Wow! I just did Ayahuasca 3 weeks ago in Peru and I’m still getting downloads. I went with a group of friends and we all had a different experience. I also thought I needed to drink more Ayahuasca the first 30 minutes and realized it was my ego talking. I immediately saw my spirit animal, the serpent which swallowed me, I told it I LOVE YOU, it immediately started wrapping around me as hugging me with so much love, I faced my fears. I saw my higher power, Angels and they kept telling me, YOU ARE THE LIGHT!! Ours lasted 9 hours, still taking it all in. Sending much love ❤️

You wanted to console others because your ego wouldn’t let you arrive to the place where you felt how badly you wanted to be held and consoled. Your ego’s job is only to protect you. You have to have an experience, or experiences, that let you know that the safety in that is real. Shay showed you how to do it. She showed you that the safety arrives, that it’s safe. You’re safe, you held her, and you can be held in that safety too. You’ll get there, don’t be too hard on yourself. The universe and your higher self are conspiring to make that desire a reality.

Really felt that when you said youre 35 and time is going too fast. Im 35 myself and battling with chronic fatigue syndrome caused by a flu. I wanna do so many thing but my body isnt cooperating. Im bedbound most of the time. Missed 3 years of my precious 30s. Its frustrating and stressing me out so bad. I wanna do the ayahuasca this year becaus I feel like I have energy blockages and trauma which is preventing me to heal

JD you are a great storyteller! You really transported me through your experience. Sending so much healing energy your way. Thank you as always for being so transparent and open.🤍☺️

I'm so glad you're going on your next journey alone, I'm only 72 hours out after my 1st ceremony and Aya's inner work is really to be done without distraction. I also hope that you can each go outside of the country to really experience it in nature and a space where any screams, cries, sounds can be done freely. It's really a transformative experience, but the setting really has an impact. Much ♥️🥰

I hope you learn to love the parts of yourself that you currently view as "Problems". I believe that the psyche is always trying to protect us; even the inconvenient parts like the: ego ,perfectionism, control, self preservation. Those aspects of your personality (I believe) are protection strategies that your psyche came up with to cope with and protect you from Trauma. I appreciate you for sharing your experience with us. I wish you all the best in your healing journey.

I will say this J, seek not your own understanding. Meditate on your experiences & allow your temple to guide you. Silence those thoughts, and don’t allow them to consume you. It’s easier said than done but finding peace in silence does wonders. Wake, hand to chest, breathe in and out feel that breath and TELL your body to heal. Remind your body it’s ok we experienced the past, but the past can no longer hurt us. …. Will be praying over your healing my brother. Great episode.

Dude... I appreciate the story you just told. It was funny sad, but mostly funny. It was almost like I was there with you. Great jobThank you

Justin, remember that the ceremony is just a part of the bigger picture. it all comes down to how you choose to work with what you found. Ceremonies can be filled with joy, fear, everything. Its easy to feel like there is something wrong, when you've heard other people feeling pure bliss. But thats far from the truth for everyone. i think that the thoughts you have, and the inner conversation you so beautifully shared with us all, is illustrating how you know how to help and support people around you, but not yet yourself. You have never had the opportunity to learn that skill. Let that be your promise to yourself. To hold and protect yourself with softness and acceptance. Next ceremony will be different

Be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be gentle during your change. This was my 1st video with you. great job.

“Obstacles are the triggers for expansion” - Earth Mama Medicine

Bro, the story about Shay falling into your arms no needed you…and you finally understanding. Possibly the most valuable part of the video! True love is real and possible.

Thank you for being vulnerable with us it's important because you are showing what deconstructing your old self looks like. In watching this video I don't think you beat the Ayawaska. It gave you the gift to see what's holding you back and what part you need to console. It has been my experience that those unsettled feeling you are describing is your old feelings knocking. Honestly repressed feelings hurt when they come back but if you just feel them and not try to have a solution for them; it does get better. People dont express that true Healing isn't always peaceful. Thank you for sharing your journey with us 🙏🏾.

Learning to surrender the ego is key. You learned so much about your ego in your 1st experience. I hope with this new knowledge, you have been able to go back for another ceremony. New openings await you. Much love, brother.

