Category: Spiritual guidance

What Is A Vision Quest? Understanding The Shamanic Path To Self-Discovery
Over the last couple months I’ve been living in a medicine community in Pisac, Peru. During this time I participated in about 10 ceremonies, including ceremonies of Ayahuasca, Wachuma, and Mushrooms.

The most significant part of this experience involved my vision quest, and my first step towards becoming a medicine man by developing a deeper connection with these ancestral medicines, and – myself.

This isn’t my first time working with shamanic medicines such as ayahuasca or Wachuma. I’ve had quite a lot of experience in the past, having sat in 25+ ayahuasca ceremonies, and working in various medicine communities around Latin America.

So you may be wondering, what the heck is a vision quest? How is this relevant to working in the plant medicine space? Let me explain. In this article, I’ll tell you a little about my vision quest, and what I experienced, as well as provide a little information about vision quests in general.
Vision quest meaning

This spot I did my vision quest, Puerto Cancha, Maska, Pisac, Cusco, Peru.

A vision quest is a native American right of passage that has existed for thousands of years. It’s part of the Red Road tradition (or Camino Rojo) which is a shamanic path in the Americas.

Traditionally, someone studying to be a medicine man or woman must complete a series of vision quests, followed by a sun dance. The student may then get a blessing from an elder of the community to share the sacred medicine of Ayahuasca or Wachuma, depending on the student’s calling.

The tradition of following a series of vision quests has existed for thousands of years which is designed to help the student find a deeper meaning and direction in their life. It’s a deeply spiritual process that allows an individual to further explore their consciousness through fasting and prayer.

People generally do vision quests for the following reasons:

They’re seeking a deeper meaning or purpose in their lives

They are at a transition point in their life, and seeking direction

They are looking to connect more deeply with their spirit, spirit guides, and ancestral spirits

They are a student of sacred plant medicines and want to share medicine in the future

As a vision quest is part of the Red Road tradition, to complete the Red Road, the student must commit to returning to the mountain once a year for 4 years, to complete a series of vision quests. Each consecutive vision quest is longer and more arduous, and the student cannot progress until they have completed the previous vision quest.

Different curanderos and communities that host vision quests may oversee the vision quest differently, however, they generally are practiced as follows:

Year 1: 4 days and nights with no food or water

Year 2: 7 days and nights, with a small amount of water, fruit, and the sacred medicine of Wachuma

Year 3: 9 days and nights, with a small amount of water, fruit, and the sacred medicine of Wachuma

Year 4: 13 days and nights, with some water, fruit, and the sacred medicine of Wachuma

Year 5: Sundance | Usually 3 or 4 days of continuous dancing led by a shaman, with Wachuma, no food or water, + blood sacrifice

The vision quest I did wasn’t part of the Red Road, however it incorporated the traditions of the Red Road. My vision quest was a vision of the Wachumero I was working with, in which there were some differences.

My first vision quest was only 3 days and nights rather than 4 days and nights. It was conducted in a Tipi in the mountains, and I was left with plenty of wood where I could create a fire during the nights. Furthermore, I was given a shot of the master plant Bobinsana each night to help facilitate the process and open my channels.

With that said, the vision quest I did is considered to be easier than the traditional 4-day vision quest for these reasons, however, it was still a beautiful and deeply spiritual experience where I learned a lot about myself, and my connection to source.

Generally, a financial contribution is required to participate in a vision quest. The financial contribution for a vision quest is generally around USD$200 – USD$350, depending on where you’re doing it, and who is facilitating it.

If you’re volunteering in a medicine community, often you will be able to do it at a discounted price. I paid around $USD80 for my vision quest as I was a volunteer in the shamanic community.
What happens during a vision quest?

During a vision quest, traditionally the student isolates him or herself on a remote mountain away from civilization for peace and solitude. The community in which the student lives supports the process and ‘plants’ the student – which is to bring them to their location and collect them when their vision quest is complete.

Generally, the student participates in a temazcal directly before the vision quest and after the vision quest. The temazcal is a cleansing process that removes any toxins or unwanted energies before the student embarks on their vision quest. Wachuma may or may not be consumed during these ceremonies, and they’re typically facilitated by a shaman who oversees the process.

The student remains on the mountain for several days in silence, in the absence of food, water, technology, or entertainment. He or she is exposed to the elements, and confined in a small enclosure made of tobacco prayers that the visioner prepares before the vision quest.

This process is designed to strip away all creature comforts, distractions, and sustenance, allowing the visioner to cultivate a deeper connection with oneself, their spirit, and the creator.

Think of a vision quest as stripping off all the layers of artificial self which opens one up to the sacredness of spirit, allowing the seeker to reach a state of spiritual amplitude and awareness. This is where this process gets the name ‘vision quest’, as the student may experience visions, downloads, and insights regarding their life journey.

The vision quest is a deeply cleansing process that allows the seeker to return to the purity of self. This process helps the seeker:

Reach deeper states of humility and gratitude

Develop deeper strength and endurance

Gain clarity on oneself and one’s life journey

Cultivate a deeper connection with spirit
Where can you do a vision quest?

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/drum-ceremony-dance-shaman-witch-6014002/

If you’re thinking about doing a vision quest, I suggest doing it organically. What I mean is to volunteer or work in a medicine community in Latin America to gain some experience being in service to sacred plant medicines, and then paying attention to the opportunities that present themselves.

I suggest doing this organically because the vision quest should find you, rather than deliberately seeking it out. Sometimes people find websites and book in a vision quest as there are places that do so, however, this corporatization of the process can dilute the experience and strip it of its true teachings.

If you spend some time working in shamanic healing communities, I guarantee you the opportunity will arise. This also provides an opportunity to gain the blessing from the Curandero, and support of the community before embarking on this journey.

Before jumping on a plane to South America to attempt a vision quest, it’s important to note a few things.

The vision quest calls the student: If the student is not ready, they will not hear the call, or find the right place

Your intentions must be pure: You should be a student of the path to do a vision quest, otherwise you may not achieve what you are looking for

It’s not easy: A vision quest is designed to veer you toward death’s door, where you can begin to perceive alternate dimensions of information. It shouldn’t be a light decision

You must show commitment: If you truly want to do a vision quest, you need to have a deep commitment and respect for the process.

