Divine Nature
FAQs
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Q: Do you believe in God?
A: Generally, capital-G “God” describes the god of the Bible, which is a monotheistic belief system which we do not ascribe to (though the Bible certainly has plenty of good morals to live by). Rather, our god is Nature because it is the source of all life.
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Q: Do you pray?
A: Praying is merely talking to god, so yes, we sometimes say a prayer before a ceremony or at the end.
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Q: Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?
A: No, but we do believe in what you might call the ‘Spirit World’, which is a term to describe the place one seems to go to after ingesting these medicines, which can often feel as though you’re in another dimension or dream world.
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Q: Do you believe in shamanism?
A: We do feel a shaman/shamana is necessary with Ayahuasca ceremonies in particular, to provide some level of protection on a spiritual and energetic level, as well as to provide guidance and lead the ceremony with the flow of the energy from the medicine.
However, while a shaman is generally a full-blown expert with many plants, a practioner who specializes in one particular plant is perfectly acceptable in San Pedro ceremonies in particular because even though it’s an incedibly powerful medicine, you generally remain in your body without going to another realm. So less guidance is needed.
Still though, it’s important that the practitioner have a significant amount of experience with using the medicine themselves, as well as general safety training.
However, while a shaman is generally a full-blown expert with many plants, a practioner who specializes in one particular plant is perfectly acceptable in San Pedro ceremonies in particular because even though it’s an incedibly powerful medicine, you generally remain in your body without going to another realm. So less guidance is needed.
Still though, it’s important that the practitioner have a significant amount of experience with using the medicine themselves, as well as general safety training.
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Q: Do you have church services with preaching from a pulpit?
A: Nope, no preaching here. Our official services are the plant medicine ceremonies, and although the shaman or facilitator may have words of wisdom to offer the group, they are always given humbly and kindly – not condemningly. And it’s up to each person as sovergeign human beings to determine the worth of the words given.
There may also be church socials for members to share each other’s company and to potentially share their own experiences with each other or those who may be considering membership themselves.
There may also be church socials for members to share each other’s company and to potentially share their own experiences with each other or those who may be considering membership themselves.
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Q: What kind of rules or guidelines do you follow?
A:We believe that treating other people like you want to be treated is usually the best advice to live by.
Aside from morality, here are some procedural guidelines that we follow during ceremonies:
1) Please be respectful of the shaman or facilitator and any ceremonial customs.
2) Please do not touch, talk to, or disturb others around you once the ceremony has begun, and particularly once the quiet part of the ceremony has started (when the shaman or facilitator has spoken; the medicine has been drunk; and it’s time to go inward).
During this time – and quicker than you might think – the people around you could be actively dealing with intense personal issues or even be in the middle of speaking to a plant spirit. So even though the person next to you may appear silent on the outside, we always want to be super respectful of what’s going on inside, and not interupt that very important process.
3) Please raise your hand or wave if need to get the attention of a helper or the shaman.
4) Please do not walk between the shaman and their alter or the fire. If necessary, pause to be recognized by the shaman so that they can either give permission to cross or ask you to go around the other direction. This is a part of traditional culture that has stuck around, and if nothing else, it shows respect.
5) Please do not put anything in the ceremonial fire (if there is one) unless requested to do so.
6) When you eventually need to get up, please remember do so slowly, as the medicine may make you weak in the knees or lightheaded, and helpers will be standing by to help you navigate to the bathroom. For your own safety, please ask for a helping hand if you’re not sure if you can make it on your own. We’ll be happy to help!
Aside from morality, here are some procedural guidelines that we follow during ceremonies:
1) Please be respectful of the shaman or facilitator and any ceremonial customs.
2) Please do not touch, talk to, or disturb others around you once the ceremony has begun, and particularly once the quiet part of the ceremony has started (when the shaman or facilitator has spoken; the medicine has been drunk; and it’s time to go inward).
During this time – and quicker than you might think – the people around you could be actively dealing with intense personal issues or even be in the middle of speaking to a plant spirit. So even though the person next to you may appear silent on the outside, we always want to be super respectful of what’s going on inside, and not interupt that very important process.
3) Please raise your hand or wave if need to get the attention of a helper or the shaman.
4) Please do not walk between the shaman and their alter or the fire. If necessary, pause to be recognized by the shaman so that they can either give permission to cross or ask you to go around the other direction. This is a part of traditional culture that has stuck around, and if nothing else, it shows respect.
5) Please do not put anything in the ceremonial fire (if there is one) unless requested to do so.
