A podcast born from our love of Huachuma and the mission of the Huachuma Foundation. We explore plant medicines, preservation work in Peru, and the sacred traditions surrounding these ancient teachers. Join us for conversations with guests and perspectives on walking this path with respect and intention.
Seed to Ceremony: Nathan Tinder on Growing Huachuma, Sacred Fire, and the Art of Being Cultivated
Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 02:03:01
Hamid Jabbar and Dani Reardon welcome Nathan Tinder, ceremonial guide, somatic practitioner, and devoted cultivator of sacred plants, to the Plant More Worry Less podcast for a conversation that winds through the high deserts of Utah, a New Jersey survival school, a “yurpee” by a creek, and a greenhouse full of cacti whispering their instructions. Nathan grew up in Salt Lake City searching for what was real, felt his inner compass pointing away from inherited certainties, and spent decades gathering clear metaphors from the wilderness. His path led him to Tom Brown’s Tracker School, to Earth skills, to the fire-making arts, and eventually to a bean bag at a festival where a foot and a half of raw San Pedro cactus switched something on that has never switched back. He has been growing, studying, and serving the medicine for more than two decades since. In this episode, Nathan walks through the philosophy of seed to ceremony, his sacred fire circles at Hummingbird Hearth, the difference between associative and dissociative plant medicines, the regenerative propagation code the plants gave him, and the quiet revolution of people all over the world who have answered the call to start growing. He also shares his approach to microdosing Huachuma, the practice of living cactus terrarium necklaces, what it means to ask a quantum question, and why he no longer considers himself the one doing the cultivating.
Nathan Tinder is a ceremonial guide, somatic practitioner, and devoted cultivator of sacred plants whose path has been shaped by a deep relationship with Huachuma. As the steward of Hummingbird Hearth, Nathan embodies his philosophy of “seed to ceremony,” honoring the full lifecycle of the plant as both teacher and ally. His work bridges ancient traditions with modern integration, offering grounded, heart-centered pathways for transformation. Through ceremony, bodywork, and community fire circles, Nathan supports others in reconnecting with their own inner guidance, following vision, cultivating presence, and walking a path of integrity in right relation with all of life.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
Insights from Nathan Tinder shared in this episode:
* “That feeling in my back, just above my sacrum, is my internal compass. It helps me know which direction to choose and what stories are real to me or not.”
* “The sacred quantum question that has driven my life and purpose is: what is real, and how can I gather clear metaphors? That makes it really easy to live because I know what I’m wanting to discover.”
* “The fire is a creation story you get to do. There’s creation stories we get to read about, and then there’s creation stories we get to do.”
* “I call mushrooms and ayahuasca dissociative psychedelics. They take me out of my body and into other realms. San Pedro is an associative psychedelic. It brings me into myself, into my center. I am choosing my own adventure. I am sovereign.”
* “I am not cultivating this plant any longer. I am being grown. I am being cultivated. This plant is cultivating compassion in our community, in my family.”
* “The more I sit with this plant and love it and admire its beauty, the more I feel loved and admired back. It is a direct, reciprocal, flowing relationship that I can feel.”
* “Seven years from seed to ceremony. Seven years away from freedom, seven years away from the Garden of Eden, seven years away from self-sufficiency. That is what the plant said.”
* “This journey started 21 years ago. When we have full account of our medicine, full account of where these technologies came from, that matters. It makes a big difference in the safety of space and the way you can relate to yourself and to the plants.”
* “At a micro dose level, we want to be below feeling high or altered. Out of that level, our heart is more open and we are more able to receive these messages coming from the universe. The greatest message is where our pain is. When we feel our pain, we restore our awareness.”
* “By feeling the pain inside our bodies, we can heal that pain, we can let it go. It restores parts of ourselves, parts of our brain. It brings the flow back into our reality.”
* “If you really want to learn something, teach it. That is the only way to really know what you are talking about, to try to explain it to somebody else.”
* “My goal is that we all become fire tenders, that we can feel safe and know how to work with fire again, how to create new fires, regenerative fires, where laughter fills the empty space and the yummy smells coming from the garden tantalize all of our senses.”
