Four Days at An Ancestral Medicine Retreat 🐸🍄

First off, I want to thank Whitney and the entire team at ĀTMA Church for allowing me to be a fly on the wall in such a sacred space—and to document some of the most intimate moments I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing.

Last spring, my friend Sean called and asked if I wanted to fly down to Austin, Texas and document his journey through a four-day holistic retreat. I was already pretty familiar with Kambo, Psilocybin, and DMT, and all of my past experiences with psychedelics have been positive… or at least net positive, in the long run. I had no idea when id get this opportunity again. So, of course I said yes.

Before I’d even unpacked, I found myself barefoot, sitting in a circle, listening as a group of strangers opened up about what brought them there. The common thread: trauma. Some had been carrying it since childhood. Others had just experienced the unimaginable, like the recent loss of a child. The mood was heavy, but the support was real. After we got our sleeping arrangements sorted and got settled in, we regrouped to get acquainted.

The first day is about grounding—connecting with one another and easing into the space. But even that comes with intensity.

First the group starts with Sananga - a traditional eye drop preparation made from the roots and bark of the Tabernaemontana undulata plant, native to the Amazon rainforest. Applied to the eyes, it induces intense but short-lived pain followed by enhanced visual clarity, improved perception, and heightened awareness.

Then comes Rapé - a sacred snuff made from a blend of powdered plants, typically containing tobacco and other medicinal herbs. Used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon basin, Rapé is blown into the nostrils using a pipe or bamboo applicator, producing a profound cleansing effect on the mind, body, and spirit. It is believed to clear energetic blockages, enhance focus, and induce states of heightened awareness.

Then finally, they wrap up the afternoon with Kambo, or the "frog medicine," it’s a traditional Amazonian remedy derived from the secretions of the giant monkey frog. Applied to small burns on the skin, Kambo induces purging effects, leading to physical detoxification and purported spiritual cleansing. It is believed to boost immunity, increase vitality, and alleviate various ailments.

After purging into buckets for a solid half hour it was time for some rest. Later in the evening everybody gathers for dinner, chats about their experiences and gets some much needed rest for the following day.

Day two - What a journey this was for the gang, in every sense of the word. We started the day with a yoga session followed by an ice bath. A few hours later the group gathers and says a prayer while they raise their mugs of Cacoa mixed with A hero’s dose of psilocybin to the sky.

Cacao is known as "The Food of the Gods," it’s a revered plant native to Central and South America. In its pure form, it's consumed ceremonially for its heart-opening and mood-elevating properties. Rich in antioxidants and neurotransmitters, cacao promotes physical vitality and mental clarity, fostering unity and reverence in sacred contexts. For those that don’t know, Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms. Consumed for centuries in indigenous rituals, psilocybin facilitates transformative experiences marked by vivid visions, introspection, and spiritual insights. Research suggests its potential therapeutic benefits for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction.

With blindfolds on and headphones playing curated music, the group lay on their backs in a circle, heads angled toward the center of the room. You could feel the energy shifting as the journeys began. Facilitators moved gently around the space, offering blankets, hand-holding, and quiet support.

As the medicine wore off, the group really opened up to one another. There was this intense sense of trust, of mutual understanding. One by one, they shared deeply personal revelations and pain. Honestly, the weight of the emotion was indescribable.

While attempting to be a fly on the wall this whole weekend, i came to the conclusion right around this point, that these small but consistent and refreshing moments of feeling understood in between ceremonies were just as important as anything else.

Day Three- Bufo. AKA 5-MeO-DMT. AKA The God Molecule.
AKA the strongest psychedelic known to man.

This was the most profound part of the retreat. One by one, each person went in and came out changed—truly changed. You could see it in their eyes. I mean that in the best way possible. You’ll see two of those ceremonies in the documentary below. They were vastly different from each other, yet each one was powerful in its own right. Looking back, I was severely under-equipped for this project—both in terms of gear and preparation. I didn’t have a crew, and I didn’t fully know what I was stepping into. But I’m incredibly grateful for how it turned out. What you’ll see in this film is just a small glimpse into an experience that was massive, personal, and transformative for everyone involved.

Watch the full documentary here