With that said, I’ll mention a few of the places I know that support students in a vision quest.
I did my vision quest in a medicine community called Michi Hampi. This is a great small medicine community in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Their vision quests do not follow the red road, meaning there are differences to a traditional vision quest. The first vision quest is 3 days in a tipi, with the medicine of Bobinsana each day.

Location: Michi Hampi is located in Maska, about 20 minutes from Pisac, Peru.

Contact: You can contact them on Instagram here and enquire about vision quests, ceremonies, and volunteering.

Cost: $200 for a guest, $80 for a volunteer

The second place I know of is in Shuracpamba, Ecuador. This is facilitated by Taita Alejo, who accepts anyone who is feeling the call. Although I don’t have a direct contact, vision quests are offered here via the medicine community Gaia Sagrada, in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Location: Shuracpamba, Ecuador, near Villcabamba.

Contact: Vision quests are liaised via the medicine community Gaia Sagrada. I suggest doing a retreat or volunteering for a couple of months to get the blessing.

Cost: USD$350

The 3rd place I recommend to do a vision quest is in the state of Las Piedras, Mexico. This is quite a famous path to follow the Red Road tradition. Many shamans and students from around the world travel to this place to participate in vision quests.

Location: At Km 67 Tepic Puerto Vallarta Road, Las Piedras, Nayarit, Mexico

Contact: Email [email protected] in Spanish introducing yourself, your intent, and asking for info, and they may put you on the yearly announcement list to send you more information.

Cost: Vision quest USD$530, Sun Dance USD$530, Moon Dance USD$265, Star Dance USD$530, Koatlikue Dance USD$265

Of course, there are many more places where you can do a vision quest, however, the places listed here are all reputable, and provide the authentic ritual if you are studying shamanism, want to share medicines of Ayahuasca or Wachuma in the future, or simply want to delve deeper into your consciousness to experience a deeper level of oneself.

It’s always necessary to be well-prepared to do a vision quest (don’t make this decision lightly), and do it with integrity and respect for the traditions that have been followed for thousands of years.

All the best on your journey!
22 July 2024
Are Your Divinely Guided? Here’s How You Can Know
If there’s one thing you’ve probably learned by now, it’s that life is not as straightforward as our parents made it out to be. It’s natural to go in circles and get lost at times, but is there a higher path we’re supposed to follow? We’re all divinely guided, but sometimes we just don’t know how to tune into it.

After all, other people can certainly help point us in the right direction, but the best guidance you can receive… is from yourself.

Some of us have this idea that being divinely guided is a really big deal, reserved for prophets and sages, as if god itself was speaking directly to them. Moses might come to mind when you think of the term, but in truth, we’re all divinely guided, many of us just don’t pay attention.

So how does divine guidance work? Do we all have the ability to access it? Here I’ll break down this concept from my understanding so that you can gain more clarity moving forward in life – when everything becomes a little too confusing.
Divinely guided meaning

Being divinely guided refers to tapping into a deeper part of your soul that has all the answers. Imagine divine guidance as a spiritual compass that directs you toward your highest timeline. In other words, it means you’re following the calling of your soul and following the path in life that deeply resonates with you.

You may seek divine guidance to help you discover the best road to take during difficult periods of your life, when you’re feeling lost, or you have a big decision to make. When you’re divinely guided, you’re paying attention to all the signs and messages pointing you in the right direction, and pursuing it.

Think of divine guidance as a deeper knowing. By tapping into a deeper part of your soul (or consciousness), the answers will appear. With that said, divine guidance can manifest externally in what we understand as signs – indicators that we are on the right track, or to change course.

I’ve taken some big leaps of faith in my life because I’ve felt a pull towards a life that may have been daunting, but I intuitively knew that taking this path was in my best interest.

Following my divine guidance led me to leave everything behind and travel for years on end. It led me to work with shamanic traditions and delve deeper into spirituality. I’ve learned that the more I trust my divine guidance, the more my life unfolds the way it’s supposed to.

There’s a part of you that knows all the answers. This part of you is infinitely old and infinitely wise. That’s because we are all the same infinite consciousness experiencing oneself in endless ways, and what we’re experiencing as humans is just a tiny slither of an endless sea of information.

We all have a soul blueprint you could say, and even though I do believe everything eventuates how it’s supposed in the grand scheme of things, we have this thing called free will that can throw a spanner in the works. If it wasn’t for that pesky free will, everything would fall into place seamlessly.

Regardless, I believe that the major events that are supposed to happen due to your karma will happen, but you can veer off track. It’s sort of like taking a very roundabout way with a lot of difficult lessons that may delay your evolution, but you’ll still get there in the end.

But you don’t want to go the long roundabout way, you want to follow the path laid out for you because it’s just so much easier…

Divine guidance manifests in different forms. It may come on as a particularly vivid dream that inspires you to take action. It might be a conversation with a new face who unlocked a missing piece of the puzzle. Maybe there are synchronicities, or a sudden intuitive spike telling you to follow path B rather than path A.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter how the information manifests. We all have a spiritual path to walk, and as long as we pay attention to the countless messages arising from spirit, we will be divinely guided.

The paradox of destiny and free will

I believe that our life journeys are based on blueprints. These blueprints were crafted by our karma and determine the lessons we’re supposed to learn in this lifetime.

You can’t change the blueprint, as the major experiences will happen in one form or another, but free will allows you to navigate within the blueprint. Even though you’re destined to learn particular lessons, how you learn those lessons is based on free will.

Imagine you came to Earth this time round to learn forgiveness. Free will determines if you organically come around by cultivating compassion, or if you experience something awful, which pushes you to a point where you need to forgive or it’s going to destroy you.

Either way, you learned the lesson to pay your karmic debt, but the form in which it happened is up to you.

The universe is rooting for you! It wants you to take the best course of action, and fulfill your potential. Of course, it can’t make you do it, it can’t just tell you because that’s not how the laws of physics work. So it works through spirit – through signs, symbols, synchronicities, intuition, opportunities, energies, and anything it can really…

So how do you know if you’re divinely guided and following your highest path? Let’s take a look!
Signs you are divinely guided
Divine guidance presents itself in many different forms. Often it’s quite subtle, but the more you pay attention to the signs, the more receptive you will become to your divine guidance, and learn to trust it more.

Naturally, when you’re following the right path, all lights will be green as if the universe is encouraging you to pursue it. This will manifest in your intuition, your feelings, attitudes, and thoughts.

