#27 - Anthony Esposito and Amber Antonelli: How Intense is Iboga, Really?

Anthony Esposito and Amber Antonelli are the co-founders of Awaken Your Soul, an iboga retreat center in Costa Rica. Both Anthony and Amber are Bwiti initiates and iboga providers who have been working with the medicine for quite some time – over a decade for Anthony and about eight years for Amber. Amber also serves as chief of the village at the center, which is situated on nearly 100 acres of lush jungle.

What we discuss:

• The reputation of iboga as intense: is this a well-earned reputation, or is there more to it?

• Different factors that influence the intensity of an iboga experience: dose, set and setting, facilitation, and resistance

• The importance of being trauma-informed – and what that really means

• The energy of iboga: masculine, feminine, or both?

• The shifting spiritual awareness of people who are seeking out iboga

• Who makes a good candidate for an iboga retreat?

• How the iboga experience differs from the ibogaine experience (how the medicine is administered, set and setting, music, and more)

• How to deal with resistance when it arises in guests

• Lessons from the medicine, from Gabon to Costa Rica

Why it’s important:

Iboga is often described as “intense” – this is why many refer to it as the “Mount Everest” of psychedelics. As Anthony and Amber explain, while there are certainly elements of an iboga experience that can be quite intense, there are several factors that can impact that intensity. We hear that when it comes to iboga, a small dose goes a long way, and that feelings of resistance can actually turn up the intensity dial significantly. Anthony and Amber dive into some of the key differences between iboga and ibogaine, not just in the way that they are administered, but also when it comes to why someone may seek out one over the other. They hone in on the importance of meeting people where they are at, wherever that might be on their journey – even if it’s deep in a state of resistance – and share vulnerable moments from their own path as Bwiti initiates and iboga providers.

Relevant Links:

• Awaken Your Soul website
• Awaken Your Soul Instagram
• Anthony Esposito - Bio
• Amber Antonelli - Bio
• Using Iboga for More Than Just Addiction Treatment
• 13 Tips for Navigating an Iboga Ceremony
• 11 Tips for Integrating Iboga & Other Psychedelics