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit huachumafoundation.substack.com
Heart Mind Over Logical Mind: Katie Rinaldi on Ten Years with Huachuma, Soul Recovery, and the Medicine of Devotion
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 01:29:25
Join hosts Dani and Hamid as they welcome Katie Rinaldi, Huachuma facilitator, yoga teacher trainer, and certified death doula, for a grounded and generous conversation about what a decade of devoted work with the medicine actually looks like. Katie shares how she found Huachuma and yoga at the same time, during a yoga teacher training in the Sacred Valley. It took years of preparation, clearing, and showing up before the cactus really opened for her. That slow patient unfolding, it turned out, was the teaching. The conversation moves through her apprenticeship with her teacher in Tarapoto, the preparation, ceremony, and integration structure she now brings to her own work, the difference between the logical mind and the heart mind, how Huachuma reveals what is depleting our life force, soul recovery and the Phowa practice, the surprising connection between death doula work and Huachuma, and what it was like to sit with Miguel’s fire ceremony for the first time at night in the Sacred Valley. This is an episode about devotion, discernment, and what it means to really do the work.
Katie Rinaldi is a Breathwork Facilitator, Yoga and Somatic Practitioner, and Integrative Therapist whose passion is bringing people back into connection with their true, authentic nature. She holds deep trust in the wild intelligence within all beings and guides others to their deeper nature and innate gifts through embodiment and breath, mindfulness and relational practices, plant and energy medicines, and somatic release.
She weaves her background in psychology and trauma-informed healing with shamanic studies and ceremonial work, bringing forth her philosophy of Soul Rewilding and integrative healing through her retreats, workshops, and ceremony spaces.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Ross's Journey Through Plant Medicine
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 • Duration 02:00:43
In Episode 2 of Plant More, Worry Less, join hosts Hamid and Dani as they welcome Hamid’s good friend Ross from Ireland for an intimate conversation about his transformative journey through plant medicine. Ross shares how a chance meeting in the Amazon jungle led to life-changing connections with master teachers Miguel and the late Javier Regueiro, ultimately planting the seeds for what would become the Huachuma Foundation.
From early experiences with mushrooms to profound Ayahuasca ceremonies and discovering the sacred cactus medicine Huachuma (San Pedro) in Peru's Sacred Valley, Ross offers unique insights into different plant medicine traditions. The conversation explores the nature of Huachuma, protection practices, sacred mountain ceremonies, and encounters with master teachers who have shaped this work. Ross also shares practical wisdom from challenging high-altitude ceremonies and reflections on the future of plant medicine education and conservation.
Hamid has Sacred Valley retreats scheduled for June 18-28 and July 2-12, 2026. These retreats are adjacent to but not run by Huachuma Foundation. More information at www.mineralshaman.com/retreat-to-sacred-valley/
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: The experiences and stories shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Plant medicines discussed are not legal in all jurisdictions. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before considering any plant medicine work. Respect local laws and regulations in your area. The hosts do not advocate for illegal activities and encourage listeners to seek proper guidance from experienced practitioners in legal settings.
00:01 - Introduction: Meeting Ross and the origins of connections 05:28 - Ross's first experiences with plant medicine in 2011 09:11 - The progression from mushrooms to Ayahuasca 11:06 - First Huachuma experience in the jungle 12:46 - Defining Huachuma: "What is Huachuma?" 20:00 - Protection practices: Ayahuasca vs Huachuma approaches 26:56 - Energy differences: Jungle vs Mountain ceremonies 29:39 - Meeting Miguel: The first ceremony at Kinsa Cocha 34:05 - Javier Regueiro and his teachings on protection crystals 40:00 - The Amazon jungle initiation experience 50:00 - Contrast with Miguel's approach to ceremony preparation 56:00 - Formation of the Huachuma Foundation idea in 2018 59:00 - Challenging ceremonies: Cold mountain experiences 1:04:00 - Car ride adventures to Apu Linley 1:07:00 - Meeting other master teachers: Santiago Ayala and Salvador Villalobos 1:15:00 - Different Huachuma varieties and their unique characteristics 1:20:00 - Removing cactus spines with fire - they're like hair 1:26:00 - Masculine and feminine aspects of plant medicines 1:35:00 - Ausangate mountain ceremony experiences 1:43:00 - Comparing different Apu (mountain) ceremonies 1:52:00 - Future visions for the Huachuma Foundation 1:58:00 - Whales retreat possibilities and closing thoughts
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Plant More, Worry Less Podcast - Episode 1: Introducing the Huachuma Foundation
Monday, August 4, 2025 • Duration 01:44:40
Welcome to the very first episode of Plant More, Worry Less! Join hosts Dani and Hamid as they introduce the Huachuma Foundation and share their transformative journey with sacred cactus medicine. In this inaugural episode, discover the origins of their mission, the urgent need to protect wild Huachuma populations, and how their foundation is creating sustainable solutions through their garden sanctuary in Peru's Sacred Valley.