God might not light a bush on fire or part the sea for you, but opportunities will spontaneously show up, the right people will enter your life, doors will fly open, and things will tend to work in your favor when you’re divinely guided.

The pieces will fall into place if you’re truly following the path you were destined to, but you need to know what those pieces are.

Some signs that you are divinely guided include:

Alignment: You feel aligned with the path and it feels good to pursue. You know that this path is meant for you when you’re on the right one.

Intuitive spikes: You may have powerful intuitive impulses, and instinctively know what big decisions are good for you, and what aren’t.

Louder messages: Your inner voice will get louder as you pay attention to it which gives you direction and clarity. This voice may manifest as your thoughts, spontaneous thoughts or ideas, intuitive impulses, or via the voices of others.

Messages from spirit: You may begin tapping into divine information from your spirit guides, or perceiving spiritual phenomena that encourage you to pursue your path.

Synchronicities: When you’re following your divine guidance, you may experience synchronicities which can be indicators that you’re on the right path.

Inspiration: You may feel more inspired and motivated to take a particular course of action as ideas seem to flow into you. Sometimes this inspiration will kick in hard, and out of the blue.

Inner peace and stability: You may find that you feel a deeper sense of peace and calm when you’re on the right path. The feelings of being lost or disillusioned seem to disappear as you pursue this path.

Deeper fulfillment: When you’re following your divine guidance, you generally feel deeper fulfillment because you’re following a path that you deeply resonate with – giving your life deeper meaning and purpose.

Ease of access: Things start falling into place, helpful coincidences happen, and it can seem as if the universe is helping you step forward on your path like the gates are wide open for you.

Opportunities show up more regularly: You will often manifest opportunities that will help you follow your divine guidance. These opportunities can manifest in many different forms, from work-related occurrences to invitations or ideas.

You feel recharged: Even if you’re working your way through a lot of battles, you may find that naturally, you feel good. You have more endurance and zest because your purpose fuels you.
How to tap into your divine guidance

If you’re looking for divine guidance, ask for it.

Who you’re asking doesn’t matter. Speak to god, your higher self, great spirit, your spirit guides. Putting the message out there that you’re ready to receive makes you more receptive to an answer.

Some people pray, others meditate. Some people seek the wisdom of plant medicines, others use divination tools. Some people isolate themselves in nature, pondering questions until an answer arises. There is no right way to seek spiritual guidance, as long as you are open to listening.

I like to pray when I feel lost, and I always feel like those prayers are answered. Nowadays it seems to happen almost immediately when I receive an email, an opportunity pops up, or I get a wave of inspiration or a new idea.

This happened today. I was sitting in a park thinking about how nice it would be if a big opportunity came my way. I wasn’t expecting anything or even really asking, I was sorta just thinking about my life, and what sort of opportunities will come into it.

Later that evening I was checking my phone and realized I missed an email from a big publication telling me they want to publish an article of mine. How did I miss this email? I check my emails daily. Why did an opportunity manifest in my inbox when I was pondering about it the same day?

Synchronicity – divine guidance, moving me along a higher path. On the other hand, when anything goes right, I express my gratitude towards whatever is out there pulling the strings.

So when you need divine guidance, ask for it from the heart humbly, and keep your eyes open for how the answer will manifest in your life. Don’t forget to say thanks!

Be generally receptive to people

People are a major source of information and inspiration, and great spirit certainly works through people too. This is why it’s so important to be receptive to people (generally speaking) and hear what they have to say.

I’m not talking about someone just giving you advice (although divine guidance may manifest in this way too). But in my experience, sometimes people randomly say something that strikes a resonating chord, and I get an epiphany of sorts.

To me, that’s divine guidance.

In my life, great spirit has worked through some interesting characters. From a person sitting next to me on the train and blabbering on about having a spiritual episode that spoke to my soul. Another time, a woman walked up to me and asked ‘Do you know ayahuasca?’ when I was sitting by myself, coincidently days before starting work at an ayahuasca center, leading to an interesting conversation.

Another time I had a ‘crazy guy’ stopping me in the street as I was walking past and ranting on about some pretty heavy spiritual stuff. But it made sense, and it gave me some foresight because I listened.

I could have ignored these people, but I’m glad I didn’t because great spirit spoke to me through them, and this altered my decisions and the following courses of action in some form.

Therefore, if someone has something to say, I suggest listening to it and seeing where it takes you.

Follow your intuition

You might hear me harp on intuition a lot within my teachings, and that’s because trusting intuition is incredibly important. Your intuition is your internal compass. It will always point you toward your highest path because your intuition is much more connected with spirit than your mind.

Your mind is the dumbest of the bunch. There have been a few times where I said ‘You know what, this time I’m going to follow my mind and see where this leads me’

I still learned some good lessons. Had some good experiences. But never has following my mind over my heart led me down my highest path. Usually, it was a drag. Not necessarily times of my life I would want to reenact. But those lessons reinforced the belief that the heart wins over the mind.

The heart on the other hand, always seems to lead me in the direction of fulfillment, joy, and happiness. It may lead you into the unknown while your mind is unsure. Sometimes you might be faced with a crossroads where your heart will be saying one thing and your mind another.

Your mind will try to convince you by saying ‘But this is the logical option! it would be silly to decide on a whim’.

I’m not saying that you should make bad decisions because you didn’t calculate anything, but prioritize the wisdom of your heart and use your mind as a tool to support it. Learn to follow the wisdom of your heart, and you’re on the right path.

Hold your vision of the future

Your ability to hold a vision of the future anchors you to your highest timeline, and is a big part of the manifestation process.

I had a vision of sitting in front of a sacred fire talking to a shaman about the red road (and feeling supported in the decision to walk it). That exact scene came to fruition because I held such a strong vision of it happening.

If you hold a vision and feel it with your heart and soul like you’re constantly playing out your biggest fantasy, it borders on the line of becoming a premonition. But it has to be genuine! You can’t force the vision. Even though I believe that your path is laid out, you still need to do everything you can to ensure that you take the highest timeline.

And you just don’t know.

Perhaps your destiny is to never find the motivation and to learn the painful sting of never living up to your potential. Maybe that is your destiny, I don’t know. But you want to do everything in your power, regardless, to manifest the life you dream of.

