Plant Magick: An Introduction to Plant Spirit Shamanism

What follows is a basic explanation of plant spirit shamanism and its place within the greater alchemical tradition of the west. Plant spirit shamanism is one of the oldest traditions in cultures around the world, both mundane and magical. In the Amazonian traditions, the term used would be vegetalista, rather than shaman. A vegetalista is they who have received their power from the plants. Learning the plant life that is around us in nature was and still is one of the most important magical practices. What is food? What is medicine? What heals and what harms? It is arguably humans first foray into spirituality; traversing the Garden of Eden, developing relationships with spirits and peoples of the world. King Solomon had his angels and jinn, while the shaman has his plant allies, chants and power objects.

“Alquimia Vegetal “

1. Winding, serpentine spirit, hide thy self under the face of the water. Holy water penetrate into the darkest of recesses, bending and arching over the earth. Release your muscular armor and raise thine awareness to a level of great sensitivity. 2. Sing! Sing! The pentagram sings! Holy star! Purifier of the elements! Sing! Sing!… Continue reading “Alquimia Vegetal “

Medicine Tree: Psychedelic Qabalah for a Modern Psychonaut

One area of spiritual practice that is likely to be overlooked by the average psychonaut is the Qabalah. The Hermetic Qabalah in particular. Beyond the circles of underground occultists and chaos magicians, the Qabalah to many comes with a lot of religious baggage because of its associations with Jewish belief or, God forbid, pop culture. But what if the concept of the Tree of Life, that poetic structure of manifestation and creation of the universe that stands at the center of the Qabalah, were to be a fitting symbol for the psychedelic experience? I propose that it is indeed THE psychedelic symbol psychonauts and modern spiritualists are searching. It exists as both a philosophy and as a practical spiritual methodology the psychonaut can use to “know thyself.” From pathworking to astral projection, dream interpretation to creating art, the toolbox of the modern Qabalistic magician holds the keys to understanding and integrating the psychedelic experience.