
Spirituality
Spiritual revelations do not arrive from thinking long & hard about Divinity. They come through silencing our thoughts, moving our ego out of the way, and opening up to the quiet, mysterious, spiritual realm that is always here with us. The world of soul is here and now, superimposed and woven through the world of the five sense. It doesn't take belief. It is Reality itself. You must only learn to see beyond the veils.
“There is another world, but it is in this one."
–W.B. Yeats

Spirituality
Spiritual revelations do not arrive from thinking long & hard about Divinity. They come through silencing our thoughts, moving our ego out of the way, and opening up to the quiet, mysterious, spiritual realm that is always here with us. The world of soul is here and now, superimposed and woven through the world of the five sense. It doesn't take belief. It is Reality itself. You must only learn to see beyond the veils.
“There is another world, but it is in this one."
–W.B. Yeats

Spirituality
Spiritual revelations do not arrive from thinking long & hard about Divinity. They come through silencing our thoughts, moving our ego out of the way, and opening up to the quiet, mysterious, spiritual realm that is always here with us. The world of soul is here and now, superimposed and woven through the world of the five sense. It doesn't take belief. It is Reality itself. You must only learn to see beyond the veils.
“There is another world, but it is in this one."
–W.B. Yeats

Healing
Healing occurs in the mind, heart, spirit, and body. Any system of self-improvement that does not address all of these essential components of the human being is lacking. I believe this so strongly I’ll repeat it: Any attempt to heal only one aspect of yourself without addressing the others, will ultimately lead to imbalance and unhappiness.
Hapé Ceremonies



Ceremonies & Sacred Meditations have been part of the human experience for tens of thousands of years. They are no less powerful today than they were when performed by our ancient ancestors, underneath the stars. These rites of passage and holy rituals satisfy our longing for spiritual communion, personal & collective healing, and a reverent, intimate understanding of our place within the primordial universe. To participate in such an experience is to dedicate oneself to the mysterious adventure of continual awakening.
The use of plant medicines is one of many ways to connect with your inner guidance and explore the vastness of human consciousness. I've worked with an array of entheogens over the course of my life, including Ayahuasca, Wachuma, Peyote, Hapé, Psilocybin, Chiric Sanango, and Iboga. When used with integrity, reverence, and the proper guidance, these plant medicines can help you examine, heal, release, or integrate problematic perceptions and past traumas. They can also support you in re-aligning with your authentic self, dissolving egoic patterns, opening your heart, connecting with your intuition, gaining clarity on your soul’s purposes, and acknowledging or catalyzing important transitions in your life. Many people report feeling "lighter" inside after a plant medicine ceremony—or, with hapé specifically, they describe a "grounded clarity."
Unlike the more fantastical, vision-producing plant medicines, hapé (also known as rapé or hapeh) is not a psychedelic. It is a legal mixture of dried Amazonian plants—typically sacred tobacco combined with ashes from specific trees, vines, or flowers. Most of the hapés I offer are made with ashes from the bark of the medicinal Tsunu tree, known for its stabalizing and protective properties.
Hapé's energy is personified as masculine, benevolent, loving, and wise, and "grandfatherly". Indigenous tribes across South America use hapé to clear their energy, reconnect with the Earth, and center themselves. Hapé is a very embodied experience; you are unlikely to journey to alternative dimensions, dissolve into non-form, or see wild visions. Of course, if you are a seasoned meditator and/or have rich visions and out-of-body experiences naturally, you may have such an experience when receiving hapé. However, hapé mostly keeps you grounded in your physical body in a very Earthly, present, state of being. That is one of its great gifts: it helps you stay centered & clear. There is no risk of getting lost in a fireworks show of abstract, overwhelming imagery.
It's also less likely that the messages you receive will be mis-interpreted, because there is no psychedelic 'shock and awe' during a hapé meditation. Many people find that the insights that arise during hapé ceremonies are easier to integrate than those from other entheogens. Hapé is great at giving clear & actionable 'next step' guidance.
Having said all that, hapé can still kick your butt, and it is considered by many tribes to be an extraordinary healer. The Yawanawá of Amazonian Brazil regard hapé as one of their most powerful master plants—just as powerful as ayahuasca, but in a different way. The Yawanawá use hapé during ayahuasca ceremonies to restore balance and grounding, and to help participants avoid getting lost internally. The Yawa also frequently use hapé on its own, for clearing and clarity.
Hapé is a wonderful plant medicine to help you release and let go. During a hapé ceremony, you may suddenly begin to cry, sweat, or purge. All of this is normal. The medicine is energetically clearing your system, and submitting to the process is part of the healing. You may even become aware of what, exactly, is being cleared when you purge—anxiety, doubt, self-hate, ego, old attachments , trauma, etc. As the elders say: the medicine always gives you exactly what you need.


















Receiving Hapé
If you've never worked with hapé—welcome to this initiation. The medicines I work with are legal blends of plants from either the Yawanawá, Huni Kuni, or Kuntanawa tribes of Amazonian Brazil. Most of these blends received directly from the trusted medicine-men and women who created them, or passed to me through close, respected friends. This is important because the energy of the shaman/pajé who prepares the hapé enters you when you receive the medicine, as does the energy of the person serving the hapé, the pipe used, and the plant spirits themselves.
One of the most humble & powerful pajés I've had the honor to work with is Peu Yawanawá. You can see him in the photo below on the left (or top, if viewing on mobile). I brought back a strong supply of Peu's medicine last time I was in Brazil, so if you'd like to experience his medicine, you can. I also recently acquired an extraordinary hapé that carries the spirit of the Kanaro—the blue macaw—revered by the Yawa as a sacred messenger and bridge between worlds. This special blend was created by Shaneihu, one of Chief Biraci's sons, pictured below on the right (or bottom, if viewing on mobile).

