I was originally going to post this on the hang over thread, but it isn't exactly right, this thread is just a tad more appropriate. Anyway. Last night my brother and I attended an Ayahuasca ceremony. Ayahuasca is a plant that contains DMT, which basically makes psychedelic mushrooms look like peanuts. The shaman referred to it as "medicine," to cure your (existential) fears. A lot of people there had heavy duty issues like heavy guilt, fear of death of either themselves or a family member and existing in general.
The shaman spoke for like 2 hours of fears and attachments and the like. Very little of it if any was new to me. I kept thinking to myself, "I have no fears, I wonder what I'll see." After the talk they passed the Ayahuasca in small cups, a few words were said and bottoms up. We all scattered to pre-chosen areas of the house (it is normally down outdoors, but it rained all day), so I made my way to the recliner I had claimed.
The recliner was in a side room which I shared with two other people who laid out sleeping bags on the floor. My view was basically of a white wall and the entryway. After a while I started feeling it, felt the familiar pressure on my forhead and arms that one feels when mushrooms start to take hold, but instead of taking a plunge it plateaued. I became annoyed with everything, the noises the other people were making like footsteps, laughter, groans, etc, the lighting, the music, everything. At some point one of the caretakers came by and asked me how I was doing. I told her I was tip-toeing on the edge, but no dive just yet. "You want a second dose?" "Yes, please!"
That second dose did it. I don't know when it hit, but at some point I just blinked and everything turned black and white. My first thought was, "Holy shit, I'm in Insidious!" It definitely had an "underworld" type of vibe. The blank wall in front of me began to vibrate and the shadow cast by the recliner became the silhouette of an elephant that expanded and shrunk. as I focused on my friend the elephant I began to float in the air. Here is where things get interesting. I disappeared. I ceased to exist. I was enveloped in darkness and i began to see colors, and shapes, mainly that of quartz crystals. I began to see myself as a variety of insects, mainly caterpillars, but caterpillars becoming butterflies. I could feel myself bursting into something new. I saw friends, loved ones and finally my fear. I already knew what it was, but I was in denial.
Ever since my divorce I've been dead inside and after having one of the dreams I mentioned here about, "the victims I left behind." I swore off any more relationships. I was happy with what I had lived as far as romantic entanglements went, but I no longer wanted more. Well, in that void, that everything and nothing I saw my fear and broke through. There was only love. Like I said, I saw friends, loved ones and even "enemies." All I felt for them was love, a love so pure it was all encompassing. I was able to forgive them and forgive myself. Then... I was reconstructed. I don't want to say "rebirth," because it felt like I was put back from scratch. When I came to, back in the recliner, and saw my friend the elephant on the wall I was covered in tears and snot, breathing heavy.
The rest of the journey consisted of a few more trips to the black and white "underworld" and more communing with friends and loved ones as well as some powerful memories that were holding me back. At the end of it... all fear was gone. All I can say is I'm not the same person that went into that house, that person is dead, and who I am now is a clean slate.
I told my brother that it reminded me of a discussion we had in my philosophy of religion class back in college. The professor was explaining the Christian concept of Grace. He said that when someone is bestowed with God's Grace who he used to be no longer exists. That person could have been the worst person on the planet, but the moment he receives said Grace they are literally a new person and when someone throws their old transgressions in their face it doesn't phase them, because they no longer are that person. All the guilt and shame are gone. THAT is how I feel. I see those mistakes, those regrets and they are no longer mine as that person exists no more.
I think I finally understand the ending to 2001 Space Odyssey lol.