Ego vs SOUL 🙏 keep going.. Also,b Being under the influence of any psychedelic is actually so bonding, and can break more walls down in an instant than being sober can a lot of the time. Blessings and may you continue to journey inward 🫂💞

Gah. This brought up so many emotions. Thanks for being so transparent with where you’re at. Life is a ride, for sure… but your transparency reassured me that I’m not alone in my feelings-and maybe that’s the greatest comfort we can offer one another in a lifetime.

This was so raw and vulnerable, even more so than some of the stories of personal experiences I’ve heard from women. You are much less of a rock than you think. Emotional intelligence at a powerful level.

Wow I'm crying. Thanks for being so raw and real

I appreciate your vulnerability so much, thank you so much for your speaking to your experiences with such rawness and truth❤️

Wow! This has left me speechless, but with so many thoughts. THANK YOU for sharing, not just because you were so vulnerable with us, But also shinning a light at the not so pretty side of the mental health/growth journey. I cried, laughed and feared with you the entire episode. You're a great story teller && a definitely someone that sets the mirror right in front of me...Which I'm sure is why I had been postponing this episode. I appreciate you, your journey, the work you've done and the road ahead!

Wow, thank you so much for sharing yours and Shay's experience. One of my favorite channel's to listen to - thank you for continuously showing your vulnerability and always keeping it really. Much Love

Can't wait to go through this experience 🙏🏼✨ in due time!

Great episode JD, thank you for sharing!

I am so behind on episodes and I finally finished this one! Omg Justin! This is one of the craziest things I’ve heard in the best way. I think it’s beautiful that even through Shay’s experience, something about yourself was brought to the surface. This was so DEEP! I can so relate to struggling to focus on the direction vs the speed, it is one of the hardest things ever for those of us that struggle to let go of control. I’m sorry I’m so late but this was right on time for me. And yes emphasis on CONTINUING to do the work because you clearly have been, even if sometimes you feel like you still have so far to go. Thank you for this 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

I'm so excited for the moment you look back and say to your self "I found the way and the answers". I relate so much to many things you expressed feeling and I'm just a human being going through that same path. Sending so much love 🧡

Wow, Justin! Incredible story, what you mentioned at the end I can definitely relate to. In my case, even though, life is not easy, and struggle with anxiety and my own thoughts, I find relief in Jesus. I'm from Colombia and the indigenous here use ayahuasca as well . All my respect for doing it, that's not for everybody.

Thank you for the work that your putting in JD! It’s amazing to see a man owning his shadow side and not letting the fear keep you from becoming the man you were always meant to be. Keep it up! I promise it’ll pay off! 👌🏽😎✨

Wow, I watched this in tears, I felt this on an authentic, surreal level. I am not able to articulate how exact this hit personally. I have never seen this podcast, yet it’s in my reality.. yeah, ego has all but completely manifested here beautifully.. it is doing what it does .. CONSUMES and CONTROLS, but, YOU are NOT EGO. The real you precedes ego and therefore transcends, indeed is completely void of ego and all concepts! Find who you really are, and the power of ego dissolves of its own. Because it realizes that it’s actually not real, and therefore powerless. It’s a beautiful bully desperately afraid of being exposed for what it really is, but expose it, expose it completely. My prayer is that this truth is realized and manifest to whom it’s intended ❤

You’re a good storyteller

I went to a Ayahuasca retreat 2 years ago. We had three ceremonies. a ceremony every other day. The rest day is really needed to enable processing also to recover from the mental exhaustion. Maybe you need more ceremonies to break through and allow the "healing work" to achieve more beneficial results. You will most likely have a "bad, uncomfortable day" and then a "great day". It sounds like Ayahuasca has not finished with you yet and the "purging" still awaits you. On another note, I was told that it is not in our personal interest (or theirs) to go into another persons space while in ceremony. The effects of the medicine also took a long time to kick in with me. Around 2 hours in before I started to feel effects. Also on each occasion, was one of the last to "recover". I like your analysis in trying to interpret the meanings of all you went through. Great talk through of your journey.

