Greetings Dear Friends! After an amazing first experience with our Journey of Origins a few weeks ago, we are thrilled to now officially open up registration to our second curated retreat at Communitas Sanctuary. The Journey of Awakening will be taking place on Oct 23-26, 2025, during the beautiful “leaf” season in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We hope you will consider joining us for a powerful immersion into the sacred heart. During a time where so many feel lost amidst the struggles and pain of personal, environmental, socio-political and cultural crisis transpiring across the world – I truly believe it is more important than ever we make an honest commitment to awakening to our essential compassionate, loving and radically creative nature.
Below is the excerpt from the intention statement for the Retreat. You can also find the full schedule and facilitation team on the website. Yet in this newsletter, I’m also excited to share a new short article I wrote on the core difference between Psychedelic Ceremonial Facilitation and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy, an interview with Ibogaine advocacy force of nature Bryan Hubbard, an article on Texas going big with a $50 million research bill, psychedelics positive effects on older adults, and a lot of other juicy bits from the psychedelic frontier with you all. I appreciate each and every one of you for continuing to live your truth courageously for yourselves, your families and the communities you serve. This is a time for Compassionate Warriors to emanate the way. Thanks for joining me on this journey and being a part of the SpArc.
What is the difference between Psychedelic Ceremonial Facilitation and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy? For me, the core difference isn’t protocol based or container craft. The central difference is one’s relationship to the medicine itself.
In authentic ceremonial facilitation, the medicine is honored as a sacrament in which communion with opens pathways toward a highly intelligent expression of ancient divine wisdom. The efficacy and skill of the practitioner is thus based upon the depth of earnest relationship one has cultivated with this wisdom through rigorous personal work, honest practice and initiated guidance into the subtle art of ceremonial stewardship. The facilitator is a caretaker of an ecosystem: providing safety, empowerment and alliance to the journeyer’s healing intelligence through the power of song, scent, ritual and most importantly – compassionate presence. The underlying call is to guide one toward a state of soul remembrance; supporting heart-mind coherence and spiritual awakening.
In therapeutic facilitation, the medicine is held as a powerful tool that engenders a catalytic response in ones neurochemistry leading to lasting perspective shifts and healing… Read More
In this “Pearl Spotlight” episode, we the story of W. Bryan Hubbard and how he is bringing awareness to the healing power of Ibogaine. He tells us about how this plant medicine could be extremely beneficial in helping the fight against the opioid epidemic. Hear about how Ibogaine, as well as other psychedelic medicines, can help our world heal and open a door to connect with the divine. Bryan is a maverick and absolute force of truth and resolve for the Psychedelic Movement. If you haven’t watched him speak before, give this video a roll and I guarantee you won’t be able to pull your eyes away until completion. Thank you Bryan! You are the inspired soul we’ve been looking for on this frontier. Enjoy!
Texas is on the verge of launching the largest publicly funded psychedelic research initiative in U.S. history: a $50 million public-private partnership to support FDA-approvable ibogaine trials. The initiative has drawn support from high-profile figures like Rick Perry, but also concerns over safety, cost, access, and the lack of recognition for Indigenous knowledge. We take a look at the bold plan, the political manoeuvring that made it possible, and the questions that still remain.
Ehren Cruz is an Anthropologist, CTA & ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Third Wave Psychedelic Certified Coach, Master Ceremonialist, certified Harm Reductionist, Loving Husband & Proud Father of 3 Little Ladies. He is devoted to the healing & actualization in all facets of his life.
The SpArc does not provide psychoactive or controlled substances, nor are we licensed therapists, counselors, or medical professionals. Any information received through our services should be considered for educational purposes and not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. Please use your discretion to ensure our services meet your needs.
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