16 episodes

Masters of Ceremony is a podcast led by artist and ceremonialist, Andrew Askaripour. MoC’s aim is to merge the worlds of Andrew's passions of Spirituality, Hip-Hop, Photography/Film, Sacred Plant Medicines, and the beauty of ceremony in order to educate, inspire, and strengthen others. Born of Jamaican and Iranian descent, Andrew humbly walks a path of service in order to honor and give thanks to his ancestors and elders for helping guide him towards rediscovering these ancient and universal forms in which all communities gather, heal, and grow together. Apprenticing for many years with initiated teachers and elders of several traditions has provided Andrew with an immense respect and understanding of the responsibility of what it is to carry and share these sacred teachings with the upmost reverence and integrity. From his years involved within the New York Hip-Hop scene, to studying with various wise medicine men and women of Central and South America, Andrew has gained a distinct outlook on life that allows him to connect with the hearts, minds, and spirits of his fascinating guests, who are each on the way to becoming true masters of their crafts. Through sitting down with these remarkable individuals, and sharing insights from his own journey, Andrew invites you onto his journey of learning, exploration, and growth. Welcome to Masters of Ceremony. 

Masters of Ceremony Andrew Askaripour

    • Religion & Spirituality

Masters of Ceremony is a podcast led by artist and ceremonialist, Andrew Askaripour. MoC’s aim is to merge the worlds of Andrew's passions of Spirituality, Hip-Hop, Photography/Film, Sacred Plant Medicines, and the beauty of ceremony in order to educate, inspire, and strengthen others. Born of Jamaican and Iranian descent, Andrew humbly walks a path of service in order to honor and give thanks to his ancestors and elders for helping guide him towards rediscovering these ancient and universal forms in which all communities gather, heal, and grow together. Apprenticing for many years with initiated teachers and elders of several traditions has provided Andrew with an immense respect and understanding of the responsibility of what it is to carry and share these sacred teachings with the upmost reverence and integrity. From his years involved within the New York Hip-Hop scene, to studying with various wise medicine men and women of Central and South America, Andrew has gained a distinct outlook on life that allows him to connect with the hearts, minds, and spirits of his fascinating guests, who are each on the way to becoming true masters of their crafts. Through sitting down with these remarkable individuals, and sharing insights from his own journey, Andrew invites you onto his journey of learning, exploration, and growth. Welcome to Masters of Ceremony. 

    Salvador Villalobos on Walking the Red Road, the Power of Ayahuasca, and the Vision of Hayulima Spiritual Sanctuary

    Salvador Villalobos on Walking the Red Road, the Power of Ayahuasca, and the Vision of Hayulima Spiritual Sanctuary

    Today's guest is my dear and beloved brother, Salvador Villalobos. Salvador has been walking the Camino Rojo and working intimately with the sacred plant medicines of the Americas, and their traditions, for over 25 years. Originally from Mexico, but now living in the breathtaking cloud forest of Mindo, Ecuador. Salvador is one of the guardians of Hayulima Spiritual Sanctuary; a beautiful and sacred land which welcomes people of all backgrounds to reconnect with nature and themselves, and to safely experience the healing potential of master plant medicines such as Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Peyote, and other ancestral ceremonies.

    In this episode Salvador and I explore his life long journey into the profound realms of plant medicines and the healing that can be found through ceremony. We discuss the importance of forming a genuine relationship to the natural world around us, the process of meeting and receiving the blessings of his Elders, the transformational power of Ayahuasca, and advice for the younger generation who wishes to work with these sacred plant medicines. We also venture into Salvador's journey of now being a leader of Vision Quest, a potent ritual involving fasting, prayer, and introspection which serves as a doorway to self-discovery and spiritual growth.

    Beyond the realms of his personal journey, our conversation navigates towards Salvador's vision for the future. His love for his daughters and his aspiration to sculpt a better world for them shines through as he shares the story behind the creation of Hayulima Spiritual Sanctuary and the vision he holds for this land.

