In plant medicine work, we put a high priority on “integration”…
Digesting big experiences, so the lessons and transformations become permanent.
(you can imagine how important this is with psychedelic experiences…)
So I’m in integration-mode right now:
Reviewing, organizing, and reflecting on what I learned during the month-long solo retreat I just completed.
Below are a few insights (of the ~47 I wrote down this morning) that I’m putting special focus on in the coming months…
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Ground and connect to the earth as a primary practice priority.
“The more you can allow yourself to feel supported by the earth, the more fully you will be able to relax.” – Reggie Ray
I can’t overstate how important this is, and how badly I’ve ignored it over the past few years, in favour of chasing higher insight.
A rocket can only be launched from a solid, stable base, and the earth is the energetic base that stabilizes the spiritual journey.
So I’ll be doing a ton of…
1. Earth descent meditation
2. Walking meditation (with the bottom of my feet as the point of focus)
3. Standing meditation (barefoot on grass)
…Over the next few months.
As well as experimenting with some improvised QiGong techniques I made up during my plant medicine ceremonies last weekend.
***
Develop clarity and compassion in balance.
“Dissatisfaction with life is not a sign of mental illness, but of growing intelligence.” – Ken Wilber
I felt my clarity — the ability to see the truth of a situation — take a big leap forwards last month.
Which was great, but also meant I started seeing bullsh*t more clearly, too — my own, and others.
As a side effect, I felt myself growing a hard, intolerant edge — which is itself just a subtler layer of bullsh*t — and handling problems with less care than I probably should have.
I’m happy to be course-correcting this one before it causes bigger problems.
Take-home point:
Clarity without compassion = problems.
Compassion without clarity = problems.
Clarity balanced with compassion = less problems.
Also interesting:
Every new level comes with new problems, so…
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Don’t wait to allow yourself to feel good until your problems are solved.
Because:
1. There will always be more problems.
2. Feeling good makes you more effective at problem-solving.
3. The purpose of life is not problem solving, it is enjoyment — so enjoy the process of solving problems, rather than waiting until your problems are solved to enjoy your life.
Said another way:
Those who travel light — mentally, emotionally, spiritually — go further, faster.
“The angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” – G.K. Chesterton
***
I was planning to share a few more, but this email is running long.
Tomorrow, I’ll focus on what may have been the most important lesson of my entire retreat.
It’s good to be back 🙂
– T
