Ceremony Preparations

Greetings and congratulations on saying “yes” to this sacred and transformative experience and opportunity. Our Nawabu team along with our dear relative(s) from the forest are excited and deeply looking forward to sharing this space with you and coming together to pray, heal, and celebrate in community.

We recognize that now more than ever, spaces and work like this are ever more important with all that is going on in the world, and we do not take for granted the opportunity for us to come together like this. Traditionally, the spiritual leader (Pajé) of the village would consecrate the medicine during the first full moon of the year to receive the vision on how they would care for the village for the coming seasons. In this way, we recognize that in addition to the healing ability of the medicine, it is also a direct way of communal care.

Upon signing up for this, the ceremony has already begun. You may experience or notice many emotions and thoughts beginning to surface and express themselves more. Or perhaps your dreams are becoming more active and vivid, or perhaps everything is the same, which is also totally okay. There is no one way to walk towards this prayer.

We thank you for your trust and your confidence.

Here is a list of things that we encourage you to do in preparation for this sacred moment:

- Practices that ground you into your body and cultivate safety and stillness within yourself (yoga, gym, dance, spending time outdoors, etc)
- Creative outlets (music, art, writing, etc)
- Being mindful of what you consume (food, media, conversations)
- Journaling is a great way to get clear on what it is we are seeking and what our intention/prayer is. This can serve as an anchor during the work.

A final details email will be sent out a week prior to our circle with the arrival time/instructions and address. Continue reading below for more on how to prepare and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

- The Nawabu Team

MEALS DURING THE WEEKEND

We will be doing potluck style meals after each circle so we ask each person to bring something to contribute.

DIETA (things to avoid)

At least 5-7 days before and after ceremony (best practice): 

  • Red meat 

  • Fermented foods 

  • Refined sugar 

  • Preservatives 

  • Spices (little bit is okay)

  • Probiotics 

  • Caffeine (if you are a coffee drinker, switching to green tea in moderation is okay (1 cup) )

  • Processed foods, fried foods, leftovers, over ripe fruits 

  • Sex (to cultivate energetic sovereignty) 

  • St. John's Wort , Kava, Ephedra, Ginseng , Yohimbe, Sinicuichi, and any other ones that have similar properties and effects.

  • Working with other plant medicines and any synthetic substances/drugs. (2 weeks)

  • Alcohol (abstain for 2 weeks)

What To Bring

  • Remaining balance for your donation. Please bring this IN CASH

  • Large bills are preferred i.e. $50's, $100's, as this helps us with accounting

  • Cash for jewelry, rapé and attire from the Indigenous arts and crafts market

  • Reusable water bottle 

  • Instruments suitable for the ceremony (guitars, uke, charango, shakers, drums, harmonicas, etc -- please no electronic instruments) 

  • Flashlight / headlamp 

  • Any sacred items you wish to have with you

  • Something to sit on — back jack, yoga mat, thai mat, meditation cushion — please do not bring anything wider than a yoga mat/back jack. Good to have a mat or cover as well for the ground.

  • a bowl and utensils for breakfast

  • Sleeping materials (yoga mats, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows)

  • Camping Gear

  • Coolers for food (if you have, they are helpful for storage)

Ceremony Agreements

  • Noble Silence (no talking) 

  • Noble Tactile Autonomy (no touching) 

  • Remain in designated areas during the work 

  • Please do not burn incense without asking 

  • Please only serve yourself rapé and nobody else. The team will be serving throughout the night. 

  • No recording video or audio, taking photos during the ceremony 

  • CONFIDENTIALITY -- do not share the names of folks involved in the gathering, name and/or location of the space. 

  • Modest Dress code for all (no exposed midriffs or cleavage/chest, dresses and skirts below knees, no short shorts, see-through or overly tight clothing.) 

  • Please keep clothing on throughout the ceremony 

  • Do not feather, spray, or try to heal other participants. Please leave the support to those on the team working 

  • Please be mindful when dancing and physically moving through the space. Practice mindful intentional movement and give people a healthy amount of physical/energetic space 

  • If your process is being impacted by that of another participant please do not try and resolve the situation on your own, but come and let those of us working know so that we can take care of it. 

  • To trust those of us working that if we ask something of you, a “do” or “don't” that it is not personal, and that we have the harmony of the container in mind. 

  • If you leave the circle to take a moment outside, please be mindful of how long you are away from the circle. It is where the work is happening. 

  • Please do not switch seats during the ceremony without speaking to someone on the team 

  • Please do your best to sit up throughout the night. 

  • Please do not eat before the ceremony closes 

  • Please ask before sharing a song/prayer during the ceremony 

  • We start the ceremony together, and end together

Conflict Resolution Agreements

“Conflict is the spirit of the relationship asking itself to deepen” - Malidoma Some 

We recognize that the nature of this work is to stir up and bring to the surface many things within each of us that are wanting to be healed and transmuted. And as we all come from many walks of life and are each in our own place on our healing journey, it is only natural if conflict were to arise. 

Below are some approaches to if/when these moments happen to help guide us towards resolution and restoration. 

  • If you say or do something that harms/impacts someone, please take the time to listen to what the other person has to share about their experience and be ready to take responsibility for your words/actions and ask what is needed for a repair. 

  • Being aware of Intention vs Impact 

  • If you are the one who has been harmed/impacted by another, please give the gift of grace to the other party as we are all learning and trust that we are all doing our best. 

  • If at any point throughout the weekend you feel that you have been harmed/impacted by anyone else in the space, especially those of us working on the team, please come and tell one of us on the team so that we can navigate together how best to hold space to tend to the situation. 

  • Doing our best to discern being “triggered/activated” and being “harmed”