The Universe Within Podcast

Hey everybody! Episode 109 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Jerónimo Mazarrasa. This is Jerónimo’s second time on this podcast. Jerónimo works for a great organization called ICEERS (International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service). He came on this episode to speak about a new course that ICEERS is offering about harm reduction for facilitators of plant medicines in a non-traditional context. As this plant medicine work expands to the world at large, I think organizations like ICEERS play a crucial role in bridging traditions, bringing awareness and education, and offering support and assistance to practitioners as well as participants. I have a lot of respect for their organization and the work that they do, as well as their staff. Marc Aixalà and Irene Pérez, who both work for ICEERS, have also been on this podcast. I really enjoyed my last conversation with Jerónimo and was happy to have him on again to share about this new work. I think he speaks very well from a place of experience, wisdom, knowledge, humility, and as a bridgekeeper, and I trust you all will gain a lot from this episode. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. As listeners, visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe"Jerónimo M.M. is an ayahuasca community activist and independent researcher. He has produced and written two documentaries about ayahuasca. The first about the Brazilian Ayahuasca churches, the second about the use of Ayahuasca in the treatment of drug addiction. In the last 20 years he has travelled extensively through South America, researching a broad range of Ayahuasca practices, and has lectured internationally on ayahuasca tourism and the appropriation of indigenous knowledge. He works as Social Innovation Coordinator for the ICEERS Foundation, and is a founding member of the Plantaforma (Platform for the Defense of Ayahuasca in Spain) in the last 5 years he has devoted most of his energy to figure out how ceremonial plant practices can be integrated outside of their cultures of origin. He curates a list of ayahuasca news, a facebook account, and a blog." For more info about Jerónimo and his work, view above links or visit: https://www.iceers.org/And for the direct link to the course, with sign-up ending April 27, visit: https://iceersacademy.mykajabi.com/ayasafety-enIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 108 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Melanie Reinhart. Melanie was recommended to me by a friend of mine, James Robinson, and I’m really grateful that he did. Melanie is an astrologer and I really enjoyed speaking with her. She has a beautiful voice, presence, and wisdom and I think you all will find this a fascinating conversation. We spoke about her early years and interest in astrology, it’s history, how it fell out of favor in the West, the mythology of astrology, Chiron and its mythology and meaning, how astrology ties together many disciplines and draws upon much ancient wisdom from around the world, and how astrology can help guide us in the current times we are in. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. As listeners, visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe“Melanie Reinhart is best known for her book 'Chiron and the Healing Journey', and her work on Chiron and the Centaurs Chariklo, Nessus and Pholus. She is a prize-winning diploma holder of the Faculty of Astrological Studies in the UK (Margaret Hone Award 1979), of whom she is also a patron. She was awarded the prestigious Charles Harvey Award in 2004, given by the Astrological Association of Great Britain for 'exceptional service to astrology'. Her work is an unusual combination of intuition and meticulous research... Melanie was initially self-taught in astrology, immersing herself for many years in the work of Dane Rudhyar. Later she had the privilege of learning from the many gifted astrologers in the rich milieu of London, and that journey continues. Melanie studied Horary astrology with Geoffrey Cornelius (1989-1990), and Deborah Houlding (Practitioner's Certificate 2012). Melanie has taught for many highly esteemed astrology schools, in the UK and abroad, including the Centre for Psychological Astrology, the London School of Astrology, the Faculty of Astrological Studies, Aula Astrològica de Catalunya, Heaven and Earth Workshops and Astro*Synthesis….”To learn more about or contact Melanie, and for her full bio, visit her website at: https://melaniereinhart.comIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 107 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Yukia Sandara. I met Yukia recently and felt she had a really interesting story and had something special to share. I was really happy to sit down with her and this conversation exceeded my expectations. In fact I think it was a masterclass in many ways of a lot of different concepts of a spiritual path. We got into some really interesting topics including her growing up in apartheid South Africa, her opening up as a channel in her childhood, communication with star beings, the role of guidance and action, the power of free-will and freedom, and what she has learned over her years walking her path. It was a really fascinating conversation and I think you all will gain much from it. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!