Thanks for sharing JD! I admire and appreciate your vulnerability. Healing is a process, don't be too hard on yourself.

Wow! I've been researching and watching a lot of Aya videos in preparation for my own ceremonies in October. This was so honest and raw! Thing is, I feel I may have a similar experience as everything you touched on reflects my own life! That metal heart and closed personality, never asking for help, my ego, my age, freaking out when I can't control things, always saying I'm fine! It was spot on! Nervous, but ready for this. I need to release so much trauma. My journey started the moment I decided to go ahead a year ago. Onwards and upwards on our healing journeys 🙏🏽💞

Breathe through what you are going through💗 holding space for the beauty of who you are and what you are experiencing is a high honor for your inner child and all the parts of you that need it🌱

The part where you talked to your younger self and the part when you mentioned your age and how time is going by so fast and how you want it to slow down- that part was so powerful and beautiful to listen to. I just want to let you know that it sounds like you're awakening into your own self-awareness. It seems that you're on a rites of passage. Although you say you're not perfect, you're right. You aren't. And that's exactly how your journey is suppose to be. JD thank you again for sharing this with us. I hear you. I see you. You inspire me. Continue to find yourself. This episode was truly epic.

Truly admire ur bravery of being so vulnerable here. Truly hope u find the peace u are looking for in ur next round or ur continued work on personal development. I totally relate with ur battle against the ego. You are not alone and this made me explore the option of trying out the journey of taking the sacred medicine. Send you positive vibes 🙏 Thank u for this.

Half way through. This is so excellent JD..thank you for sharing

Thank you so much for your transparency. I can tell that you have come so far in your journey and growth because not alot of men can do what you're doing on camera. So thank you

This was a very vulnerable episode and I really enjoyed hearing your perspective. I also am considering trying a ceremony. Don't be too hard on yourself. You remind me of myself and how hard we are on ourselves. You'll get through this journey.

This was beautiful, JD. I appreciate you being transparent. Please give yourself time to do the work necessary for you to give up control and get your ego in check before doing the ceremony again-at least a year. You may also benefit from taking time off work (PTO or ATO) to allow more time and space to work through your healing. This way, you can genuinely concentrate without distractions of obligations. I pray that you continue to gain more clarity and understanding as the days go by ❤.

Beautiful episode JD! Thank you for sharing and being so open with this experience - you’ll crush round 2! 💙

I loved this so much. Thank you for sharing your experience. I experienced Ayahuasca recently and I feel less alone hearing others stories. You're a great storyteller!

Wow so courageous to share. James this has helped me a so much, I have a lot of deep trauma to release and I am preparing mentally with a 3 year plan to save and experience thus magical medicine. I've watched hours and hours of people's experiences and podcasts amd came across your page. Just wonderful thank you. I felt your emotions and its just made me realise I need the experience to help me and hopefully heal years of trauma and self sabotage. 😢 Thank you 🙏🙏🙏🙏

This is my first time to visit your channel and I'm glad I found it. Thank you for sharing and being so genuine and vulnerable. I stopped and prayed for you. I know you're on the right path. It's a process, and I understand when u feel like the clock is ticking /time is running out, but I promise everything is on perfect timing. Keep doing the work and be patient with the process as God unravels things. Ask and u will receive, Seek and you will find.❤ God bless

incredible

Im not done watching but I wanted to comment. Thank you for sharing this story with us. You really know how to tell a story and I was engaged the entire time until I paused to comment this lol. I wanted to stop and comment bc I am at the part when you explain about possibly seeing your younger self and It gave me CHILLS. And the realization you had knowing you still have a lot of work to do just spoke so much to me. We’re here for you JD!

I appreciate you doing this video. I really hope you get to a place of surrendering in your next experience. Both you and your wife experiences were both still so beautiful because even though you didn’t get the full experience, it’s prepared you for your next. You learn so much in that experience alone. Try not be so hard on yourself about trying to figure everything out. That place of peace and surrender will lead you to all your hearts desires. You just have to trust it. The little boy in the room was what got me because it’s that inner child that needs the love, support and care. We can be so hard on ourselves sometimes harder than people are on us and that ego serves as a protector. I do believe the ego serves good purpose but it’s about having the balance. Your doing so great. Just keep going. !

