Ch-ch-ch-Changes
‘Returning home is the most difficult part of long-distance hiking; you have grown outside the puzzle and your piece no longer fits.’ - Cindi Ross, author of A Woman’s Journey on the Appalachian Trail.
Perhaps the thing that stands out most for me, and almost all of the people that I’ve worked with in the post-journey integration, is the understanding that they’ve returned very different than when they left. This doesn’t always mean that it’s clear what’s changed, or that they can articulate it, but something has most definitely shifted.
And, granted, we are all always evolving. Life is change. But these deep dives into medicines like Ayahuasca, Huachuma, Mushrooms, etc. inevitably accelerate our evolution. For example, some have compared a night with Mamahuasca as being the equivalent of 10 years of therapy, in part due to her adept way of pinpointing and guiding us through our ‘stuff’ to reach clarity, insight, recognition, love, and forgiveness. Notwithstanding the actual physical and biochemical reconfigurations that occur in a comparatively brief period of time.
But, I like the think of this acceleration as being less about moving through time (and all our ‘stuff’) at a faster velocity. Or even condensing time so we can cram in more information/insight.
Rather, I think of it as dropping into a space - an alternate, altered space - where the physics of what is happening within us and around us, and the consciousness of the plants merging with ours, aren’t playing by the finite rules we prescribe to our day to day universe. Within that space we are flirting with the boundaries between form/void, duality/unity, time/timelessness, and what we perceive is/what might be possible. And it’s in the very opening to a state of infinite possibility that our being has the opportunity to emerge as something completely different, and yet so much more US.
And that can mean a big ‘ol shift in a comparatively short period of time.
Each medicine has its own unique way of bringing us along to this space. The journey to get there may look and feel radically different, and the objectives of that particular plant/medicine may be different, depending on its personality/consciousness, but ultimately the space of possibility is of the same Source.
So, yeah, that puzzle piece you were probably won’t fit the old puzzle anymore. They don’t call them altered spaces for nothing. YOU are altered.
Back to the Finite
We then get to bring our shifted selves back into the finite, day to day rules of engagement.
All the nuances, information, and insights of that altering must go slowly to show up all the way in our physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental bodies. It’s A LOT of stuff to move through and it takes our body time to 1. make sense of it 2. figure out what to do with it/how to apply it 3. learn how to embody/live it.
And more than likely your conscious mind will be the last to note these changes. As you begin to adapt to a new way of being, there is an important dance between giving your conscious self some direction (ie. a practice of some kind) and also simply allowing the process(ing) to unfold and emerge in its own time.
With that in mind, here are what we might call some self-care ‘dance steps’ to help you find your footing!
Resourcing
Resources are anything or anyone that help support the healing process. They help us Re (ie. return) to Source (our complete, whole, healed self). Resources provide our being with exactly what we need so that our body/being can do its job of enacting its healing. Whether they are tangible, or in the realm of the intangible, we can call in resources at any time during the integration process to nourish our being and help us.
Community
This has been one of my greatest lessons in post journey integration! Being mirrored nonjudgemental love and compassion from my community has been incredibly healing, and inspires me to love/take care of myself with the same ferocity. And that doesn’t just mean plant loving people! Anyone/group of people who are learning the dance of self-discovery can help us lean and surrender into our own integration process. When we have like-minded people around us, we realize we’re not alone in our experiences, and we are motivated to stay with it. Especially if/when we feel isolated or that those in our immediate world can’t relate to what we are going through. (If you are seeking community, coaching, and/or support might I recommend joining our Plant Medicine People community as a great place to start!)
Slow Down/Listen
Integration takes the time it takes, and that process is rarely linear. Slowing down, listening to ourselves and our bodies, and providing ourselves with quiet-time to observe ourselves is not only vital to understanding the shifts and lessons we are bring in, but also is a deeply loving gift we can give ourselves.
Boundaries
A reminder: it’s totally ok and necessary to honor yourself and your process as you integrate, because it teaches us that we get to do that all the time. We get to choose what we say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to in our lives, and it always starts with our inner perspective. Does this mean that our external circumstances are always so easily navigated, or that the realities of living in this world won’t challenge our boundaries? No. But the more we can honor our boundaries, the more we become aware of how much we really do love ourselves, which allows us to surrender to the healing.
Breathe
In. Out. Again. Enjoy. As Rose and Ayahuasca shared with me, ‘Our breath is our first connection to the love we are a part of - and even when we die the universe still breathes with us.’ Every breath is love. Every breath is self-care. And, I’m willing to bet you’re already doing it RIGHT NOW!
Be Kind to Yourself
Imagine if you were watching a baby take their first steps. And then the baby stumbles and falls. Would you say, ‘haha, you thought you could walk but you can’t! Nice try, loser!’? Would you try to force the baby to keep walking by holding them up and walking their legs for them? Of course not, you would watch with excitement to see them figure it out, stay close for support and safety, and cheer them on as they navigated this new kind of movement! Treat yourself the way you would treat that baby.
Rest
Resting is an action too! And just as important as doing the work/play of processing and integrating.
Nature
Let mama earth be with you, she is so supportive and being in nature allows us to connect back into her, the plants, and ourselves. Remember, YOU ARE nature, and even if you can’t be out in the wilderness, she is with you wherever you are.
Hydration/Nourishment
Water is life, food is life. Feed yourself good, healthy food and lots of water! Be mindful of what you introduce back in, and how quickly you add it once the journey is over, your body will have adjusted to not having certain things (ex. caffeine, alcohol, sugar) and it can be shocking to the body to have them again. And, I do like to remind myself that on occasion, comfort food is also spiritually nourishing. Sometimes my soul requires biscuits and gravy!
10. Movement/Massage - Stillness/Grounding
Emotion = Energy in Motion. Sometimes that means we need to move. Sometimes we need someone to move our body for us (ex. massage). Sometimes we just needs to be still and let what’s inside move itself. Being responsive to the needs of your body for movement or stillness makes a significant difference to the ease of integrating your journey. Whether you’re Shakti or Shiva in the moment, it’s all good, honor what you need!
Of course, this list is by no means an exhaustive one, so as you navigate the post-journey experience, attend to and make note of the things that resonate for you! As one of my energy-medicine teachers, John Thorpe, so beautifully put it, ‘The ultimate energy you have to heal (and integrate) with is your awareness/attention.’
Here’s to your continuing journey with these wild, wonderful plants! Blessings for beautiful, healing integrations full of ease, and insight, well anchored into our bodies!
How do you integrate? Tell us! Tips, suggestions, go-to best practices!
About the Author:
Kirstin “K” Blinman (they/them) is a certified energy medicine practitioner with a deep understanding of body alchemy, alignment and overall physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. K has learned the hard (and easy!) way how integral self-care is after a romp through the cosmos, and they are extremely adept at helping other travelers make sense of the nonsensical, as well as create a practice of embodiment an integration.
