Being born and raised in Hawaii I gravitate to people who treats each other with family-like respect, connects with nature and slows life down to enjoy/celebrates even the simpler things in life. These days we all need it, I need it. The tribe members holds the truest definition of “aloha” outside of the 50th state that I ever experienced. Now to my testimonial…I’ve been feeling worn from holding on to military views that did not align with my identity serving with fear of being kicked out for being gay and my struggle to stay up to par as a fight jet mechanic with ADHD symptoms. I was always on edge and masked myself through self-medicating and actions I’m not proud of. Sadly Don’t Ask Don’t Tell did push me out and internal aggression bottled up fueled life after service. Though I’ve been to ER several times, close calls with risk taking actions and self medicating I’ve gotten better at controlling myself thanks to getting service through the VA. Through them I also worked on unresolved childhood trauma. I now am paying it forward to help other veterans find their life after service and help “peel the onion layers” but having purpose again and using my life experience to serve still leaves me feeling worn. My discoveries is that my mental health improved but still carry a tired soul from life as a whole. Trying to integrate a Whole Health lifestyle with meditation, adding natural herbal medicines and spiritual awareness just seemed unguided still. When a friend of mine who was in a similar journey with integrating spiritual recovery found this tribe on instagram I agreed to check out their integration meeting with my life partner. Did I mention I have traumas with religion/cult churches? Well thank goodness the tribe met at a yoga studio at the time and no one was forcing a bible or scriptures or anything “brain washy”! What opened my heart to them was the focus. To find my own truth, to find my own direction and to find my own authority. We didn’t even start the ayahuasca ceremony and I felt these things! When I did my first ceremony I felt my spirit regaining its energy internally instead of externally and found what was missing in reaching my highest self was clarity. Yes I purged as well but the best type of purge was yawning. The message I got from this beautiful plant was I lived the “service before self” all my life either due to chasing acceptance or helping other with empath traits I have not gave my soul a rest. Today after seven total ceremonies I have a well rested soul and guidance towards self-improvements in ALL areas of mind, body and soul! ONE LOVE STARTS WITH ONE’S SELF