In this episode we discuss:
* Personal introductions - How Dani and Hamid found their calling through Huachuma
* The Huachuma Foundation origin story - From idea to reality over 6 years
* What is Huachuma? - Understanding the sacred cactus medicine and it’s various names such as San Pedro and Aguacoya
* Conservation crisis - Why wild Huachuma populations are under threat
* The sanctuary garden - Creating sustainable medicine sources in Peru
* Plant More, Worry Less philosophy - Moving from taking to giving back
* Future vision - Building community and expanding the mission
Timestamps for those wishing to skip ahead:
* 00:00 - Welcome and introductions
* 03:10 - Dani's relationship with Huachuma medicine
* 06:45 - Hamid's 10-year journey with the medicine
* 12:41 - The birth of Huachuma Foundation idea in 2018
* 18:39 - The conservation crisis facing wild Huachuma
* 31:52 - What is Huachuma? Consciousness and connection
* 41:31 - Different names: Huachuma, San Pedro, Agua Coya
* 47:20 - Understanding cactus cultivation and cloning
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Soul Rewilding and the Breath of Return: Kristen Yates on Integration, Clarity, and Coming Home to Yourself
Monday, March 9, 2026 • Duration 01:42:09
Join hosts Dani and Hamid as they welcome Kristen Yates, breathwork facilitator, somatic practitioner, and creator of the Soul Rewilding philosophy, for a rich and searching conversation about the long spiral inward. Kristen shares her journey from a restless corporate life and 15 years of nomadic wandering across continents, to the mountains of Peru and an intensive seven-month process with Huachuma that cracked her open and taught her the hard way what integration really means. The conversation weaves through the nature of true freedom and why it requires structure, the somatic roots of clarity, the role of prayer in ceremony, what it was like to sit with the medicine inside the ancient labyrinth at Chavín de Huantar, and why breath and Huachuma are more alike than most people realize. Kristen also shares how her two core offerings, ceremonial breathwork facilitation and Soul Rewilding, have grown from her own healing path and what she is building this year through retreats, trainings, and a return to community. This is an episode about learning to listen before you leap, and what it feels like when the body finally says yes.
Kristen Yates is a Breathwork Facilitator, Yoga and Somatic Practitioner, and Integrative Therapist whose passion is bringing people back into connection with their true, authentic nature. She holds deep trust in the wild intelligence within all beings and guides others to their deeper nature and innate gifts through embodiment and breath, mindfulness and relational practices, plant and energy medicines, and somatic release.
She weaves her background in psychology and trauma-informed healing with shamanic studies and ceremonial work, bringing forth her philosophy of Soul Rewilding and integrative healing through her retreats, workshops, and ceremony spaces.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Keeper of the Cactus: Tim Doherty on Tending Land, Healing Trauma, and the Finca of Dreams
Thursday, February 26, 2026 • Duration 01:39:06
Join hosts Dani and Hamid as they welcome Tim Doherty, founder of Finca Lola, author, musician, and creator of the Structured Ritual Architecture framework, for a rich and wide-ranging conversation about the long road to Huachuma. Tim shares his journey from a traumatic accident at the quarries of Quincy as a teenager, through the Boston punk scene, law school, Key West restaurants, and eventually a deliberate relocation to the Costa Tropical of Andalucía, Spain, where he is now putting down roots, planting grandfathers, and learning to read land the way he once read rooms. The conversation weaves through the nature of ceremony and what it means to honor lineage without imitating it, the distinct vibration of the Huachuma community, the Chavín culture and the diversity of ceremonial traditions, and why this medicine, for Tim, is the first thing in his life that hasn’t tried to take from him. Tim also shares a glimpse into his novel The Saint of Light and Water, a near-future story of an Irish sailor, a Peruvian curandero, and a cactus that may just save what’s left of humanity. This is an episode about what happens when a nervous system finally finds a home.
