What if the problem with Ozempic isn’t the drug itself — but what it says about our relationship with hunger?

In this episode, I’m sharing my first take on one of the most loaded topics in wellness right now: Ozempic and addiction. And just for a heads-up, my angle might surprise you.

I hear people talk about Ozempic quieting “food noise” or reducing cravings. While that’s great, when I look at it through the lens of Chinese medicine and shamanic tradition, I see something different: a drug that solves hunger by treating hunger as the problem.

Here’s why that matters. Hunger isn’t just a body signal — it’s a sacred function. It’s our daily act of communion with the Earth, with nourishment, with life itself. When we chemically suppress that, we don’t just suppress cravings. We weaken the very muscle that allows us to say yes to what truly nourishes us.

And that, by the Alchemist Recovery definition, starts to look a lot like addiction — the patterned and repetitive use of any substance or action that attempts to fill a void, but instead reinforces the origins of the pattern.

We’ll walk through each element of that definition and apply it directly to Ozempic. We’ll talk about rituals of communion, the archetypal wound of disconnection from nature, and why…

your daily pill may have replaced your daily bread.

This is not medical advice. This is a perspective — one I hope sparks some open thinking & honest conversation.

Important discussions like…who makes the best stuffed noodle? Wontons vs. ravioli vs. pierogis. Let’s sit down, disagree, and figure it out together.

🎙️ The Sober Shaman Podcast — making the spiritual practical.

You can listen to the audio of this episode here:

he Sober Shaman Podcast #65

Addiction is Possesssion: A Modern Shamanic Take

Let’s clear up what we mean by possession. We can start with what it’s not, which is the sensationalized version we’ve been shown in the exorcism movies.

Overwhelmingly, and almost exclusively, that’s not the case.

So, what exactly is it?

What is doing the possessing?

Who and what is being possessed?

How do we unravel all of this?

And especially as it relates to our modern take on addiction?

That’s what we’ll be diving into and the questions we’ll be answering in today’s episode.

thesobershaman.com

Explore the nature of reality through the lens of psychedelics and shamanic journeys, and their potential in addiction recovery. Discover insights on how these experiences alter perception, foster trust with spirits, and support healing.

keywords:

reality, psychedelics, shamanic journey, addiction, consciousness, spiritual healing, perception, non-ordinary reality

key topics:

The nature of reality and perception

Differences between psychedelic and shamanic journeys

The role of trust and relationship with spirits

Impact of experiences on addiction beliefs

The importance of intention and partnership in journeys

sound bites

"Reality isn't as cut and dry as I thought it was."

"Psychedelics can help dissolve limiting beliefs."

"Both realities are true and valuable for healing."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Reality and Psychedelic Perspectives

01:21 Perception of Reality During Psychedelic Experiences

02:30 Living in Different Dimensions: From 2D to 3D to Higher Realms

04:10 Shamanic Journeys and the Experience of the Other

06:08 Differences Between Psychedelic and Shamanic Experiences

09:35 Control and Agency in Psychedelic vs. Shamanic Practices

11:57 Partnership and Trust with Spirit Guides

14:14 Thresholds, Dismemberment, and Transformation

15:27 Impact of Experiences on Identity and Beliefs

23:44 Psychedelics and the Dissolution of Limiting Beliefs

29:46 Using Shamanic Journeys for Specific Intentions

36:48 Integrating Multiple Realities for Healing and Growth

37:57 Conclusion and Future Directions for Healing with Psychedelics and Shamanism

Website - thesobershaman.com

What happens when we commit 100% to breaking through a lifelong block?

In this episode of The Sober Shaman, we dive into the "ceilings" we all hit in recovery. Especially those stubborn, recurring patterns involving the "Big Three": Food, Sex, and Money.

Even after years of sobriety, many of us find ourselves still enchanted by the Spells of our solidified beliefs. They validate themselves on our past experiences but because we believe them, they predetermine our future outcomes.

We'll explore why taking a journey or working the steps or reading self-help isn't always enough to shatter these specific blocks.

The missing ingredient? 100% Commitment.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Big Three: Why food, sex, and money are the usual ceilings we hit in our next level of spiritual growth.
• The Anatomy of a Spell: How your current beliefs are actually sabotaging your future potential.
• The Power of 100%: Lessons from Jesus and the Buddha on what it truly looks like to "say no to the Devil".

Whether you are struggling with sugar, finances, or love in all of its forms, this episode provides the spiritual medicine needed to breakthrough those self-imposed ceilings we've all manifested.

Connect with the Journey:

Ready to take the spiritual medicine into your daily life? Visit us at thesobershaman.com for more resources, episodes, and guidance on your path to recovery.

When faced with the fact that we’ve come up short, It’s normal to think that if we just planned better, woke up earlier, and tried a little harder, then we would have succeeded.

