What Title Does Your Plant Medicine Guide Go By?

People don’t like that I call this out because it kinda flies in the face of the aura of guided psychedelic experiences.

But I stick by it: what a facilitator calls themselves, or refers to themselves as, is important.

Why? It can be indicative of a relationship based on superiority & separation rather than collaboration.

So, what titles should you watch out for?

Guru:

There is only one reason a facilitator would refer to themselves as a guru: power.

This is how cults are formed, friends. I have seen this first hand.

Don’t even consider working with anyone who refers to themselves or entertains as such. Run.

Shaman:

The word shaman actually refers to a priest within Shamanism, the religion of inhabitants of Northern Siberia in the late 1700s. Then colonizers decided to call indigenous healers in the Americas, Shamans, because colonialism. Someone who calls themselves a shaman willfully perpet uates a song and dance people are conditioned to ‘expect’. So, unless the person is an actual priest of the Ural-Altaic peoples of northern Asia, skip them.

Also, to clarify: The word shamanic is often used as an adjective in general lexicon to describe plant-based spiritual practices. That’s fine, it’s language. I’m referring to the actual title of ‘Shaman’.

Pick one: High Priestess, Earth Wizard, Witch Queen, Bog Brewer

This is completely made up and indicative of someone more interested in cosplay than healing and connection. Also, ego much? The only difference between this and guru or shaman, is that you should take the time to drop some LOTR or Harry Potter or KKK references on this Wizard before leaving.

Although Bog Brewer is kinda dope. I may adopt that one.

So what is a good title for a plant medicine worker?

Guide, Facilitator, Medicine Worker. If working with an indigenous practitioner, their indigenous title (curandero, curandera). Prefixing a word like Spirit or the like is ok e.g. Spirit Facilitator (some people actually are). A guide or a facilitator does exactly what those terms mean. They guide the experience, but don’t dictate it. They facilitate the experience but don’t take it over.

While a guide will open up and walk you through paths, they do not create the journey. Only the client can do that.

People have been fed into ascribing a sense of trust to people calling themselves shamans and the like, and many end up being taken advantage of. Knocking down the power barriers and gatekeeping surrounding psychedelic culture is nothing less than accessibility.

Are there any plant medicine guide titles you have run across that give you pause?

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.