Christian Substance Abuse

Seventy-five years ago, a couple of hopeless drunks in Akron, Ohio – not a couple of respectable theologians at a seminary – began a fellowship that has led millions of chronic alcoholics and drug addicts to lives of freedom and serenity.  While statistics demonstrate addiction rates within the walls of the church correspond to those in the general public, the reality of Christian substance abuse has come to the attention of people of faith.

Leading Christian recovery expert, Dr. Dale Ryan comments, “I think that was a pretty good decision on God’s part. If our problems were just bad theology, then maybe a couple of theologians would have been a better choice. But the problem, for most of us, is not just “in our heads.” It is not just our convictions that are bent. In the Twelve Step tradition this emphasis is particularly clear. The Twelve Steps are not the Twelve Ideas or the Twelve Concepts. They are twelve suggested things to do. If we merely affirm as true all of the ideas found in the Twelve Steps, we are probably no closer to sobriety. Getting things right in our heads—from the neck up—is not what makes recovery possible.”

The problem of substance abuse is comprised of much more than “proper thinking”, truth-based morals or better behavior.  Alcohol and drug addiction is a complex, bio-psycho-social-spiritual disease and must be addressed accordingly in order to curb its destructive pattern.  Spiritual in nature, substance abuse recovery must be constructed on a spiritual platform.  The simple spiritual principles outlined in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous offer a pathway to spiritual healing.  To this, Christian substance abuse programs offer a parallel curriculum that builds a foundation based on the 12 Steps as rooted in the scriptures.

Effective Christian substance abuse programs provide a multidisciplinary approach to address the unique needs of each patient.  Recovery from drug or alcohol abuse entails much more than physical, spiritual and emotional rehabilitation.  Treatment for the abuse requires a comprehensive program that addresses every aspect of the human condition.

Pacific Hills Treatment Centers, Inc. offers Christian substance abuse programs that serve individuals and their families who are in need of alcohol and drug abuse treatment.  At Pacific Hills Treatment Centers, Inc. an accredited, professional treatment team awaits those seeking quality, compassionate care and direction.  Intervention, detox, spiritual counseling and comprehensive treatment therapies are offered to stabilize the patient and establish for them a proven plan for recovery and relapse prevention. For further information, please call 1-800-662-2873 or visit the Pachills Website.

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Spiritual Healing

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The plant spirit shamanism in Amazonia

We are delighted to announce a new program that lets you enjoy dedicated Plant Spirit Shamanism and authentic Ayahuasca ceremony in the Peruvian jungle eerily beautiful.

This event is focused on healing and self-exploration, and offers a transformative encounter with the powers magic of nature through ancient rituals of Amazonian plant shaman.

Thus, to provide guidance, support conditions and experience authentic jungle medicine, to receive healing and the available knowledge of ayahuasca, the legendary vine of souls, and to benefit from the wisdom and lessons Master shamans, mystics of the Emerald Forest.

There will be eight Ayahuasca ceremonies for our retirement – more than any comparable program it – and walks the jungle to meet with the spirits of plants, the opportunity to plan special plants and absorb their healing skills workshops on shamanism and plant magic, and the opportunity to work with the shamans of the plant spirit tradition. One to one consultations and healings can also be arranged for you with these experts in healing and transformation.

We provide transportation to the retreat center in Peru, housing, food, translation services, ceremonies, shamans, workshops and "drugs." All you need do is be open to this magical event and the changes it could bring to his life.

Our program place in a jungle Retreat Centre on the day and a half drive from the city of Iquitos. The people who run the center is in the Shipibo-conibo ethnic group and are known for their kindness and hospitality. His residence at the Center begins with a ceremony beinvenida ("Welcome"), followed by a sauna to relax and purify when you go "world rear exterior. It ends with a farewell ceremony, where it is given a special "gift of authority" to carry with you as you begin your journey home. Between these two events, we offer an opportunity for personal transformation:

• An opportunity to participate in traditional Ayahuasca ceremonies 8 cleaning liberation, healing, spiritual fulfillment, and
• Bathrooms with flowers (and flourishing "clean") to restore the balance of the soul, and "Flower" good luck and success
• explore the rainforest with our shamans and guides and a summary of the healing powers of nature
• Learn wisdom Plant Spirit Shamanism in workshops for Ross Heaven, author of best-selling book, Plant Spirit Shamanism
• edible plants that can help your search only to understand life and its spiritual mission
• Learn more about the rain forest walk to the beautiful Agua Negra ("black water") Creek
• Deepen knowledge of plants and a visit to Pasaje Paquito, a treasure trove of medicinal remedies from all corners of the Amazon rainforest
• Meet people from the rainforest and their spiritual universe through exhibitions of Shipibo arts and textiles
• Working with some of the greatest shamans Amazon, who are experts on healing and the captains of the plants, in authentic rituals and cures to help you on your way

AYAHUASCA EXPERIENCE
Ayahuasca is the supreme medicine of the upper Amazon jungle. It is made from the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and Chacruna plant leaves (Psychotria viridis).

