Consciousness Medicine

Indigenous Wisdom, Entheogens, and Expanded States of Consciousness for Healing and Growth

By: Françoise Bourzat, Kristina Hunter, Ralph Metzner Ph.D.

Narrated by: Diana Gardiner, Françoise Bourzat

A comprehensive guide to the safe and ethical application of expanded states of consciousness for therapists, healing practitioners, and sincere explorers

Psychedelic medicines also known as entheogens are entering the mainstream. And it’s no wonder: despite having access to the latest wellness trends and advances in technology, we’re no healthier, happier, or more meaningfully connected. Psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, and LSD—as well as other time-tested techniques with the power to shift consciousness such as drumming, meditation, and vision quests—are now being recognized as potent catalysts for change and healing. But how do we ensure that we’re approaching them effectively?

Françoise Bourzat—a counselor and experienced guide with sanctioned training in the Mazatec and other indigenous traditions—and healer Kristina Hunter introduce a holistic model focusing on the threefold process of preparation, journey, and integration. Drawing from more than thirty years of experience, Bourzat’s skillful and heartfelt approach presents the therapeutic application of expanded states, without divorcing them from their traditional contexts. Consciousness Medicine delivers a coherent map for navigating nonordinary states of consciousness, offering an invaluable contribution to the field of healing and transformation.©2019 Françoise Bourzat and Kristina Hunter (P)2019 North Atlantic Books

Critic reviews

"Francoise has been a student and friend of mine for over thirty years.... When I met Francoise, she was soft-spoken, alert, respectful, and very observant. She was at home. Our Native American way of life is not a religion, it is a "Way of Life." When I met Francoise, she was living this way of life, living in the mountains, living in nature and teaching her students they are one with nature. Francoise was already connected to our Mother Earth and our Way of Life was not a mystery or difficult for her to connect to." (Marilyn Youngbird, Chief Woman among Chiefs, Arikara Nation)

"Consciousness Medicine is an insightful and inspiring introduction to expanded states of consciousness. Françoise Bourzat combines an intimate personal account with the most comprehensive and practical guide I have seen to transpersonal experience and shamanic work, emphasizing the three cornerstones of preparation, journeying and - of essential importance - integration." (Gabor Maté MD, author of In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction)

"Françoise is uniquely qualified to write this book. She not only has the multicultural training and a deep and real connection with indigenous traditional healing techniques, but she has for decades applied, tested, and extended these techniques, specifically for the training of Western therapists. Her own Western training was first class, and perhaps because of that, she is not caught up in idolizing or fantasizing the value of either Western psychodynamic therapies and research or these older systems of indigenous healing. Her work blends both in a blend appropriate for this time and this culture. She has no ideological ax to grind, but only to press for effective practice for the healer and for their clients." (James Fadiman, PhD, author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic and Sacred Journeys)

One woman's journey

Begin with the conclusion. It contains a succinct summary and distillation of principals contained in the book. Then go through the book. You will gain an appreciation for one woman's journey to healing and her many modalities of work with clients. More of an inspiration for aspiring guides. Well written.

Absolute must for those interested in psychedelics

Fantastic book, very thorough, it teaches preparation, types of experiences and integration like I've never seen before. I'll read it many times.

Tremendous information

Always better to have the author narrate. But this narrator was great. The book seems to do a fantastic job of offering suggestions for transformational experiences, without making claims about what a person will experience. Also does a great job suggesting we be kind to our universe/ planet without coming off as preachy.

Wonderful insight into the world consciousness expansion

Amazing and authoritative view into the world of consciousness expansion. The author uses an elegant and heart-opening method of describing the expansion journey from the point of view of the journeyer as well as the guide.

This book is outstanding for both student and teacher.

Important book! Terrible narration.

This is an important book for anyone wanting to learn more about the art of guiding others in an altered state. A lot of really useful and wise information.
I only give 2 stars on the performance scale because the narration was poor, impersonal, shallow, even painful to endure, at times. It would have been 100% times better to have the author narrate the entire book.
I will purchase the paper copy.

As a therapist...

As a ketamine assisted psychotherapist, and firm believer in plant medicine, this is a must read for any guide or seeker.

Read this book before ceremony with Spirit Plant's

Very well written and recorded book that will help you to get much more from any Ceremony ...

Incredibly comprehensive

Very thorough and all-encompassing. I have not read many, if any, books on this subject that contained as much well rounded information. Definitely a major contributor to my education and prep for my psychedelic/spiritual quest.

The most practical integration book I’ve ever read

An absolute MUST read for anyone who wants to practice consciousness medicine! Whether you’re a guide for others, learning for personal practice, or simply curious, this book lays out specific and actionable choices you can make to foster inner growth and wellbeing.

Author Only Narrates First Chapter!

This is an excellent book, but take note that the author, Françoise Bourzat, only narrates the first chapter of the book.