how many children do you have?
two
how many pregnancies have you had?
3
how old were you when you gave birth?
27 and 34
what are your childrens' ages?
almost 9 and 20 months
did any of those end in early release? (miscarriage, still birth or abortion?) if so, can you share a little about those experience?
my second pregnancy, carrying twins, resulted in missed miscarriages, one at 9 weeks and the second at 12
what surprised you about the mushroom journey?
Not so much in the journey. But it surprised me that so much of my integration after any journeys has been processing the intense sadness and mourning that our world is not truly as free and connected as my journeys have shown me we are meant to be
Protocol & Dosing
with psilocybin, what has been your dosing experience?
microdose (.1 - 1 gram), mid dose (1-3 grams), full dose (3+ grams)
how long did you dose for?
still dosing
if microdosing, what size would you have? (.1 - 1gram)
.25g, 1g
in what form were you ingesting the mushroom?
capsules, whole, powdered
how often did you dose?
intuitively -- as needed
if you were on a protocol, what protocol did you follow?
Intuitively
did you have any support with dosing?
In the beginning it was only my own intuition, as I continued throughout pregnancy and in my career as a holistic therapist & coach I have leaned on many others for support.
when did you start ingesting mushrooms?
before i became pregnant
Pregnancy
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms before your pregnancy?
I began healing with mushrooms in my 20s, self-guided journeys to release trauma
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms during your pregnancy?
Because they were changing my life & healing me. I experienced a journey early in pregnancy before finding out I was & it's teachings are what lead me feel confident in my decision to continue my pregnancy and birth my daughter. She was unplanned, only a few weeks into graduate school & not with a fully committed partner. But the medicine had shown me she was meant to be my greatest teacher.
what benefits did you notice in your pregnancy?
Unfortunately I did not have the information or support to dose during my past pregnancies. I believe both births would have been much different in a positive way if I had. I plan to continue dosing throughout my next pregnancy.
After Birth & Breastfeeding
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms after you gave birth?
Because they continued to be my medicine. After infertility, miscarriages and a traumatic homebirth turned csection due to a coercive midwife (I carried past 43 weeks) I turned back to the medicine to heal my womb and my heart.
did you ingest mushrooms while breastfeeding?
Yes
did you notice any benefits to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
I healed from birth trauma, PPD & PPA subsided before they became unbearable. My baby benefited because I was a happy, healthy mom. He also benefitted because mushrooms told me to pull my daughter back out of school (after trying for half a year & feeling terrible), he has been raised with his sibling and will grow up unschooling & connecting to nature and his intuition.
did you notice any challenges to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
I don't feel there were any challenges. I am grateful I had the tools, support, and intuition to navigate everything the mushrooms showed me.
Parenting
what benefits did you notice in your parenting that you attribute to the mushroom?
Everything! It was on a mezzo-dose journey I realized I was not living in my truth by having my daughter in a school system. I pulled her back out and focused on our connection, guiding her to trust her intuition and pursue her passions. I am more grounded than I ever have been. I a following my calling to be an involved and present mother who prioritizes outdoor free play for my children to develop as well as my callings professionally. My happiness has changed the way I parent, the way our household runs & what we prioritize.
what were the unwanted effects or challenges of ingesting mushrooms while parenting?
I wouldn't say anything.
what benefits have you noticed about your children that you attribute to the mushroom?
It is hard to answer this without becoming emotional. They are FREE. They are free to learn at the pace they need to, free to discover and play, free to rest and deeply connect when they need to. They are connected to nature, connected to their food and their home, to our environment. They are not tied down by the hustle and bustle of schedules and homework, they get to live & I am forever grateful for the courage the medicine gave me to make the decision to break their chains.
Summary
what would you like to say to other mothers & pregnant/birthing people about your own experience?
You are supported in listening to your intuition, trust your gut and listen to nature
would you recommend this path to other people?
absolutely. I have dedicated my entire life & career to sharing the lessons mushrooms have taught me