What is Integration?

For many years now, there has been a drastic increase in the use of plant and animal medicines. For a majority of individuals there has been an over reliance on the medicines themselves. When we make an agreement with any medicine, it is like any partnership. There are two individuals playing their roles, and there is give and take on both sides. Work is completed within ceremony as well as outside the ceremony to maintain a respectable relationship with any medicine. Integration is essentially applying the gifts that were given in ceremony to our every day existence. There are many different techniques and tools that can be used to assist in this process. For many individuals, time in quiet without distractions to build and maintain relationships with these allies outside of ceremony just doesn't exist. Many individuals share that their lives are so fast paced that they really don't have time to integrate. They explain juggling families, careers, school, etc. makes it near impossible. Many have also communicated with me that integration "just happens" so there is no real need to focus on it.

The Western world has moved away from stillness, presence, and receiving. When we allow ourselves time each day to be in these states, a flood of information or knowing can come into our consciousness, and help us to navigate issues that we've been struggling with for months, or even years. Conscious intent and a full commitment to one's own evolution is needed to go about the integration process. Once these are agreed upon, results begin to take form. Just as we receive precious gifts in our dream time about what is hiding within the subconscious, so do these medicines provide us with potent imagery and symbolism to help us decipher how to address specific issues within ourselves and our lives.