Traditional San Pedro Ceremony

This ceremony at Casa del Sol takes place during the day in our maloka located in the heart of a native San Pedro forest — which makes it particularly auspicious. The ceremony is full of prayers and songs, and each participant has the opportunity to receive a moment of personal healing in front of the sacred fire. Group energy is very present in this ceremony, which offers the possibility of collective healing.

The main active component of San Pedro is mescaline. Each cactus contains variable concentrations of mescaline in the green outer layer of the cactus flesh. The effects of San Pedro usually last around 10 hours.

What are the therapeutic benefits of San Pedro?

A San Pedro ceremony is considered a powerful agent for healing and change. These powerful ceremonies offer deep insight into the self and the universe, giving one a greater sense of connection and spirituality. Each experience is unique and individual, but there are some general things you can expect:

• Spiritual Healing – San Pedro is a medicine that creates a deep spiritual understanding of one’s purpose. This plant spirit can create a path to self-realization.
• Emotional Healing – San Pedro can create empathy and euphoria. Even ordinary things can appear more interesting, beautiful, and amazingly mystical. Mescaline has also been shown to help people solve problems, access their creativity, be more environmentally conscious, and while improving their capacity for learning.
• Psychological Healing – San Pedro has been used to foster compassion and gratitude. Mescaline also activates serotonin and dopamine receptors, which could help boost mood and alleviate psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction.
• Physical Healing – Mescaline may increase blood flow and activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain is in charge of planning, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and behavior. San Pedro has also been used by indigenous tribes to treat a number of ailments, including symptoms of fever, headache, arthritis, and general pain relief.

History of San Pedro

The Origins of San Pedro

San Pedro, also known as Huachuma, is a traditional Andean medicine that has been used for over 300 centuries. The name “San Pedro” comes from Christian mythology, where Saint Peter holds the keys to the gates of heaven. In Andean tradition, the San Pedro cactus is believed to hold the key to these heavenly gates.

Sacred Plant in South America

San Pedro grows in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. It is considered a highly sacred plant, along with tobacco, Ayahuasca, and coca leaves, all of which are protected by local governments due to their cultural and spiritual significance. San Pedro is used as a sacred medicine to treat emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental conditions, including addictions.

Spiritual Connection and Teachings

San Pedro is often described as having a Grandfather-like spirit. It is considered a compassionate and wise teacher that helps us live in balance and harmony. Through San Pedro, one can learn to respect and honor all living beings. The plant is believed to connect us to the natural energies of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and clear our chakras, especially the heart chakra.

Participants frequently report seeing life energy in the form of luminous fibers emanating from mountains, people, and even their fingertips. San Pedro provides a window into spiritual dimensions that are often unseen in daily life, offering a deeper understanding of the invisible world that shamans have long connected with.

The Visionary Experience and Healing

San Pedro can induce vivid, colorful visions and offer spiritual guidance to those seeking answers to their life questions. These visions are often accompanied by an inner knowing, providing clarity and insight. Additionally, the plant can trigger physical purging, particularly when individuals are processing energetic blocks or unresolved emotions. The purging process, though intense, typically brings a sense of deep relief and healing.

Shamanic Ceremonies and New Possibilities

In Andean shamanic tradition, San Pedro is believed to open a portal of un-manifested possibilities. Shamans use this time to identify the best potential outcomes for individuals or situations, then speak to those possibilities through their prayers and intentions. By doing so, they help manifest the best versions of people or situations into reality.

During ceremonies, shamans often pray with tobacco and make offerings to usher in these possibilities. This sacred process is believed to transcend the fabric of time and space, creating new paths for healing and transformation. When a shaman forms a deep relationship with San Pedro, connecting with its spirit and their own intentions, spontaneous and unexplained healing can often occur.