Recently I had the honor of attending a ceremony with Enrique and his team outside Ostrava, in the Czech Republic. I also had the wonderful experience of witnessing some of the brave humans who presented taking their dose of choice. I say ‘choice’ as it happened that this time, ‘Kike’ (BTW Enrique is sometimes called Kike!!) and his team were serving both Synthetic and ‘Toad Venom’. I’m reluctant to use the term ‘Organic’ as it lends folks to believe that taking synthetic is bordering on unreal. Yes, this is a mirrored copy of the venom but it could be argued that in fact this ‘mirror’ is better suited to the human body. By all accounts, from what I witnessed, it’s a smoother run. The people who emerged from this journey were expressing a consistent response of elated happiness. I myself did not do a macro dose on this occasion, however, on one person’s journey I was invited into the inner circle and had the occasion to ‘taste’ the medicine, with the team, and to ‘travel’ with the person. This was an extraordinarily beautiful experience. I felt the inner connection, the communication of the circle who assisted this wonderful soul and a ‘knowing’ that a deep healing was taking place in my body, in the participant’s system and in the wider collective. I personally found the ‘essence’ of the medicine to be very beautiful. Since I have returned I’m connecting to an ongoing cleansing that has become available due to the after affect of this work. I have also been intrigued as to what is being said in ‘community’ about synthetic vs venom. I know Enrique is doing his best to protect the species and be as conscious as he can be about harm reduction of these animals but it’s a dialogue that consistently needs to be looked at as time goes on. Let’s consider some aspects - The compond of venom can be mapped out as follows: N,N-dimethyl-5-hydroxytrytamine; bufotenine N,N-dimethyl-5-methoxytrytamine; O-methylbufotenine; (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltrypamine; 5-MeO-DMT) 5-methoxytryptophol 5-methoxyindoleacetic acid 5-hydroxytryptophol 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid N-methyl-5-methoxytryptamine N-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine bufoviridine; N,N-dimethyl-5-hydroxytrytamine-O-sulfate 5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT; serotonin; enteramine; thrombocytin; thrombotonin N-methyl-serotonin tryptophan bufotalindin; hellebrigenin; (a bufogenin - cardioactive sterol) The presence of more alkaloids in toad secretions would definitely make possible a difference between the two experiences. However, many testimonies describe them as being similar. Others alternatively report that the venom (secretions/organic) is more potent. It then seems more likely that the different results could be due to different doses or the person’s sensitivity rather than the effects of the other alkaloids. Some folks have suggested, that whoever makes the compound in the Synth version is very important, i.e. the practices of the lab and who is involved - that whoever assembles the molecules is as important as what molecules are assembled. The analysis I read of the medicine show there are heaps of other compounds in the venom medicine than just 5-MeO-DMT, as reported by folks like Octavio. And it’s true what is said, they are different, toad venom and synthetic 5-meo dmt, this cannot be disputed. However, what brings the best effects on mental health remains to be seen as more people research this topic in the future. Then comes a great deal of other questions too, like for example: what do we define as "best effect" when everything is at the end of the day very subjective?? ​Some people report a difference in the effect of the Toad venom, having more long term and therapeutic effects. Again, subjective. One person I met over there, in Ostrava, who’s working alongside Enrique on preparation and integration, suggested that so far, in research terms, we only know what 4-5 of the trytamines are doing to the human body. The remaining elements of the compound are yet to be understood. He felt that a movement towards non-organic might make more sense for the community, as it’s possibly the best approach to take from a harm reduction perspective. There is one hypothesis, that the synthetic 5meo doesn't reach the auditory neuro-transmitter fully to access the deep resonance vibration that one can experience, which can help with the message and connection to the ​source​. It can also be said that the 5 molecule is the same in the synth copy, but that the difference always come back to delivery device and dosage. The place you are in, i.e. ‘set and setting’ and the care in facilitation is always a factor. Synth molecule is more pure than the venom by weight. Kike certainly appeared to know the measure of dose and anyone I witnessed had a wonderful journey on the 5. From the point of view of what people are sometimes aiming for, which is this idea of ego dissolution or full break through, synthetic may not offer this as an experience. What it does appear to offer is a wonderful heart opening and a sense of unity! Certainly I should think for some this is as good as it gets, for many people, especially those who prefer to return to their lives, responsibilities and the chaos of life fully intact. I can never say that I regret my entry point into using psychedelics that this massive breakthrough the animal medicine offered me. I did however embark on a journey of re-identification that changed my life, for the better, but it’s taken a considerable amount of time to figure out my true nature from there. I ended up changing my career, leaving my home, relinquishing all my belongings and letting of many friends that no longer resonated with my sense of ‘family’. I spent massive amounts of time on self-awareness, ritual, meditation and bodywork. I gave up old habits, dropped addictions and changed my thinking. There was loss, as the old self dropped away... and a fresh vunerability to the new identity that was forming. I can say now it feels almost formed - BECOMING who I was intended to be, a true nature version of my-SELF required attention. It’s not always the way. Some folks, in my humble opinion, are stepping into the ‘work’ already quite tuned into to their core self. There’s different degrees of separation, integration, depending on so many factors... genetics, trauma, karma. If I’d taken synthetic perhaps the radical nature of my metamorphisis would have been slowed down or titrated, instead of feeling like a ‘fait accompli’! My purpose today in writing this is to give some of you a push to consider aspects of what you want to achieve, how soon you feel you need to achieve it, and how smoothly you’d like to move towards that objective. If you want to start off with a more gentle feminine entry point, I suggest considering synthetic in advance and doing your homework. Ask around about people’s experiences and inform yourself. Then, in November, you can make a conscious choice of what way you’d like to go. In fact, some folks did both on the same weekend. Personally, I think that might be extensive, but each to their own!! Sending love and feeling blessed

Bufo Alvarius (traveling facilitator Enrique Navarro) • Facilitator

A letter from Kike: Dear Brothers & Sisters