“Yukia is like you, just a reflection of You, and has dedicated the past years to experiencing and expressing passionately her Inter Galactic Star seed trajectory by travelling the World as a mother, a grandmother, a child, a woman, a student, a friend, a lover, a teacher, a healer, a Transformation Language of Light Activator/Decoder, an observer and a witness, a Higher Consciousness change agent, a facilitator of events and a Inter-Galactic Mentor/Life coach. Yukia woke up at the age of 6 and then partially shut down whilst still astral traveling through dimensions and experiencing being different and odd until a later time when she accepted her full Mission.She comes from a corporate Change /Transformation Coaching background before her full activation as a Walk in Soul in 2002.  Since then she has been called from within to dedicate her Life mission in Service to the Planet and Humanity sharing her love, wisdom and gifts.For many years Yukia was called to experiment and retrieve and recall all parts of her original Self, her inner knowledge and wisdom from ancient mystery schools of spiritual teachings, Inter Galactic Higher Learning Centers, Gaia’s Consciousness and her Body of consciousness Inner Guidance…” To learn more about or contact Yukia, visit her website at: https://www.yukiasandara.com and https://www.sacredworlds.comIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 106 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with my friend Luke Jensen. Luke and I practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu together where I met him. Luke is a former Marine and served in Afghanistan. He now works with brain mapping and neurofeedback and is integrating this work with plant medicines. We had a long conversation and got into some really interesting and I think deep topics about war, morality, his work with brain mapping, neuroplasticity, and neurogenesis, the role of masculinity, martial arts, and systems of power. It was a fascinating conversation and I really enjoyed it. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!“Luke served in the Marine Corps for 6 years and eventually deployed to Afghanistan for a year with an Airborne infantry unit. After his deployment Luke spent a number of years traveling and searching for his place in the world. His adventures took him to South America where he started working with Shamans and plant medicines. At the same time Luke started working with different neurotechnologies on himself and has spent almost ten years studying the topic. Finally, a few years ago serendipity allowed Luke to meet Dr Richard Soutar and both wanted to collaborate in combining plant medicine shamanism and with neurofeedback and QEEG brain mapping. Luke has been living off and on in Peru for the last five years, and has been involved in brain research along with plant medicines and shamanism. Luke passionately believes that neurotechnology combined with ancient practices can allow humans to reach elevated spiritual states and peak potentials that are almost boundless. To him, Neuro Enlightenment is a living manifestation of both further research into human consciousness and the vision to give people the tools to manifest their highest selves.” To learn more about or contact Luke, visit his website at: https://neuroenlightenment.com and http://dagazrite.comIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 105 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Megan & Nicole Michelena from the Zenchronicity Podcast. I really enjoyed sitting down with these two sisters and getting to know their background and work. They have a really beautiful story and we got into that, their work with psilocybin, the legalization movement in Colorado, the archetypes of masculine and feminine and how important they are, and other pertinent issues that we as individuals and as a collective are dealing with during these times. We went almost three hours, which for me, is always a good sign of a fascinating conversation. I hope and think you all will like this conversation much as I did. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. Visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe“Megan and Nicole Michelena are Microdosing Institute certified mental health experts specializing in psychedelic medicine. They are sisters and the founders of Zenchronicity, a microdose mentorship program that supports healing through psilocybin. Megan is also a certified holistic nutritionist, health coach, and both are trauma-informed yoga teachers and experts in psychedelic medicine. They are also precious stone jewelry makers, crystal experts and Megan is a gifted astrologer. They have been featured in Authority Magazine, Psychedelic Spotlight, Microdose.buzz, Yahoo!, Bustle, Best Life Online, The Daily Beast, and together they host the Zenchronicity Podcast.”To learn more about or contact Megan and Nicole, visit their website at: https://www.zenchronicity222.com/If you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 104 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Chris Kilham. Chris is also know as the Medicine Hunter and is an author, educator and yogi. He is the founder of Medicine Hunter Inc., and conducts medicinal plant research and sustainable botanical sourcing in over 45 countries. I met Chris a few years ago when I was working at the Amazonian plant medicine center, The Temple of the Way of Light, where Chris came together with his wife Zoe Helen (who I hope to have on in the next few episodes), and brought a group of guests there. Chris is really interesting guy and has led a fantastic life of exploration, discovery, and education in the field of plant medicine. He is the author of a number of book including Ayahuasca Test Pilots Handbook: The Essential Guide to Ayahuasca Journeying, The Five Tibetans, and The Lotus and The Bud: Cannabis, Consciousness, and Yoga Practice. It was a pleasure to have him on to speak about his work, medicinal plants, and the world at large. I think you all will enjoy and gain a lot out of this episode. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. Visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe“Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter, author, educator and yogi. The founder of Medicine Hunter Inc., Chris has conducted medicinal plant research and sustainable botanical sourcing in over 45 countries.in over 45 countries. Chris works with companies to develop and popularize traditional plant-based food and medicinal products into market successes. These include ashwagandha, kava, maca, rhodiola, schisandra, tamanu oil, cat’s claw, dragon’s blood, ayahuasca, and hundreds of other plants. Chris also works to bridge worlds, regularly sharing information about other cultures through presentations and media. The New York Times calls Chris “part David Attenborough, part Indiana Jones…”To learn more about or contact Chris, and for his full bio, visit his website at: https://www.medicinehunter.com/If you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 103 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Joan Parisi Wilcox. Joan is the author of a very good book that I read, Masters of the Living Energy: The Mystical World of the Q'ero of Peru, when I moved to and became interested in the Andean cosmovision. Joan has spent many years learning from a group of Andean wisdom keepers called the Qero nation. They consider themselves direct descendants of the Incas. They have a beautiful, simple, practical, nature-based cosmovison that I think is very relevant to the time we are living in. Joan has done a beautiful job at translating both the words, concepts, and worldview of the Qero, no easy feat! I really enjoyed speaking to Joan and having her share in her knowledge and wisdom. She is also the author of another book that I’d love to talk to her about another time, Ayahuasca: The Visionary and Healing Powers of the Vine of the Soul. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. Visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe“Joan Parisi Wilcox is the author of Masters of the Living Energy: The Mystical World of the Q’ero of Peru and two other books. She has studied the tradition for twenty-seven years, mostly under the tutelage of don Juan Nuñez del Prado, and has been interviewed in documentary films about the tradition and written many magazine articles about aspects of the tradition. Her passion is to share the teachings of the Andean paqos with as much integrity to their original form as possible while acknowledging that we must adapt their use to our modern time and culture.”To learn more about or contact Joan, visit her website at: https://qentiwasi.com/To purchase her book on the Qero, visit: https://amzn.to/3IsEwszIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

There are many cosmovisions, many ways of looking at life and the nature of reality.  Some may hold more true than others, some may hold more true for some and less for others.  But being able to see the world in different ways is vital.Science is always changing.  What was seen as ‘The Science’ 500 years ago is very different from 400 years ago and very different from today. The Science of 300 years ago is very different from The Science 200 years ago and today.  And The Science of today will be very different from The Science of tomorrow and the future.The idea that one group or class of people should control the narrative is, always has been, and always will be a very dangerous mentality.  It has been used throughout time to create power structures that divide people and keep certain groups lower than others.  It is used for power and control.  It has led to class systems, systems of oppression, othering of peoples, and creating a class of people that can rule over and control others.  This is happening today and it is important to stand on principle and morality and choose what is life-giving and not give into fear and divisiveness that uses power in harmful ways.  Freedom and liberty are vitally important. Questioning life is an essential part of life.  It’s what allows us to evolve and grow and to learn.  Seeing things from different sides is a sign of wisdom.  Having hypotheses and putting them to the test is the very nature of science and of life.  Science is not separate from life.  This is the true scientific method, and it requires courage and also entails failing.  Through this method we refine life and slowly move towards truth.  Accepting things without questioning or suppressing voices is anti-science, it lays within the realm of dogma and religious fervor.  And it’s why almost all of the breakthroughs of science come from visionaries, those who had courage to question reality and accepted dogma and through great vision, work, and often mockery, make change for the better.  Visionaries are few and far between, in life and in science. Those who simply follow what is said will, by definition, never be a visionary, and therefore, never lead to change and evolution. Many traditions around the world speak of a similar phenomenon.  In Vedic thought it is referred to as Maya, the veil that we see life through. In Christian symbology it is the apocalypse, from the Greek meaning to ‘lift the veil and see the world as it actually is’.  