Tim Doherty lives on the Costa Tropical of Andalucía, Spain, near the historical white village of Salobreña at the threshold of the Alpujarras, where Sierra Nevada snowmelt descends through the Guadalfeo River and spreads across the Vega before entering the Mediterranean.
He chose this geography deliberately, for its agricultural inheritance, its mountain-to-sea watershed ecology, and its capacity to sustain long-duration stewardship of land and plant. He regards place not merely as backdrop, but as living structure: watershed, soil, and light forming an active field of practice.
Structured Ritual Architecture is the philosophical and practical framework Tim created to balance the human nervous system and restore a healthy relationship between land and humanity. It treats ecology, narrative, ceremony, agriculture, and creative expression as interdependent systems rather than isolated practices. Drawing from ecological design, contemplative discipline, and narrative structure, the method emphasizes containment, seasonal rhythm, integration, and long-term accountability. It is not a performance model but a structural ethic, ensuring that encounter precedes identity and responsibility precedes expression.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Into the Sacred Andes: A Deep Dive into Huachuma Medicine and Ancient Ways
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 • Duration 02:03:28
Join hosts Hamid and Dani for an intimate conversation about their annual retreat to Peru’s Sacred Valley, where participants work with Huachuma medicine alongside their teacher Miguel Mendiburu. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this retreat unique - from the profound ceremonies at places like Kinsa Cocha (Three Lakes) to the ancestral nutrition provided by master cook Jesusa, and the meaningful act of planting cacti at their sanctuary. Hamid dispels common myths about plant medicine being “the easy path” and explains why Huachuma is far from the “gentle heart opener” many believe it to be. They discuss the retreat’s community-focused approach, staying in a family home rather than a retreat center, and how this creates lasting bonds between participants. The conversation also covers the Fire Path retreat for advanced practitioners, the critical importance of preservation work, and why this medicine asks us to meet it halfway. Whether you’re curious about plant medicine or feeling called to Peru, this episode reveals the depth of preparation, reverence, and integration that true medicine work requires.
Retreat Information: The retreat is offered by Hamid Jabbar, founder and chairman of the Huachuma Foundation, in partnership with the foundation to benefit its preservation efforts in Peru. The retreat itself is not offered by the Huachuma Foundation 501(c)(3).
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
When Grandfather Sits on the Back Porch: Kat Courtney on Huachuma's Patient Medicine
Monday, January 12, 2026 • Duration 01:17:11
Join hosts Dani and Hamid as they welcome pioneering plant medicine facilitator Kat Courtney for an illuminating conversation about the sacred medicine of Huachuma (San Pedro cactus). With over 22 years of experience in the plant medicine world, Kat shares her journey from following a boyfriend to the Amazon to becoming a traditionally trained Ayahuasquera and Huachumera. The discussion explores why Huachuma requires us to “meet him halfway,” the sacred temple of Chavín and its influence on Picasso, and the critical importance of integration work. Kat offers profound insights on sensitivity as a gift, the difference between Huachuma’s patient grandfather energy and Iboga’s straight-shooting truth, and why consciousness comes with responsibility. This episode reveals the unique wisdom of a medicine that teaches through feeling rather than visions, and why this heart-opening cactus asks us to do the shadow work necessary to truly receive its gifts.
Tina “Kat” Courtney is a traditionally trained Ayahuasquera and Huachumera, and the author of Plant Medicine Mystery School Vol 1: The Superhero Healing Powers of Psychotropic Plants. Kat is a pioneer in the Psychedelic Integration space, as well as an expert in cultivating life-changing relationships with plant spirits. Kat is also a certified Death Doula, honored to help people make peace with the inevitable and beautiful transition into the afterlife.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
Insights from Kat shared in this episode:
* “Huachuma makes us work for it. It’s not like Ayahuasca that comes in like a freight train and you open the door just a little bit and in she comes.”
