San Pedro, also known as Huachuma, achuma, aguacolla, San Pedrito, San Pedro (Saint Peter)… There are many names in many languages for this beautiful, powerful healing cactus. Native to the South American Andes mountains of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, huachuma is one of many types of fast-growing mescaline containing cactus that has been used for thousands of years by Andean ancestors to invoke deep states of divination, healing, understanding, and to expand consciousness. At least 3,000 years of continuous ceremonial use by the Chavín culture have been documented in Peru.
In modern times, San Pedro is one of the most underrated, overlooked, and below the radar plant teachers on the psychedelic path. Because it grows quickly, and in abundance in the parts of the world where it is native, huachuma is a more sustainable option for working with mescaline over peyote, which is highly endangered and difficult to replenish.
HEALING WITH SAN PEDRO
San Pedro is considered to be an empathogenic medicine, creating feelings of connection to the all, a deep sense of love and openness, empathy, and awe. It is often called The Grandfather for its gentle masculine energy and spirit.
While ayahuasca gets a lot of credit as the ultimate plant medicine experience, San Pedro can offer a lot of heavy lifting as far as helping you take action to make real change in your life.
Healing with San Pedro can help you stand in your own authenticity, and connect to your highest purpose and vision in your life. The grandfather can also help heal your relationship with the masculine energy, learn how to hold space in a safe way, and show how empathy is only the first step in learning how to work with others who are on the healing journey.
San Pedro does one thing very, very well — he puts us firmly, gently in our hearts. We are centered there, feeling, open, loving, and willing to remove the barriers that keep us separated from our true nature – light, love, health, abundance – all the good things we can’t access when we are suffering in ourselves. San Pedro allows us to be kind and loving to ourselves and others like no other medicine.
Sacred plant medicines are not drugs. These are not “trips” meant to entertain and amuse us and distract us from ourselves. These plants are here to show us profound truths about ourselves, and will do so whether we are ready for it or not. San Pedro can be quite fun. It has a magical, uplifting, connective quality that feels euphoric and wonderful and brings people together, creates a real sense of family and community, and helps many people feel more gratitude, love, and hope than they have in a long time.
It’s also a seriously strong medicine that can be super difficult for people, especially folks who have been through intense trauma or PTSD. When you’re new to mescaline, the masculine energy can feel overwhelming, intense, and scary. It lasts a very long time and there’s nothing you can do about it but wait it out. San Pedro is a medicine best used in ceremony, with structure, intention, and respect for the plant’s power and healing abilities. Having an experienced guide or medicine person is an important part of taking care to meet this medicine in a good way.
While there’s nothing wrong with the recreational use of psychedelic plants, (obviously with respect to their legal status in your area, we do not encourage, condone, or facilitate illegal use of psychedelics) discovering the plants as sacred, ancient teachers with infinite wisdom is a game changer that makes recreational use without intention feel pretty hollow and unfulfilling. We can enjoy our time with the medicines and also come with respect, humility, and the necessary preparation and care within ourselves to have the best experience possible.
San Pedro is a long acting medicine, and can have effect up to 12+ hours after taking a dose. Due to the effect of mescaline on the serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain, you may not feel your best the next day. Plan to rest and relax for a day after your ceremony to give yourself the most gentle experience possible. Approaching San Pedro and all psychedelics with an open heart, an open mind, and willingness to go into yourself is the best way to begin a deep healing relationship with this medicine. Setting expectations aside, and allowing your experience and intuition to guide you is the best way forward. You have all the answers you need, and the medicines can help you find them within yourself. This is where the work of psychedelic integration begins, and it’s the MOST important part of the healing journey.
