Dec 29, 2024

I’ve always been deeply curious, and one expression of that curiosity has been my life as a “psychonaut” — an explorer of altered states of consciousness for deeper self-understanding and insights into life’s perceived truths.

Of the various substances experimented on was Ayahuasca, an originally indigenous South American brew that goes back to at least 1000 AD according to National Geographic.

From 2008 to 2017, I participated in approximately 25 Ayahuasca sessions — or more accurately, Pharmahuasca or Anahuasca sessions, as they are called when the recipe deviates from the traditional indigenous brew. While the core formula typically consists of an MAOI combined with a DMT-containing plant or substitute, each tribe often has its own unique variation with various added plants. Only two of my sessions were under a traditional guide/shaman while the other sessions were of my preparation.

The Draw

People often come to Ayahuasca out of both curiosity and desire to fix things in themselves whether they are psychological, emotional, or even physical. It’s a common trend in the broader New Age community, with many people testifying to its positive impact on their lives.

There is even a religious sect called Santo Daime from Brazil that combines the indigenous practice of Ayahuasca with Christianity. While I can’t speak much about them since I was never a part of their community, I do find myself wondering how they can reconcile their use of a psychoactive substance without being convincted.

Pharmakeia

In scripture, the Greek term pharmakeia has multiple meanings, including the use of drugs, poisoning, and sorcery/witchcraft. The term appears in Galatians (5:19–21) and Revelations (9:21, 18:23, 21:8, 22:15). At first glance, the passages seem to focus on the sorcery aspect of the word, such as in Revelation 9:21, which states, “Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.”

However, I would argue that the other meanings of pharmakeia are also relevant in the passages, especially the use of drugs. Closely linked to the stereotypical view of witchcraft and sorcery are cauldrons of brews. Sure, these brews can be medicinal plant admixtures, but sometimes they are mind-altering. Sometimes they are used for bidding.

But who or what in fact is doing our bidding?

Bidding

I don’t find anything inherently wrong with medicine, therapies, or similar practices — I work in the medical field myself. The issue I see is in the approach.

Witchcraft is essentially the practice of trying to achieve one’s desires by invoking elements of Creation, such as entities, elemental forces, or even the entirety of nature, often referred to as “The Universe.” It’s all akin to rubbing a genie’s lamp and making wishes. And we all know the phrase — careful what you wish for. In attempting to be the “creator of your universe,” one can forget a crucial piece of wisdom: it is actually God who is in control, not us.

What witchcraft is not associated with is asking God directly because that would be something entirely different — prayer. Yet, when prayers are answered, particularly in extraordinary ways, they are akin to magic. They’re miracles, and miracles are expressions of God’s grace.

Whether we seek help from an Ayahuascuero or a surgeon, it’s unwise to elevate any human or element of nature to the status of savior or panacea, as that position is reserved for God alone, the ultimate healer. At best, people or elements of creation may offer something that may work for a time, but at worst, it might be a curse from a deceptive or unclean spirit. I can testify — on more than one Ayahuasca session, I experienced the presence of unclean spirits (actual demons), which others even witnessed appearing on my face. I also saw them within myself, and they brought with them wicked, psychopathic thoughts.

Opening The Door

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

When we go to places we weren’t meant to go, relying solely on ourselves or elements of creation for protection, we inadvertently bypass God or give the impression that we don’t need God, our true source of protection, and so really anything can happen. It’s like a free-for-all in the spirit realm.

Out of my 25 Ayahuasca/anahuasca experiences, I’ve encountered all kinds of “entities.” Yet I can’t definitively claim them as benevolent or malevolent, as one of the characteristics people often encounter in the realm of crystal DMT or Ayahuasca is the presence of elusive, confusing, and mysterious entities. Could some of them have actually been demons disguised as something harmless? Possibly, as 2 Corinthians 11:14 states, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

And since we’ve mentioned Satan, I can also attest that I encountered him — or at least an unclean spirit portraying him in the form of Lucifer. He was an extraordinarily elegant being who harbored a deep, intense hatred for me, one that’s hard to put into words. He was towering in height, and I felt small and insignificant beside him, as if he could crush me at any moment. I imagine that it’s easy for people to deny his existence, yet I still wouldn’t wish him on anybody. His deeply invasive presence is harrowing. Definitely not anything to romanticize.

On the other end of the spectrum, and this speaks to the notion that God might meet you where you are, even in your sins, the most beautiful vision I ever experienced on Ayahuasca was of a golden lion adorned with ever-growing golden vines on an a pitch-black backdrop. This lion was so full of life and beauty that I requested for it to stop because the beauty was far too much for me to bear or understand. My puny self couldn’t withstand its glory. In hindsight, I felt that it was God making himself known to me via the biblical imagery of the lion.

On another occasion of Ayahuasca, I remember entering a heavenly place, but it was unbearably tormenting. I even gave it a name at the time — “Hellven.” In retrospect, I realize that because I was living in unrepentant sin, I was far too unclean to visit such a place. As the Christian mystic St. Catherine of Siena (14th c.) once said, “The damned are in the same fire as the blessed, but to them, it is a fire of suffering, while to the blessed, it is a fire of love.”

I could write on and on regarding all the visions and entities I encountered, but would rather say that overall, my dabbling in Ayahuasca simply didn’t completely sit right in my heart. I could say it felt too pharmakeia or too gluttonous for knowledge which was only distracting me from simply following and loving God. It felt too much like eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, when all I actually truly wanted was to be wholesomely nurtured by the Tree of Life, the tree that symbolizes our willingness to be under God’s wing.

Medicine

I won’t say though that Ayahuasca, under certain conditions can’t be used as a form of medicine. Even its effect on the body might be deeply cleaning. However, we all know that medicines are easily abused, especially if they possess psychoactive properties. This is especially the case for shamans adding dangerous admixtures such as Datura or any other Nightshade family variant, which already has a reputation of dark sorcery within the general indigenous shamanic community.

I’ve heard here-say once of some psychiatrists in California secretly using Ayahuasca as an alternative treatment for their patients. It might be entirely plausible.

Yet, there is no healer like God. Speaking for myself, Ayahuasca didn’t rid my heart of a deep-seated sadness. Jesus did that.

Conclusion

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Nowhere in Scripture does it endorse the use of psychoactive substances to induce visions or access distant realms. What it does endorse, however, is fasting and prayer.

One thing I’ve come to understand since embracing the path of Christ Jesus is that the Holy Spirit itself brings visions and experiences that some might associate with a mind-altering substance. Throughout Christian history, not just among those persecuted by the Catholic Church, but also within the Catholic and Orthodox Church, many Christian mystics have had many beautiful and profound visions all the while being completely sober, only intoxicated by the Spirit of God.

Such is the same with me. I personally don’t need Ayahuasca. I am satisfied enough with God.