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Blueprint Behind the Medicine: Crystal Claire on Divine Orchestration and Sacred Reunion
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 • Duration 01:49:27
Join hosts Dani and Hamid as they welcome Crystal Claire from Bali for an exploration of divine blueprints, spiritual awakening, and the sacred dance between trust and transformation. Crystal shares her remarkable journey from Ashtanga yoga through bodybuilding to sitting still for two years, revealing how these extremes led her to discover her soul’s blueprint. The conversation weaves through the collapse and rebirth happening in our collective transition, the importance of embodiment over intellectual spirituality, and why Huachuma might be the perfect medicine for humanity’s current evolution. Crystal offers insights on distinguishing true callings from mind-driven decisions, the alchemy of transforming shadow into gold, and why vulnerability is the gateway to unity consciousness. This episode is a masterclass in following divine orchestration, honoring the sacred in the mundane, and understanding that we’re not searching for something outside ourselves - we’re searching for the parts of us that have always been home.
About Crystal Claire
Crystal has dedicated her life to her Soul’s purpose, which is birthing Consciousness into this Reality. She supports Souls in remembering who they are and why they came here and delivers channelled transmissions of truth straight from the Divine realms and multidimensional realities.
The Huachuma Foundation is dedicated to the conservation, education, and cultural preservation of various cacti species commonly known as Huachuma and San Pedro (Trichocereus genus, including pachanoi, peruvianus, bridgesii, and scopulicola varieties) and their traditional heritage.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Opening to the Cactus Consciousness: Your Huachuma Questions Answered
Friday, November 21, 2025 • Duration 02:10:55
Join hosts Dani and Hamid from the Huachuma Foundation for an in-depth FAQ episode addressing the most common questions about Huachuma (San Pedro) cactus. This comprehensive discussion covers the botanical complexity of various Huachuma species (including Trichocereus pachanoi, peruvianus, and bridgesii), explores the role of alkaloids beyond just mescaline, and dispels common myths about this sacred plant medicine. The hosts share insights on preparation practices, the importance of ceremonial containers, integration challenges, and crucial guidance for finding the best facilitators. Drawing from years of experience and deep study, they discuss the heart-opening properties of Huachuma, purging processes, contraindications with medications, and the vibration-based nature of plant medicine work. The episode also announces upcoming 2026 retreats and the new online gathering “Huachuma Wisdom” starting January 2026.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
00:00 - Opening and introduction to FAQ format episode 01:37 - What is Huachuma? Dispelling the myth of one single cactus species 03:58 - Understanding Trichocereus varieties: pachanoi, peruvianus, bridgesii 05:50 - Hybridization and the complexity of cactus identification 08:48 - PC (Predominant Cultivar) and what’s commonly sold in US garden centers 10:53 - Etymology of “Pachanoi” - named after botanist Alberto Pachano 12:45 - Doctrine of Signatures: how cactus appearance reflects medicine qualities 14:32 - Understanding alkaloids beyond mescaline 19:40 - Comparing alkaloid profiles between different species 22:22 - Why mescaline content doesn’t determine medicinal value 24:34 - Other alkaloids: tiramines, tryptamines, and stimulant compounds 26:30 - Peruvianus vs Pachanoi alkaloid differences 28:23 - Why focusing only on mescaline extraction misses the point 30:59 - Peyote comparison: earth-grounding vs sky-reaching energies 32:38 - The problem with “extraction” mentality 33:19 - Heart-opening properties: chemistry, spirit, or vibration? 37:32 - MDMA comparisons and why they fall short 39:44 - Synthesis history: how mescaline inspired MDMA development 42:03 - Why “gentle heart opener” might indicate weak preparation 43:21 - Proper preparation methods and their importance 45:41 - The role of sincerity and intention in ceremony 47:46 - Building relationship with the medicine over time 49:16 - Calcium’s role in emotional numbing and how mescaline helps 51:14 - Physiological aspects of opening to emotion 52:57 - Vibration vs alkaloids: instant effects before absorption 54:52 - Homeopathic principles in plant medicine 56:18 - Understanding purging: energetic vs detoxification 58:43 - Vagus nerve activation and emotional release 01:01:02 - Two types of purging explained 01:02:35 - Connection between emotional expression and purging 01:04:28 - Mula bandha activation and bathroom concerns 01:06:58 - Individual variation in purging experiences 01:09:46 - How the medicine removes filters and increases sensitivity 01:11:54 - Autism parallels and hypersensitivity states 01:14:00 - Doctrine of Signatures revisited 01:15:54 - Medicine reveals, doesn’t cause, existing conditions 01:17:46 - Intensity of sensitivity at higher doses 01:19:28 - Preparation: emotional and energetic practices 01:21:39 - Information diet and reducing external stimuli 01:23:56 - Importance of being able to sit with yourself 01:26:07 - Planting intention seeds in the subconscious 01:28:02 - Contraindications and medication considerations 01:30:17 - Choosing your paradigm: natural vs pharmaceutical 01:32:27 - Specific medications and retreat participation 01:34:36 - Finding authentic facilitators: avoiding marketing traps 01:36:35 - Why the best facilitators don’t advertise 01:38:46 - Word of mouth vs online advertising 01:40:38 - Questions to ask potential facilitators 01:42:22 - Importance of staying with one tradition 01:44:07 - The well-digging analogy for going deep 01:46:10 - Recommended facilitators: Miguel Mendiburu, Santiago Ayala 01:47:26 - Integration challenges and dissonance with daily life 01:49:30 - Integration as revealing truth vs forcing comfort 01:51:38 - Making choices aligned with heart wisdom 01:52:30 - Staying in Sacred Valley vs returning to “normal” life 01:54:36 - Miguel’s wisdom: being good with how you feel 01:57:51 - Importance of community for integration 01:59:18 - The path of no way back 02:00:44 - Community connections from retreat experiences 02:01:07 - June 2026 Heart Path retreat details02:03:29 - July 2026 Fire Path retreat for experienced practitioners 02:05:26 - Huachuma Wisdom online gathering announcement 02:07:07 - Legal landscape and preservation efforts 02:08:19 - Donation-based structure supporting 501c3 status
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
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* “Even though I wasn’t having big profound experiences with Huachuma, I noticed all these shifts happening in my life. That’s where I recognized for the first time that this medicine was working on a very subtle and cellular level.”
* “One of the biggest lessons for me through Huachuma has been how to access my heart. How to calm the logical mind and be guided from the heart mind.”
* “I like to think of it as how can we allow the logical mind to become a passenger and the heart mind to become the driver.”
* “When I hear people call Huachuma a gentle journey, I’m like, is it though? It’s shown me where I’m not living in my true nature, and that’s a hard pill to swallow.”
* “For some, being in the heart space is actually more challenging than going into the shadow. It can be really overwhelming if the darkness has been a place of safety.”
* “Every time we take the medicine, it’s peeling away a layer. I’ve been working with it for 10 years and I don’t even recognize who I was back then.”
* “Huachuma is revealing what is depleting or draining your life force. For one person it’s physical, for another it’s a relationship, for another it’s the work they’re doing.”
* “Soul recovery is about integrating the fragmented parts of the soul back into wholeness. That’s the Phowa practice, the transference of light.”
* “Without preparation, the medicine has to do more work to clear what’s being held in the body. If we prepare the vessel, the medicine can go deeper.”
* “I believe that people who are transitioning could have so much benefit from Huachuma. It could help them soften and expand into the space of the heart, and not feel as attached to the physical body.”
* “I’ve been working with the medicine for 10 years and I look back at who I was then and I don’t even recognize that person. And I also have a long ways to go.”
* 1:37:55 - Call for guests and community involvement
Some quotes:
"For me, my relationship with the medicine and with the Huachuma Foundation is sort of like my North Star and sort of the focal point of my whole life at this moment." - Dani
"Huachuma is an enlightened type of being... when we take the medicine into our bodies, our body starts to get in sync with that vibration." - Hamid
"Plant More, Worry Less is the slogan we've been using to raise awareness of this issue... it's about changing from a mindset of taking to being in relationship and service." - Hamid
Resources:
* Website: huachumafoundation.org
* Email: huachumafoundation@gmail.com
How you can help:
* Get involved - Contact the foundation to volunteer or contribute
* Join Peru retreats - Experience sustainable Huachuma ceremonies while helping plant the sanctuary
* Start growing - Begin cultivating your own Huachuma cactus
* Be a guest - Share your knowledge or experience on future episodes
* Support the mission - Help fund the sanctuary garden through their ongoing GoFundMe
Keywords: Huachuma, San Pedro, sacred cactus, plant medicine, psychedelics, Peru, Sacred Valley, consciousness, sustainability, conservation, ceremony, spirituality, indigenous wisdom, Trichocereus, meditation, healing, community
Content Warning
This episode discusses plant medicine and psychoactive substances in educational and spiritual contexts. Listeners should be aware of local laws regarding these substances.