I related to you so much when you talked about control. I’m learning I’m very much a perfectionist and I get really stressed out when life isn’t in my control. I also have that overwhelming feeling of feeling like time is going by way too fast. You’re not alone. It helps me when I stay present and focus more on enjoying the everyday process rather than reaching my goal.

Thank you so much for your transparency. Sending you so much love & healing

I’ve watched the Enjoy videos from the start and this is somehow the first episode of Who Can Relate that I’ve watched, but I think it was the perfect one to start with. Amazing job, JD.

thank you for your honesty i can relate to your story in so many ways! you are not alone and so anyone of us are❤❤

This is prob gonna sound silly.. but have you ever seen Moana? If you have, I've got a metaphor for ya. The ego is like Te Fiti.. activated and lethal because something has been taken from it and it will fight to the death to protect it. Only you can say and identify what has been taken from that little boy that your ego is trying so hard to keep safe. When we can express gratitude for the ego and restore what belongs to it, it will begin to rest easier and release its wrath. Not to say it will never be triggered again, but there's a power and release in learning to accept the ego and graciously invite it to dinner. Thank you for the great vid as always. Stay in it!

JD!! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s been suggested to me multiple times to try an Ayahuasca, and hearing your experience has been helpful for me. It always feels like we’re running out of time, but I just want to tell you you’re not. All that you want, all of your goals, all of your aspirations are going to come true because you want them to and you have the drive to do them. It’s going to happen. Time be damned. ✨✨ You’ve got this, JD! Keep it going! Take a break when/if you need to and balance yourself out with some fun time. You deserve the fun and the present moment of enjoying your journey. Everything you want is already yours. Sending you lots of love and positive vibes! ✨✨

Wow ! Loved the vulnerability 💖 things will get better . Everything is always changing and you will get thru it

"One of your best videos thus far. Thanku sharing your experience with us love."🥺🙏🏾

This episode was 🐐 tier!! Amazing job JD 👏🏿👏🏿

JD!! Thank you for sharing.. we love you. Keep on moving bro. You got this!! 👊🏼👊🏼✨🤍

Youre evolving in your career & most importantly, Self. We're here for you

Thank you for your honesty Justin. I’m a new subscriber based on this video. You’re on the right track. I’m having a moment…thank you. Great video.

Justin, I recognize myself in you. And this experience is exactly what you needed. What Shay told you, about being a rock. Your heart is closed off. And that’s why you can’t reach your inner child. Trust the universe, everything you need in life or what you will become in this life will always be on time❤️ Sending you much love x

There is a universal "moment" going on with so many people right now including myself...Don't be so hard on yourself and I pray you find peace with your past. Sending you and Shay love and light💖

I can really relate to how you’re feeling right now, and I’m sorry you’re experiencing this too. I’ve been feeling this way for a min, you definitely put to words what is so hard for me to explain. Thanks for sharing. We’ll get through this GROWTH period. Ps: great video 🙏

Wow the transparency. Amazing video thank you. I had a similar experience and was really hard on myself about it, but later realised the medicine always does exactly what it needed to do. Although you don’t think so now, the medicine did win and I think you will realise that one day!

This is incredibly relatable. Thank you for sharing.

JD we love you! Praying for your breakthrough

it's so interesting that I recognize so much of myself in your story. My life history is really different than yours, but somehow, control/ego/excessive empathy/needing to be useful (maybe also an expression of high ego, thinking i'm the one who should do something). I was happy that there was atleast one positive realization out of this. I only tried some mushroom as psychedelic, but had such a hard time with it because of the controlling traits I experienced, so much crying and so much distress. Not being able to let go takes away so many joys i feel, but i don't even know how to begin letting go. Thank you once again, for a deep, insightful and open conversation. I am truly amazed with how you voice your self, despite the self-criticism/the brick wall. Super relatable.

