As we reflect on the final film, “Psyched Out”, in the WOVEN film festival, we are inspired by yet another catalyst for transformation. And we keep asking ourselves - what is transformation? Is it change, mutation, evolution? Is it a shifted perspective, new information, new understanding? Is it a release of assumptions, a letting-go of motivation, a leaning-in to, or acceptance of our present state of being? Is it the transmutation of competition, separateness, envy, manipulation, control, greed, old wounds, and self-righteousness - symptoms of our hierarchical systems? Whichever way we look at it, transformation seems to be experiences that take us at least a small step closer to wholeness.
Transforming
With this beautifully rich and multi-faceted understanding of transformation, the next question we ask is, how do we get there? What makes transformation happen? Undoubtedly, we are still learning and relearning all the ways transformation can occur and we look forward to discovering new methods to explore. Some tools like meditation, mindfulness, and therapy, or somatic practices like martial arts, breathwork, dance, hot/cold therapy, forest therapy, chanting, sound therapy and yoga, are becoming more popular strategies to uncover and integrate our past experiences.
Our Friends, the Plants
Films like “Psyched Out” demonstrate that more and more of us are also returning to the wisdom of plants. We’re learning that plant medicine is rooted in the very origins of humanity. Our ancestors used plants to nourish and heal our bodies and, in many cultures, our souls and minds as well. Plants have been and continue to be teachers and allies to us, and some believe that the psychedelic properties of certain plants and fungi actually catalyzed the development of human consciousness that made possible our creativity and intelligence. In recent decades, research shows that psychedelics have incredible potential to treat and transform our understanding of some of the most pervasive ills of modern life, including depression and PTSD. In addition to helping transform trauma and illness, psychedelics offer the possibility of expanding our notions of how to be human, through opening our minds to ideas and visions beyond our day-to-day experiences and programming. Historically, many of these medicines were misunderstood by westerners, which led to their restriction and abuse. Fortunately, with increasing acceptance of these medicines in the west, comes access to support, knowledge, and safe practices that will allow them to be shared more widely. As we learn and understand the place of psychedelics, we can work to reconnect with our ancient plant teachers and their wisdom.
For those who joined us for our final film, we enjoyed learning how plant medicine and psychedelics can facilitate and support physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness with you. Thank you for staying to hear from our panelists from Edelic Center for Ethnobotanical Studies. This has been an incredibly successful first film festival for WOVEN and we look forward to sharing more films with you next year!
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