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A master plant is a plant that can teach you a lesson. Through a deep experience, these plants can give you visions, allow you to process trauma, connect you with nature or give insight into something that can be considered beneficial. For some, there’s also a fine line between these lessons and fantasy while acknowledging that some fantasy can be reality if it wasn’t for what some call suppressed societal norms.
These plants go deep — which, for the sake of this article, I will include the Cacti and Mycelium kingdoms under the umbrella of plants. Colorado has decriminalized all naturally occurring medicines outside of Peyote (which rightly stays in control of the Native American Church) which includes psilocybin in mushrooms, DMT in ayahuasca and mescaline in wachuma — not to be left out as a master plant is cannabis.
With the Natural Medicine Health Act in Colorado, psilocybin mushrooms will be legal to use in a therapy setting starting in 2025, joining Oregon, which started the legal use in 2023. There are limited direct business opportunities outside of therapy centers and some cultivations.
However, the ancillary businesses are highly desired due to the profound effects people have experienced with the plants — retreat companies, integration/preparation coaches, micro dosing programs, community networks, researchers, media, conferences, legal services and so on.
With the potential for these plants to become a fulcrum in society, impacting people’s lives, how do our companies stay in the right relationship with the plants for them to reach their highest expression in society which could lead to the most benefit?
This article will present more questions than answers as the conversation needs to happen, perhaps like in Eleusis, the site of the Eleusinian Mysteries in Ancient Greece where the likes of Plato and Socrates may have taken master plants to understand the world through hallucinogenic experience and intellectual conversations.
First off, what is the highest expression these plants can have on our society? Is it to heal people’s trauma or find the root of PTSD in our society and address that? Is it to usher people back into a deeper relationship and reverence with Mother Earth or to make people feel more comfortable in the lives they are already living? Maybe it’s to end the war on drugs and give people the opportunity to profit from that? What about, as some say, decolonizing the mind, ego dissolution, or just making us better workers and more functional in society? What will drive this, science or spiritual/ceremonial use? Should we have Indigenous voices lead or scientists, or politicians? These are big questions; maybe it’s all of it or none of it.
The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. Do I qualify?
I often wonder if this is a movement or an industry. What I’ve realized is that multiple truths need to be held and while I don’t believe anyone knows the truth, through self-reflection, listening, and having hard conversations, we can find crumbs of truth. If these medicines are working, we will apply these truths to our businesses regardless of the bottom line effect, unless, of course, you believe your company needs to make more money to spread important work to the world. But are you taking more than you’re giving if that is the case? Some may call that ego and some truth — it’s a fine line.
I want to pose questions that people will wear on their sleeves in the “psychedelic space” — Reciprocity, Indigenous-led wisdom and preserving lineages, the importance of research, ending the war on drugs, fair access and ego dissolution.
What does reciprocity look like with master plants?
Can we preserve lineages without preserving the ways of the tribes? I was once told to preserve the lineages was to make sure the water and environment were clean and abundant so the tribes could flourish on their lands instead of having to make money where there’s not an industry to do that. Everything is inner connected, should we help at the roots?
Indigenous cultures have been working with these medicines for thousands of years. Should we listen to them or a doctor who may have a few years of work behind them. Some believe we are pedestaling through titles in America as institutions control our education, which serves a purpose and can act as a gatekeeper to people who don’t have the same privilege as others. For me, I prefer and trust the direct experience from people who have worked with a force so strong as the master plants. Others I know prefer a therapist.
How can we amplify and center the voices of Indigenous in a respectful and consenting way? Is it enough to simply amplify voices or partner with them in ways where they have decision-making powers? Can we live with their decisions?
I think the first thing to do before answering these questions for your company is to sit deep in your heart and ask yourself why you are creating or operating a business working with master plants. Is it to make a change in the world or make the most profitable business? Sure it can be a “Yes, and…” but being in your truth will help you lead integrally if you don’t mask this truth. Bring ownership to your desires by working with these plants, in the ways of listening and surrender, and then start asking these questions and processing. In your heart of hearts, what is the truth? Be careful as you walk the fine line of visions and fantasy. If your desires change, own that, as these master plants can teach you a lesson.
