About Nick
Me on a cacao farm in Guatemala in Feb 2024
I have been a holistic facilitator for over a decade. In 2009, I started delving into the topics of consciousness and depth psychology to better understand myself and human life. The following year, I began exploring meditation as a way to manage stress and anxiety. This led me to discover gentle and yin forms of yoga.
My journey continued as I trained in various modalities for healing and self-development. From 2012-2017, I attended seminars that focused on processing beliefs, emotions, and somatic experiences. I obtained a 200-hour teaching certificate in modern yoga, practiced nonviolent communication (NVC), got trained to lead different breathwork techniques, and worked with ceremonial cacao.
Ceremonial cacao became a central part of my life after I first tried it in 2015. It helped me overcome chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) that had plagued me for five years. Cacao, both a superfood and a plant medicine, has a rich history of ritual use in Latin America. People often describe it as a “heart opener,” yet it maintains a gentle effect, allowing individuals to remain in an ordinary state of consciousness. The handcrafted Guatemalan cacao someone shared with me not only increased my focus and energy but also eased my aches.
Later that same year, I committed to walking at least 60 miles on the Camino de Santiago, the famous Spanish pilgrimage route. Thanks to cacao and various alternative practices—such as tapping, affirmations, trauma release exercises, and gentle movement—I exceeded my training goals and walked over 400 miles on the Camino del Norte!
Amazed by what cacao (the main ingredient in chocolate) seemed to be doing, I traveled throughout Central America in early 2016 to learn more about where it really comes from. This was a journey of discovery into the world of indigenous spirituality that still exists there. I began developing relationships with Mayan families and collectives who prepare cacao using ancient traditions. Bringing artisanal cacao back in my suitcase, I shared it with friends. By 2017, more people were asking me to mail this cacao to them. So at the start of 2018, I launched a legal food business to sell authentic ceremonial cacao online.
In the years of building the business, I also hosted many group workshops and events focused on healing and self-development. Unfortunately, these were interrupted by the pandemic. I reached a point where I wanted to have a more profound impact than was possible in one cacao workshop. My interest shifted to organizing group cacao tours in Guatemala. Since 2022, I’ve hosted six of these tours, taking people to cacao farms and collectives, as well as on cultural excursions like visiting archaeological sites and participating in Mayan fire ceremonies.
Then, in late 2023, I met two Oregon psilocybin facilitators and learned about their work in the program. I started doing my own research and felt really impressed by the way the OHA program is structured. My intuition also told me that this was very aligned with my overall mission of facilitation. So in November 2023, I began an Oregon-approved psilocybin facilitator training program with the Changa Institute.
While our current Oregon system is well-structured for this new program, there’s one unfortunate gap: facilitators aren’t required to go through a session as a client or shadow a facilitator in the field. These practices are common in “helping professions,” and I hope they’ll become mandatory for Oregon psilocybin facilitators eventually. After completing my training program in April 2024, I decided to attend a practicum training retreat with Right to Heal in Mexico. There, I experienced both the client and facilitator sides of psilocybin services, which has been crucial in preparing me for my work in Oregon. I truly grasped that it’s not just about ingesting psilocybin mushrooms; having a safe “container” and a skilled facilitator are equally essential. The combination of all three elements creates the most profound impact.
I bring a lot to the table. My deep understanding of what can arise during a psilocybin session and how to navigate it ensures a meaningful and memorable experience. I prioritize safety and consent, drawing from my trauma-informed approach. And my awareness of the indigenous history of psilocybin and cacao boosts the ethics of my sessions.
Want to see if I’m the right fit to guide you through a journey?
CONTACT ME NOW
*By viewing this website, you confirm that you are 21 years or older.*
My journey continued as I trained in various modalities for healing and self-development. From 2012-2017, I attended seminars that focused on processing beliefs, emotions, and somatic experiences. I obtained a 200-hour teaching certificate in modern yoga, practiced nonviolent communication (NVC), got trained to lead different breathwork techniques, and worked with ceremonial cacao.
Ceremonial cacao became a central part of my life after I first tried it in 2015. It helped me overcome chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) that had plagued me for five years. Cacao, both a superfood and a plant medicine, has a rich history of ritual use in Latin America. People often describe it as a “heart opener,” yet it maintains a gentle effect, allowing individuals to remain in an ordinary state of consciousness. The handcrafted Guatemalan cacao someone shared with me not only increased my focus and energy but also eased my aches.
Later that same year, I committed to walking at least 60 miles on the Camino de Santiago, the famous Spanish pilgrimage route. Thanks to cacao and various alternative practices—such as tapping, affirmations, trauma release exercises, and gentle movement—I exceeded my training goals and walked over 400 miles on the Camino del Norte!
Amazed by what cacao (the main ingredient in chocolate) seemed to be doing, I traveled throughout Central America in early 2016 to learn more about where it really comes from. This was a journey of discovery into the world of indigenous spirituality that still exists there. I began developing relationships with Mayan families and collectives who prepare cacao using ancient traditions. Bringing artisanal cacao back in my suitcase, I shared it with friends. By 2017, more people were asking me to mail this cacao to them. So at the start of 2018, I launched a legal food business to sell authentic ceremonial cacao online.
In the years of building the business, I also hosted many group workshops and events focused on healing and self-development. Unfortunately, these were interrupted by the pandemic. I reached a point where I wanted to have a more profound impact than was possible in one cacao workshop. My interest shifted to organizing group cacao tours in Guatemala. Since 2022, I’ve hosted six of these tours, taking people to cacao farms and collectives, as well as on cultural excursions like visiting archaeological sites and participating in Mayan fire ceremonies.
Then, in late 2023, I met two Oregon psilocybin facilitators and learned about their work in the program. I started doing my own research and felt really impressed by the way the OHA program is structured. My intuition also told me that this was very aligned with my overall mission of facilitation. So in November 2023, I began an Oregon-approved psilocybin facilitator training program with the Changa Institute.
While our current Oregon system is well-structured for this new program, there’s one unfortunate gap: facilitators aren’t required to go through a session as a client or shadow a facilitator in the field. These practices are common in “helping professions,” and I hope they’ll become mandatory for Oregon psilocybin facilitators eventually. After completing my training program in April 2024, I decided to attend a practicum training retreat with Right to Heal in Mexico. There, I experienced both the client and facilitator sides of psilocybin services, which has been crucial in preparing me for my work in Oregon. I truly grasped that it’s not just about ingesting psilocybin mushrooms; having a safe “container” and a skilled facilitator are equally essential. The combination of all three elements creates the most profound impact.
I bring a lot to the table. My deep understanding of what can arise during a psilocybin session and how to navigate it ensures a meaningful and memorable experience. I prioritize safety and consent, drawing from my trauma-informed approach. And my awareness of the indigenous history of psilocybin and cacao boosts the ethics of my sessions.
Want to see if I’m the right fit to guide you through a journey?
CONTACT ME NOW
*By viewing this website, you confirm that you are 21 years or older.*