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

by Ross Heaven

The Hummingbird's Journey to God San Pedro, a visionary and hallucinogenic brew derived from the mescaline-based Trichocereus pachanoi or 'cactus of vision', is one of Peru's most important and powerful teacher plants. For thousands of years this brew has been drunk by spiritual seekers and those who need healing, and it has cured a wide variety of physical problems.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Health

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2009

Reviews

[Rose]

I liked this book a lot. It gave an interesting perspective on some of the psychedelic substances in plant and natural form, rather than speaking about them as drugs or recreational items. The plants (mostly San Pedro) discussed in this book were all used for healing and spiritual development, rather than for fun and experience.

My biggest criticism of this book was what I felt was somewhat of a condescending tone toward science and the scientific method. While I will agree that sometimes people demand too much proof at the expense of their spirituality and that our modern society has perhaps swung too far in demanding a logical explanation for everything, I think that Heaven's disdain for science in general was just a little too strong in this book. After all, if everything IS and is part of the infinite, then science is just another way to explore that and learn about it and wonder about it. After all, the bacteria in the gut thing is something he never would have even known about to have a vision about if it wasn't for the science that taught him it was there. Balance is key, and I would love to see Heaven come to have a bit more appreciation for the scientific method free from condescension.

The chapters were punctuated with some beautiful passages and quotes, and I love some of the descriptions of the journeys that the participants had. I would love to explore the possibility of taking my own journey in this fashion someday.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring their own spirituality through mind altering substances or medicinal plants, and it gives some interesting food for thought in terms of things we could someday explore as the scientific method evolves and becomes more capable of showing us more things.

[Alisa Moore]

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

[Patrick Barker]

I really enjoyed reading about Ross's journeys to Peru and the shamanic ceremonies he participated in as well as the stories of the others in the group. While at times I felt the book could have read a little better, I really enjoyed the depth and detail of his psychedelic accounts. He also takes a close look at the different schools of shamanism within the Andean culture. His teacher La Gringa seems to be a very interesting shaman. She was western born and traditionally trained but then diverged from the classical Andean path. Many of the Andean shamans are very tough whereas she has taken a much kinder approach. The author gravitates toward her style, and their work reaches some fascinating places.

The book centers around a particular shamanic ceremony in the hills outside of Cusco. There are eight participants and the author collects their stories in the months that follows and provides them each in a chapter. A couple of things stuck out about this. First, everyone who participated had an amazing, positive, and pragmatic life changing experience. These are good things, and most involved a new closeness to nature. Also, the interaction of how they saw each other within each of their stories was a very unique account that I had yet to see in writing. There are so many angles that can be pondered with the multitude of views.

The book continues with several chapters on his and La Gringa's solo work. At one point Ross tells her he wants to meet God, for more or less obvious reasons. La Gringa instructs him that he cannot demand to meet him, but when the time is right he will fell a pull in his core and he should follow that. The god that he ends up meeting is kind of hilarious, and oddly very regionally based. Apparently the Andeans believe there are different gods in different places, and this was an old god that has been around the Andes for some time and is always threatening to quit his job. It's somewhat of an inside joke among the Andean shamans. Ross's experience meeting him is both monumental and comical.

There is something I have really taken to about the Andean teachings and practices. Everything they do is very practical and grounded. Like the Iboga shamans of Africa, they only believe in things that can be reproduced and that cause lasting positive change. And in general pursue a general lightness to life. The author goes in depth talking about how readily work with San Pedro can be applied to life. He contrasts these experiences with that of ayahuasca in which he considers the messages to be vague and often wrapped in a sort of mystery.

I am heading to Peru in about a month and hoping to track down La Gringa. Wish me luck!

[C.G. Berry]

This book is probably the best resource available to date on the subject of wachuma (San Pedro) as a psychoactive entheogen. The author brings in concepts from his other books and expands on some ideas relevant to San Pedro.

I found the trip reports the most valuable out of this book. I do find that the author's personal views definitely flavour the nature of interviews and recitations of experiences.

A book to be taken at face value, but with a grain of salt, it still remains one of the better ones on the subject of San Pedro, or Wachuma.

[Liana Lopez]

Good introduction to the effects and impact of San Pedro for any first time user wanting to understand what it's used for

[Samantha]

Not too many books written on the San Pedro cactus. It's an interesting enough read - mostly because

[Elana A]

Although a bit of overlap if you've read some of his other books, very good nonetheless.

[Forest]

4.5 Stars.
Excellent book, very informative... Although I like "Cactus of Mystery" a little more.