The Hummingbird's Journey to God: Perspectives on San Pedro; the Cactus of Vision Book

Ross Heaven presents us with a comprehensive and fascinating book about his and others' healing experiences with San Pedro and provides a solid comparative analysis with other "teacher plants"/"plant medicines" as well as an intimate look into the work of Peruvian shamans. Ross provides beautiful descriptions of the healing powers of San Pedro and those experiencing it.

He writes, "Healing, in a ceremony (like this) is defined more widely than a Western doctor might understand the term and means an ultimately beneficial or positive change in the material, emotional, or spiritual dimensions of one's life, as well, often as a physical cure or change."

He goes on to share his and other's experiences in ceremonies utilizing San Pedro, with very similar results - that is to say people generally felt a profound sense of well-being, and a deeper understanding of their belonging and connectedness to others, mother earth, and all that is. Most people profiled here made big changes in their lives as a result of their encounters with San Pedro and a deepened commitment to their spiritual path.

I read this book because I had a vivid dream in April, which put me on a six month wild seeking journey from the SF Bay Area to the Pacific Northwest, to San Miguel, to the Oaxacan jungle, and back home to San Pedro - and experiencing some major (and at times, painful) life changes along the way. My journey culminated (or in a sense, began) in the fulfillment of my prophetic dream, in the form of a beautiful San Pedro (Wachuma) healing & pipe ceremony. I wanted to know if my experience was shared by others and to learn more, to inform my own work both as a healer and a "patient". The Hummingbird's Journey to God was the perfect primer as I seek to understand and continue working with this gentle yet powerful plant medicine.

Alisa Moore www.augustmoonhealing.com