RISKS & CONTINGENCIES

Each individual that comes to sit in ceremony with All Love United Church of Healing Arts is required to read and sign the following Risks & Contingencies document, a copy of which is found in our Intake Form.

​

I acknowledge that due to the complex nature of this type of undertaking (spiritual, shamanic, energetic, plant medicines, etc.) it is impossible to predict how I will react in the days, weeks, months or even years following the ceremony.

 

I understand that it is paramount for me to remain grounded and stable during and after the ceremony. As such I will do everything in my power to remain stable without making any sudden major life changes. I will wait, even if strong sudden impulses are urging me to act now. I understand that everything that is divinely ordained to be mine and happen in my life will come to me in divine timing and without forcing on my part. 

 

I understand that visions in and out of ceremony are transient just as thoughts are constant and fleeting. I will practice patience, strong discernment, non-attachment and self-discipline going forth so to maximize the chances of manifesting my heart’s desires and the outcome that is for my highest and best good.

 

I take it upon myself to educate myself on what integration is and what that means to me in my journey, and I take the responsibility upon myself to integrate my ceremony experiences in a balanced way that is most helpful for my soul growth. 

 

Additionally I take full responsibility for educating myself on the intricate meanings of ‘ego’, and how this pertains to my own ego and shadow aspects. I am committed to observing my own thoughts, judgements, triggers, emotions, internal processes, etc., without jumping to blame others and anything else outside of myself. I do this to the best of my ability and as often as possible as I understand that this self observation is essential to my spiritual growth.

 

Any and all suggestions, points of view and comments from ALUCHA’s staff and facilitators that pertain to my inner experiences and integration going forth cannot replace or diminish my own inner discernment, intuition and guidance; as such I absolve them from this responsibility and I understand that they are doing their best from their limited perspective of my inner process. 

 

I understand the following risks of not integrating my ceremony experience properly:

 

A. One risk is that the entire experience can simply dissolve with time. If I don’t take steps to work with what I learned, the insight may fade into the background and lose its power. Without any integration, it can become a distant memory that doesn’t create real transformation or lead to meaningful change in my life.

 

B. Another potential risk is what people refer to as “ego inflation.” Instead of becoming more compassionate, grounded, and humble through my spiritual experiences, I may become more self-focused or inflated. I might start to believe I am somehow above others because of what I have experienced.

 

C. A further risk of not integrating my process relates to what is known as “spiritual bypassing.” I may use profound or mystical experiences as a way to look away from hard truths in my life—unfinished emotional work, challenges in relationships, responsibilities, or painful memories. The experience could become a hiding place instead of a source of healing.

 

D. There is also the danger of becoming attached to the state itself. I might feel drawn to chase one altered experience after another, thinking that constant ceremonies or peak states are necessary for growth, instead of integrating what I have already received into everyday life.

 

I also understand the following risks that a powerful spiritual experience may have on my ego: This can be in the form of having a threatening experience of losing the ego during the ceremony experience or even afterwards. It could also be that my ego is reinforced during the experience and I can go into ego inflation. Psychedelic substances and spiritual experiences can have an impact on my perception of ego, and it can go in any direction.

 

Another potential outcome of my ceremony is that I may experience confusion between false memories, myth and reality. At times it may be impossible to distinguish the difference between a memory, emotion or vision that may belong to the collective unconscious, fantasy or my own past experiences. I understand that this is common and it provides an opportunity for me to practice detachment, prayer and clearing work. I also understand that in these times it is paramount that I remain courageous (not fearful) and grounded in my heart so to come to a resolution of the situation with outmost compassion, balance and unconditional love.

 

I understand that any spiritual experience, change in vibration, consciousness, mode of operating, energetic fluctuation, etc. carries with it a chance that I may experience what is known as ‘psychosis’.

 

The following is a brief explanation of what psychosis is, but is NOT limited to this description as this is a complex topic and experiences will always vary from individual to individual: Psychosis is a mental health condition characterized by a loss of contact with reality. People experiencing psychosis may have distorted thinking, perceptions, emotions and behavior. These individuals may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is not, leading to symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impaired social functioning. Hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur without a corresponding external stimulus, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there. Delusions are false beliefs that are held strongly despite evidence to the contrary, such as believing that one is being followed or that one has special powers.
 

In addition to hallucinations and delusions, other symptoms of psychosis may include disorganized speech and behavior, social withdrawal, reduced emotional expression, and cognitive impairments. Psychosis can be a symptom of various mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.

Psychosis may be very brief, lasting mere minutes, during ceremony for example; however, psychosis may also last for hours, days, weeks and in rare cases may become a lifelong condition. It can be argued that brief periods of psychosis can be very healing upon the individual on many levels, however, prolonged breaks from reality carry with them undeniable risks to the individual’s (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, social, economic, etc.) wellbeing and stability.

 

Early intervention and ongoing treatment are important for managing psychosis and improving outcomes for individuals affected by this condition.

 

I acknowledge and understand that ALUCHA’s staff and facilitators will do their best to pull me out of psychosis while in ceremony but anything that happens outside of the ceremony space may understandably be much more unpredictable and out of their scope of control. Additionally, I acknowledge and understand that any triggers I experience during ceremony and in any further interactions with ALUCHA staff are divine lessons and an invitation into deeper healing. 

 

I acknowledge that the above risks and contingencies are examples of what may happen in my journey, this however is not guaranteed in my case. I also acknowledge that my experiences are not limited to the above examples. 

​​

​

​