The short answer is yes, you do.
You don’t need to have undertaken hundreds of ceremonies, but you do need to have a personal ‘calling’ to this work.
We do believe that entheogens have an uncanny way to call a specific type of people to the task of serving circles. The calling is usually received through non-ordinary states of being, dreams, intuitions, insights, and of course, clear messages whilst you are with the spirit of medicine. The people called to this work frequently are of all feathers, genders and origins, but the common denominator is that they have a deep desire to be of service and to share their gift with others.

The way we help you clarify if this training is for you is through a brief online call.
Fill up the pre-enrolment form here and just turn up for the predetermined online meeting we will establish.
FILL UP THE FORM HERE

The term entheogen, “revealing the divine within” (Ruck et al., 1979), was coined to overcome the bias and derogatory nature implicit in terms like “hallucinogen”.

On the other hand, the word psychedelic means “mind revealing” which is one way to describe the powerful effects of psychedelic drugs (sometimes also called hallucinogens). They cause a shift in your sense of self and consciousness, as do lots of other drugs, like alcohol, cocaine, and opiates.

We, at SpiritRivers, have made a clear subjective choice to refer to entheogens when describing Ancestral Medicines, as opposed to mostly lab-made psychedelic compounds (MDMA, Psilocybin, LSD or extracted tryptamines and mescaline) used in psychedelic circles.

We strongly believe the entheogenic experience and the processes a participant may undergo in circles are often similar or present with the same challenges and potential confrontations, whether they be physiological, emotional, mental, spiritual or mystical. They also seem to require a very similar facilitation skill set, regardless of the medicine you’re working with.

Furthermore, we also believe that there is a very specific space common to all Ancestral Medicines: the space of the ‘Intangible’, the space the facilitator or shaman navigates to and fro. This is also the space we enter when altered states of perception become prevalent.

This space of the Intangible is a space a facilitator needs to navigate with ease, regardless of the medicine, in order to be useful to the participant, The practice of various spaces is one of the best ways to acquire solid navigation skills.

This training is open to 15 applicants only and is in high demand.
Apply now to secure a spot.
FILL UP THE APPLICATION FORM HERE

Our western education models all establish a consensus of the content to be taught and how it should be taught, with the purpose of unifying and grading knowledge.

On the other hand, the ancestral way to ‘learn the world’ is through direct experience, the direct knowing of what can then, be established, individually, as truth. Its validity is personal and based on the results that it generates, and does not concern itself with the unification of knowledge.

From our point of view, and with profound respect to traditional or shamanic educational models, the study of Ancestral Medicines invites ‘other ways of knowing‘, based on the ‘direct knowing‘ that every individual will establish for herself or himself. The skills and tools required on this path are self-discernment, self-assessment, the willingness to learn from Spirit and a trusted guide.

This training is open to 15 applicants only and is in high demand.
Apply now to secure a spot in this upcoming event
In order to determine that we are a mutual fit for this training, the Enrolment is a 3-step process.

STEP 1

Fill out the Pre-Enrolment application form.
This form is a simple form allowing you to share your interests and motivation to join this training. Fill it up with thoughtful answers.

FILL UP THE APPLICATION FORM HERE

STEP 2

Book a personal Session.
Following Pre-enrolment, you will receive an online calendar link to book your Personal Session with Frédéric. Please book your call promptly.

STEP 3

Show up for your personal Session.
Our complimentary Personal Sessions are reserved for aspiring ceremony facilitators who are committed to undertaking a life-changing journey. Turn up at the approved time for your session.

During the call, we’ll establish if we are a good mutual fit to walk the path on this journey. You’ll be able to ask any questions you may have about the training.

The training requires preparation on various levels. After registration, a 20-page document is provided to assist you in preparing physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The optional speciality practicums are designed to further refine your skills with the medicine of your choice, in a real-life ceremonial setting, under full supervision from faculty to build experience and confidence.  It includes circles of a minimum number of participants, preparation and integration, and all-inclusive twin-share accommodation with vegan meals for the duration of the practicum. Depending on your chosen medicine, you will participate in 2-6 ceremonies over 2-3 days. The practicum offers a unique opportunity to gain experience as a fully-fledged facilitator while continuing to receive support and guidance from SpiritRivers faculty.

At SpiritRivers, we take the sourcing and preparation of plant medicines very seriously. All the plant medicines we use in our ceremonies are either prepared by us or sourced from reputable and experienced indigenous communities and have deep knowledge of the plants they provide. We work closely with our partners to ensure that the plants are sustainably harvested and prepared using traditional methods.

Once we receive the plant medicines, we perform our own tests to ensure their purity and quality. We have a rigorous process for testing the potency, purity, and consistency of each batch of medicine before it is used in a ceremony. We also take care to properly store and transport the plant medicines to maintain their quality and effectiveness.

During the training, we provide detailed information on the plant medicines used, their effects, and the proper way to work with them. Our experienced facilitators guide participants through the experience, ensuring a safe and supportive environment.

We are committed to promoting safe and responsible use of entheogens and take every measure to ensure that our training is conducted with the highest standards of safety and quality.

Community and Support

Part of the Training program is an extensive Community and Support system.
From Peer Supervision Groups, Professional Development Workshops, Community Building Events, Ongoing Support and Coaching, Continued Learning, Ethical and Legal Considerations, Peer Review, our support program is here to help you build your own communities and thrive as an Entheogen Facilitator.