Iboga
Iboga comes from the bark of a small shrub that is native to parts of West Africa. Known as the “Tree of Life,” it has been used for thousands of years by groups in Gabon, Cameroon and parts of the Congo. The indigenous devotees of this medicine are called the Bwiti and they use this sacred plant to study life within themselves. As a very deep plant-medicine with ancient wisdom, Iboga gives the user direct access to personal truth, and because it offers profound and life-changing insights, it is often called “the master of all teacher plants.”
Through a very grounding energy, Iboga can take us down into the root of who we are, pushing us to truly look into the depths of ourselves, our lineage and our belief systems. As a medicine that heals the mind, it pulls and cleanses stored files within the psyche as if de-fragging the hard-drive of an internal operating system; its mission is to create more peace and quiet within. Iboga also calms the central nervous system, drastically reducing the “fight or flight” response in many individuals, and it is also believed to rewire neurotransmitters in the brain.
The spirit of the plant is said to be masculine by most, and in this way, it is very direct, much like a stern yet wise father or grandfather, and, consequently, it is often called The Grandfather. However, the medicine is also known to carry both the highest wisdom of the masculine and feminine. The teachings of Iboga are simple and clear, and often funny as the medicine has a cheeky sense of humor. Because it is so direct, there is little room for confusion or a need to interpret messages.
In the Missoko Bwiti tradition, participants are individually guided by a provider to reconnect with their own. During this process they ask direct questions to their soul about their personal lives. Typically, the answers are very short, sweet and profound. By reconnecting with the softness and wisdom of our soul, it is common to experience lasting change in our lives. The soul also carries no ego so this is often a loving and compassionate experience. This process also connects us to our own intrinsic power where the belief in ourselves is reignited.
Initially in the west, Iboga has been known more commonly through the use of Ibogaine (an isolation of only one of the alkaloids) which quickly detoxifies the body from opiates with minimal withdrawal. Ibogaine has been most commonly used for this purpose for decades. Although Iboga and Ibogaine are very different in their true essence, they have been categorized together, and as a result, they have both gained a reputation for intensity that is mostly associated with addiction and detox.
More recently, Iboga has become better known in the spiritual community for its profound and transformational effects. While Iboga is very powerful, the intensity of the medicine is due to the duration of the direct effects and staying power of the wisdom, rather than the scary or psychedelic nature of the experience itself. Nonetheless, the ceremony and recovery period take time, and typically, the whole process is a 24 hour cycle until sleep and the appetite fully returns; usually, the strongest effects are experienced between 6 to10 hours. Although the duration can sometimes be shorter or longer, the combined length of the ceremony and recovery time are essential parts in the magic of healing.
For instance, at “Awaken Your Soul,” our ceremonies are facilitated for 6 to 12 participants, and at 8pm, the ceremony begins around a communal fire where teachings of the medicine are shared. After some time, the medicine is served, and soon thereafter, participants begin to lie down on a mattress where they spend the night and remain until dawn. The ceremony is guided by traditional Bwiti music that has a very fast tempo and is meant to clear and cleanse the mind.
Although an energy purge in the form of vomiting, sweating, shaking, crying, yawning, etc… is normal, it is not absolute. Even though purging can sound unappealing, it is a very important part of the process, resulting in cleansing and resetting the body, mind and soul. Since Iboga is a stimulant, it is rare for sleep to come until the following evening, and therefore, the day after an Iboga ceremony is spent as a “discovery day” for deep introspection; often being even more enlightening than the ceremony itself. After sleep and nourishing food, most participants feel amazing the second day after the ceremony.
Most who become followers of this medicine participate in 2 to 10 full ceremonies in order to receive what they are seeking, and typically more ceremonies are not needed. Although some will go on to micro-dosing in order to keep the spirit of Iboga alive, it is a very subtle and mild experience.
While the wisdom of Iboga is deep and lasting, and may not require dozens of ceremonies, the integration process is greatly boosted by the support of specialized coaches, healers and other complementary modalities.