It is not the end of days but the end of seeing the world through our illusion, death which leads to rebirth. In many South American shamanic traditions they speak of maricación, that we become lost in the dizziness of life.  And in North American native cultures they speak of wetiko, the mind-virus that does not allow us to see clearly.  All of these point to this idea that there is something clouding our vision, in a literal and more metaphorical sense.  And that the process of living a good life is to begin to question this and begin to find truth, cutting through this veil with knowledge, the experiential gnosis-knowledge, perhaps better translated as wisdom, that can be found through a deep desire to question the nature of reality and of ourselves.As someone who has questioned life vigorously, has been through the medical system, lived from a deep place of personal experience, Will’s voice is relevant and powerful.  We need not agree with everything someone says, but to suppress a voice is to suppress life itself, and this never is in service of the ‘greater good,’ for it is divisive, other than life-giving, and goes against principle, morality, and respect for life in all of its forms. I also have a lot of respect for Will that he took a stand to question things and to speak what he saw as true.  So much of what I have seen throughout the pandemic, a fear response, censoring of voices, self-censoring, came from this place of fear.  [to continue reading, visit: https://bit.ly/YT-UW] I saw many people that in private conversations would say one thing and in public conversation would stay quiet or say something else.  This comes from fear.  It comes from a place other than courage.  And ultimately it is not life-giving.  So for Will to speak up, in the face of pressure from many sides, is a testament to his will and courage and strength.My Youtube channel now has a warning, for questioning a narrative and offering another point of view.  And with a couple more of these, the channel will be permanently deleted and another voice taken down.  This was essentially the practice of book burning or witch burning, suppressing dissenting voices that would challenge the heterodoxy and threaten their power and authority. I find myself in an interesting position.  As a child who came from split parents, someone who lived near a city but spent much of childhood playing in the woods, one who grew up in a “Western” world but traveled with my father to indigenous peoples all over the world, born in the East and raised in the West, raised in the North and lives in the South, from someone who is fascinated by things and knowledge but also by nature and its simplicity and beauty and laws, I find myself often justifying the “Western” system to people who criticize it and defending “indigenous” cosmovisions to those who think they know better than it. I find myself walking a line of bridge keeping, finding the thread-line that connects all things.  It is, I believe, in our mariación that we see things as separate and forget the beauty of all things.  That separation is based on and feeds on fear, and I have known it well.  And I may dare say that I have a sense of that oneness, not just from an intellectual perspective, although that too, but from an experiential place as well.  This is what calls us home, and awaits all of us as we begin to have the courage, whether by choice or by destiny, at the culmination of our lives.I hope more of us have the courage to find principles within ourselves, to strive for truth, and then to stand on that principle when the wind blows and the foundation is threatened.  I think we will find, when the principle is true, that its roots go deep and no amount of fear, pressure, or coercion can shake it from its core. I just finished next week’s episode with Joan Wilcox, who spent a lot of time with and wrote a wonderful book about the Qero, an Andean group of people who carry a lot of wisdom.  I leave you with a few quotes form the book that stood out:“As is true in most indigenous sacred traditions, an initiate of the Andean path acquires knowledge and wisdom through personal experience. If a teaching is not grounded in personal experience, it does not hold much value for an Andean paqo [wise person/healer], so apprentices are encouraged to place greater trust in their own experiences than in the words of their teachers.”“Call the apus [mountain spirits] and Pachamama to you and declare your new intentions by saying, ‘I am what I speak, not what I have spoken.’”“Juan’s use of the word “power” raises an important point for Westerners—for all Westerners, not just those of us living in mystical relationship with the universe. Juan says, “In the Western tradition we are afraid of the word ‘power.’ We think that power is dangerous, that it is not good. But no! Power is only power. It is the difference between being able to do something and not being able to do it. If you want you can do good things. If you want you can do bad things, because for that you also need power. But if you want to do good things in your life and in the lives of those around you, you must have power. You need power. “But power is only power,” he stresses. “You must decide how to use it not based on your ability to use it, but based on your moral rule. Sometimes you will not do something not because you do not have the power to do it but because you follow a moral rule that tells you not to do it. On the other hand, there are people who are prevented from acting not because of their moral rule but because they do not have the power to do it. They have no choice. Understand? The thing is to have the power to do everything! Then the next thing is to have the personal morals to know how to use or not use your power. But do not be mistaken—we are looking for power when we try to establish a connection with the living energy.” “To view the show notes for the show and Will's bio, visit episode 58. And note that to re-upload to YouTube I had to deleted what I imagine is the content that violated YouTube’s policy. So to watch the full, unedited version, you must go to my Rumble or Odysee channels. The audio version remains, for now, unaffected. If you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 101 of the show is out. This was an interview that my friend Angell Deer did for his podcast, The Sanctuary, also the name of his shamanic healing center in upstate New York where my colleague Merav Artzi and myself have been running retreats the last two years. In this interview, Angell interviews Merav and myself on our background stories, our work with tobacco and tree medicines, the process of working with plants in a dieta, what the benefits of this work are, and how the process unfolds on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. It was really nice to be able to share our work and shed some light on this unique process. Angell did a great job with the interview and I hope you all will find this valuable in learning more about plant medicines, the dieta, and tobacco and trees as medicine. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!*Disclaimer: this channel and its host/guests do not dispute or contradict health authority guidance by denying the addictive or harmful properties of nicotine or tobacco.*For more information on Merav and her work, visit her website at: https://tobaccodiets.com/For more information on Jason and his work, visit his website at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgMerav and Jason will be guiding plant dietas in the Sacred Valley of Peru February 1-28, 2023. They will be in Portugal in May of 2023 and at The Sanctuary in New York August 12-29 as well as in Israel October 11-28, 2023. If you would like more information about joining them, visit the above websites.Integration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithin  YouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal, donate: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanik Website: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast Music courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4HDisclaimer:We do NOT buy, sell, trade, or distribute:• Tobacco or nicotine products of any kind.• Products that simulate smoking, including all types of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine-free vapes, cigars, herbal cigarettes, e-liquids, or tobacco-related production equipment.We are not a medical facility and no health care is practiced under our direction. We do not offer:• Medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or any form of health-related service, whether paid or unpaid• Tests or information intended to support or substitute for any of the aboveAll content is for educational and informational purposes only, rooted in traditional knowledge and cultural practices.

Hey everybody! Episode 100 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Mallku Aribalo. I first saw Mallku in an excellent documentary a number of years back called The Revelation of the Pyramids. I was really impressed with his knowledge and when I realized he lived in Cusco I knew he would be a great guest. We got into a lot of topics that really fascinate me such as ancient cultures, Andean cosmovision and the Incas, archaeo-astronomy, the power of the sun and it’s initiatory impact, plant medicines and wachuma, the modern world, relativism and optimism, and the modern path of power and the warrior. I really respect Mallku and the work he as done learning and teaching himself through direct experience of the ancient Andean sites, power places, and cosmovision, and I hope and trust you all will gain a lot from his wisdom. We just touched the surface of these topics and I look forward to having him back on to go deeper into them. And speaking of archaeo-astronomy, it was quite auspicious that he came on the 100th episode and we happened to shoot this on 11/11/22. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!“Sensitive Artist and a Promoter of Andean Culture- collaborated during the 1980’s as a co-editor of books on Natural Medicine. In 1997 he presented his book “The Awakening of the Puma, Inka Initiation Path,” in which he revealed his expertise in understanding the Esoteric Knowledge within Andean Archaeo-astronomy. In 1999 he paid tribute to the Sacred City of Machu Pijchu in his book “The Crystal City of Machu Pijchu.” His extensive research has earned him well-deserved recognition and acknowledgements, including the publishing of his books in Poland, Hungary and Brasil. MALLKU is an international lecturer and teaches about the Ancient Culture of the Andes, promoting a shamanic experience as one of the Paths of Liberation for the present generation.In his current book “Inka Power Places, Solar Initiations” he reveals important secrets of the Initiation Knowledge of the Amauta Sages, which were expressed in their Temples, Palaces and Cities as testimony for all time.To learn more about or contact Mallku, visit his website at: http://mallku.pro/For the documentary, visit: https://youtu.be/2fS9ixfQ_noIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast