Plant Medicine and the Spiritual Path - A Conversation with Spring Washam

Welcome to a VERY special episode of the podcast… this week I interviewed my first ever GUEST, Spring Washam. Spring is one of my beloved Buddhist teachers, but also a real pioneer in terms of offering entheogens, along with the Buddhist spiritual path. And she’s been an inspiration for me in many ways.

In this interview, Spring and I talked all about what she’s learned about plant medicine and altered state experiences in the jungles of South America and how that’s translated to her work here in the United States. We also talked about where all that fits into her own Buddhist beliefs and how she faces opposing views from other Buddhist practitioners.

In this special Episode, we jammed on:

// How we both began working with plant medicine & ayahuasca

// Why we find exploring the medicine’s place in Indigenous culture so important to its uses in Western society

// Why there’s an absence of integration and post-journey support in our industrialized, western society

// The importance of ceremony and community in our healing journey

// Whether altered-state experiences ACTUALLY go against the teachings of Buddhism (and if that even matters)

// Our advice for those who are considering plant medicine on the spiritual path

// Death and the possibility of rebirth, and the implications in journey work

Resources:

// Learn more about Spring Washam (and stay tuned for her 2025 event schedule)

// Follow Spring on Instagram or Facebook

// Check out my previous Episodes on psychedelics and entheogens:

Episode 97: Psychedelics and Spiritual Practice

Episode 153: Psychedelic Exceptionalism

Episode 225: How to Choose a Psychedelic Guide

// Episode 122: Come See for Yourself - Ehipassiko

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