Rudolph Steiner is quoted as saying - "For every human illness, somewhere in the world there exists a plant which is the cure.”

Plants have been human’s companion since the beginning of time - providing us with everything we need to survive and thrive.

Yet in today’s modern world of instant gratification, processed food devoid of a life force, screens everywhere, all the time, all at once, and a focus on wealth, youth and beauty - many of us are feeling a deep disconnect, not just from others, but often without realising it - from nature and from ourselves.

In this time of mass confusion and disillusionment, we need great teachers who can help reconnect us to our spiritual nature and reignite inside each of us the love and compassion we once had for all of our brothers and sisters of the Earth, whether they have 2 legs, 4 or 100, feathers or scales, fins or wings. This in fact, is the first Natural Law.

So it’s little wonder then that in the search for meaning, and answers to the big questions in life, that some of the most respected and revered plants have crept into the western zeitgeist as a means to reconnect us with our spirituality. There are even certain plants that are considered “power plants” - plants with super powers for healing, as well as opening spiritual portals. You’ll often hear these power plants called “master teachers” or “teacher plants”, and are considered to be spiritual healers, as well as doctors of the flesh.

But at what cost to the plants?

So, when did we start to get high? And why?

Archaeological evidence indicates that the use of medicinal plants dates back to the Paleolithic age, approximately 60,000 years ago.

Today we’re going to be talking about the 4 most popular Plant medicines in the 21st century - Ayahuasca, Peyote, San Pedro and Psilocybin.

My Guest

Kerry Henwood is my guest today. Kerry has studied extensively with numerous Shamans and Yogis around the world.

She is an internationally recognized intuitive healer, Author, inspirational speaker and teacher.

Kerry uses ancient indigenous techniques to foster healing of modern minds and spirits. In her Shamanic work, she draws particularly on the spiritual healing traditions of Peru, which resonate strongly with her soul and have proven highly effective with her clients.

www.shamanicgrace.com

www.soulsoundscape.com.au

The ancient Mayan and Incan civilisations were the first to record various theories of consciousness. Since then many different definitions have sprouted up in various spiritual, psychological, medical, and moral texts in both Eastern and Western cultures. The ancient Mayans were among the first to suggest an organised sense of each level of consciousness, it’s purpose and relationship to humanity.

Then about 150 years ago, Sigmund Freud, speaking to consciousness and what in the dickens it might be - suggested that psychological processes are flows of psychological energy in a complex brain. Complex is right!

So then this would mean that our behaviour, our habits and actions are all essentially influenced and controlled by psychological energy, that is, our beliefs and patterns. On top of that, specific patterns, real or imagined, will be reinforced by emotional experiences, conditioning, and even psychedelic drugs.

Throughout human evolution the ability to process patterns became increasingly sophisticated as the parts of our brains involved in the processing of images - the cerebral cortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex - started to expand.

Recognising our patterns allows us to predict and expect what is coming. The process of pattern recognition involves matching the information received, with the information already stored in the brain.

I first embarked formally on this road to self-discovery a few decades ago in my early 20’s, to start the long process to unpack my stuff. (No, we didn’t have EMDR back then.)

Kinesiology was the modality where the yellow brick road took me first.

When I first met Kim O'Brien for kinesiology - to start looking at some of my negative patterning, the things that were getting me unstuck, well, really ruining and ruling my life, Kim was using the Enneagram and other systems to unpack this stuff, and today we're going to hear where she has gone in this field of Patterning since then.

Kim O’Brien started as a kinesiologist, then studied Applied Physiology which are both disciplines that look for, and aim to correct patterns in the body. Over several years of intense work in this area it became obvious to her that patterns manifest everywhere and the most challenging ones - which can prevent healing at all levels - are the ones buried in the subconscious.

Welcome to the podcast Kim. Its a pleasure to have yo here as my guest. I'd like to start by asking - are you still using the Enneagram as a tool, and are there any new methods or systems that you're now using in clinic, and in your own life.

Books Kim referred to in the interview:

The Beat of Life by Dr Reinhard Friedl

Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master

Kim can be reached here - kimpatriciaobrien@gmail.com

Click here for the 'Toxic Silence' Playlist.

Hippocrates once said - A physician without a knowledge of astrology has no right to call himself a physician. And many centuries later - super psychologist Carl Jung made this comment - We are born at a given moment, in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born.

Jyotish is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, originating in ancient India - it’s found to date back to around 10,000 BC. Based on The Vedas - the oldest sacred text of Hinduism - it sees the stars and planets as having a powerful influence on our lives, and these planetary influences are considered the ‘fruit of karma’, or past actions.

In many mythological stories, Mercury is often referred to as The Messenger Of Gods, as it is the planet of expression and communication. So what happens when it’s not in such a benefic (or beneficial) position? Well, you guessed it - there’ll likely be difficulties with self expression, speech, and communication in general.

Apart from communication, Mercury also governs the way we speak, and our intellect, so a ‘weak’ Mercury can lead to difficulties in expressing oneself effectively.

My Guest

Geoff Rupp has spent the last 10 years studying with Masters in India, gaining insight in Ancient practices from the East, with the desire to integrate these teachings into our lives back here in the West. After 30+ years in the corporate sector in television, Geoff gazed within, seeing that there was more to life (and beyond that), so enrolled himself in the study of the cosmos by undertaking serious studies in Vedic astrology, Vedic Meditation, Sattva Yoga, Himalayan Breath-work, Kriya yoga, and other modalities all designed to enliven our potential, to be the best version of us we can be.



www.geoffrupp.com



Book Vedic Astrology Reading www.geoffrupp.com/jyotish