Preparation

Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the preparations on this page. We are always happy to advise on any individual situations, so do not hesitate to reach out to us about your unique situation.

Note: As of September 2023, the pricing for group Medicine Cycle Weekends is $1,000 per person for the whole weekend. When bodywork is available, the price is $80 for a one hour session.

Who May Not Participate

While these medicines are very safe, not everyone is able to participate in ceremony. If you have a history of mental illness such as dissociative episodes, panic disorder, schizophrenia or similar episodes, bi-polar, or clinical-level depression, please let us know in advance so we can advise you. Also, if you are taking any medications, including over-the-counter medications, especially those that alter brain chemistry, you will need to discontinue their use in order to participate in ceremony. If there is a medicine you feel you cannot discontinue, you must let us know in advance so we can advise you. This is for your safety and to ensure the experience will be of benefit to you.

COVID-19 Vaccines, Flu Shots, Etc.

If you have received any vaccines of any type within six months of attending ceremony, please indicate this on the Questionnaire. There are interactions that we can advise you of so that you might better prepare.

Preparing for Ceremony

Medications, Supplements, Vitamans etc.

When we work with these plants we need for our bodies to be as clean and free of other substances as possible. This is both for health reasons and to allow us to connect deeper with the energies of the plants. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone wishing to work with these medicines to stop taking all forms of medications and drugs (over the counter or prescription) prior to ceremony. For most medications, it is sufficient to stop taking them in the week prior to ceremony. However, for anti-depressants and other drugs that alter brain chemistry, it is necessary to stop taking these medications at least one month prior to the ceremonies for most people (and sometimes shorter or longer for certain individuals). Those people who are taking anti-depressants or any other medication or supplement that alters brain chemistry should always discontinue their use under the guidance of the doctor who prescribed them. Many people forget that supplements like 5-HTP and St. John’s Wort alter brain chemistry so please consider all substances you consume.

Supplements & Root Cause Protocol

We fully support and encourage all participants to follow the Root Cause Protocol (“RCP”). All supplements included in this protocol are compatible with ceremony. We are trained in this protocol and have found it to be game-changing for us and those with whom we work to remineralize and balance the body before, during, and after ceremony. If you are looking to resolve persistent health issues or prevent them, we cannot recommend this protocol enough as a starting point. As practitioners, we can also assist in review of the recommended labs and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis if you want to dive deeper. For those wishing to implement this protocol, please visit the RCP website and download the PDF for the full protocol for detailed step-by-step instructions. The RCP may be continued during preparation and even on days of ceremony. To dive even deeper, visit www.mineralshaman .com and explore some of the Podcasts.

Foods

For a day or two prior to any ceremony (up to seven days if you are willing) and two days after the ceremony, it is necessary to eliminate all foods containing high amounts of tyramines from your diet. Tyramines are primarily found in fermented foods, which includes overripe fruits (e.g. raspberries), kombucha, vinegar, alcohol, sour kraut, all soy products, some yeasty breads, aged/preserved meats, and aged dairy. The tyramine content of most foods is easily found through simple web searches. You may also look up the low tyramine diet, which will have many details about what foods to avoid. Eliminating tyramines is the only required diet protocol to follow. And, failure to eliminate tyramines can lead to serious adverse reactions with these medicines.

For those wishing to go further, we recommend that everyone also eliminate foods with a strong signature that can interfere with the energy of the medicines. Such foods include: anything processed (boxed and prepared foods), processed and refined sugars and sweeteners (use Organic maple syrup or local raw honey instead), spices including pepper, onions, garlic, ginger, seed oils, and sour foods. While fats, oils and heavy proteins are not incompatible with ceremony, eating lots of protein and fat before, during or after, can present extra work on the digestive and detoxication processes. We recommend sticking to non-inflammatory proteins such as bone broth, collagen, or gelatin the day of ceremony and limit fats. A typical diet leading up to ceremony is usually quite simple and whole-food based. For those people who have special diets such as Ancestral, Carnivore, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, these can all work and we are happy to provide individual advice.

Caffeine

Excessive caffeine (more than one standard cup of coffee per day) is not helpful when working with these medicines and it takes many days and sometimes weeks to fully come off of caffeine for those who are regular or heavy users. If you need inspiration in letting go of caffeine, please listen to this fantastic audio book by Michael Pollan entitled “Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World” (available from Audible).

Products

We absorb 80% of more of anything that is put onto the skin, so if you would not put it in your mouth, don’t put it on your skin. This is especially true when working with the medicines. To the extent possible for a few days prior to ceremony, try to avoid all forms of chemical skin and body care products, including those found in most commercial soaps, shampoos, etc. Toothpaste should be fluoride free and SLS free (we recommend brushing with bentonite clay). Use only chemical free deodorants and avoid wearing fragrances and lotions.

Sex

While not required to work with the medicines, we recommend refraining from sex (including self-pleasure) for a week or more prior to ceremony, and for a week after. This can be incredibly powerful in moving energy within the body upwards towards higher states of consciousness.

Mental Preparation

It is also important to prepare the mind and your energetic body for ceremony. Therefore, we recommend that you avoid watching television, reading to watching the news, or spending excessive time online. Instead, spend time meditating, practicing yoga, being in nature, journaling, singing, etc.

Day of Ceremony (Mother)

Eat a very light breakfast and lunch, or consider skipping lunch which we usually do
No food is to be eaten past 12 pm and no water within one hour of the ceremony (usually around 7-8pm)
Keep your body clean and chemical free (no fragrances, strong lotions, or polishes on your body).
For women, if you are experiencing menses, or within a few days of your cycle, please let us know

What to Wear and Bring

Wear loose, comfortable, and warm clothing as you will be sitting/lying on a floor mat. White clothing is traditional but this is entirely optional. Body temperature tends to fluctuate during ceremony and it is not uncommon to feel quite cold.
For group ceremonies we provide mattresses, blankets, and a small pillow. If you desire a sleeping type pillow, please bring one.
Bring water for after ceremony in glass or metal bottles. Please do not bring plastic bottles to ceremony. We have fresh filtered water available to fill your bottles.
A journal is sometimes helpful for the morning after to draw and write about your experience

Suggested Watching

“The Twelve” by Lucy Martens: www.lecielfoundation.com/watch-the-twelve
“Going Home” by Derek Peck (Netflix)

Phones and Electronic Devices

During ceremony all phones and electronic devices must be powered off completely and stored outside the ceremony room (not simply placed in airplane mode). This includes smart watches like the Apple Watch (anything with a screen, lights, or that has the potential to beep or make noise and anything emitting wireless signals, bluetooth, or wifi). Please make arrangements in advance to let your friends and family know that you will be unreachable until after the ceremony weekend.
Exception: In limited circumstances we do allow certain medical devices that are required for the management of medical conditions (such as glucose monitor for persons with diabetes). However, we also have instructions for how to use these in ceremony without disturbing others so please talk with us.
Digital De-Clutter: As part of your preparation for ceremony, you may wish to engage in a digital declutter to remember what life was like before the introduction of these technologies. A great book that lays out the case for intentional freedom from these devices and a philosophy of digital minimalism is Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport.