Consciousness Medicine: Indigenous Wisdom, Entheogens, and Expanded States of Consciousness for Healing and Growth
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-07-09 09:55:12
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Françoise Bourzat
- ISBN：1623173493
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Summary
“Françoise Bourzat has written an authoritative book on guided psychedelic therapy with important lessons for anyone thinking of either guiding or being guided。” —Michael Pollan via Twitter
A comprehensive guide to the safe and ethical application of expanded states of consciousness for therapists， healing practitioners， and sincere explorers
Psychedelic medicines also known as entheogens are entering the mainstream。 And it’s no wonder: despite having access to the latest wellness trends and advances in technology， we’re no healthier， happier， or more meaningfully connected。 Psilocybin mushrooms， ayahuasca， and LSD—as well as other time-tested techniques with the power to shift consciousness such as drumming， meditation， and vision quests—are now being recognized as potent catalysts for change and healing。 But how do we ensure that we’re approaching them effectively？
Françoise Bourzat—a counselor and experienced guide with sanctioned training in the Mazatec and other indigenous traditions—and healer Kristina Hunter introduce a holistic model focusing on the threefold process of preparation， journey， and integration。 Drawing from more than thirty years of experience， Bourzat’s skillful and heartfelt approach presents the therapeutic application of expanded states， without divorcing them from their traditional contexts。 Consciousness Medicine delivers a coherent map for navigating nonordinary states of consciousness， offering an invaluable contribution to the field of healing and transformation。
A comprehensive guide to the safe and ethical application of expanded states of consciousness for therapists， healing practitioners， and sincere explorers
Psychedelic medicines also known as entheogens are entering the mainstream。 And it’s no wonder: despite having access to the latest wellness trends and advances in technology， we’re no healthier， happier， or more meaningfully connected。 Psilocybin mushrooms， ayahuasca， and LSD—as well as other time-tested techniques with the power to shift consciousness such as drumming， meditation， and vision quests—are now being recognized as potent catalysts for change and healing。 But how do we ensure that we’re approaching them effectively？
Françoise Bourzat—a counselor and experienced guide with sanctioned training in the Mazatec and other indigenous traditions—and healer Kristina Hunter introduce a holistic model focusing on the threefold process of preparation， journey， and integration。 Drawing from more than thirty years of experience， Bourzat’s skillful and heartfelt approach presents the therapeutic application of expanded states， without divorcing them from their traditional contexts。 Consciousness Medicine delivers a coherent map for navigating nonordinary states of consciousness， offering an invaluable contribution to the field of healing and transformation。
Reviews
p-dot
，
An extensive manual and reference to safely and wisely engage in consciousness expanding practices for healing and spiritual growth and make the most out of these experiences。 The book provides a framework for a holistic approach to these practices （body， mind， emotions， spirit， community and environment）。 Great resource to understand the broad range of possible experiences and their meaning in relation to one’s life and to apply the teachings received in day to day life in a practical way。 This An extensive manual and reference to safely and wisely engage in consciousness expanding practices for healing and spiritual growth and make the most out of these experiences。 The book provides a framework for a holistic approach to these practices （body， mind， emotions， spirit， community and environment）。 Great resource to understand the broad range of possible experiences and their meaning in relation to one’s life and to apply the teachings received in day to day life in a practical way。 This book will make you more prepared for journeys in expanded states。 Francoise starts the book by sharing her own long， difficult and fascinating healing journey。 。。。more
Lou
，
I’ve read this book twice， which is why it took me so long to read。 Once I read it freestyle， reading parts that interested me， and then I read it cover to cover。I love Francoise， she deeply embodies the therapeutic and transformative potential of psychedelics。 She leads with wisdom and love in the emerging field of psychedelics。 Many business and pharma people are rushing to build psychedelic companies based on capitalist values which brought us to our need for healing。 Francoise is the torch b I’ve read this book twice， which is why it took me so long to read。 Once I read it freestyle， reading parts that interested me， and then I read it cover to cover。I love Francoise， she deeply embodies the therapeutic and transformative potential of psychedelics。 She leads with wisdom and love in the emerging field of psychedelics。 Many business and pharma people are rushing to build psychedelic companies based on capitalist values which brought us to our need for healing。 Francoise is the torch bearer for those who know better。 Her work is thorough， rooted in years of training as a psychotherapist and her own work with psilocybin mushrooms and the Mazatec people of Mexico。This book is ideal for anyone interested in using psychedelics for healing and growth。 The book is a holistic and practical guide for how to safely and effectively use psychedelics for healing and growth。 A must read。I built a website based on this book and a few other important texts concerning the use of psychedelics for healing and growth， I invite you to check it out: www。howtousepsychedelics。com。Much love。 。。。more
Jo
，
Bourzat's book is a thorough guide that walks healers through most matters that may arise during the preparation， sitting， and integration of an entheogenic experience。 A future edition would do well to include antioppressive practices as it relates to "connectedness to a greater whole" and specifically reflect upon the following questions: When might it NOT be "appropriate" to physically visit the sacred lands and spaces of another culture？ How might a healer help support a journeyer who experi Bourzat's book is a thorough guide that walks healers through most matters that may arise during the preparation， sitting， and integration of an entheogenic experience。 A future edition would do well to include antioppressive practices as it relates to "connectedness to a greater whole" and specifically reflect upon the following questions: When might it NOT be "appropriate" to physically visit the sacred lands and spaces of another culture？ How might a healer help support a journeyer who experiences daily systematic oppression such as racism or socioeconomic pressures？ What options exists to increase accessibility to entheogenic experiences， and what is the duty of the healer in furthering accessibility on a societal level？ 。。。more
Eszter
，
So incredibly helpful！ The book is much recommended for anyone who is interested in expanding their everyday experience， either with or without mind-altering substances。 Bourzat combines her experience in and with psychology， dance， massage， indigenous traditions and many other fields to give advice on how to prepare for， guide and integrate a consciousness-expanding experience， be it a meditation retreat， vision quest， or psychedelic trip。 I believe no one should take psychedelics without readi So incredibly helpful！ The book is much recommended for anyone who is interested in expanding their everyday experience， either with or without mind-altering substances。 Bourzat combines her experience in and with psychology， dance， massage， indigenous traditions and many other fields to give advice on how to prepare for， guide and integrate a consciousness-expanding experience， be it a meditation retreat， vision quest， or psychedelic trip。 I believe no one should take psychedelics without reading this book。 。。。more
Mark
，
In ways this a a hard book to read during a pandemic while sitting in lockdown。 There is so much reference to the importance of relationships， community and being in nature - all of which are extremely limited right now - for our physical and emotional wellbeing。 This is a book though that I wish I had read 10 years earlier。 As a "journeyer" or as a guide， there is so much practical tips for preparation for a consciouness altering experience。 However the most valuable content for me at least was In ways this a a hard book to read during a pandemic while sitting in lockdown。 There is so much reference to the importance of relationships， community and being in nature - all of which are extremely limited right now - for our physical and emotional wellbeing。 This is a book though that I wish I had read 10 years earlier。 As a "journeyer" or as a guide， there is so much practical tips for preparation for a consciouness altering experience。 However the most valuable content for me at least was the model on integration after the experience - how to pick out aspects of the experience that stood out and how to use them in the integration process to continue healing and receiving insights。 This will surely be an invaluable handbook to have next time I'm lucky enough to embark on such an experience！ 。。。more
Vanda
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A very soulful book。 One of my favorites on the subject。
Michael
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A very comprehensive guide for those seeking to guide or be guided on a journey of consciousness expansion。 Francoise has a strong resume of personal healing， psychological training and experience with indiginous practices of consciousness expansion。 Drawing on her experience with sweat lodge healing， dance， somatic therapy and movement practices and mestizo mushroom ceremonies Francoise has pulled together a holistic model to support the process of preparation for， support of and integration of A very comprehensive guide for those seeking to guide or be guided on a journey of consciousness expansion。 Francoise has a strong resume of personal healing， psychological training and experience with indiginous practices of consciousness expansion。 Drawing on her experience with sweat lodge healing， dance， somatic therapy and movement practices and mestizo mushroom ceremonies Francoise has pulled together a holistic model to support the process of preparation for， support of and integration of consciousness expanding practices ranging from Holotropic breathwork， dance therapy to psychedelic medicines。 I found the book to be very solid and comprehensive， although a bit repetitive。 I recommend for any who want to thoroughly prepare for guiding others in the experience and integration of consciousness expanding interventions。 。。。more
Nicole
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Finally finished it！ Overall I think this is an amazing book。 I recommend it to people interested in psilocybin ceremonial spiritual work and also to those who are looking for some frameworks around how to do good preparation and integration work。The only reason I took off a star is that there are parts I didn't love:-The idea that you should be learning from an indigenous tradition in order to work with these medicines （or at least that's how I interpreted her message）。 While I think this is gr Finally finished it！ Overall I think this is an amazing book。 I recommend it to people interested in psilocybin ceremonial spiritual work and also to those who are looking for some frameworks around how to do good preparation and integration work。The only reason I took off a star is that there are parts I didn't love:-The idea that you should be learning from an indigenous tradition in order to work with these medicines （or at least that's how I interpreted her message）。 While I think this is great for those who have the ability to do so， clearly not everyone can follow that path。-I found the lists of potential integration activities （ie。 to increase your connection to the environment， pick up trash！） to be a little simplistic and tedious。-I found some of the content repetitive。 。。。more
Stephen L
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This one is part of my theme starting with Michael Pollan’s “How to Change Your Mind。” I wanted to like it， but it was pretty dense and not terribly engaging， which was disappointing because I think the information contained in the book is valuable。 It’s probably more geared as a primer for those interested in becoming “guides” than for general consumption， so if you’re interested in that， this could provide some insights for you。 But if you’re going to be reading it as general interest， maybe s This one is part of my theme starting with Michael Pollan’s “How to Change Your Mind。” I wanted to like it， but it was pretty dense and not terribly engaging， which was disappointing because I think the information contained in the book is valuable。 It’s probably more geared as a primer for those interested in becoming “guides” than for general consumption， so if you’re interested in that， this could provide some insights for you。 But if you’re going to be reading it as general interest， maybe skip it。 。。。more
Will G
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Mostly mists with a scattering of swirls。 Nothing medical related。 A total and complete waste of time。
Jimmy
，
This book is an incredibly wonderful approach for preparing and interacting with "expanded state" experiences。 A lot of the wisdom that Françoise shares resonates firmly with my own insights gained from personal experiences。 Things like surrendering to the experience， setting clear intensions， and summoning the courage to step into our fears， and the opportunity to do that while in these expanded states。The main thread of this book is discussing her approach of taking a personal inventory in fiv This book is an incredibly wonderful approach for preparing and interacting with "expanded state" experiences。 A lot of the wisdom that Françoise shares resonates firmly with my own insights gained from personal experiences。 Things like surrendering to the experience， setting clear intensions， and summoning the courage to step into our fears， and the opportunity to do that while in these expanded states。The main thread of this book is discussing her approach of taking a personal inventory in five all encompassing areas of life （body， mind， spirit， community， and environment） with the lens of identifying imbalances in those areas。 These can provide a framework for setting intentions leading into expanded state experiences。 She gives a lot of very valuable examples for ways to prepare， how to guide/interpret/navigate during the experiences， and most importantly， how to integrate those experiences and ensure a level of continuity that leads to sustainable growth and healing。 The latter is by far the most important part of this book。Overall， this is one of the best books I've read to give some level of structure to these experiences。 I am going to begin doing the inventory to help identify where my current imbalances are， so I can start setting intentions for growth。 I recommend this book to anyone seeking expanded states， and especially those seeking to guide them in any capacity。 。。。more
Jill
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The books focuses on how preparation and counseling is critical to the use of psychedelics for spiritual development。 It includes a framework for various experiences and states of consciousness。 There is a limited bibliography and a note section by chapter。 The author is an adjust senior lecturer on school of consciousness and transformation at California Institute of Integral Studies。
Price
，
