Initiation & Integration Support
What is spiritual initiation?
Spiritual initiation is the process of receiving spiritual knowledge, guidance, and empowerment from a spiritual teacher, guide, or mentor. It is a crucial aspect of many spiritual traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and various forms of mysticism.
Spiritual initiation aims to facilitate the student’s spiritual growth, development, and healing, deepening their connection with the divine. Talking with someone further down the path can help you take the right next step.
Are you on the fence about participating in a ceremony? First, I recommend reading my Ayahuasca Guide—if you still need support, I am here. Let’s discuss the next steps and get you securely on a healing path.
What is Integration?
Integration after a spiritual ceremony refers to assimilating and applying the insights, lessons, and experiences gained into one’s daily life. It is a crucial aspect of many spiritual practices and involves integrating the transformative effects of the ceremony into one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions.
After a plant medicine ceremony, individuals may experience profound insights and shifts in consciousness. However, these experiences may not always translate into a lasting change in their lives. Integration involves taking the time and effort to reflect on the insights gained during the ceremony and incorporate them into daily routines and practices.
Here is a video of my views on integration and the necessary work outside of the plant ceremony.
Integration may involve changing one’s lifestyle, habits, and relationships and continuing to cultivate the inner awareness and spiritual practices developed during the ceremony. A guide or coach is a key element in this process. Rather than letting this valuable learning experience fade, integration helps you to apply your new understanding and put it into practice.
Why Me?
I have been working with psychedelics for 25 years, and I have spent my entire life studying ancient traditions and healing modalities. My early life took me to Nepal, where I spent time in a Tibetan monastery, which transitioned to twenty years studying the works of teacher Krishnamurti while working for the organization. Six years ago, I pivoted my study toward Indian tantric teaching and Indigenous traditions. I have spent the last three years studying with Josh Schrei in his Mythic Body course, reinforcing my connection to the animate world and Goddess traditions.
I work closely with a few ayahuasca teachers in an assistant capacity, and I am on the board of an NGO that supports the Amazon rainforest and the Noke Koi Tribe from Brazil. I have completed several plant diets with various Shapibo teachers and did a month-long diet with the Yawanawa.
I have a master’s degree (MPA) with a specialization in Behavior Development from California State University, Long Beach. While at the Krishnamurti Foundation, I helped facilitate dialogue retreats where we used the method of inquiry to unravel the mysteries of the psyche, informed by K’s teachings.
I bring confidentiality and gratitude to each session. I do not approach these sessions through a psychological lens or a Jungian framework—though I am familiar with these methodologies. My support is heart-centered, informed by spirit, ancestors, and the animate forces. I like to start by exploring your connection to source, however you define that. I offer practices and modalities to support you on your journey back to your true self.
After hundreds of ceremonies with plant medicine, I can tell you that adding another ceremony will not necessarily heal what needs healing. It’s the work that comes after the ceremony that is pivotal on the journey. It is the changes you make after the ceremony that will shift the trajectory of your life. To alchemize behavioral patterns that require attention, you don’t need more thinking; you need to take actionable steps toward a different life.
It’s helpful to have someone on your team as you tackle overcoming addiction, leaving a partner, quitting a job, or redefining your practice. That’s me, cheering you on and helping you take responsibility for the things that need to change. I’ll give it to you straight without sugar coating—but always from my heart. This work is really only about one thing: how to be a better human being. I am still working on that goal every single day.
Connect with me @derekdodds for support, or book a free 25-minute call for anyone who has listened to my podcast or read my books. For longer sessions, see the second calendar. If you need a time that isn’t listed, ping me, and we can work something out.
Haux. Haux. 🪱🦅🦄
