Bufo - Otac
Bufo Incilius Alvarius
The Ancestral Entheogenic Medicine known as Bufo or Otac is a short acting and potent catalyst. Bufo helps drop individuals into a direct expeience of the vastness of their own being, without the usual frames of narrative or thought. The non-duality of Bufo creates an intimate identification and lived experience of oneness with the universe. This is Mystical Union with the Divine in its truest sense. This process may connect you to your true nature, life purpose, and a deep inner guidance.
5 MeO-DMT and Bufo work differently than most psychedelics. It highlights emotions, somatic sensations and at larger doses reliably creates a unity experience with the Divine.
Most psychedelics are quite visionary, eliciting geometry, alternate realms, fantastic beings or spirits and interesting narrative arcs. 5 MeO is an incredibly somatic medicine; emotions and energies pass tangibly through the body. It’s incredibly precise for accessing the non-verbal content of the nervous system, allowing for more immediate and deeper release without the ‘psychedelic fireworks.’
In a single ceremonial container with Wellspring Sanctuary, participants will receive 4-10 doses of medicine. The first several waves of medicine are very subtle, lasting only a few minutes. This effect is just enough to calm the mind and body, and not at all psychedelic. This allows someone to easefully and gently meet the medicine without overwhelm. As a participant goes deeper with more medicine, the waves last longer, but generally under 30 minutes.
This approach allows for individuals to lean into an experience, come back down and resource or process before having more. This also gives more choice and autonomy to participants, in-that they are able to decide for themselves how much more medicine they’d like, if at all. Most servers of 5 MeO & Bufo give the largest dose as the first or second wave.
Eventually, as we work with deeper waves of medicine individuals may have full mystical experiences with a merging with the Divine. These waves invite a deep letting go that often feels freeing and unburdening. Many call this a neurological reset, and is likened to a re-birth. When working with these deeper waves of medicine, we often pivot to working with the toad secretion Otac-Bufo.
Due to the profundity of this experience, it is important that there is ample time to ground down and process anything that wants attention. We often enjoy some light fruit or tea together, and reflect on emotions or content that has come up during the experience.
What is Bufo?
Bufo-Otac is the secretion of the Sonoran Desert Toad, which contains 5-MeO-DMT and a number of other alkaloids & peptides. This Medicine is vaporized and inhaled through a specialized pipe. In its fullest expression, this may feel like a brief flash or an eternity.
5-MeO-DMT is not ‘DMT!’ It is experientially different from ‘DMT’ or n,n-DMT. While n,n-DMT is very visual, 5-MeO-DMT is rooted in deep feeling and universal connection.
The Sacrament I receive is ethically and humanely collected by the Seri Comcaac tribe of Mexico. They have a deep reverence and respect for these special toads. The Seri refer to the Bufo toad as Otac.
I have traveled and trained with many respected elders in the field on how to best honor this ancient Sacrament and have served over 1100 people in ceremonial settings. Including other entheogens, this number increases to 1600.
The Experience
These ceremonies take place in nature or in a private healing space in Boulder, CO. I emphasize these experiences not feeling rushed, so that you can feel comfortable and at ease with the process.
I speak with all my participants on the phone prior to any ceremonial experience. On the day of the ceremony we will speak for some time. You will be invited to read a traditional prayer of the Seri.
When you are ready, I will light the ceremonial pipe for you. Your only job is to deeply breath in and hold the smoke. While inhaling you will begin to feel the Sacrament working with your system. Similar to taking anesthesia, you may feel yourself melt into a wave of energy moving through your body.
The experience itself is a beautiful, deep and mystical experience. It is beyond language and understood at the soul-level. It can be understood as re-connecting with Source, the Divine, o or Universal Intelligence.
You may feel deep waves of emotion or energy-sensation moving through your body. Within 30-45 minutes you will find yourself entirely sober.
