I've debated for months whether to share this. While many seem to have positive experiences with plant medicine, unfortunately, that was not the case for me. I genuinely hate leaving a bad review since I believe Heather and Monica have good intentions and are both very sweet. However, I wish I had the opportunity to hear both the good and the bad when making the decision to do a plant medicine retreat, as I feel I was not properly informed going in. Here is my experience: Like many others who attend these retreats, I was at a crossroads in my life and was seeking clarity. I set up a call with Heather to learn how everything worked. I explained I wasn't comfortable with the idea of a group setting/retreat as I felt I would need one-on-one support as a first timer. However I was assured that "It's not what you are thinking it is" and that I would be fully supported and taken care of, and that someone would be frequently checking on me. I was also told that the availability for a private session wasn't really an option at that time. On the call, I was briefly asked about my medical history which I was fully transparent about, including how my body is very sensitive to things like alcohol, medications and even supplements. I assumed there would be additional screening involved, but beyond this brief call there never was. After the assurances I was given, I decided to go for it and I put my deposit down the next day. While on the retreat and just hours before taking the plant medicine, I pulled Heather aside to discuss my dosage since up until that point I had no idea how much I would be getting. I reiterated how sensitive I was and that I wanted my dose on the lower end. As someone with no prior experience, I was putting my trust in the experts. I agreed to the amount while still not truly understanding how much I was getting. A bit later Heather and Monica made the tea without our participation which I personally found a bit odd. I'm sure this is done for a reason, however in retrospect I believe had I actually seen the dose with my own eyes I would have said no way. We were then given our individually dosed mugs to drink, after which we were to go to our respective rooms where we would stay for the journey's entirety. When the medicine kicked in, everything hit me all at once. I was deliriously high and not in a good way. I became very sick and was fighting to not throw up. I felt so sick that I began to panic. The next thing I knew Heather, Monica and an intern in my room trying to calm me down. Even though I couldn't form words at this point, I was very aware of them talking about what to do with me. Finally, after the initial wave of sickness had somewhat passed, they had me put on headphones and an eye mask. At some point after this they all slipped out of the room and I was alone for the rest of my journey. I was painfully aware of this every time I opened my eyes to reach out for someone and no one was there. I needed support and assurance, and instead felt abandoned and terrified. About 4 hours later when I was finally somewhat coherent, I became sick all over again and without getting too graphic, my body continued to try to purge the medicine out of me. I was later told "Maybe you should have just thrown up and you would have been able to drop in easier." which was incredibly frustrating to hear 2 days later. The following day I remained very sick and so I missed out on integral parts of the retreat including our group integration, as well as the day trip which was a big part of why I decided to move forward with this retreat. Over the next couple days I did my best to recover prior to my plane ride home, which was very difficult with the limited resources available to us on site. Once I was back home and the shock wore off, I rapidly went downhill. I started having debilitating anxiety. I woke up every morning in a state of panic. I began dropping weight rapidly due to my body rejecting any and all food. It was as if my body no longer trusted anything I consumed. I was so sick that I spent my days laying in bed, unable to even look at my phone or the TV. Even something as simple as listening to music was too overwhelming for me. I later found out I was experiencing Depersonalization/Derealization and PTSD among other things. After a month of struggling, I reached out to Heather and Monica to update them on how I was feeling. They apologized and offered some free integration sessions. I reluctantly agreed to the sessions, however Heather said that she first would like me to be evaluated by a Nurse Practitioner on their team. I spoke to the nurse for over 2 hours, relaying everything that had happened and answering all her questions. In the end she essentially just gave me a list of other providers to help me. This was extremely disappointing. After spending thousands on their retreat, I was now expected to seek treatment elsewhere. I later found out this same nurse had actually screened some of the other girls prior to the retreat. After this, I never heard from Heather or Monica again. It has now been nearly a year since I made the decision to do the plant medicine retreat and I am still recovering. It has had a hugely negative impact on my life and I wish more than anything I could take back my decision to do this. If you are considering doing this, please do your own research. Ask a lot of questions. And most of all trust your gut. No matter how much of an expert someone is, no one understands your body better than you do.

Heather and Monica did an amazing job of planning this retreat! Everything was wonderful, the location, the accommodations, the daily itinerary, and the knowing of what was needed and when! Thank you both for creating such a safe space for us all to drop our guards and be vulnerable with ourselves and one another! I got so much from the entire trip, and especially the plant medicine journey. I really feel like I cracked open the armor around my heart! This was one of the most sacred and memorable experiences I've had in my life! With much gratitude!! Sheri

Heather created a warm, safe, and exploratory space for this retreat.