Both are collected from the rainforest in a sacred manner and said that a shaman can find abundant sources of listening to the heartbeat "that emanates from them. The mixture prepared by scraping and cleaning of specially selected wines and adding Chacruna leaves. The mixture was shaken with water and reduced for several hours in the presence of the shaman who sings sacred songs (icaros) and blows his intention healing (blown) in preparation. Drunk in the proper context of the ritual, this mixture becomes a powerful ally that can help us in the visionary world.

The use of ayahuasca ceremony Thus, they are as old as history itself. One of the oldest objects bound to it is a specially engraved stone, which was in the Amazon around 500 BC, and shows that the ayahuasca was used as a holy sacrament of birth of Christ before – at least 2,500 years ago.

Ayahuasca word comes from two Quechua words: aya meaning or spirit of the ancestors, meaning huasca vine or rope – it is known as the "vine of the soul." It plays a central role in the spiritual and cultural traditions of indigenous peoples of the High Amazon.

Last Ayahuasca ceremonies are the songs and the shaman. They are called icaros, and directing the ceremony and the visionary experience. Songs shaman to the specific needs of each person, whose vibrations summon the healing energies, and whose words are symbolic, revealing the capacity of nature to heal. For example, one can say that Icarus, the power of a holy river to wash the disease or uncertainty, or brightly colored flowers to attract hummingbirds whose wings fan healing energies.

You can see these things in your visions. What does the healing, however, is the understanding of ayahuasca is what happens in your life, allowing inner feelings to unblock the sadness, anger and other negative energies are transmuted into ecstasy and love.

During this trip, you can drink the ayahuasca and the respect of his mind, to look over and learn to do it yourself, and maybe even collect vid. Maybe you can even help our shamans foam drink Ayahuasca you during your stay.

FLOWER BATH
Bathrooms to restore balance and harmony of the soul, is known and practiced in many shamanic cultures (whether it is an art that we have lost to the west).

To clean, "flourishing" and brings a new sense of balance, mind and body are able to heal itself. These facilities use the skills of our allies in nature and prepare the ground for our health.

They are prepared by master shamans, the use of specially selected plants and flowers – perhaps like those above – which create special effects and spiritual energy, to which is added to a cooling river water. The mixture is poured over the body (no need to remove clothing) as a blessing or a baptism in a way. Our shamans offer floral baths for us as a cure, the center, and purify our minds.

PLANT TOUR
The forest is your playground and invite you to explore all times. Included in this trip is also a special tour guided our shaman and translator who will introduce you to some of the plants forest and explain their uses in healing.

WORKSHOPS
As part of your program, you are invited to attend meetings of the circle to talk about their experiences with ayahuasca, and clarify their ideas. There are also seminars and workshops explaining to Ross to put his experiences in the context as they relate to the plant spirit shamanism.

PLANT SCHEME
The "Shaman's Diet" is a journey of self discovery and discovery, thereby increasing awareness of self and knowledge of plants. It also improves the Ayahuasca experience. Through the ritual exclusion of certain foods and activities (take care of you) and work tutor with a plant (or plants), the system allows you to "grab" the spirit or the essence of this doctor "jungle" and begin their competitions.

Ajo Sacha, for example, given the reality of the rainforest, to sharpen the senses and make you grow more, "as". For this reason, it is harder for the forest animals to detect and, therefore, was used as an aid to hunting for thousands of years. In the West, of course, with our 'lifestyle fast food, hunting is less important, but, curiously, Ajo Sacha is able to host this year and in turn their skills. What makes it useful for Westerners its ability to help us find our "internal problems". It is still the factory of the hunter, but their hunting grounds have changed.

Diets do not are invented by the shamans, but their minds are provided by the plants themselves. They involve a state of purification, the withdrawal commitment and respect of our relationship with our environment. Everything is explained in more detail when you book your course and the plant spirit apprentice is one of the most exciting journey.