    Recorded December 2022 at Hayulima Spiritual Sanctuary | Mindo, Ecuador

    0:00 Intro
    5:59 Journey of Spirituality in Mexico
    21:15 Finding Purpose in Nature and Plant Medicines
    30:48 Reconnecting to our True Essence through Ancestral Practices
    44:00 Guidance for the Younger Generation Working with Plant Medicines
    54:39 Developing a Healthy Relationship With Ayahuasca
    1:02:46 The Power of Ayahuasca
    1:15:01 Ayahuasca's Meaning and the Power of Song
    1:32:21 The Tradition and Power of Vision Quest
    2:12:00 The Creation and Vision of Hayulima Spiritual Sanctuary
    2:25:27 The Gift of Fatherhood

    Watch on YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmLQguJPOzk

    Visit Hayulima's website if you wish to join one of  their retreats and learn more:
    https://www.hayulima.com/

    Follow Hayulima on Instagram

    Visit AlchemyofClarity.Com to learn more about and join my upcoming Ceremonial Psilocybin Retreats in Portugal this April & May 2024

    Podcast Music Produced by David Noriega


    SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST / LEAVE A REVIEW:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masters-of-ceremony/id1508921843

    YouTube: ht

    • 2 hrs 37 min
    "Psychedelics and Sacred Ceremonies" - Harvard University Lecture by Andrew Askaripour | MOC#14

    "Psychedelics and Sacred Ceremonies" - Harvard University Lecture by Andrew Askaripour | MOC#14

    On April 5th, 2023 I had the immense honor of speaking at Harvard University with the Harvard Psychedelic Club about my journey with plant medicines, and the importance of using entheogenic substances within a ceremonial context. This speech was followed by an incredible Q&A and personal reflections  from the audience.

    About Me
    Andrew is a ceremonialist and multidisciplinary artist from Long Island, New York. For well over a decade Andrew has been passionately studying, learning from, and working directly with sacred plant teachers, indigenous ceremonial traditions, and the practices of holistic mind-body healing through herbalism and spiritual teachings. 
    Born of Jamaican and Iranian descent, Andrew humbly walks a path of service with the aim of honoring and giving thanks to his ancestors and elders for guiding him towards rediscovering these ancient and universal forms in which all communities gather, heal, and grow together. Apprenticing for many years with initiated teachers and elders of several traditions has provided Andrew with an immense respect and understanding of the responsibility of what it is to carry these sacred teachings with the utmost reverence and integrity.

    Always working from a place of love, safety, humor, and gentleness, Andrew leads a life of prayer with the intention of leaving a positive and lasting impact on all those he serves and supports through his offerings.

    Follow  the Harvard Psychedelic Club on Instagram  and join their amazing newsletter.

    Learn more about Andrew's upcoming 8-Day Psilocybin Retreats, "Alchemy of Clarity". Happening both in April and May 2024.
    https://www.alchemyofclarity.com/

    SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST / LEAVE A REVIEW:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masters-of-ceremony/id1508921843

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHGyyBZSwdsaHwOCrB32QQ

    Follow us on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/themastersofceremony
    https://www.instagram.com/fifthgod/

    Learn more about Andrew's photography, videos, music, podcasts, and more at his website: https://www.fifthgod.com/ 

    • 1 hr 44 min
    Carlos Pussetto on Being Kidnapped During Argentina's "Dirty War", Sacred Teachings of the Ancient Americas & Red Road, Healing through Poetry, Art, and Percussion | MOC#13

    Carlos Pussetto on Being Kidnapped During Argentina's "Dirty War", Sacred Teachings of the Ancient Americas & Red Road, Healing through Poetry, Art, and Percussion | MOC#13

    Over the course of his life Carlos Pussetto has had an immensely transformative and inspiring journey. Carlos studied psychology and sociology at the National University of Humanities in Argentina and was active in the resistance movement against the then military dictatorship. In 1976 Carlos was kidnapped by the army and placed into La Perla concentration camp until 1979, enduring years of torture and unjust imprisonment. Being one of the only survivors of this concentration camp, Carlos eventually escaped to Brazil, and ultimately to Sweden as a political refugee with the help of the United Nations. 

    In Sweden, Carlos began his journey back to life and found healing through art, music, poetry, dance, percussion and theatre and eventually became a teacher of these modalities to hundreds of people throughout Europe. In the early 1990s, Carlos was introduced to the teachings of the Camino Rojo, Sacred Fire, and Tolteca traditions of the Ancient Americas. For over 30 years Carlos has been following and sharing these teachings and has completed the cycles of Vision Quests and The Sun Dance, and has participated as a runner in the Intercontinental Journey of Peace and Dignity Prayer of 2000. 