Amazing Storytelling! This was an audio Book!!! First, thank you for your commitment to purpose, this work that you are doing is truly a gift to us all! Just some words of encouragement that I hope bring comfort...... On your quest for healing, I pray you continue to be patient with yourself and the process. Unfortunately, nothing we do will be a quick fix to healing, we can not force healing we can only fall in love with the journey of discovering. Sometimes instead of searching for the answer or relief we simply just need to sit and see what God reveals in the silence. Trust me, any work we do to bring good to the world, God is working to back us up and the answers will arrive at some point; it's just not always on our timetable. I pray we all find peace in just doing the daily work without the pressure of an arrival date. In the words of Aaliyah, " At your best, you are love" renew your mind each morning to move from this space. Sending Love to you and Shay! :)

Thank you for sharing this experience and also for being vulnerable. I have been following you since the beginning and now feel like we are friends. I don't normally comment on youtube videos but feel compelled to. I also am going thru a similar season and this episode gave me perspective. Cheering for you and excited to see what comes out of the other side of your growth journey. “Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.” - Max Lucado

reminder just around the corner of discomfort and challenges will be growth and magic. In the moment it feels endless but you will look back at this time and see you were exactly where you need to be. Send you a big hug!

the vulnerability is impressive here. the more people come out to tell everyone that they are overwhelmed, and trying to figure it out, the more connected this world will be. You're not alone if you are feeling similarly. Thanks for the story, the conversation, and for the truth-telling.

I accidentally disliked this episode, so disregard that notification, but this was amazing! I cried when you were talking about your vision with the little boy because I relate soo much, that it hurt!! Thank you for being so vulnerable with your audience. I can’t wait to hear about your next experience ♥️

JD, I share a lot of self improvement struggles with you. Currently 24 and working on myself, especially on avoidant attachment and doing emotionally healing from trauma. Black broken home from an absent father, you know the usual 😅 My whole life people have been saying the same things about being closed off, or that it takes so much to get close to me, that it’s so hard to get me to soften up. I want to thank you for this vulnerability, you have no clue how much this helps. Your insights from this experience are so helpful and in this way round one with the medicine wasn’t a complete loss (not to mention your moment with Shay). We’re rooting for you 100% brother.

Love this. Don’t think there should be disappointment In not experiencing the same as others have but be grateful to have experienced your own as it is equally as memorable and it’s not a mountain meant to be conquered rather an experience to savor.

What an incredible story! I was in the same mental space in 2015 when I hit a plateau in my career. What helped me (and hopefully could help you) after my first ceremony was finding community, and a massive amount of integration. Good luck to you on your journey Justin! Aho!

Yes listening to this tomorrow at work

Hugs JD! 🤗 Thanks for this very comprehensive account of what takes place. I am interested in doing it some day and glad to have such a detailed outline. I totally relate to wanting to have this experience to get answers and get out of my own way. I too am a recovering perfectionist. It's easy to say but be compassionate with yourself, you deserve compassion. What you seek is seeking you ✨️✨️✨️

Good for you JD even if you feel like you didn't make progress you made so much than you probably think and I appreciate you sharing!

JD you are an incredible storyteller! I appreciate your vulnerability and sharing your experience. Plant medicine is a journey. Thank you for being so candid! For about a year, I’m being called to Ayahuasca.

Thank you for being you! Thank you for telling this story! 🏆

Thanks for your vulnerability. I see you’re humanness and I appreciate it not that you owe us your relatability, but I resonate with your message here

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing. Especially the end- i feel the sammmmmmme way. Thank you for being honest especially about being a perfectionist. I feel the same way about control and just trying to find that direction. Keep going. Thanks for your vulnerability

There was the ego and then there was the voice of Aya. The beauty of it is that you are neither of those. 😊♥️

Thanks for sharing your journey and experience with Ayahuasca. You explained it so well! I’m sorry that you’re feeling down at this very moment. I hope you are able to get the healing and clarity that you’re looking for.

By far my favorite episode!!!! You’re a freakin orator !

Wow! Seems like you're breaking through quite a bit more than you want to admit to yourself. Sending more healing energy your way. 🙏🏾

This share was on Point!!! Happing Healing!

My first episode I listened to and it was kindof painful to hear you say, its not always like this.. because I thought it was great, you opened up. Maybe not so much in the ceremony but you did here. That takes courage and that is the healing doing its work trough uou with you by you. Going ro see if you posted your second experience aswell. By the way 4/5 hours is very short ! Mine took about 11 hours.