The main plants that provide are:

Ajo Sacha: for luck in love and business
In addition to its ability to hunt is an important plant teacher ("Teacher" or "plant teacher) at the start Amazonian shamans. It brings inner strength, sharpness of mind and the ability to overcome salad (a journey of inexplicable "bad luck") get rid of black magic and spells, and improve their powers of healing, and improve their skills of listening, as mentioned above.

Piñon Colorado: a defense against evil witches
"Sorcerers are evil around us. Each time we sit down in the tube and next to someone who is radiating hostility because they had a bad day, or argue with our wives, or face to our heads, we are exposed to negative vibrations and bad energy. This has a real and physical, such as feeling sick stomach when someone attacks us verbally, and that energy can stay in our systems. Colorado Sprocket is a defense against the issuance of this type as more deliberately targeted attacks from rivals and competitors, and black magicians in all areas of life.

Caspi Bellaco: to extract Virot (Magic darts Evil)
Although Pinon Colorado (above) is a protection against bad energy, Caspi Bellaco help us to eliminate the power of our systems when one has already been exposed. Shamans see such energy (especially when it is sent with the deliberate intention) that the shafts of magic darts called. They maintain our energy bodies and can cause physical, mental, emotional or spiritual harm if not removed. Piñon Colorado releasing these darts if our body can return to normal and our health is restored.

OUR SHAMANS
Shamans work with a team of experts will be selected according to the specific needs of our group. These include:

Don Emisael
A Master ayahuasquero Palero Esperito and Don Emisael is a Shipibo shaman who was kidnapped by the rubber barons to work on their plantations, as a child. Gracia experience in the jungle and working with shamans from many different traditions, developed a deep knowledge of the educational plant (Plant Ensenanantes), vine (Soga), and as perfumes Camalonga, Florida Water and cananga, all of which have effects specific spiritual "change its opportunity" for the better. Emisael Don has studied with shamans Shimaco Bora, and the tribes and knows icaros Cocama birds, plants and water.

Mariano Don
From the age of 15 years, Don Mariano diet of many different teachers teachers Plants stick ("trees" and master teacher plant "). His icaros make a beauty, sweetness, and the relentless power that many are unprecedented in their ability to transform and transport the listener to other worlds of healing.

Don Cesar
Shaman Don Cesar Cocama icaros receives and sings it in a mixture of Spanish and Quechua, the ancient language of Peru. It is a Master of songs from different plants and places of power.

HOUSING AND FOOD
Our accommodations are in cabins, which sleep two people, and big "House", a new look and a more municipality that has a little more.

In some of them offer guided Ayahuasca accommodation "only a higher price and promote it as an advantage, but remain in the jungle during Ayahuasca ceremonies in retirement not as always recommended. Shared accommodation – which we support – Provides an opportunity to support each other, share their experiences and reflect on the information received during the ceremony, in general, best approach. Also avoid high prices.

All rooms are natural, comfortable, and have "NO amenities! (Mobile Satellite TV ie,, IT connections.) Makes his experience as real and authentic as possible, and helps your diet. You can feel the jungle around them, without distractions can get in the way of his spiritual journey: a real shelter.

Meals are taken together in the main building, the traditional meeting place, and all natural food is fresh, healthy and full compliance with the regime. On days that we drink Ayahuasca ceremony is a requirement that traditional foods dinner ignored. In all other days, he served with breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is included in the price of his retirement.

The cost of this adventure shamanic includes:

• Collection and return to Iquitos
• Accommodation and meals during their stay Onanyan Shobo, in full accordance with the rules the shaman and the requirements of Ayahuasca ceremonies
• Welcome ceremony and sauna
• farewell ceremony and gifts
• 8 Ayahuasca ceremonies, including materials and services provided by our shamans
• Workshops, plant tours, meetings of the circle, flower baths, and other events
• Travel to drugs Pasaje Paquito Action Center
• Individual consultations with our shamans (But note: if you need healing shamanic or dedicated advice, which is not included in price. Can be arranged for you, however, a small additional charge which is payable directly to the shaman and not a particular part of this event)

To ask a question about this program, please e-mail kate@thefourgates.com and send you more detailed information.

About the Author

Ross Heaven is a therapist, workshop leader, and the author of several books on shamanism and healing, including Darkness Visible, the best-selling Plant Spirit Shamanism, and Love’s Simple Truths. His website is http://www.thefourgates.com where you can also read how to join his sacred journeys to the shamans and healers of the Amazon.

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