The Importance of Breath in Ceremony

When sitting in ceremony with plant medicines we have often been told to concentrate on the breath and breathe. Indeed I remember a particular moment, after being given a rather heroic dose of Ayahuasca by one of my teachers, that he gently patted me on the shoulder and whispered ‘respirar, respirar, respirar’ in my ear before leaving the maloka for a while. A simple enough concept but, as with so much on the medicine path it is simple but not always easy.

At its core, our breath is our essence. If we stop breathing we die. We are not only inhaling oxygen for our respiratory and metabolic functions but also allowing the subtler ebb and flow of Prana or life force through our bodies. If we strip away the ego of all of the beliefs that make us who we are, all that we are left with before we cease to exist in the 3D realm is our breath. It could be thought of as the purest expression of what we are in this plane of existence.

Anyone who has experienced the power of breathwork or yogic pranayama can testify to the ability of breathing to regulate the nervous system, emotions and to alter our state of consciousness. Simply using breathing techniques, even without using plant medicines, can induce profound mystical experiences and open our psyche and subconscious to repressed memories, past lives and spiritual insight. The importance of our breath is clear.

The psychedelic experience can be intense, and sometimes, somewhat overwhelming. The brain receptors normally operating on serotonin and dopamine find themselves flooded with the neurotransmitter DMT or psilocybin (an almost identical molecule). This opens the door of our sensory perception to a range of frequency and consciousness not normally perceptible in our waking state. DMT is endogenously produced in the brain and is known to be released in high concentrations during dreaming or near death experiences giving rise to the often ‘mystical’ experiences associated with these states. DMT was even dubbed the ‘Spirit Molecule’ by the famous psychedelic researcher Rick Strausman.

This opening of our perception to a myriad of newly available frequencies and information can be alot for our nervous system and psyche to handle. We can become disorientated and overwhelmed by vivid and shifting patterns as our brains try to process all of this new data we are now open too. Our bodies can become uncomfortable as our sensitivity and awareness increases and energy and emotions begin to flow more freely, sometimes encountering blocks within ourselves. Riding through and navigating this intensity is where the use of breath and even becoming nothing but our breath can be a simple yet powerful tool on our psychedelic journey.

Many people are familiar with some type of meditation and in its most simple form it is just the practice of sitting, relaxing, concentrating our awareness on the breath, staying calm and centered and allowing whatever emotions, thoughts and feelings arise to ebb and flow. From this calm and centered state we can bear witness to the flow of thoughts energies and feelings in our minds and bodies and not let our conscious mind and ego attach to the experience and create judgements and stories around the emotions and visions evoked.

Meditation can be a paradox in that it is both a passive and active process. Passive in that we are aiming to simply relax and witness the phenomena arising in ourselves without letting our egoic mind force or control what is happening. Active in that in order to calmly witness we must actively hold our concentration and awareness on the present moment. This can sometimes be difficult, particularly during a psychedelic experience when our awareness is expanded exponentially and the depth of rising sensations can be disorienting and uncomfortably intense. This is where focusing on the breath and a meditative state is extremely beneficial.

Focussing our attention on the breath provides an anchor for our concentration as our awareness expands. By reaching a meditative state, ideally in the period immediately after ingesting our sacred medicine before we begin to feel its effects, we quiet the egoic mind and create a silence and spaciousness where we can listen more clearly to the wisdom of our plant teacher.

During my first experiences with mushrooms my mind was constantly trying to analyze and provide an internal commentary on what was taking place. This can sometimes lead to us causing blocks or becoming trapped in a loop during our journey. Through experience and learning to trust both the plant medicine and myself I came to understand the importance of the breath in keeping the journey flowing and in navigating any obstacles. By breathing with long, slow, calming breaths we can find a rhythm, the natural, rhythmic cycle of prana flowing through our bodies. We know that through pranayama we can raise the level of consciousness and same is true working with plant medicines. As I inhale I often visualize the rising and expansion of my consciousness, the exhale a relaxing, gentle release, sinking into the experience, the next inhale further rising and expansion….. With our plant teacher as a trusted internal guide for our journey we need only concern ourself with finding this relaxed, rhythmic flow state and following, without judgment, wherever our teacher leads us.

One phenomena that can occur during the psychedelic experience is that of ‘ego death’. It is a great blessing to receive an experience such as this. It is the total dissolution of what we believe we are and can be a massive opportunity for rebirth and the alleviation of the fear of our own mortality leading to great change in how we view our life. That being said, it can be incredibly frightening to lose all sense of self as our spirit merges with all that is and we can feel as though we are actually dying. At this point we are literally becoming pure consciousness with little to no awareness of our physical bodies and egoic minds. Knowing that this process may occur, seeing it as a blessing and using the breath to flow with grace through the experience is paramount. Although we may feel as though our physical body is dying if we are focused on the breath and breathing then we know that it cannot be. We are safe and simply witnessing an extremely powerful experience.

For facilitators, I have found that breathing with an individual going through a powerful process who is struggling with finding their center and a meditative state can be very beneficial. Sitting beside or in front of them, possibly holding their hands with their consent, ask them to mirror your slow rhythmic breathing. This will give their mind something external to focus on while their inner world is in a chaotic state and, as they keep breathing, should help them significantly in their process.