I can relate to this so much , maybe it’s a pisces thing. I can see an internal struggle that I can empathize with , it’s like you’re going in circles in your own head about the past , what you have and don’t have in the present, and who you want to be in the future. It’s like you’re a prisoner to your head and no one really knows the extent of it. It’s very hard and taxing mentally but I’ll say what helps me is to try to be as grateful and as present as possible. I try to see the bigger picture and give myself perspective every single day. Time really is flying and life is very very short. So find today what happiness means to you and I think that will bring you peace. That we are lovable, that we are good people at heart with childhood wounds and it’s okay that more often than not we will make mistakes or will feel low. Just don’t let yourself get too low because we know how hard it will be to get back up. I know I’m just a random subscriber but I know this type of struggle .

This was beautiful from beginning to end Thank for sharing

wow you learned a lot actually. you saw and felt yourself defending and fighting against your own transformation, surrender and change. the struggle itself ~ that may be the message for you at the moment. it’s hard to allow yourself to change and to let go of things that you’ve been holding on to do tightly.

Great storytime! Loved this. ❤️👍🏼

What a great video, loved hearing your story JD, made me tear up! I have not (yet) done ayahuasca, but if I may throw in my two cents, I think it took you to where you were able to handle it at the time and gave you what you needed in the moment. Go easy on yourself, things will click back into place with time, and Shay is there to guide you as well.

JD; I am from Peru and I live here. I have been listening to Enjoy the podcast and Who can relate for more than a year already (I enjoy the topics of both podcast; and I also listen to them to improve my English skills) Just wanted to say that I love the way you show your vulnerability and share your life experiences in a real and honest way. These days that is rare to see! Keep it up and congratz on your bravery on triying a powerful psychoactive tool to find the deepest parts of your soul. If one day you decide to come to this magical and wonderful part of the world , you got a friend here.

I resonate with this so much! I had a VERY similar experience. WOW

This is a great video! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Seriously, you are really in tune with the current energy. There is an exact Jupiter Neptune conjunction in the sky which is very much aligned to spiritual and transcendental moments like one might experience during the use of ayahuasca. I think you might be a low key astrologer lol.✨💫

I was looking forward to this episode. I'm interested in try Ayahuasca one day soon. Thank you for sharing as always!

This is great! Thank you for sharing.

hey Justin, feeling like i watched this at the 'right' time for me to take in the wisdom of this episode, so i'm grateful for your sharing. i think sometimes when we have insight and work hard on our 'healing' we can be really hard on ourselves for not being further on our journey. it can be so scary to not feel a sense of direction grounding you - i'm in a similar, 'purposeless' and ungrounded phase as well. my anxiety wants to "know" what's coming next or "know" what i should be focusing on and i find myself constantly looking to external sources of guidance and leadership. my current lesson is tolerating the discomfort of those intense anxious sensations and emotions when they come, remembering that everything comes and goes, and trying to be more present with whatever state i'm currently in. coming out of the mind and more into the body. I appreciate the resonance from you and people in the comments. its reassuring to know we're generally not alone in the emotions we're experiencing! sending you warm and grounding energy.

I CAN relate so much and I feel like I would have that same experience with my ego...letting go of ppl to me is easy but letting go of myself(ego) who I've consciously and subconsciously cultivated/built my whole life...well that is a whole nother Beast within it's own Beast

Thank you for sharing! You did great at recapping your experience and love the sounds effects. It really put me in the moment. Remember you started season one in 2020! when you had all the time in the world and you delivered something great! Remember that we get what we ask for! This soul/spiritual work is not for the faint of heart and there are plenty of peaks! but there will always be plenty of valleys too. There's a season for everything. Take care of yourself and remember to enjoy the journey (coming from someone who is also her biggest critic). BOMB episode. Very insightful. I'm currently reading "the courage to be disliked as well" and I NEEDED that quote. Also wondering if you have watched "The Atlas of The Heart" on HBO by Brene Brown. SOOOO your speed. Blessings