The Shamanic Plant Medicine series acts as an introduction to specific teacher plants used by shamans in a variety of cultures to facilitate spirit communion, healing, divination and personal discovery, and which are increasingly known, used and respected in Western society by modern shamans as a means of connecting to spirit. Named after Saint Peter, the gatekeeper to Heaven, San Pedro is used by the shamans of the Andes in ways similar to ayahuasca and for similar reasons and effects. Its close relative, peyote, is employed by the shamans of Mexico and its modern chemical equivalent, Ecstasy, has become a popular rave culture means to trance and bliss states. Awareness of San Pedro is spreading rapidly in the West and the plant is likely to become more utilised than ayahuasca in the near future.
About the AuthorRoss Heaven is a shaman, psychologist and healer and the director of The Four Gates Foundation, one of Europe's leading organisations for the preservation and teaching of indigenous wisdom. He lives in Newhaven, UK.
MY TAKE
San Pedro: The Gateway to Wisdom by Ross Heaven refers to the use of a cactus called San Pedro. It is used in Shamanic practices by indigenous people. The book opens with a folk tale about the keys of heaven being hidden within the cactus. Those who had no interest in spiritually ascending never took the time to learn the secrets of the humble San Pedro cactus.
Author Ross Heaven explains the various ways the cactus can be in used in Shamanic practices. I felt like I learned a great deal from this book. It was an easy read too. I would recommend it for the intellectually curious and those interested in Shamanism and plants.