Allthough the best way to go with this sacred medicine is to prepare it and drink it where it grows, with an experienced person, not all of us will have the oportunity to have this session. I´ve been working with this medicine for more than 15 years, but it was not until five years ago that my mentor allowed me to give it to other people. I walked a lot in the Andes in search for different poitns of view about how to prepare this sacred beberage, and nowhere I´ve seen that somebody eats it. This is true, however, for peyote, but these are differents plants with differents spirits in it. The way to go with the San Pedro (called Wachuma, Achuma or simply Medicine in the Andes) is to make a sort of tea.
Let me insist one more time in ideal conditions: we are in the mountains with a guide, we look for the plant or maybe it´s better to say the plant looks for us and offers herself. We speak to her, we declare that our intentions are sane, in direction to light and healing, we offer something in exchange, like a bund of tabac or white sage leaves, and we cut it. The following step demands a lot of work, taking out prickles, cutting the arm into little pieces and puting them to dry in the sun.
But, lets take it for granted that we are not going to go to the desert looking for this plant, but we receive it in a discret pakage from an online shop. Trading with sacred plants have several aspects, some of them lamentable, but it also provides a few of us with some material to work with.
Waht to do? We do our best. So, we receive the plant, may be we can put it some where and thanks her, and apollogize for her death or mutilation, promising that we will go trough this with the apropriate respect.
If you cook it fresh, it will work for having some minor vision, but if you dry it you will get better results. So, after carefully taking the prickles, cut it into fine slices and put it at low temperature in the oven, drying them. Then, being aware of the amount of slices, make to equal parts of them, and put one part in a pot, adding water in relation one part plant/three parts water. Let it boil gently for about two hours. Then straine it but make sure you reserve this water. Do this three times, always keeping the water in different containers, and boiling the same slices. Now, take the boiled slices away, and put the new ones in the pot, but instead of adding water, you start with the latest boiled greenish tea, that for now must look clearer than the others. Let it boiled and steam, and go adding these green waters, until everything is in the pot. Then strain and reserve the sacred medicine. Let it cool down. As a result, you will have the most disgusting, bitter tea you ever drinked in your life.
The proper way to prepare one self for the ritual is to make a diet one week to three days before drinking, leaving alcohol outside your organism for minimum three days. If you wish, you can avoid sexual intercourse for the last three days. The day of the ritual, try not to eat at all, if you´re very hungry and not used to fast, you can eat some fruit (not acid ones) or a very light soup.
So, you´re sitting there, being aware that you are going to do something ancient, sacred. Prepare your outside conditions and everyday life, so they can leave you in peace for at least twelve hours. Preferably, drink it at dusk, so you can have all night for you. The most important part, however, comes before you drink it. Tobacco is one of the sacred plants in the world and San Pedro likes to be honour with his presence. Tobacco has nothing to do with cigarettes, but you can buy organic tabaco and roll one. This is the time for prayers, where you speak to the plant in a sincere, modest way, about your fears in life, about your wishes and your problems, etc, just let it come out of your heart. While you´re doing this, keep blowing the smoke on top of the glass, to power the spirit of the plant. Now you are ready to drink, take one deep breath and drink as much as you can, trying not to smell. If you need to stop because it´s too filthy, stop and give it another try, all or nothing.
Ufff, I think about it and it makes me ... puaj. But, that is how it goes. Lie down for half and hour and let the medicine travels through you´re body, you will feel it investigating your guts very clearly. After a while, you may feel nauseous; it´s totally normal, it´s a most important part of the experience. A lot of emotional stuff that we don´t need is in us, let it come out. You will realice while going through this what I mean, it´s not like vomiting while sick, it´s just the plant cleansing your body, your emotions, your thoughts. This can happens and it usually does, but it´s not a law, It doesn´t have to happens. For instance, I did vomit a lot of stuff after seven days fasting, and didn´t vomit anything after eating shit one day before or the same day.
Well, the experience must be a little strong and it´s important you stay at home, or in the place in nature that you choose, both have it´s advantages. While at home you can feel secure and listen to good music, few experiences are so blissful as watching the stars and nature under the effect of this sacred medicine, in the company of a fire, in loneliness. If you go with respect, the plant will give you her love, advice and, above all, protection, so you don´t need to be afraid, just carefull as you gain some experience in interacting with her spirit.