But what happens when we realize that we’ve said that, and done that, and still ended up in this exact spot, more than once before?

Trying harder, and of all the mind’s controlled thinking, planning and judging, can actually be the cement that hardens a long-standing pattern into place.

So, for these people, which are most people, surrender is the way out.

But what exactly is surrender? Who is doing it? And what are we surrendering to?

Don’t worry, this isn’t about defeat - it’s actually about scoring a victory for the forces of innocence, love, spirit and the Heart.

Check out how we do this in the latest episode of The Sober Shaman Podcast

Takeaways

• Cycles of addiction and mental health struggles can lead to feelings of being stuck and repeating patterns.
• The interplay between surrender and discipline, and the longing of the heart for connection, are key elements in getting unstuck.

Chapters

• 00:00 Getting Unstuck in Recovery and Mental Health
• 09:26 The Pull of Surrender and Discipline
• 19:39 The Role of Identity and Purpose
• 26:41 The Power of Surrender and the Heart's Longing
• 32:28 Breaking Free from Limiting Core Beliefs

thesobershaman.com

The conversation delves into the world of Okoye, a living school rooted in indigenous wisdom and community building. It explores the incorporation of indigenous elders, preservation of languages, and the impact of remote work on indigenous communities.

The discussion also highlights the challenges and growth of community building, emphasizing the importance of relationship and the medicine of community.

The conversation delves into the changing nature of communication and community, the role of AI in community building, the concept of home and community acceptance, creating safe spaces and deep work with medicine, the purpose of joining an online community, in-person immersion experiences and community expansion, the responsibility of community stewardship, empowering visionaries and building a sustainable community, and inviting individuals to join the community.

Takeaways

• Community Building
• Indigenous Wisdom Community Building
• Holistic Healing

Chapters

• 00:00 Challenges and Growth of Community Building
• 23:53 The Changing Nature of Communication and Community
• 30:30 Creating Safe Spaces and Deep Work with Medicine
• 35:56 The Responsibility of Community Stewardship
• 45:04 Inviting Individuals to Join the Community

https://www.skool.com/ocoyai-ancestral-school

thesobershaman.com

When I'm asked, "What do you do?" the most accurate answer is…

"I help people Open the Eyes of their Heart.”

Of course, that response raises more questions than it answers but sometimes...isn't that the point?

Which is why in this episode of the podcast, I answer this question in detail and provide the what, how and why of this powerful approach and time-less medicine.

Join us & experience what it's all about

thesobershaman.com

The podcast explores the limitations of understanding and the need for the four medicines to treat addiction and trauma. It emphasizes the importance of experience, connection, and practice in transforming old beliefs and behaviors.

Takeaways

• Understanding alone is not enough
• The four medicines (awareness, experience, connection, practice) are essential for transformation

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding is Not Enough
• 07:02 The Medicine of Experience
• 14:36 The Path of Mastery

thesobershaman.com

The conversation explores the interconnectedness of inspiration and mastery, emphasizing their role in personal transformation and empowerment. It delves into the power of inspiration in guiding individuals towards authenticity and value, highlighting the significance of breathing in the divine and the impact of inspiration on empowerment and transformation.

Takeaways

• Inspiration and mastery are interconnected
• The power of inspiration in transformation

Chapters

• 00:00 The Path of Mastery and Transformation
• 10:46 Breathing in the Divine
• 19:30 The Power of Inspiration
• 26:02 Empowerment and Transformation

The latest surge in all-things-Chinese-health-related, gives me both hope and disappointment.

Because I know that this medicine is exactly what's needed right now and the surge will introduce its wonders to many.

And at the same time, I know that the appeal will quickly fade once people realize there's no hack, short-cut or quick-fix anywhere to be found.

It's a path of skill, dedication and mastery.

And it doesn't have to be mastery in Tai Chi or anything obviously health related. It could be...cannolis ; )

See how & let me know your thoughts.

Blessings!

Randal

Takeaways:

• The practice of Tai Chi serves as a profound method for cultivating self-discipline and mastery in one's life.
• Achieving mastery in any discipline requires unwavering dedication and the willingness to engage in repetitive practice over an extended period.
• The disparity between internal worth and external validation significantly contributes to the challenges encountered in the realm of addiction.
• Mastery enables individuals to establish meaningful connections with others through the sharing of acquired skills and knowledge.
• The journey of mastery is analogous to the adage of 'chop wood, carry water,' emphasizing the importance of consistent effort in all endeavors.
• In the pursuit of mastery, one learns that the process of continuous improvement is intrinsically valuable in itself.

Chapters:

• 00:00 - The Surge of Interest in Tai Chi
• 01:01 - The Journey into Tai Chi
• 05:07 - The Journey of Mastery
• 07:01 - Exploring Internal vs External Validation
• 11:23 - The Path to Mastery
• 12:38 - Exploring Paths of Mastery