The ‘guided’ part of the journey should start well before you ingest anything.

There’s a romanticized view of a guided journey being a situation where you show up, a ceremony ensues as you ingest something, and BOOM vision quest. Look, you can do it this way and there are facilitators and retreats that offer this. However…

When I meet someone who has gone on a guided journey and not gotten much out of it, I ask them how many times the facilitator worked with them pre and post journey knowing what their answer is going to be.

Friends, that answer is ZERO EVERY TIME. If only I could choose stocks or eat gas station sushi with these odds.

Remember this, it’s important:

The ‘journey’ itself is the catalyst. The results come from the work done around it. The thing is, how are you supposed to know what that work is unless you’re guided on that too? You don’t just show up and get a major surgical procedure done, you meet with the doctor, surgeon, ask questions, get tests and so on.

One of the first questions you should ask a facilitator is what’s their plan and process to work with you in the weeks/months before and after the journey?

Ideally you won’t even have to ask this, they’ll bring it up.

How much time should a guide or facilitator spend with you?

MINIMUM: twice beforehand and once after.

1 of those times before should be in the week leading up to the journey, the time after should be the day after the journey. Each session approx 45min-1 hour. The day after should be 2 or more hours. But that’s the minimum…

Optimal is 3-4 sessions before, 3-4 sessions after. And that day after the journey session? That could last all day.

This means there’s a plan, a process, that the facilitator is invested in your success, and that there's a customized aspect to the journey. This is my standard.

If you start working with a facilitator and they make you uncomfortable, aren’t listening to you, don’t seem to be knowledgable or vested, remember that you are going to spend a day with them in a very vulnerable state.

Progressive meetings several times beforehand gives you the ability to call it off if you’re not 100% sure of them.

What are your expectations for a facilitator or guide of a navigated plant medicine journey?

As a plant medicine guide, I’d love to hear about your journey and answer any questions you have on plant medicine facilitation. Reach out for a free consultation.