BLESSINGS OF THE FOREST C.I.C.
In the late 1800s, the Bantu tribes of Gabon faced serious persecution as French Christian missionaries attempted to eradicate traditional West African belief systems. To retain their cultural identity, the Bantu fled deep into the jungle, encountering pygmy tribes who shared a secret that would change their people forever - the use of the entheogenic plant Tabernanthe iboga. From this cultural crux, the contemporary Bwiti tradition was born, a syncretic belief system that incorporates elements of Christianity, animism and ancestor worship.
The phenomenon of ceremonial iboga use has swept across the western world in recent decades as its remarkable ability to interrupt serious drug addiction has become widely known. The consequences of this discovery and subsequent popularisation has had devastating consequences in its homeland of Gabon, with ruthless over-harvesting for pharmaceutical alkaloid extraction pushing the shrub to the brink of extinction. Some ethnobotanists predict that there are currently only 5 years of iboga harvests left in the forest.
In response to this cultural and environmental crisis, the community interest company Blessings of the Forest was created in 2015 by two western Bwiti initiates Yann Guignon and David Nassim to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the people of Gabon, for the benefit of all humanity. In the last month, the charity has worked with villagers on the rainforest border to plant 300 shrubs, and plans to expand this garden to 10,000 plants by the end of the year.
The phenomenon of ceremonial iboga use has swept across the western world in recent decades as its remarkable ability to interrupt serious drug addiction has become widely known. The consequences of this discovery and subsequent popularisation has had devastating consequences in its homeland of Gabon, with ruthless over-harvesting for pharmaceutical alkaloid extraction pushing the shrub to the brink of extinction. Some ethnobotanists predict that there are currently only 5 years of iboga harvests left in the forest.
In response to this cultural and environmental crisis, the community interest company Blessings of the Forest was created in 2015 by two western Bwiti initiates Yann Guignon and David Nassim to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the people of Gabon, for the benefit of all humanity. In the last month, the charity has worked with villagers on the rainforest border to plant 300 shrubs, and plans to expand this garden to 10,000 plants by the end of the year.
"In church, they speak of God; with Iboga, you live God. ”
- Nengue Me Ndjoung Isodore (Ecumenical Bwitist Leader)
This excpetional effort has been wholly faciliated by generous donations, and the Blessings of the Forest team are working entirely on a voluntary basis to realise their vision of a sustainable future for this magnificent plant.
As a friend and fellow plant medicine enthusiast, I am today asking for your support as I help to raise the funds needed to achieve this incredible planting project. If working with sacred plants has supported your inner growth and spiritual expansion, and if you feel called to give something back to an indigenous culture who have shared their most precious resource with the world, I would love you to join me in making a small monthly donation to Blessings of the Forest. You will be updated about how the planting project is developing and you will join a tribe of brothers and sisters stepping up and being the change, supporting ethical, conscious and heart-centred cultural exchange in securing the future of this miraculous rainforest medicine.
It's simple to make your pledge - you can choose the amount you wish to gift each month from the drop-down menu below. Even a tiny amount will be transformative. Thank you for your generosity - it means so much to me!
Bassé!
Gavin x
As a friend and fellow plant medicine enthusiast, I am today asking for your support as I help to raise the funds needed to achieve this incredible planting project. If working with sacred plants has supported your inner growth and spiritual expansion, and if you feel called to give something back to an indigenous culture who have shared their most precious resource with the world, I would love you to join me in making a small monthly donation to Blessings of the Forest. You will be updated about how the planting project is developing and you will join a tribe of brothers and sisters stepping up and being the change, supporting ethical, conscious and heart-centred cultural exchange in securing the future of this miraculous rainforest medicine.
It's simple to make your pledge - you can choose the amount you wish to gift each month from the drop-down menu below. Even a tiny amount will be transformative. Thank you for your generosity - it means so much to me!
Bassé!
Gavin x