* “There was always a part of me that felt like the system that we’re living within isn’t quite right. There was always this part of me that was just searching for meaning.”
* “Soul Rewilding is about restoring our own ecosystem inside. Unpeeling the layers that keep us from our full expression in the world.”
* “Freedom is not being untethered. True freedom is being dedicated. It’s having areas where our devotion can travel.”
* “We can’t have true freedom without a container. The Shakti energy just dissipates and nothing will be created.”
* “Huachuma really does embody soul freedom. It opens doorways to all potentials and all possibilities. But to harness that freedom requires integration.”
* “We’re never going to make those changes in the medicine. We have to walk the path in our lives.”
* “When we constantly open ourselves in intensive experiences without integration, our nervous system is not ready or able to hold the changes.”
* “At its core, integration is quite simple. It’s offering a space of gentleness and slowness and stillness so that we can really listen to that inner voice.”
* “Our nature is to give thanks. Our nature is to sing and dance and be in joy in our communities. Ceremony reminds us of that.”
* “Huachuma will take us directly to what we haven’t been looking at, but doing so with so much light and so much grace and so much compassion.”
* “Breath is our cord to spirit. With each out-breath we can blow out what we no longer need. We can blow out our prayers.”
* “Just learning to listen. Just learning to create space. That is always the first pathway to clarity.”
He is the author of The Saint of Light and Water, a novel set in a near-future Andalucía that examines Huachuma’s migration, ethical responsibility, and generational continuity within a changing world. The work follows a constellation of stewards negotiating land, lineage, and sacred obligation as traditional plant knowledge re-emerges within contemporary ecological realities. Tim is releasing the novel as a free author-read edition, preserving the oral dimension of transmission and honoring storytelling as relational continuity.
While his work centers on Huachuma, Tim speaks with explicit respect for the Andean cosmologies and ceremonial lineages from which the plant originates. He does not present himself as a shaman, nor does he replicate Andean ritual forms outside their cultural context. Instead, he positions his work as geographically and historically distinct, rooted in Andalucía’s ecology, agricultural traditions, and contemplative heritage. For him, honoring lineage means avoiding imitation and cultivating what is authentic to place rather than engaging in spiritual cosplay.
On his land, he founded Finca Lola, a working finca dedicated to tropical fruit cultivation and Huachuma propagation in alignment with traditional Andalusian agricultural principles: water stewardship, soil regeneration, patient propagation, and seasonal pacing. Within this framework, Huachuma is regarded as threshold medicine: an initiatory catalyst inseparable from the environmental and ethical container in which it is encountered. The land itself forms part of the medicine, and meaningful transformation is understood to arise not only from the plant but from the lifestyle shifts and ecological literacy cultivated during one’s stay.
Finca Lola also functions as a research and creative sanctuary. Tim guides land-based walks across the Costa Tropical, through the Alpujarras and Sierra foothills, and into Granada, situating ceremonial practice within watershed awareness, agricultural history, and the geomythic relationship between mountain and sea. Ecology becomes not metaphor but method.
Music forms an integral dimension of his practice. Through devotional songwriting and recorded releases available on major platforms, Tim explores steadiness over urgency, integration over intensity, and relational depth over performance. His compositions reflect a lifelong evolution from the intensity of his early years in the Boston punk scene toward a more grounded, rhythmic form of service.
He also hosts the Heartwheel of Huachuma meditation podcast, exploring nervous system regulation, ecological perception, and contemplative practice shaped by Andalucía’s light and seasonal cadence.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
Insights from Tim shared in this episode:
* “I needed something to dull my nervous system at that point. It was in a rage. That’s really where my experience started to take shape with trying to just get out of myself.”
* “Huachuma brings me into a place where my heart opens up enough that my head can be clear.”
* “When you slow down, you don’t really discover who you are. You discover a lot about what you’ve been trying to outrun.”
* “I speak to my cactuses every morning. I call them my grandfathers. I need to slow down and listen to these grandfathers first.”
* “It’s not about escaping the world for me. It’s about reacting to it differently.”
* “The plant has never tried to take from me. Never. And there’s been plenty of things that have tried to take from me.”