And if you are supposed to actualize and have a great life, that’s how you get there. If you are meant to burn out, at least you tried your absolute hardest, and can more easily accept the path your soul chose for this lifetime.

Accept what’s outside of your control

Were you supposed to meet up with people and there was a sudden change of plans? You weren’t meant to meet up with them that day. Did something unexpected happen? It was meant to be. Did things go well? Perfect, you’re on the right track. Did things go wrong? Perfect, you’re being shown the right track.

Learn to perceive every occurrence in your life in a frame of nonresistance. No matter what happens, look at it in a way that it was ultimately in your highest interest. This way of looking at life has brought me so much closure. Even if something does not go as planned, there is always a silver lining.

Look at life through a frame where everything that happens, happens for you. There’s a higher meaning to everything, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.

Of course, this isn’t an excuse to not try, because you absolutely should. Of course, you want to do what is within your control, but if it’s not, then life is pushing you in that direction for a reason. Why is this happening?

Have trust in your path

The thing about divine guidance is that you need to trust in it when things aren’t going to plan. Have faith that your path is the perfect path for your soul’s journey and what it needs to experience at this time.

There will be times when you feel discouraged. Sometimes you will feel like you’re failing or regressing. But I can guarantee you that whatever you’re going through is part of the process. Your life is taking you through the hoops it needs to go through.

These are the moments that matter because it’s easy to trust in the grand plan when things are working out the way you expect. Remember, unexpected turns are just the beginnings of new chapters. So trust that you’re on the right path, as long as you’re looking for the answers.

Why you should strive to be divinely guided

Now you know that divine guidance is always there, it’s just a matter of tapping into it. The more you tap into your spiritual guidance, the more divinely guided you will become. We all have this internal spiritual compass because we all have a soul. We are all connected to God, who has all the answers to every question you could imagine.

So step into it. Look for the signs and keep your eyes open because spirit is always trying to communicate with you, in one way or another.
20 January 2024
What’s The Spiritual Meaning Of The Black Sheep Of The Family?
Do you feel like you’ve always been the outlier in your family? Probably not in the way that makes you want to celebrate either. While the other family members seem to mesh so well, you see things a little differently.

Let’s face it. You don’t have much in common with your family members. You have always been the individual, the renegade, the odd one out that just doesn’t seem to fit the bill. This has led to conflict, feelings of rejection, and a general sense of alienation. At times it seems easier to bite your tongue, but pretending you’re someone you’re not just doesn’t sit right with you.

If you’re feeling this way, you’re likely the black sheep of your family. Being the black sheep can be a difficult position to be in, but there’s a spiritual significance we’re going to address in this article.

Being the black sheep is a catalyst for growth because you’re clearing out a unique path in life rather than following in others’ footsteps. Your soul, for one reason or another decided to take the fast route to spiritual growth. This is why it chose a position where it simply can’t conform.

And this is a privilege.

You’re the one who’s going to break the chain of hidden family dysfunction that has never been addressed, yet affects each passing generation. You are the one chosen to heal the ancestral trauma that has plagued your bloodline. You are the one to bridge cultures and connect with those who seem so different from you.

You are the one.

All you need is some guidance to turn this curse into a blessing, and that’s what we’re going to look at here. It’s time to embrace being the black sheep of the family and use this unique position to your advantage.
What is the black sheep of the family?

You can view the black sheep of the family as the odd one out. The back sheep is often seen as the rebel who diverges from the customs, traditions, and values of their family, and rather embraces their individual life path.

You might think being the black sheep is a curse, but this isn’t how I see it at all.

Although it can be tough to be an outsider, being a black sheep means you have a nonconformist nature and refuse to mindlessly follow norms. Of course, not all family customs and traditions are bad, but being the black sheep means you question things rather than going along with the flow because it’s normal.

You see through the webs of conditioning, patterns and programs that many people are ensnared in. If something doesn’t make sense to you, you’re not one to jump on board just because everyone else does.

You are an individualist by nature, and this means that you have the freedom to construct a life that is congruent with your dreams and desires, regardless of external pressure or influences. You diverge from family norms and carve out your own path.

While some people will perceive the black sheep to be the family scapegoat or the unempowered victim of the world, that’s not true. Just because you’re a black sheep doesn’t mean you aren’t loved, or accepted. Nor does it mean you’re a punk or deadbeat. You see things differently from the rest of your family which sets you apart from the flock.

If you have these characteristics, you may be a black sheep of your family:

You feel like you don’t belong

You are more individualistic than the other members of your family and prefer your own company

You don’t confine yourself to social norms

You are curious about things that your family doesn’t acknowledge or seem to care about

You will follow your calling, regardless of what others think

You don’t just follow norms, you question them

You prefer spontaneity over routine

You find that having a structured life is boring

You don’t have much in common with your family members

You question family customs and traditions

You don’t crumple under social pressure

You like to stand out of the crowd

You have a general distrust of authority structures and social hierarchies

You feel excluded from your family and feel that they don’t value you

You don’t believe in the conventional route or believe it is not fulfilling

You have different values from the rest of your family

You are more rebellious

Spiritual significance of being the black sheep of the family

There is a spiritual significance of being a black sheep of the family. People who are the black sheep of their families often undergo a spiritual awakening, and are chosen to transmute the consciousness of the family tree. They become the spiritual ones of the family because they don’t have that same ‘support’ structure and influences keeping them in place.

Until now, your family has operated unconsciously. They may be great people (or may not be), but they lack a deeper awareness that provides substance to the family chain. This is where you come in. Your soul chose this position to disrupt patterns and bring awareness into your bloodline. You are the turning point of your entire family line because you set the stage for the forthcoming generations.

This is why you chose a position in the family where you don’t fit in. You’re forced to explore your reality in a new depth to find a deeper meaning within it. This inner exploration leads to awakening, spiritual growth, and eventually healthier and happier family dynamics.

For example, if you come from a very conservative family but have progressive values, you may be the black sheep of the family. Your position varies from the rest of your family, which can cause friction, resentment, and a lack of understanding.

While your family may be very trusting of authority structures, you don’t share this sense of trust. This leads you to question the world, which can lead to unpopular beliefs within your family setting. You may be labeled as a conspiracy theorist or be seen as someone who just doesn’t get it for holding certain beliefs.

Even though the path of the black sheep can be turbulent, it’s ultimately a more fulfilling path to take, especially once you embrace your individuality and begin connecting with like-minded people.