6) When you eventually need to get up, please remember do so slowly, as the medicine may make you weak in the knees or lightheaded, and helpers will be standing by to help you navigate to the bathroom. For your own safety, please ask for a helping hand if you’re not sure if you can make it on your own. We’ll be happy to help!
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Q: Do you follow any particular religious text or holy book?
A: Nope. We feel the best way to establish your own morality, if in doubt, is to ask Nature directly, which is done by taking the sacramental plant medicines that Nature provides.
After all, if you can speak directly to god, why would you need a holy book?
After all, if you can speak directly to god, why would you need a holy book?
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Q: Is it legal to consume entheogenic plants like Ayahuasca in the U.S.?*
A: The legality of some entheogenic plants is complicated in the U.S.
For example, one of the active ingredients in Ayahuasca is dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is produced naturally in our own bodies, and can be found althroughout Nature in things like the grass on your lawn. Yet somehow, it started being considered a Schedule 1 substance – which implies it has no medicinal benefit.
But clearly, if we all create this substance in our brains then it would be senseless to ever make it illegal.
Plus, connecting with Nature is to connect with god, which can easily be recognized as an expression of religion. And the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
In other words, it’s an inalienable human right that should never be infringed upon.
And at least two other organizations have fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to have their right to use Ayahuasca as a sacrament recognized by the government, and they both won. So there does seem to be significant legal precedent.
Further, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 “…prohibits any agency, department, or official of the United States or any State (the government) from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion,” unless it “(1) furthers a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.”
And finally, services will be held in States such as Colorado, where plant medicines are recognized by law.
For example, one of the active ingredients in Ayahuasca is dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is produced naturally in our own bodies, and can be found althroughout Nature in things like the grass on your lawn. Yet somehow, it started being considered a Schedule 1 substance – which implies it has no medicinal benefit.
But clearly, if we all create this substance in our brains then it would be senseless to ever make it illegal.
Plus, connecting with Nature is to connect with god, which can easily be recognized as an expression of religion. And the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
In other words, it’s an inalienable human right that should never be infringed upon.
And at least two other organizations have fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to have their right to use Ayahuasca as a sacrament recognized by the government, and they both won. So there does seem to be significant legal precedent.
Further, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 “…prohibits any agency, department, or official of the United States or any State (the government) from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion,” unless it “(1) furthers a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.”
And finally, services will be held in States such as Colorado, where plant medicines are recognized by law.
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Q: Does being a member of Divine Nature entitle me to consume entheogenic plants at home?*
A: We believe that all humans have a birthright to use these plants, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s always safe to do so by one’s self. For example, it’s always helpful to have a friend nearby for any kind of emotional or medical support that might come up. So not having that can be risky.
It’s far better to be part of a community of like-minded people who can support you if you run into a difficult situation or need more perspective on your own encounter with Nature.
As for the church’s own plant medicines, these sacraments are kept in a secure location, and are only shared during church ceremonies, by members of the church who have gone through the proper training. They are not available for sale to the public.
It’s far better to be part of a community of like-minded people who can support you if you run into a difficult situation or need more perspective on your own encounter with Nature.
As for the church’s own plant medicines, these sacraments are kept in a secure location, and are only shared during church ceremonies, by members of the church who have gone through the proper training. They are not available for sale to the public.
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Q: Is there a special diet for sacred ceremonies?
A: Yes. The Spanish word “dieta” is normally used in this context, and each shaman or practitioner may have their own unique recommendations, which will likely also differ depending on which medicine one is taking.
For example, Ayahuasca dieta recommendations usually include the following restrictions:
1) No sex or orgasms by yourself or with anyone else before ceremonies.
2) No drugs*, alcohol, chocolate, dairy, onions, fermented food (olives, pickles, sauerkraut, etc), or red meat.
* If you are on prescription drugs, please speak with your doctor about whether they feel that Ayahuasca can be safely taken with your current medications. You may also consider discussing the feasibility of getting off any that are contraindicated, temporarily or otherwise.
With SSRIs in particular, some feel as though combining that with Ayahuasca – which can help stimulate the release of serotonin – can lead to ‘Serotonin Syndrome’, though our understanding is that the condition is extremely rare even with SSRI’s, but even ‘extreme rare’ means there some degree of risk involved.
But of course we are not medical professionals, nor do we claim to be, which is why we recommend you speak with your doctor before participating in any ceremony, or else you could risk the safety of everyone else there.
3) A minimal amount of salt, garlic, white flour, coffee, or fats.
4) No food the day of the ceremony.
By contrast, a San Pedro dieta would normally only require that no food to be eaten on the day of the ceremony.