* “I spent my whole life reading rooms. Now I’m reading land.”
* “I used to close deals for a living. Now I’m opening up soil and planting things.”
* “I’m willing to take on a title. I am a keeper. I’m a keeper of this cactus.”
* “As I walk beside this river and I’m in ceremony, the medicine and I become one thing. That’s where the songs come out.”
* “I don’t want to cosplay this. I’m trying to do the right thing by the medicine.”
* “My nervous system has finally found a home. So what do we do with that next?”
* “Let’s just keep going. Let’s stay together and let’s keep going.”
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: The stories and experiences shared in this podcast should be considered fictional narratives for educational purposes only, not factual accounts or admissions. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before working with plant medicines and respect all local laws and regulations.
00:00 - Opening and Crystal Claire’s name transformation story 01:23 - The Elven Time Queen and receiving “Crystal Claire” in Bosnia 03:00 - Owning the soul name despite judgments 04:14 - The Year of the Snake and collective transformation 06:15 - Unity consciousness and the leveling of energy 08:26 - Where to plant ourselves before the collapse 09:24 - Trust as the gateway to love 10:54 - Cultivating an inner navigation system 13:18 - Crystal’s journey from yoga to bodybuilding to stillness 15:02 - The pendulum swing and sitting still for two years 15:28 - Mushroom journeys and blueprint initiation 17:04 - Working with Iboga and learning about false callings 19:06 - Hamid’s story of leaving law for trust 21:10 - Courage as a stepping stone to trust 24:02 - Believing “you can do whatever you want” 27:33 - The unique blueprint and divinity of each soul 30:45 - Getting present and the zero point field 32:51 - Opening to receive vs holding on 35:21 - Divine orchestration in Bali 36:16 - Being the bridge between prayerful and playful 38:57 - The devil blueprint and purification by fire 39:34 - Plant medicine and discovering blueprints 41:59 - Medicine as stretching consciousness 44:02 - Co-creation vs consumption with plant medicine 46:05 - Hamid on Western pharmaceutical approach to plants 48:26 - The mycelium network and group consciousness 51:18 - Childhood fevers and natural psychedelic states 54:02 - Crystal’s first Huachuma experience 55:18 - Huachuma as embodiment medicine 56:18 - Why Huachuma is underrated and protected 57:46 - The connector medicine with the land 59:27 - Feeling the harshness and softness of different lands 01:00:21 - Being the prayer that changes the water 01:01:16 - Mushrooms as Irish medicine 01:03:05 - The invitation to Peru and sacred timing 01:04:10 - Finding yourself through relationships 01:14:49 - Searching for the self that’s missing 01:16:52 - Sacred seeds and treating body as temple 01:18:59 - Soul and body in union 01:21:11 - Sustainability lessons from slow-growing Huachuma 01:22:53 - Building on solid foundations vs sand 01:24:32 - Integration and being the bridge 01:24:59 - Responsibility for frequency and consciousness 01:27:19 - Truth as the seed and orientation 01:29:29 - Slowing down to observe movements 01:31:41 - Stabilizing love in the field 01:33:41 - Embodying teachings vs talking spirituality 01:35:53 - Revelation vs healing what’s broken 01:37:56 - The humbling experience with mother in Assisi 01:39:54 - Honoring the source of life 01:42:13 - Patience for once-in-lifetime moments 01:43:51 - Safety as prerequisite for love 01:44:49 - Divine orchestration and how to find Crystal
“When we use the term Huachuma, we’re using more of a traditional term... The myth is that there is one cactus called Huachuma.”
“I personally let go of the alkaloids as not a consideration for me at all. To judge a cacti because it doesn’t have a lot of mescaline, that it’s somehow of lesser value is ridiculous to me.”
“The cactus is just gonna reveal the parts of ourselves that are ready to be felt, ready to be expressed.”
“It’s not about feeling good every day. It’s about being good with how you feel.” - Miguel Mendiburo
“We basically, with Huachuma, take off our armor... In that vulnerability, we can feel a lot more.”
“If you can’t be with just yourself, then start there. Don’t just do something, sit there.”
“The best people who are advertising are the worst usually because they need to advertise... if they’re good, it’s via referral.”
“Maybe what we come to in these journeys and these ceremonies is closer to our absolute truth.”
