alex
I have been part of many ceremonies, locally and outside of the lower Mainland, and I can comfortably say that Lana’s and Ivan’s ceremonies are extraordinary, especially for people new to plant medicine.
I have been struggling with addiction issues due to a difficult upbringing and turned to plant medicines, because after years of therapy I felt I needed to go deeper. At that point, I had already learned that addictions are only a coping mechanism and often the result of painful experiences, especially in childhood. During the ceremonies, I was able to discover hidden and abandoned parts of my childhood (so called exiles, if you are familiar with Internal Family Systems) and process many wounds. I will never forget a ceremony, where, with the loving guidance of Lana and Ivan, I asked for self-love, because I didn’t know how I could ever love myself due to “my condition”. The medicine showed me what self-love means, and my body filled up with self-love from head to toe providing a feeling of ease, love and nurturement. Now, when you have been struggling with addiction issues, some of us may see ourselves as “less than” with a sense of utter unworthiness, at least that was the case for me. Being shown what self-love means and how it FEELS like, was a pure gift to me and something that talk-therapy could not show me.
The ceremonies Lana and Ivan hold are indeed very special and a great opportunity to learn what it means to be human. For me, they provided a great opportunity to pour out my heart and grief in community with others. In these ceremonies, I was able to touch on grief that was simply hidden and locked away for years. What makes these ceremonies so special is how Lana and Ivan are able to bring together psychology and spirituality in a way that is understandable and digestible. Furthermore, Lana and Ivan have many helpers (all of whom are wonderful human beings) who are there to support you and others, which is essential in my opinion. If you have ever been in a ceremony where things went south, you will appreciate the many helpers and the safety they provide to a group that is at their utmost vulnerability.
I can’t thank Lana and Ivan enough for showing me what it means to be human, what things I may want to make peace with and what things I may want to say good bye to because they aren’t serving me any longer. Words can’t describe how grateful I am for the healing I have received through Lana and Ivan. That being said, my world went from being covered 24/7 in dark thick clouds with constant rain to a world with a light overcast where the sun manages to shine through and some short rain showers that occasionally move in.
-Alex