I set aside an average of two hours for a ceremony. This gives you time to arrive, settle, have an experience, and process aspects of your experience. It is recommended to give yourself the rest of the day to be in nature
While this medicine is incredibly potent on it’s own, it is most effectively utilized when paired with proper preparation, integration, and a sincere willingness to change your own thoughts, behaviors, and way of being in the world.
Who Should Work with Bufo?
Bufo is helpful in assisting individuals to move through a wide range of thresholds in their life. A simple explanation is that it can help increase trust and reduce fear, and to aid individuals in their spiritual evolution. Often individuals find Bufo when they are ready for a change in their lives. This may mean someone has suffered enough and is ready to move through life in a new way, without the continual struggle they are used to. Bufo may also create a deeper clarity and soul-knowing for those seeking direction.
The common healing benefits of the Toad Sacrament include deep and prfound mental and emotional healing. It is able to aid those working through trauma and PTSD, cleaning out depression, breaking addictions, and changing unhealthy personal patterns and behaviors. For many, it reconnects one to a sense of self, gives a launching pad for spiritual exploration, and helps integrate and understand higher states of consciousness.
Our culture lacks rites of passage- Bufo ushers individuals through a threshold into the next stage of their life.
Are there Risks Involved?
Bufo should always be consumed under the guidance of a trained facilitator. A facilitator can provide appropriate support to ensure physical. emotional and energetic safety.
Given the power of the medicine, there are certain cases where it’s strongly advised not to consume 5-MeO-DMT, this includes those experiencing Personality Disorders, Psychosis, or Mania. Those with cardiovascular issues, weak hearts, hypertension, or other conditions making them susceptible to seizures are at high physical risk of contraindication. Similarly, those taking SSRI’s, MAOI’s must wean off of these medications under the supervision of a healthcare professional before considering an Otac Ceremony.
It is strongly encouraged to have a psychedelic-friendly therapist or integration coach in place to work with after an experience with Bufo.
Are there studies on the impact of Bufo?
Yes. While Bufo has only recently been scientifically researched in the West, the Seri and Yaqui tribes have been in deep connection with this medicine for many generations. There’s strong evidence Bufo was used within the Mayan and Aztec empires.
More recent studies have shown that appropriate administration of this medicine creates significant marked improvement for anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and PTSD. As more scientific evidence emerges, there is an increasing emphasis on it’s potential to address treatment-resistant conditions.
What is my experience with Bufo?
Over the past 6 years I have served over 1100 people Bufo or 5 MeO-DMT in ceremony. I am honored to have learned directly from the elders of the Seri tribe in Mexico, learning their rituals and rites of passage with this medicine.
I devoted 3 years in extensive apprenticeship to a well-respected international mentor in the psychedelic field, and have assisted in supporting several psychedelic churches. I have several certifications in psychedelic based intervention including trauma-informed facilitation.
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I have a bachelor’s degree in Holistic Psychology with an emphasis on expressive somatic therapy. Before coming into this ceremonial work, I spent 7 years in traditional counseling and psychiatric settings, including non-psychedelic support. I now call Boulder, CO my home, where I have my own private therapeutic business for singles, couples, and groups.
Feel Curious?
Book in a no-pressure complimentary consultation with me HERE.
This is your opportunity for you to ask me any questions you may have and to get a sense if a Bufo ceremony may be a good fit for you.
I have generally steered clear of psychedelics as it has brought up challenging experiences for me in the past. After connecting with Tyler, I felt a surprising amount of trust to lean into my edge and say yes to a Bufo ceremony. I felt so safe and cared for, as Tyler was incredibly attuned. As we slowly leaned into my edges, I felt myself having more courage and even excitement around facing some bigger fears. By the end of our ceremony, it felt like so much generational, cultural, and childhood fear had been let go of. I was amazed how clear, free and alive I felt. Since then I have dropped two addictive behaviors, and I feel so much more access to joy and trust now, even weeks later. I am so, so grateful.
Jenni
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