space is, in my experience, best accessed using plant medicines – particularly ayahuasca, the vine of souls from the jungles of Peru, and San Pedro, the cactus of vision grown in the high Montana area of northern Peru – and it is the spiritual reconnection provided by these plants which accounts for the remarkable success that these medicines have in helping people to overcome their addictions.
Ayahuasca has been used for centuries by shaman in South America to heal people of all types of illnesses but ultimately, the most healing effect is the realisation that we are united with everything. After drinking ayahuasca many people see their lives as a whole as well as the patterns in their lives. It is common to feel a state of inner peace and clarity and many people become aware of their wrongdoings (to themselves and others) and have a desire to correct their lives. A strong, almost tribal, feeling of belonging – to the Earth and to each other – often arises within people who drink this brew and this has generally been lacking in those who have developed an addiction as a way of coping with the world. Ayahuasca allows a person to see deeply into themselves and I generally recommend first-timers to ask the all-important question “Who am I”.
Similarly, San Pedro has the effect of re-connecting the addict with the world they have rejected or feel cut off from due to emotional trauma. The addict is able to see the world on a more energetic level and better understand the importance of their place in it. Addicts generally feel less connected to other people and one of the most remarkable effects of plant medicines therefore is that of social integration, where the participant is able to perceive the essence of