    Through decades of study, direct experience, and guidance of various teachers, Carlos has decided to dedicate his life to the betterment of Mother Earth, to the path of the Heart, and to the elements and cosmos, with the intention of restoring balance within himself and to help others along the way to find a path to their own healing. Currently living in Spain, Carlos offers temazcals, vision quests, and other sacred ceremonies on his land and all throughout Europe in the hopes of allowing others an opportunity to reconnect to themselves in a pure and honest way. 

    In this episode we discuss: 
    Carlos' experience of being kidnapped and imprisoned during the Guerra sucia, Dirty War, of Argentina during the late 1970s. Healing himself through art, poetry, percussion, and and music His first experiences with plant medicines, temazcals, and other ancestral traditions of the Americas The philosophy and influence of the Olemec and Toltec Traditions Becoming a fully integrated being, working in the service for all life The importance of decolonizing of our minds The universal truths of all true spiritual doctrines Being remembered as a poet and artist + more Carlos' Resources
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/temaz...
    https://www.facebook.com/ColibriAzul/

    Visit AlchemyofClarity.Com to learn more about and join my upcoming Ceremonial Psilocybin Retreats in Portugal this April & May 2024

    SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST / LEAVE A REVIEW:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masters-of-ceremony/id1508921843

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHGyyBZSwdsaHwOCrB32QQ

    Follow us on Instagram:

    • 1 hr 45 min
    Sen Floyd on Legacy, Photography + Cinema Journey, MMA, and Daily Spiritual Practices | #12

    Sen Floyd on Legacy, Photography + Cinema Journey, MMA, and Daily Spiritual Practices | #12

    Senetchut Men Ab Nehti, best known as Sen M. Floyd, is a Brooklyn-born photographer/ cinematographer. Having picked up a small point-shoot camera in his early teen years as a means of creative expression, Senetchut transformed a hobby into a lifelong passion. Heavily influenced by New York City’s diverse culture, Sen’s raw approach towards his photography gives his work—motion and still —an organic characteristic. When he was fifteen Sen’s work was featured in museum galleries such as the Studio Museum of Harlem, and the Jewish Museum. He began his study of storytelling through photography at the Tisch School of the Arts. Later, Sen studied documentary filmmaking under the guidance of Albert Maysles at the Maysles Institute and Cinema. He continued his quest for expanded cinematography skills at the Film Connection Institute, and later for portraiture at the New York Institute of Photography.

    In this episode Sen and I discuss 
    How being raised by health conscious and spiritually aware parents impacted his upbringingFinding a balance between working with both cinematography and stillsBeing a documentarian of the current New York Hip-Hop scene and how Hip-Hop has influenced all of his workThe importance of legacy + longevityMMA as a spiritual practice and disciplineDaily visualization + meditation practicesMentorshipAdvice for photographers regarding workflow + subject connectionAnd the definition of Sen's name, his influences, and future worksPlease follow Sen on Instagram and check out all Sen's amazing work via his website here:
    www.senmfloyd.com
    https://www.instagram.com/sen.floyd/

    --
    Please subscribe and leave a short review if you've enjoyed this podcast; this support will really help us grow our platform immensely.

    SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST / LEAVE A REVIEW:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masters-of-ceremony/id1508921843

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kFyabmGDqtpLPs2GqFMAx?si=Q8Q50VfWQEqFSVczM3UHSA

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHGyyBZSwdsaHwOCrB32QQ

    Follow us on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/themastersofceremony
    https://www.instagram.com/fifthgod/

    Check out Andrew's debut album as a Record Producer, "The Fifth Tape" on Apple Music, Spotify, etc: https://fanlink.to/FifthGod

    Learn more about Andrew's photography, videos, music, podcasts, and more at his website: https://www.fifthgod.com/

    Podcast Music used with permission by Bamboo Cedar Oak  -- Purchase their music here: https://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/product/bamboo-cedar-oak/

    Much Love Family!

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Isabel Friend on the Spirit, Science, and Healing Magic of Sacred Water | #11

    Isabel Friend on the Spirit, Science, and Healing Magic of Sacred Water | #11

    Isabel Friend is has extensively been researching and educating others on all things regarding the sacred source of all life, water.

    She is a certified nutritionist, compelling public speaker, advisor to various global water initiatives and programs, and truly an amazing teacher for all those interested in learning more about the magic and healing potential of structured water.

