Christian Funder - Grandmother Ayahuasca: Plant Medicine and the Psychedelic Brain

GRANDMOTHER
AYAHUASCA

Grandmother Ayahuasca is a unique and important contribution to the field of ayahuasca literature. It is far reaching and poetic in its approach to the mysteries of this powerful plant medicine. From mythology to philosophy to recent scientific studies, this book explores different perspectives and facets of the experience of ayahuasca and its healing potential. Funder is sensitive to how this plant is held in the indigenous world and respectful of the other worlds it opens.

RACHEL HARRIS, PH.D.,AUTHOR OF LISTENING TO AYAHUASCA: NEW HOPE FOR DEPRESSION, ADDICTION, PTSD, AND ANXIETY

Grandmother Ayahuasca is an excellent survey of the pharmacological, cultural, and transformational potential of this remarkable Amazonian potion. Funder provides a very accessible overview of this subject, informed by his personal revelations through direct engagement with this magical medicine. Highly recommended for students of this important cultural phenomenon and for those who intend to explore the jungle brew for themselves.

JULIAN VAYNE, AUTHOR OF GETTING HIGHER: THE MANUAL OF PSYCHEDELIC CEREMONY

Undergoing experiences with ayahuasca has become an increasingly popular activity in recent years. There is a wide variety of different opportunities to partake in this important practice. This excellent book by Christian Funder provides a valuable resource for the interested explorer. Funder impressively covers all aspects of ayahuascafrom the latest cutting-edge neuroscience to the spiritual and indigenous uses of this important medicine. I highly recommend it as a text for people from all fields and levels of interest.

BEN SESSA, MBBS (M.D.), MRCPSYCH, CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST, PSYCHEDELIC THERAPIST, AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT AWAKN LIFE SCIENCES

From current neuroscience discoveries to traditional Amazonian loreadding philosophical perspectives from the East and West, first-person accounts, and classic psychedelic quotationsGrandmother Ayahuasca integrates personal insights, scholarly depth, and neuroscience into a comprehensive compilation of ideas in a readable style that informs and entertains its readers.

THOMAS B. ROBERTS, PH.D., EDITOR OF PSYCHEDELICS AND SPIRITUALITY

An amazing book. Christian Funder provides a wide and profound exploration into the work of this master plant. Even if you think you know everything on this subject, you will discover there is more to learn in this book. Thank you, Christian, for this great contribution to the world of ayahuasca.

JAN KOUNEN, AUTHOR OF VISIONARY AYAHUASCA

The man who comes back through the door in the wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out. He will be wiser, but less sure, humbler in acknowledging his ignorance, yet better equipped to understand the relationship of words to things, of systematic reasoning to the unfathomable mystery which it tries, forever vainly, to comprehend.

ALDOUS HUXLEY, DOORS OF PERCEPTION

Disclaimer

The purpose of this book is not to encourage careless or uninformed use of ayahuasca or other hallucinogens. Irresponsible use of ayahuasca can lead to severe consequences. Ayahuasca and other psychoactive plant medicines must be used with utmost caution and respect, and self-experimentation is profoundly unwise. The author and publisher disclaim liability and any deleterious effects caused by the use of any hallucinogenic plant or substance mentioned in this book. Any experienced shaman will always mention that set, setting, and knowledge are elements of critical importance when dealing with these potent plants.

This book was written to provide the reader with wisdom about this ancient plant medicine, hopefully satisfying or stimulating a psychotropic curiosity. It is also intended to act as a helpful notebook on a plant-based path toward healing and spiritual exploration.

Acknowledgments

This book is possible only because I am walking in the footsteps of giants. Among these are Richard Evan Schultes, Mircea Eliade, Aldous Huxley, Friedrich Schelling, Luis Eduardo Luna, Alfred North Whitehead, Jeremy Narby, Carl Gustav Jung, Robin Carhart-Harris and his mentor David Nutt, Michael Harner, and last but not least, Terence McKenna. Terence has been such an incredible source of inspiration to me and also like a funny and wise uncle throughout this journey of psychotropic exploration.

Gratitude is also due to all the people who have blessed this book with their ayahuasca adventures. On this note I would also like to express my gratitude to Jeremy Narby for granting me permission to present his ayahuasca adventure and parts of his research on indigenous shamanic peoples of the Upper Amazon.

A warm, loving thanks to ayahuasquero and artist Lobsang Melendez Ahuanari for painting the beautiful cover for this book. I am also thankful for all the scientists who have conducted all the revolutionary research from which this book has been inspired. Almost every single scientific article was open access, which allowed me to present this extraordinary research in this book.

Furthermore, I am grateful to the incredible managers from the ayahuasca retreat I attended. I would also like to thank my two retreat families I met in Peru for sharing these amazing journeys with me. What an extraordinary group of loving people! I want to acknowledge dear friends and family members who offered love and encouragement throughout the writing of this book. A special thanks to my dear friend Saul Francesco Uys-Rootenberg for his passion and the time he invested in helping me improve this work. Finally, I would like to give my sincerest thanks to the spirit of ayahuasca for everything she did for me. I will spend the rest of my life in humble gratitude.

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Vine of the Soul

Nixi honi (vision vine), boding spirits of the forest, origin of our understanding, give up your magic power to our potion, illuminate our mind, bring us foresight, show us the designs of our enemies, expand our knowledge, expand our understanding of our forest.

AYAHUASCA SONG OF THE AMAHUACA AMAZONIAN NATIVES, FROM THE NATURAL MIND, BY ANDREW WEIL

The Upper Amazon is home to a plant medicine of peculiar capabilities. A woody vine is mixed with leaves from a bush to create a concoction that the native shamanic people believe can set the soul free from corporeal confinementallowing the soul to roam free and visit other realms that are not bound by space or time. They also believe there is a vine or a ladder that connects the physical and the spiritual worlds and that ayahuasca can grant access to this cosmic stairway. (see color insert), the shape of the vine also happens to resemble a spiral stairway.

Ayahuasca is also the name of a spirit who resides in the ayahuasca vine. The indigenous ayahuasqueros of the Peruvian Amazon call her Abuela Ayahuasca or Gran Abuela (Grandmother Ayahuasca or Great-Grandmother). She is said to be a sentient mother spirit of nature who provides teaching, guidance, and healing to people who ingest this archaic plant mixture.