Consciousness Medicine: Indigenous Wisdom, Entheogens, and Expanded States of Consciousness for Healing and Growth

I tried reading this book while on 5g of psilocybin mushrooms (WHILE IN MEXICO), and I really enjoyed the ways the words just leapt off the page at me. The book really spoke to me. Really. It said, "hey, man, maybe you should try reading me when you are sober, but for now, let's listen to the sound of the Earth humming." And then I dissolved into wave consciousness and heard the Great Mother singing a lullaby that echoed throughout the cosmos, with the message that hey, there's some really cool stuff going on with this universe. I came back to find myself naked, wrapped around a pot containing my new friend the fern. I'm looking forward to reading the chapter on integration so I can make sense of it all.

A scientific mind’s approach to explain scientifically inexplainable (at the moment) experiences. In my opinion, the author does a good job cataloguing types of workings of the said medicines as it’s important to know about the variety, but I felt that this attempt unfortunately clouded the question of “why”. Also, I had a hard time reading past 100 pages because of the storytelling in the book. Its tone was a bit more on the “me” side and less about how medicines really worked. I genuinely admired the path that she’s chosen for herself and sharing this with the world. She’s definitely intuitively tuned and has a strong empathy, but the book is not a combination of Michael Pollan and Carl Jung.

I've highlighted, underlined, dogeared and damaged this book as it has been a constant companion since I purchased it. I have yet to encounter a more clear-headed and pure-spirited approach to this work. Bourzat's writing is direct, insightful, soulful and, above all, USEFUL. She and Hunter have created a well-organized guidebook for both guides and travelers. It seems to me to be deeply respectful of the traditions from which this work comes and it also leaves room for adaptation and improvisation within the context of healing. I'm very grateful to have this book within reach!

As a proponent of psychedelic medicine, I was eager to read this book, having heard Francoise in several podcasts. This book does elaborate on several of the themes she's discussed in podcasts, and gives some of her personal history on how she came into her practice. But it should be noted that this book is more tailored towards an aspiring practitioner of psychedelic medicine rather than a patient. That's not to say that there isn't much to learn for the psychonaut, but it focuses more on the practice from the perspective of the guide rather than the traveler. Moreover, as a guidebook for practitioners, it is incomplete, and admittedly so, as Franciose sells a more complete training program through her website.

After reading Michael Pollen's book on this subject it is refreshing to get a more feminine perspective. By that I mean a more holistic perspective that speaks to how our individual actions reverberate in multiple dimensions and how healing is not only taking place on the physical and mental plane, but is also necessary on the social, environmental and transpersonal plane. This book is a great guide in that regard.

The author is a sympathetic person . It is written in a personal style which elaborates too much for my taste on the author’s life instead of the subject. Unfortunately, it omits useful knowledge on the use of Sacred Mushrooms in Ceremonies and Rituals. If you like an academic psychotherapy viewpoint of Sacred Mushroom you will appreciate this book . I think the author’s intentions were to approach the subject from a Indigenous Spiritual Viewpoint but was hindered by her training as a psychotherapist. If you are interested in Sacred Mushroom Rituals , you might want to look elsewhere.

I absolutely love this book. Lots of relevant information for people researching psychedelics. I’ve read several books and this one is by far the most informative and practical of them all. Perfect guide before and after a psychedelic experience.

This book is, arguably, one of the most insightful books on expanded states of consciousness. It is thoughtful; it is thought-provoking, it is inspiring, It is a book I wish I had been available when I first began my journey into expanded states of consciousness.

Written with tremendous respect for the healing and transformative potential of expanded states of consciousness, this is an indispensable guide for anyone considering a guided psychedelic experience or needing to make sense of a previous experience. Compared to other books or guides I've seen, this book spends a great deal on the difficult aspects that may appear during or after a psychedelic experience and provides understandable guidance on how to turn them into valuable life-transforming insights. I also like that while respecting the natural wisdom inherent in the plants and indigenous ceremonies, Françoise emphasizes the need in our western society to also combine the work with modern psychology to get the most out of the experience. And most of all I like that the author also emphasizes the need to apply the gained insights into daily life, because ultimately that is how both as individuals as well as communities, including the global one, we will benefit the most from the incredible potential offered by psychedelics and expanded states of consciousness.

Fascinating book. Very easy to read and not in any way academic. Really good for understanding an holistic approach to plant medicine and working therapeutically.

Must have tool for mental health practitioners learning about this important work. If you only have one book on the topic, this would serve you well!