Recovery from addiction using ibogaine is very much a personal journey into the unconscious layers of the mind, where it is possible to access and transform the conditioned narratives and subconscious pain that we each carry. The very purpose of using ibogaine is to re-discover a lost connection to one’s true self, and regain control of one’s identity, meaning and purpose in life. For this reason, it is essential to have complete ownership of one’s own recovery, as to attempt to undertake this journey at the demand of others would defeat the whole purpose and reinforce the pattern of living inauthentically.
Because of this, it is never a good idea for couples to take ibogaine together in the same facility. Each person must be free to focus on their own journey of recovery, and having one’s partner nearby creates distractions and demands that can be highly detrimental to this process. It is necessary for each person to have some time and space to fully immerse themselves in their own ibogaine experience and integration – which can take several weeks to several months – without having to worry about the needs and demands of their partner.
Yet this does not mean that two people cannot share the experience of undergoing this rite of passage. By both taking ibogaine at the same time, but in different locations, couples can reach a greater understanding of, and connection to, one another. In fact, doing so can enhance the efficacy of the process and make the transformation more powerful and profound for each of the individuals involved – as long as they don’t interfere with each other’s journey.
The Power of Communitas
Anthropologists who study rites of passage often write about a concept called communitas, and many believe that it is an essential component of the healing process. In fact, it could even be the missing link when it comes to recovery from addiction.
A true rite of passage, which leads to a genuine and long-lasting transformation of the damaged parts of the psyche, always produces one fundamental shift: it provides a framework for initiates to shed the conditioning that defines their ego and identity, discover the true essence the exists beneath this false self-image, and move forward with greater freedom, having connected to a more authentic self.
In many cases, these rites are undertaken by groups of people rather than individuals, in order to foster an experience of communitas: by all going through the process together, initiates come to see how, beneath their social conditioning, there really is no distinction between them; the entire ego and sense of self as a bounded entity is an artificial construct. Going through this experience together generates a consciousness of the true bond between all beings, creates sense of commonality, and helps to construct a network of love and support.
How Can This Be Applied To Addiction?
Ibogaine is a rite of passage. It is a tool to help people achieve the same type of transformation described above. Though each individual will have his or her own personal journey to undertake, sharing the process with others can help to create a state of communitas. Ultimately, addiction invariably stems from a sense of isolation from oneself and others, and communitas allows us to rediscover the essential bond that exists between us all.
This may be particularly powerful for couples, siblings, or any people who play a prominent role in each other’s lives. Through communitas, we rediscover our true connection to one another, and in so doing we make the transition from selfishness to selflessness, forming an unbreakable support network.