Our Medicine
Our ancestral medicines offer a gateway to deep healing and self-discovery. Through the wisdom of Ayahuasca and other sacred remedies of the jungle, we honor the lineage of Indigenous healing, guiding each person toward a reunion with their true essence and a renewed connection with Mother Earth.
Our Sacraments are the Medicines Gifts from Mother Earth
At Lotus vine Journeys, we hold deep reverence for the healing power of traditional plant medicines. Each one is a sacred ally, guiding us on the path of self-discovery, profound healing, and a return to the heart’s wisdom. These plants, gifted from the heart of Pachamama, connect us back to the earth and remind us of our place within the web of life.
Our sacraments are what we honor as sacred medicine. After over a decade of working primarily with ayahuasca, our journey has evolved to include a broader family of plant allies. Today, we work with Ayahuasca, Psilocybin mushrooms, and Wachuma. Each medicine has its own spirit and purpose, and in our ceremonies, led by Spring Washam and her circle of healers and musicians, we create a safe and supportive space for healing. These gatherings unfold in beautiful, carefully chosen settings that honor and respect the sacred nature of the work.
Ayahuasca
The Healing Vine of the Soul
Leading each journey are the guides and wisdom keepers of this ancient practice. Those who carry forward the profound mysteries of Ayahuasca and steward this medicine with great care. Through the healing songs and sacred rituals, curanderas connect participants to otherworldly realms, helping them release blockages, gain insights, and remember their true nature.
In the West, adapting Ayahuasca requires deep respect and sensitivity to Indigenous practices and wisdom. At Lotus Vine Journeys, we see participating in Ayahuasca ceremonies as a sacred privilege, a bridge to reconnect with the wisdom of the earth and our ancestral roots. Under the guidance of experienced healers, our ceremonies create a safe, sacred space where participants can reconnect with their essence and the heartbeat of the earth. This journey is not just one of personal healing but a reawakening to the divine threads that bind us all as one, woven together by Pacha Mama’s embrace.
Ayahuasca, known as the "vine of the soul," is a sacred medicine gifted from the heart of the Amazon, cherished by Indigenous tribes across Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. For centuries, it has served as a powerful "spirit doctor," guiding countless generations in the Amazon to diagnose and heal at the deepest levels. Rooted in ancient traditions, Ayahuasca is believed to connect us with the wisdom of the earth, with archaeological findings suggesting its use may stretch back over 2,500 years.
This sacred brew is a harmonious union of two plants: the Ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the Chacruna leaf (Psychotria viridis). Together, they open doorways to expanded consciousness, allowing seekers to journey into visionary realms where deep healing and self-discovery unfold. This potent brew allows participants to access profound inner landscapes and heightened awareness, often uncovering insights and healing that are otherwise unreachable in ordinary states of mind.
Psilocybin
Breaking Through Barriers to Expand Consciousness
Modern science has begun to explore and validate what Indigenous cultures have long known—that psilocybin has profound effects on the mind and spirit. Research has shown that psilocybin interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly in areas related to mood, perception, and cognition. This interaction facilitates neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to form new pathways and shift habitual thought patterns. By inducing an expanded state of awareness, psilocybin opens doors to insights and perspectives that can dissolve mental and emotional barriers, breaking patterns of negativity and catalyzing deep emotional and spiritual healing.
At Lotus Vine Journeys, our psilocybin ceremonies are held with profound respect and are carefully guided to support participants on their inner journeys. In the safe, sacred space we create, participants are encouraged to navigate these expanded states of consciousness with mindfulness and intention. Aligned with nature’s rhythm, the psilocybin journey helps individuals access buried emotions, unlock deeper layers of the subconscious, and experience a powerful reconnection with their true selves and the world around them. These transformative encounters are not only paths to personal healing but also catalysts for lasting positive change, promoting mental clarity, emotional resilience, and a renewed sense of interconnectedness with all of life.
Psilocybin mushrooms, another sacred medicine we honor, are deeply rooted in Mexican Indigenous culture, where they have been cherished for centuries by the Mazatec people for their profound healing and spiritual properties. The legendary healer María Sabina, a Mazatec curandera, shared the wisdom of these “holy children” with the wider world through her Veladas, or sacred mushroom ceremonies. These ceremonies were performed to commune with the spirit world, diagnose ailments, and guide others toward healing. In the 1950s, María Sabina opened the doors for the Western world to experience these mushrooms, illuminating their healing potential. Her legacy reminds us of the respect and reverence required in working with these powerful plant allies, which act as guides, bringing us back to the wisdom of the earth and our ancestral connections.
Wachuma
The Gentle Teacher of the Heart
Unlike many other plant medicines, Wachuma is traditionally honored in ceremonies held during the daytime, allowing participants to journey in harmony with the sun’s energy and the living landscape around them. The effects of Wachuma are long-lasting, often unfolding gently over the course of eight to twelve hours, offering a spacious, reflective journey. This extended duration invites participants to slow down, attune to the rhythms of the earth, and fully immerse themselves in the present moment.
Wachuma is associated with a “Grandfather” energy—an ancient, wise, and grounding presence that guides participants with a sense of gentle strength and protective care. This Grandfather spirit is seen as a nurturing force that teaches with patience, compassion, and unwavering support, helping participants feel safe as they open their hearts and shed emotional armor. Under the watchful guidance of this elder energy, individuals often feel a profound connection to the natural world, sensing the interconnectedness of all life and experiencing an unconditional love that flows from the heart of Pachamama herself.
At Lotus Vine Journeys, our Wachuma ceremonies create a serene and sacred space for this heart-centered exploration. Participants frequently report feelings of unity, heightened awareness of their surroundings, and a deepened compassion that allows them to realign with their true selves. This gentle teacher guides each person toward healing through nature’s wisdom, fostering insights that are integrated with grace and grounding, long after the ceremony concludes.
Wachuma, also known as San Pedro, is a sacred cactus revered by Indigenous peoples across the Andes for its gentle yet profound heart-opening qualities. This cactus, scientifically known as Echinopsis pachanoi, contains the natural compound mescaline, a powerful entheogen that has been used for thousands of years to foster healing, spiritual insight, and a deep connection to the natural world.
Mescaline, the active ingredient in Wachuma, interacts with the brain in ways that enhance perception and promote a profound sense of empathy. Known for its heart-centered effects, mescaline helps dissolve the boundaries of the ego, opening pathways to compassion, emotional healing, and a deep connection with nature. Participants often describe feeling a sense of clarity and openness, allowing them to approach life with renewed empathy and understanding.