There is no question in my mind that the use of various drugs and medicinals can prove to be quite helpful to individuals facing a variety of challenges or those seeking greater enlightenment。 It is an area that I hope to explore more fully but am limited by my location and the laws governing such practices。 I continue to explore various options by reading works of practitioners who possess the knowledge and experience of these practices。I would not be surprised that practitioners who have read There is no question in my mind that the use of various drugs and medicinals can prove to be quite helpful to individuals facing a variety of challenges or those seeking greater enlightenment。 It is an area that I hope to explore more fully but am limited by my location and the laws governing such practices。 I continue to explore various options by reading works of practitioners who possess the knowledge and experience of these practices。I would not be surprised that practitioners who have read this book would rank it very highly and deservedly so。 The book offers a great deal of guidance to those who practice in this area。 However， I am not a practitioner and felt the book fell short for my needs。 。。。more
Jalene Plamondon
，
What a fresh and innovative guide for all serious travellers of their inner universe。 If you are interested in working with entheogens and the consicousness expanding journies they prompt， then this book and its rich contents are an incredible guide to recognixing and retrieving the potent healing wisdom gathered from within those experiences。 Bourzat provides a map to journeying with the goal of personal and societal transformation。 A must have text of psychedelic exploration for medicinal， int What a fresh and innovative guide for all serious travellers of their inner universe。 If you are interested in working with entheogens and the consicousness expanding journies they prompt， then this book and its rich contents are an incredible guide to recognixing and retrieving the potent healing wisdom gathered from within those experiences。 Bourzat provides a map to journeying with the goal of personal and societal transformation。 A must have text of psychedelic exploration for medicinal， intentional， healing purposes。 I have underlined and made notes throughout this entire book， and will revisit it over and over again。 Recommended for anyone wanting to "travel" with purpose and mine the gold from their psychedelic explorations that often get lost。 Thank you to Francoise and Kristina for your groundbreaking work。 Psychedelic research is slowly gaining popularity and this book is a catalyst and potent wealth of knowledge on the subject。 。。。more
Dag-Are Halland
，
What a book。。。 I'm glad this has been written but there is also sorrow about such a tool not being easily available until now。 Keep in mind that it is written for guides and not users， though I found it highly useful just for my own sake。The book's main focus is preparation and integration， but it also shed light how to interpretate a journeyers experience。 I have a few friends who got lost and confused because they lacked vital information this book would have offered if it was only written 10 What a book。。。 I'm glad this has been written but there is also sorrow about such a tool not being easily available until now。 Keep in mind that it is written for guides and not users， though I found it highly useful just for my own sake。The book's main focus is preparation and integration， but it also shed light how to interpretate a journeyers experience。 I have a few friends who got lost and confused because they lacked vital information this book would have offered if it was only written 10 years earlier。 （Whoever travels without a guide needs two hundred years for a two-day journey -Rumi）。I think the author writes in an easy to understand， yet profound and precise way。 Her wisdom shines light on very difficult concepts making it's content both relatable and insightful。If you are unsure if this book is relevant for you， check out the chapter's title。 It describes very well what to expect from this book。Thank you Françoise Bourzat <3 。。。more
Marianna Zelichenko
，
I got this book after seeing it in Tim Ferriss' newsletter。 Overall I'd say the book is pretty good。 It offers a good overview for tripsittes and other professionals working with psychedelic substances and techniques。 I especially liked the questions to help with the intake / preparation。 Despite the many examples for me the book lacked a piece of storytelling。 It's a fine guide， but it didn't really inspire me。In latter chapters I also felt the information could have been presented in a shorter I got this book after seeing it in Tim Ferriss' newsletter。 Overall I'd say the book is pretty good。 It offers a good overview for tripsittes and other professionals working with psychedelic substances and techniques。 I especially liked the questions to help with the intake / preparation。 Despite the many examples for me the book lacked a piece of storytelling。 It's a fine guide， but it didn't really inspire me。In latter chapters I also felt the information could have been presented in a shorter and simpler way。 Some advice felt repetitive。Unlike Tim Ferriss I won't find myself instantly rereading it， but overall I'd say it's a great guide for starting practitioners and a fine reference material for more seasoned ones。 。。。more
Eduardo Santiago
，