Male

62

Started using LSD during breaks at UCLA in 1966. Have maintained my extensive studies and practices with sacred medicines for over 40 years now. Was near death about 7 years ago, when after taking a vow during a Tibetan Buddhist ceramony to accept a formal "cutting of my connection to the physical realm" a few days later a thief broke into my home and immediately slit my throat from ear to ear and stabbed me 5 times in the chest and stomach area; but I survived and the whole thing was one of the most powerful spiritual transmission times for me. This made me aware that the experiences that I've had with plant teachers has been the most important work that I've done in my life. Before Brazil I spent 3 years living in an isolated Costa Rican rain forest where there were thousands of animals that I directly encountered daily but only a few >100 villagers. The last 3 years I've lived mainly in Brazil which is a very, very spiritual environment. Its worth visiting because for many of us it is such an astounding location with divine beings eveywhere. It is very different from the US, with an accepted disaproval of capitalistic values that provide a strong feeling of of unity as the Brazilian family (after you learn the Portugese). Sensuality and sexuality is extremely open. We have two large churches with 200,000 people that drink ayahuasca during the weekly ceremonies in the large churches, as well as many curanandos or ayahuascaro or shamans in the Amazon up north. President Lula, who was a steel worker when he became president, started providing about 2 years ago the Family Fund for the many poor so the poor are fed and taken care of now. This is a great source of pride for all the people because these are OUR people and everyone cares a great deal about those who have little. Brazil is quite a cultural shock for Americanos and a very good environment for those of us who are learning from the talking plants, the plant teachers, etc.