In addition to the dietary elements of a dieta though, it’s recommended that you keep smoking and consumption of violent games or movies to a minimal amount, if at all.
And we recommend following the dieta for an absolute minimum of 24 hours and usually no longer than 4 weeks prior to any ceremony, and trust us when we say that, it will take effort and willpower, but the more dedicated you are to the dieta, the more powerful experience you’re likely to have.
Similarly, if you do a lot of cheating or ignore the dieta altogher, you could end up with a disappointingly lackluster experience, and/or an intense stomach ache and digestive issues.
For example, Ayahuasca dieta recommendations usually include the following restrictions:
1) No sex or orgasms by yourself or with anyone else before ceremonies.
2) No drugs*, alcohol, chocolate, dairy, onions, fermented food (olives, pickles, sauerkraut, etc), or red meat.
* If you are on prescription drugs, please speak with your doctor about whether they feel that Ayahuasca can be safely taken with your current medications. You may also consider discussing the feasibility of getting off any that are contraindicated, temporarily or otherwise.
With SSRIs in particular, some feel as though combining that with Ayahuasca – which can help stimulate the release of serotonin – can lead to ‘Serotonin Syndrome’, though our understanding is that the condition is extremely rare even with SSRI’s, but even ‘extreme rare’ means there some degree of risk involved.
But of course we are not medical professionals, nor do we claim to be, which is why we recommend you speak with your doctor before participating in any ceremony, or else you could risk the safety of everyone else there.
3) A minimal amount of salt, garlic, white flour, coffee, or fats.
4) No food the day of the ceremony.
By contrast, a San Pedro dieta would normally only require that no food to be eaten on the day of the ceremony.
In addition to the dietary elements of a dieta though, it’s recommended that you keep smoking and consumption of violent games or movies to a minimal amount, if at all.
And we recommend following the dieta for an absolute minimum of 24 hours and usually no longer than 4 weeks prior to any ceremony, and trust us when we say that, it will take effort and willpower, but the more dedicated you are to the dieta, the more powerful experience you’re likely to have.
Similarly, if you do a lot of cheating or ignore the dieta altogher, you could end up with a disappointingly lackluster experience, and/or an intense stomach ache and digestive issues.
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Q: Are there risks involved?*
A: Yes, there are risks associated with plant medicines, just as there is with water. If you drink too much water, it will kill you, so we simply don’t drink too much.
On the other hand, as far as we know, science hasn’t even yet found a lethal dose of Ayahuasca in particular, and without a doubt, the quantity would be so high that you couldn’t possibly drink that much on accident.
However, any time you take a psychedellic substance of any kind, if you are predisposed to mental disorders like schizophrenia then the substance might trigger a mental health episode.
Also, if you are taking prescribed medications (especially SSRIs) or have any other health condition, and you don’t speak with your doctor and get professional medical advice regarding interactions with the medication you’re currently taking, then you run the risk that one of your medications will be contraindicated for Ayahusaca or other plant medicines. And you could experience serious negative consequences, including death. So it is of the utmost importance to ensure that if you are taking medications, that your doctor says it’s safe to take them with psychedelic plant medicines.
And for our own legal safety, we will ask anyone participating in ceremonies to sign a statement that attests that if you’re taking medications or have a health condition of any sort that you’ve spoken with a doctor and were approved to participate.
Even with this agreement in place, if a serious incident happened, it could jeopardize all that we’re doing. So it is of critical importance – both for our safety and yours – that these guidelines be followed.
On the other hand, as far as we know, science hasn’t even yet found a lethal dose of Ayahuasca in particular, and without a doubt, the quantity would be so high that you couldn’t possibly drink that much on accident.
However, any time you take a psychedellic substance of any kind, if you are predisposed to mental disorders like schizophrenia then the substance might trigger a mental health episode.
Also, if you are taking prescribed medications (especially SSRIs) or have any other health condition, and you don’t speak with your doctor and get professional medical advice regarding interactions with the medication you’re currently taking, then you run the risk that one of your medications will be contraindicated for Ayahusaca or other plant medicines. And you could experience serious negative consequences, including death. So it is of the utmost importance to ensure that if you are taking medications, that your doctor says it’s safe to take them with psychedelic plant medicines.
And for our own legal safety, we will ask anyone participating in ceremonies to sign a statement that attests that if you’re taking medications or have a health condition of any sort that you’ve spoken with a doctor and were approved to participate.
Even with this agreement in place, if a serious incident happened, it could jeopardize all that we’re doing. So it is of critical importance – both for our safety and yours – that these guidelines be followed.
* Please keep in mind that nothing on this site should be considered legal or medical advice.