As long as you continue exploring your reality and following your heart, you’ll find that being the black sheep of the family is a blessing. It takes time to mature into the position and find yourself, where you then become a shining example for the rest.

But this process can take time, so it’s important to be patient with yourself. Understand that there may be some hard yards ahead of you before you transcend the patterns and programs of your bloodline, and find stability in your role to bring in awareness and positive influence.

Is it good to be a black sheep?

In most cases, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. As with many family dynamics, most people walk the path that was laid out for them. They model after their parents and adopt similar values, belief systems, mannerisms, and behaviors.

There’s nothing wrong with modeling after your parents, but what if you don’t fit into this box? You have your interests, and perhaps they’re a little unconventional. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with people sharing interests and following customs, but you just don’t see the appeal.

Growing up, I was the odd one out. While my parents and brother all followed successful careers as doctors and lawyers, I had no interest in pursuing what’s commonly deemed a successful life.

Honestly, I just couldn’t (and still don’t) see the value of trading the best part of my life for stability. During my youth, I had a rebellious streak. I wanted to get drunk and smoke weed. I wanted to go to parties and chase women. I didn’t care about studying, being successful, or trying to be someone.

With maturity, I began walking a separate path. I have now spent 8 years living a nomadic lifestyle and found myself drawn into the healing space, especially via shamanic traditions.

While I do have a good family who supports me in these ventures, my divergence in interests and values led me down a very different road in life, which I’m infinitely grateful to be walking.

The path of the black sheep may not be easy. There’s no path at all, but that’s the beauty of it. You have the opportunity to discover that path and be the pioneer of your life rather than following in the footsteps of others.
What to do if you’re the black sheep of the family

Being the black sheep means that you’re an anomaly. This puts you in a unique position where it can serve your personal growth, as long as you leverage your individuality to create a beautiful life for yourself.

People who are the black sheep can get lost, while others discover a better road that brings them authenticity, deeper fulfillment, and lasting joy. In this sense, it can either be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on how you work with it.

When you perceive being a black sheep from a victim mindset, you may feel lost, unwanted, and unloved. If you perceive it as an advantage, that is to use this position as a way to further explore your interests and discover a road of deeper meaning in your life, then it can be a blessing.

Of course, you want to use this position as a black sheep as a springboard for deeper self-discovery and learning. That’s why you chose this position on a soul level – to illuminate the family tree and bring new ways of perceiving the world into it.

Being a black sheep is a good thing because your individuality brings more richness to your life experience, and allows you to branch off in ways that most people never consider.

Here are some things you can do to leverage this position as a black sheep, to craft an incredible life for yourself:

Follow your interests, not others

Rather than doing what you should do, think about what ignites a spark in you.

The truth is, most of us are so deeply ensnared by conditioning, programs, and influences that we don’t have much choice in the matter. We end up following the crowd because it’s the path that has been laid out before us.

The conventional road may suit some people, but it’s certainly not for everyone which is why so many people seem to be unfulfilled.

Being a black sheep means you can see through this wall of programs a little clearer, and make decisions based on your interests, rather than others. Instead of doing what you should do, explore your reality. Be different, experiment.

Look for the path of your fulfillment, regardless of what other people tell you. Only you know what will make you happy, and only you can discover the road to get there. Therefore, follow your interests, rather than following the path that was laid out for you.

Don’t settle for normality

There’s often a stigma of the black sheep being a deadbeat and making poor life choices.

Just because you’re the black sheep doesn’t mean you’re doomed to work in a bar your whole life. Nor does it mean that you can’t create wealth, or find success, at least in the conventional sense.

You’re just born for a different role, which is to walk against the beaten track. That’s why you should work towards finding something that you enjoy doing, and it’s not going to be working for other people your whole life.

You are destined to be a leader, a leader in thought, a leader in morality, and a leader in consciousness, which is why you’ve never been a good follower.

Therefore, make sure you build towards a life where you have the opportunity to lead, whether it’s other people or your avocations.

Avoid feeling victimized

You may feel like an outsider for the most part but don’t weaponize that feeling. Your path is diverting from the beaten track, but it doesn’t mean you’re any better or worse, fortunate or unfortunate.

Being the emotional punching bag is a common theme for black sheep. It can be a tricky position because you may feel like you don’t have the same support as those who belong to the tribe.

But you are not a victim, you are a creator.

Even if you’re given the worst treatment, you are never the victim. Victimhood is a mindset, not a condition. And as long as you assume the position of the victim, you’re never going to be constructive.

So look at the bright side. Look at the advantages of being the black sheep, and how it sets you on a path of inner growth, healing, and prosperity: As long as you own it and make the most of it.

Let your true colors shine

Don’t be afraid to be the odd one out. People who are black sheep may feel pressure to conform to others. You may feel like there is something inherently wrong with you because you don’t tick the same as others you know.

But there is nothing more beautiful than authenticity. You need to learn to be comfortable in your skin, and embrace who you truly are, whether it resonates with others or not.

You are born to be an individual, so allow yourself to be an individual. Conformity isn’t good for anyone at the end of the day. It leads to a very monotonous world.

You can see through the web of conditioning, and the smear of lies and deceit. You are a free thinker as you aren’t bound to social norms. At the end of the day, other people’s approval is not what you need, so be authentic to who you truly are, without trying to be someone else.

Guide yourself with personal growth

As long as you’re on a journey of personal growth, you can never go astray.

Personal growth should be your compass when everything else seems confusing. After all, not being so close to family has pushed you into a journey of self-discovery. Whether it’s to find yourself, to cope, or to expand, growth is the way forward.

Use this feeling of not belonging as a springboard for self-discovery. Your inner growth is what’s important. As long as you go down the path of actualization, you’re on a good trajectory.

As you explore yourself and question your reality, you may venture into spiritual territory. Don’t be afraid to go down the rabbit hole of self-discovery, because there is nothing more exciting than learning who, and what you are.

This means that being a black sheep is a corridor to spiritual awakening because you’re not bound within the conventions of your family or society.

Find your tribe

Being the black sheep should spur you to seek out people who you can connect with. Perhaps you’ve never felt that connection with your family, but you will find home in other people who are trotting the road less traveled.

Get out there and see what sort of people you resonate with. Connect with like-minded people, and allow your adventure of consciousness to bring you to new places.

Remember, your drive to be different is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s commendable because it takes courage to walk your path, to be your person, and to explore your reality.

So have fun on this adventure as you find yourself, and don’t be afraid to drift further and further away from the norm. It’s what we need more than ever these days, and there’s a lot of joy and excitement in exploring yourself and other people on a deeper level.
6 November 2023
How to Connect with Your Spirit Guides
Despite being on a spiritual journey for many years, spirit guides were a concept I heard a lot about, but never really believed. After all, I’ve never seen one myself, and some of the descriptions that people gave were relatively vague.

‘It’s probably just a belief system for people to feel supported’ I thought, never dismissing the subject, but taking it with a grain of salt. Until one day, when I encountered a full-bodied apparition by my bed that immediately shattered my skepticism.

While living in the US in 2022, I went through a particularly painful breakup. As a means to discover answers, I held a ceremony for myself using DMT the following night.

I knew I had to be particularly cautious with this medicine as I was in a vulnerable state. However, I had learned how to navigate the space and use it as a stage for the deepest levels of healing and growth, so I went ahead.

Before ingesting the medicine, I set intentions and said prayers to the ancestral spirit, asking it to bring forward benevolent spirits to help me illuminate, guide, and heal. Immediately afterward, I was granted access to the spiritual realm and blasted through the cosmic gate.

After having many insights and realizations about my situation, I noticed a tear in the space-time continuum. An indigenous man was standing in a portal and looking at me as if staring through a doorway. The level of hyperrealism was impeccable. I could see every detail as if I was face-to-face with this man.

He was short and had dark skin, and I noticed his large hands holding an instrument that looked like a giant rustic violin bow. Intuitively I knew he was here to help, so I let him do his thing.

Instantly, the spirit started rattling this instrument over me which forced these painful energies out in a violent convulsion. At the time I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew it was positive, so I surrendered to it.

The next thing I remembered was waking up the next morning. For the next five days, I would be completely at peace. All the pain I was experiencing had vanished, and it never came back. This episode almost felt like a second rebirth, induced by an ancestral spirit who was very real and just wanted to help me.

I have had many deep spiritual experiences, especially with medicines, but I know it’s something special to have a face-to-face encounter like this. This experience opened me up to learning more about spirit guides, and what purpose they serve in our lives.

After spending six months working with Ayahuasca shamans in Ecuador afterward, this is what I learned.

What are spirit guides?

Spirit guides can be understood as higher-dimensional facets of oneself that we can tap into for guidance, wisdom, and support. Because they are extensions of our infinite consciousness, they possess an innate understanding of our needs and the best paths to fulfill them.

There’s a lot of ambiguity surrounding the topic of spirit guides. We know that they’re spirits that exist within another realm of information and are here to help us, but what exactly are they?

The way I understand spirit guides is that they’re interdimensional aspects of ourselves. In that sense, your spirit guides are different incarnations of your soul that have mastered different spiritual pathways within this world and others.

As an infinite consciousness yourself, you have incarnated countless times, in every form. That wisdom is stored in your soul which can be retrieved, and this is where spirit guides play a role: As separate projections of your consciousness.

I don’t necessarily believe that you have an assigned squad of beings to watch over you. Perhaps you do, I, like anyone else, don’t have all the answers. However, I do believe that our spirit guides are us at a deeper level of consciousness, and we’re simply retrieving information from them.

All the wisdom, support, and knowledge resides inside yourself, and this is something I need to assert. In the deepest layers of reality, we are all the same consciousness experiencing itself infinitely. At this level of consciousness, you and I are the same being too.

All the information, wisdom, and healing in the word resides in yourself. Therefore, you connect with your spirit guides by going inwards as they’re within you. Searching outwards for them will only make you lost.

How can spirit guides help?

Most people won’t encounter their spirit guides because most people haven’t deeply explored their own consciousness and spiritual nature. People who have dedicated themselves to the exploration of their consciousness may experience manifestations of spirit guides.

Often, spirit guides appear to warn you. I’ve heard all sorts of stories from people about to commit suicide when a spirit showed up, to being in dangerous situations where a spirit guide deterred a particular course of action, or signaled the person that they needed to leave a shady situation.

Your spirit guides tend to appear in your life when you need them the most. You tap into them as a way of receiving wisdom, healing, protection, and support. They may appear to you when you’re about to walk into a life-threatening situation, or veering off track.

They will clarify what you need to do moving forward in your present situation. Clarity often comes in the form of realizations or intuitive spikes. There will be a deeper knowingness that shines through when you’re connecting with a spirit guide about your situation (even if it’s not what you want to hear).

Other times, people who desperately need their guidance may tap into them unconsciously, although I would say this is quite rare.

Spirit guides can appear when you’re at your lowest, and you’re praying for help. Situations such as mourning, heavy trauma, and derailment from your path can bridge the connection to these spirits.
How do we percieve spirit guides?

People tend to perceive spirit guides as external beings that step into our lives to help us out.

Spirit guides are not external to you. You’re just tapping into a deeper part of your consciousness to receive information from your higher self (or interdimensional versions of your higher self). Remember, you’re not a human! You’re just here for a temporary experience, and you’ve already been here and done this countless times.

I have tapped into my spirit guides on many occasions. Sometimes it happens throughout my day-to-day life when I’m working, walking through nature, or engrossed in something. Other times they appear through ceremonies, meditation, and while practicing spiritual crafts such as astral projection.

I’ve met guiding spirits in the form of humans, orbs, and interdimensional beings. Often there’s an element of ambiguity surrounding an encounter with a spirit guide. Rarely, they will smack you in the face and you’ll know. But it does happen.

There are many different ways that you can tap into your spirit guides. They don’t come in a single form, rather they can be perceived in an array of forms and figures, depending on their manifestation.

A spirit guide will appear in any form that is significant to you. I’ve had encounters with different spirit guides since exploring these other dimensional realms. While astral projecting I’ve been in contact with orbs that felt like family and gave me a tour through the spiritual dimension.

I’ve seen the same figures in extremely vivid dreams that seem to convey a deep message to me, which is exactly what I need at the time. Then there were strange things like whispers and voices that came out of nowhere. All of these encounters were quick but very real.

Spirit guides are seen with the third eye, and they usually don’t occupy space in physical reality, although sometimes they appear as apparitions. People tend to connect with their spirit guides during dreams, prayer, spiritual practices, and meditation.

Spirit guides can be perceived in different ways, depending on how they manifest into your reality. Some common ways that people perceive their spirit guides include:

Visions: These visions vary in intensity and can range from a vague imprint of people to vivid, dreamlike manifestations.

Apparitions: A spirit guide may manifest as an apparition, occupying the physical space around you.

Disembodied voices: A spirit guide may manifest as a disembodied voice that may sound very clear as if someone spoke next to you, with no source or logical explanation. These voices are usually a word, or perhaps a few words rather than a dialog.

Intuitive feelings: Intuition spikes tend to accompany other signals that you’re tapping into a spirit guide. Often when you have a vision of a spirit guide, you get a sharp intuitive spike and a feeling that there is another presence with you, whether you can see it or not.

Downloads: A common way to receive information is via a download. A download is a telepathic communication where you may experience a sudden burst of information, knowledge, insight, inspiration, realization, or what appears to be intrusive thoughts or feelings.
How to connect with you spirit guides

Remember that you are your own master.

It’s fine to seek help from outside sources but be careful not to give your power away. All the answers you seek are stored within your consciousness, and your spirit guides are aspects of your consciousness.

By practicing going deeper into yourself, this is where you will start to experience your guides, here’s what you can do to cultivate a deeper connection with them.

Set your intentions: Many different spirits are hanging about in the spiritual realm and you don’t want to connect with just anything. Your intentions are like a spiritual compass. When you’re reaching out to your spiritual guides, set clear and concise intentions from the heart. As long as you feel it (not just say it), you’re aiming in the right direction.

Pray to them: Praying creates a sacred space and potentially opens up a connection with your spirit guides. Prayer is a way of asking for guidance, protection, and clarity. Whether the answers come through intuition, immediate clarity, visions, synchronicities, or signs, it’s an indicator that you are connecting with your guides.

Be present: You’re unlikely to connect with these deeper realms of information if you’re doing things. By sitting with your experience of consciousness, you create space for more messages to come through because you’re paying attention. Mindfulness is key because it brings you into the here and now, where you’re receptive to subtle signals and messages.

Pay attention to your intuition: Trusting your intuition is necessary to tap into your spirit guides. When you become very good at listening to this inner voice, you might start to notice other voices coming through too. Practice paying attention to what you feel, and your gut instinct. Surrender to the experience of being, and allow any thoughts, feelings, ideas, memories, or visions to enter your consciousness.

Surrender: Almost all the major spiritual experiences that have happened in my life occurred when I surrendered. When you let go of control, your ego ceases which opens up a direct connection to the realm of spirit. Stop trying to control the outcome too. When you’re in a state of nonresistance with the universe, you’re much more likely to tap into your spirit guides.

Engage shamanic ceremonies: Personally, most of my major spiritual experiences have happened during shamanic ceremonies. The responsible use of plant medicines can be a powerful tool to tap into guidance from the deepest parts of your soul. I suggest always doing ceremonies with genuine healers who have walked the shamanic path within their tradition and know how to hold the space when working with these medicines.

Explore spiritual modalities: By practicing a spiritual craft, whether it’s energy healing, mediumship, or astral projection, the veil between this reality and the spiritual realm thins. This is where you will begin tapping into spirit guides, especially in past incarnations where you used, or mastered the same modalities you’re using now.
9 October 2023
Spiritual Coach: What They Are And How They Help
Anyone who has set foot on a spiritual growth journey will tell you that it’s immensely rewarding but very turbulent. It involves losing yourself and your identity, exploring new things, and stepping into the exciting but unfamiliar territory of your consciousness.

Needless to say, the spiritual journey can be an alienating one.

You might be at a point where you feel completely lost. Despite your best attempts to push forward, life continues to pile on the challenges, and you just become more and more disillusioned in the process.

You know you need to go deeper into your self-discovery but finding someone who can help poses a challenge. Even though their intentions are good, friends and family can’t connect with you, and talking to a therapist might not hit to spot either.

Your issue is existential, which is an area most people aren’t well-versed in. At certain points, we all need help along our spiritual journeys because no person is an island.

This is where a spiritual coach plays a role: to guide you down a path that brings you deeper fulfillment.

In this article, we’re going to inspect the role of a spiritual coach and talk a little bit about how they help people, so you know whether you need one or not.
What does a spiritual coach do?

Look at a spiritual coach as a spiritual-based counselor who can help you navigate your spiritual journey with more ease and clarity. People tend to seek out spiritual coaches when the nature of their problem is existential, meaning there is no clear cause or solution.

Although there are some similarities to counseling, therapy, and life coaching, spiritual coaching tends to take a more abstract role which orbits around things like:

Finding a deeper sense of meaning in life

Discovering a deeper sense of purpose or fulfillment

Navigating existential issues

Understanding certain religious, spiritual, or mystical experiences

Embodying principals, philosophies, and ways of being to live happier

Stepping further into personal growth, spiritual growth, and healing

Working through periods of self-transformation and change

Instils deeper faith, authenticity, and connection with spirit

Encourages new ways of seeing the world

Get the picture?

Spiritual coaching deals with the existential – the part of ourselves that extends beyond the mind and can’t be quantified. This often translates as helping individuals develop a deeper connection to spirit via exploring new practices, modalities, and ways of being.

A spiritual coach creates a nurturing space to help people explore themselves and discover a deeper meaning in their lives. In this sense, they tend to focus on holistic aspects of well-being rather than the tangible, goal-oriented side of it that you may see in a life coach or counselor.

Working with a spiritual coach can guide you toward personal insights and realizations while helping you tackle deep-rooted imbalances, and obstacles within your spiritual path, and blocks.

But they come in many different flavors. Let’s be real, there’s no real standard for spiritual coaches. Some are great, with many years of training under mentors and teachers, others are well-meaning hippies who might be good listeners and have some wisdom to share.

It’s a mixed bag because spiritual coaches can be:

Therapists, counselors, and life coaches

Religious coaches teaching individuals how to live by certain doctrines

Healers (energy healers, crystal healers, medicine people, etc.)

Mystics, psychics, clairvoyants, and mediums

so…

What qualifies someone to be a spiritual coach?

The thing about spirituality is that there aren’t any formal certifications, and to be honest, I would be a little concerned if there were.