    Some of the things we discussed in this episode were:

    The magical and mysterious qualities of water and how water can be used as a solution for so many of our worlds' problems today, different kinds of water and what types are most sustaining for life, the dangers of micro plastics and other toxins in today's waters, privatized water and their associated "Water Cartels" and what we can do to combat these issues, and lastly the indigenous and spiritual perspective on water and it's importance.

    Links:

    Isabel Friend on Social Media:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenisabelfriend/
    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2687704041316173

    Isabel's Website/Courses (20% off with code MASTERSOFCEREMONY)
    https://www.waterislife.love/
    https://waterislife.teachable.com/

    Isabel's amazing WATERISLIFE Shop:
    https://waterislife.shop/

    Find a local spring near you:
    https://findaspring.com/

    Micro plastics research:
    http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/plastic_ingestion_press_singles.pdf

    Viktor Shauberger Documentary:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyOGdjWDVM4

    Aluna Documentary:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftFbCwJfs1I&t=1867s
    --
    Please subscribe and leave a short review if you've enjoyed this podcast; this support will really help us grow our platform immensely.

    SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST / LEAVE A REVIEW:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masters-of-ceremony/id1508921843

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kFyabmGDqtpLPs2GqFMAx?si=Q8Q50VfWQEqFSVczM3UHSA

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHGyyBZSwdsaHwOCrB32QQ

    Follow us on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/themastersofceremony
    https://www.instagram.com/fifthgod/

    Check out Andrew's debut album as a Record Producer, "The Fifth Tape" on Apple Music, Spotify, etc: https://fanlink.to/FifthGod

    Learn more about Andrew's photography, videos, music, podcasts, and more at his website: https://www.fifthgod.com/

    Podcast Music used with permission by Bamboo Cedar Oak  -- Purchase their music here: https://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/product/bamboo-cedar-oak/

    Much Love Family!

    • 2 hrs 5 min
    Guillermo Martinez on Building Native Instruments, Ancestral Reconnection, Prayer as Medicine, and Mentorship | #10

    Guillermo Martinez on Building Native Instruments, Ancestral Reconnection, Prayer as Medicine, and Mentorship | #10

    Guillermo Martinez is a Master Crafstman, musician, and wisdom keeper of indigenous instruments and their history from Southern California. 

    He is the owner of Quetzacoatl Music, an instrument shop and educational resource dedicated to the distribution and preservation of sacred instruments and their history. 

    Along with being a master craftsman of native flutes, drums, rattles, and other instruments,  
    Guillermo is also a gifted performer, and one third of the incredibly talented musical trio, Bamboo Cedar Oak.

    In this episode we discuss:

    How Guillermo experienced an ancestral reawakening as a young man through traditional Aztec dancing, the early days of learning how to build and play sacred instruments, his love of ceremony, and eventually meeting his mentor, the late Javier Quijas Yxayotl.
    We also discuss the confidence and blessings one receives by building their own instruments, the importance of learning from various cultures other than his own, and how nature and spirit respond to the magic of music.

    We also went on to speak about playing music from the heart, rather than the mind, responsible and respectful use of sacred plant medicines, the importance of lineage and mentorship, and the journey of fatherhood and what it means to be a good parent.

    Links to Guillermo's offerings:
    INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/quetzalcoatl13/
    YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/QuetzalcoatlMusic/
    WEBSITE: https://www.quetzalcoatlmusic.org/
    PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/quetzalcoatlmusic
    --
    Please subscribe and leave a short review if you've enjoyed this podcast; this support will really help us grow our platform immensely.

    SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST / LEAVE A REVIEW:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masters-of-ceremony/id1508921843

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kFyabmGDqtpLPs2GqFMAx?si=Q8Q50VfWQEqFSVczM3UHSA

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHGyyBZSwdsaHwOCrB32QQ

    Follow us on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/themastersofceremony
    https://www.instagram.com/fifthgod/

    Check out Andrew's debut album as a Record Producer, "The Fifth Tape" on Apple Music, Spotify, etc: https://fanlink.to/FifthGod

    Learn more about Andrew's photography, videos, music, podcasts, and more at his website: https://www.fifthgod.com/

    Podcast Music used with permission by Bamboo Cedar Oak  -- Purchase their music here: https://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/product/bamboo-cedar-oak/

    Much Love Family!

    • 1 hr 21 min

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