![\"\"](\"http:\/\/higherideas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/FacebookPLANTSPIRIT2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI\u2019ve been dieting master plants in the jungles of Peru, on-and-off since 2013; graduated into apprenticeship in 2016. Although I\u2019ve had a huge range of fantastic and amazing experiences, many of which I\u2019ve shared on my podcast<\/a>, there was one kind of experience I haven\u2019t had until my most recent dieta. You see, for a plant shamanism apprentice, the real goal of the dieta is to connect with the spirit of the plant medicine being ingested alongside the Ayahuasca; to learn its lessons and make its spirit a permanent part of your being. The Ayahuasca itself is more of a \u2018channel opener\u2019 used to open you up to communication with this other, more subtle medicinal plant being explored. This spirit-contact can come while drinking Ayahuasca, in a daydream or in a dream while sleeping during dieta or in post-dieta. It can appear as an animal or other character, but most of the time takes the form of some kind of ‘person’.<\/p>\n Even a non-apprentice dieter is entering into this journey with the plant being ingested, and may indeed meet the spirit of the plant without realizing its significance. Anyone in dieta is negociating some personal relationship with the medicine whether they know it or not.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a massive range of plants which can be dieted, and each one teaches different things, heals different things. There\u2019s Bobinsana, which is said to open the heart and teach one to sing… There\u2019s Chiric Sanango, which is a powerful immune system booster, and potent against fear\u2026 Roses, Garlic, Trees, Flowers, Roots, Bushy shrubs \u2013 The list is virtually endless! Some of these have noticeable physical effects, such as Chiric Sanango which makes one\u2019s mouth and fingertips numb for a while, others can be psychoactive, but most have such subtle or non-existant sensory effects that they tend to go completely forgotten by the dieter despite ingesting it every day. Ayahuasca steals the spotlight, with its incredible displays, and leaves the poor teacher plant in the shadows unless one learns to listen for it.<\/p>\n Back to the point: In all of my passed diets I\u2019d encountered many spirits (Mother Ayahuasca<\/a>, A giant<\/a>, Forest\/River beings, Many ancient shamans, Spirit-animals\/insects<\/a>, John Lennon<\/a>…) but had never felt any of them were \u2018the spirit\u2019 of whatever plant I was drinking… I hadn\u2019t had any experience that made me feel \u201cOh yeah, this plant is in me for good\u201d \u2013 until now.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/higherideas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Patreon-Logo.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/higherideas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Uspiritfinal.jpg\")
<\/a>I continued my discourse, without really thinking about what I was doing. \u201cLittle friend, I\u2019m a good and mighty tree, but I\u2019m struggling. Somewhere in my high trunk, here\u2019s a hole that\u2019s been growing and paining me with some kind of rot. And in my branches, there are many problems I can feel but can\u2019t identify.\u201d He seemed to be listening as he walked around me and took a good look at the whole length of me, never saying a word. I continued \u201cPlease, little friend, won\u2019t you climb-up and help me? Won\u2019t you stay with me and care for me? If you do, you can live in my canopy and finally have a home.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/higherideas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/DingbatbSmall.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"i-signature\"](\"http:\/\/higherideas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/i-Signature.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"ibool\"](\"http:\/\/higherideas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/ibool.png\")
<\/a>![\"iCast\"](\"http:\/\/higherideas.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/iCast.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"