"Step into the fire of transformation. This fire will not burn you, it will only burn what you are not."

-Mooji

In this article I (vulnerably) share my opinions about the space of transformation and what it take to up-level your experience of life.

Well, 2025 has certainly begun with notable flair. Los Angeles is experiencing one of the most intense and challenging transformations we’ve ever witnessed. I am holding the sadness, fear, devastation, and shock in my heart, and beaming back love, clarity, and empowerment to all the beings a part of it.

I've used the element of fire often, both for my personal transformation and in ceremonial spaces. Fire is an intense transformer—swift and indifferent to your feelings as it performs its work.

We are simply along for the ride and cannot control the transformation that’s happening.

Discussions around plant medicines seem timely, particularly due to their essence of relinquishing control and embracing transformation. Yet, much of the conversation about those engaging with plant medicines centers on controlling the experience.

From legalization and the FDA to newly awakened individuals who have found incredible transformation through their relationships with the plants AND the hardships they've endured (as part of the process) and now wish to shield others from the difficult aspects, sometimes thinking they’ve found a "better," "safer" way to do it.

To be transparent, I have engaged in psychotropic medicines since early 2018. Without much knowledge but trusting others' guidance, I dived into the deep end with the Grandmother Plant for ten consecutive days with a renowned Shaman in Peru.

Following that, I explored various other sacred medicines in deeply ceremonial settings to continue my healing, growth, and perspective shift.

Throughout these experiences, I’ve encountered both incredible and horrific moments. I've seen the most demonic behavior and felt the grace of God. None of it was inherently good or bad—I simply learned A LOT.

In the plant medicine space, the concern about “not going too fast” can seem controlling to me. I went fast, and I wouldn’t change it. Was it painful? Yes. Were there moments I feared for my life? Absolutely. But I was already in considerable pain, which propelled me to confront myself to begin with. Was I willing to risk everything to release the pain? Yes!

I’m not suggesting that my experience should happen to others, but rather what I did with it holds value.

As more individuals enter this space and awareness grows, the unknowns may diminish. However, your level of self-awareness dictates the unknowns you face—only by beginning can you start educating yourself.

I believe in the importance of preparatory training and knowing your power before entering the space. Another popular discussion involves ensuring “proper guardians” are protecting the space.

Although it’s important to feel aligned with who you’re working with, putting too much power into the facilitator's hands is backwards, to me. You must ensure you are the proper guardian of your space before engaging with the medicine. If you aren’t and find yourself in trouble (as did I), then accept that it’s still precisely what you needed to evolve into the person you’re meant to become. This might sound harsh, but in spiritual terms, there’s no right, wrong, good, or bad—judgment stems from the ego. If you truly wish to grow and become the most liberated, alive version of yourself, you must relinquish control and embrace what you receive. Continue to seek the teachings, teachers, and experiences that empower you with the wisdom of your inherent knowing.

You have to be willing to let go, to embrace transformation, and also to fight for your evolution after experiencing metaphorical death.

Our problems aren’t individual but collective and systemic. Our society, infrastructure, and the world’s toxicity are the true issues—not just personal finance, depression, or relationships. Yet, this drives us towards psychedelics—in a quest to feel better, more empowered, and loved. But if masses are seeking healing only to return to systemic and collective toxicity, not enough changes.

To elevate your life, you must alter your internal reality. You have to do the WORK of transformation AFTER the ceremony.

Herein lies the catalyst for personal and global change: when you initiate a significant internal transformation, whether through a psychedelic experience or even surgery, you must energetically embody this new version of yourself—walk differently, approach every aspect of life as the person you are becoming, not who you have been.

As we release the internal systems that keep us bonded to a reality we aim to evolve past—war, inequity, racism, colonialism, corporate domination—we must undertake a relinquishing process of our attachments and entitled comforts to achieve this. There is nothing wrong or fearful about this... In fact, why not let the fire of transformation rip through you, destroy the internalized system holding you back, and rebuild yourself and our collective reality from a clearer, more grounded, and empowered foundation, aiming for your (and humanity’s) greatest potential and highest destiny?

Growth is growth. Don’t be overly concerned with perfection, for it won't be, but it will be exactly what you and humanity need. Trust.

art work by Alex Grey

and MELCHIZEDEK HALLELUYAH (מלכיצדק הללויה)

written by Faye Laroux