A nutritionist will generally have a formal education in nutrition because they need to know a lot of things about it. They wouldn’t know how to consult people without a good understanding of what the body needs, and when it’s out of balance.

Likewise, a therapist must learn a lot of techniques and skills to navigate the complex human psyche, but someone fresh out of school can learn the tricks of the trade and still be a great therapist.

Although spiritual coaches need to have a breadth of knowledge and life experience, spirituality can’t be acquired like the skills in many other professions can be. Sure, you can study different teachings and philosophies that may aid your spiritual pursuits, but it won’t make a dent if you don’t walk the talk.

Therefore, someone who guides others spiritually relies on lived experience. In this sense, wisdom is a much more powerful tool than book smarts, because it allows them to understand the people they work with on a very personal level.

Therefore, spiritual coaches rely on:

Their life experience: This in-depth understanding of spiritual dynamics, philosophies, and ways to engage more deeply with spirit allows them to be very skilled when guiding others towards a higher path

Their faith: A spiritual coach’s faith is a key player in their ability to guide, help, and aid the process of healing. They often help instill faith, understanding, and a deeper knowledge of self and the universe to help their clients navigate their circumstances.

Their ability to support: Spiritual coaches are great at guiding others through complex, existential issues to help them develop a bigger-picture view of life and discover deeper layers of self.

Personal spiritual practice: A deep understanding and personal practice that comes from their unique spiritual journey – such as immersing themselves in spiritual traditions, working with various teachers, and engaging in modalities.

Personal development and emotional maturity: Good spiritual coaches are constantly pushing themselves to grow which is necessary because they are often helping clients navigate significant life challenges that can be a delicate matter.

Intuition and higher guidance: Spiritual coaches take a more intuitive approach than traditional life coaches or therapists, which tend to be more structured. This allows the coach to provide support and guidance based on past experiences, personal knowledge, and wisdom.

So when you’re seeking a spiritual coach, perhaps looking for formal qualifications will lead you astray. A highly decorated spiritual coach may be great, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the wisdom and lived experience necessary to guide others through these deep, often existential issues.

With that said, trainings and qualifications in the area of coaching, counseling, and therapy often go hand in hand with spiritual coaching, and can only complement their abilities to guide individuals through difficult periods of their lives.

Therefore, I suggest working with a spiritual coach that you resonate with, and feel a connection with.

Working with a clairvoyant probably won’t do you wonders if you’re just stepping into your spiritual journey, and looking for some beginner tools to help you get started.

Likewise, working with a shamanic healer might not be the best if you’re interested in deepening you’re more drawn toward Eastern traditions like meditation and yoga. In this case, it’s best to seek out someone who has spent time in these cultures, worked with teachers, and practices these modalities religiously.
What to look for in a spiritual coach

Maybe you don’t even need a spiritual coach. Maybe you need a life coach or a mindset coach. There are a lot of different mentors out there, and each specializes in different areas. This is why you should assess your needs before seeking a spiritual coach.

What issues are you needing help with? Are you looking for a deeper holistic view of your situation, or something more immediate? Are you looking for actionable steps, or wisdom to improve your life? Think about what you are looking for, and if a spiritual coach is something you would feel a good connection with.

Most importantly, you need to resonate with the spiritual coach you’re seeking out. If you don’t click for whatever reason, then it’s best to continue looking and find someone who you do resonate with.

The reason why you need to resonate with your spiritual coach is because they’re like a mentor. You will develop a deep connection with this person, and they’re going to guide you with their individual life experience and wisdom.

You should know instantly whether you mesh with the person or not. You should feel seen, and like what they have to say. There shouldn’t be any awkwardness or strange energy between the two of you. You should feel inspired by their life story, and they should be able to teach you what they learned through it.

Here are some things you should look for in a spiritual coach:

They have heart: A good spiritual coach will always lead from the heart. They should always come from a place of compassion and understanding and genuinely want to help you expand and improve the quality of your life which should reflect in their attitudes and behaviors. If they’re only in it for the money, they’re in the wrong profession.

They are transparent: Spiritual coaches should be transparent about who they are, and what they’re about without pretending to be above it all, or some ascended master. Even though they will provide feedback gently and encouragingly, they aren’t afraid to tell you the truth.

They are present with you: A spiritual coach should be great at holding space for you. They can take the heat if you’re venting, in tears, or expressing yourself in whatever way you need to. This is an important skill for a spiritual coach as they will recognize the need for their clients to purge energies, to heal, and to create room for growth.

They practice what they preach: Spirituality is not a competition, but someone who is teaching others to connect with themselves should have a pretty good grip on it. Ideally, spiritual coaches have a lot of life experience and wisdom to share.

They are no strangers to patience: Because they genuinely understand your struggles, they should be patient with you. A good spiritual coach will push you no doubt, but they will also show compassion in the face of setbacks, and always be there to help you get back on your feet, regardless of where you are, or how many times you fall.

They don’t do it for you: Any spiritual coach claiming that they’re healing you, or doing the transformation for you is a red flag. An authentic spiritual coach will never take credit for your healing or transformation. They will recognize their role as a guide that may help you, but never claim to do it for you.

They explore what you need with you: A spiritual coach who tells you what you need is a red flag because only you are living your experience. A good spiritual coach will actively work with you to peel back layers of the onion to understand what you truly need, but they will not tell you what you need, especially when it feels out of alignment.

They uplift you: If a spiritual coach ever makes you feel unworthy, then they are not the person for you. A spiritual coach is there to empower you. They want to see you grow to your full potential and will bring you up, never push you down or make you feel small.

They are detached from ego: A good spiritual coach should have a deep awareness of their ego self, and have a good handle on it. They should reside in their heart space, not their ego space that needs to feel superior. This means that they don’t talk down to you. They may share insights and understandings but never claim to know everything or reject their humanness.

Keep it real

Ultimately, you want to work with someone who keeps it real. After all, they are a mentor sharing their counsel, advice, and wisdom with you from what they learned along their journey. Anyone who assumes a position where they are your guru or some ascended master who is talking down to you as their disciple isn’t the person you’re looking for.

You want someone who you can relate with, and who is walking a similar path to you, or perhaps is a little further along a path you want to walk yourself.

Any spiritual coach trying to cox you into some exorbitant coaching package by telling you how much you need it or how much it will improve your life… big red flag.
2 October 2023