STAYING PRESENT APPROACH (SPA)

Developed by Cáli Ornelas

At any time, and no matter how we feel, Cáli's Staying Present Approach calls us to
be present at all times.

It is Cáli's biggest wish in her work and life to help bring Self into Presence, may it
be in an IFS therapy session, receiving plant medicine guidance, or any situation we
face in daily life.

The art of Being Present is an old, tried and tested aspiration of all spiritual seekers,
clients seeking understanding through various therapy modalities and more recently
people, from all walks of life, seeking relief and transformation with plant medicines
and psychedelics as a healing possibility.

When Cali’s Staying Present Approach is applied to medicine ceremonies, she first
directs us towards discovering personal intentionality. With SPA we are conciously
addressing expectations and attending to the needs of all our parts, thus allowing
true surrender of control during the experience.

The Staying Present approach allows us to truly receive and remember the guidance
and later embody the healing the medicine brings.

“When anchored in Presence, remembering and Embodying the

revelations received increase tenfold.”
– Cáli Ornelas

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 Introduction to STAYING PRESENT APPROACH
for Plant Medicine Ceremonies
Written by Gabriella Csanádi PHD, Cultural and Social Anthropologist,
IFS & Deep Coaching practitioner

As plant medicine experiences a global resurgence, we see a wide range of

approaches—from structured psychedelic-assisted therapies in clinical settings to
plant medicine ceremonies led by Western facilitators. Many methods emphasize
thorough pre-ceremony preparation and post-ceremony integration. However,
Cáli’s Staying Present Approach stands out in its unique focus on guiding
participants through the entire journey, not only in preparation and reflection but in
how to stay anchored and embodied with the medicine itself. Her guidance
encourages participants to connect deeply with their intentions and maintaining
Self-awareness throughout the ceremonies, which allow a grounded interaction with
the medicine, enhancing the healing journey as it unfolds.

This framework thoughtfully incorporates Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work
with intention setting, inviting participants to focus on specific parts of themselves
that hold core desires or longings. Cáli’s perspective is also deeply influenced by
the Huni Kuin tradition, which emphasizes the power of collective healing. Cáli will
be guiding our upcoming retreat in Brazil, an experience that combines these
elements in a setting rooted in indigenous wisdom.

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 KEY ELEMENTS

1. Empowering the Participant through Intention Setting and Anchoring

The work starts with intention setting, a process that connects each participant to a
specific longing or desire held by one of their parts. Our parts hold longings that
point us toward the healing we need, the qualities we seek to reclaim and reveal
what is the next step needed in our life journey. By setting an intention, participants
establish an anchor—a steady focus—that they can return to during the journey.

Unlike Western approaches where facilitators act as the primary anchor by lending
their own Self-energy to the participant, here the emphasis is on each person’s
inherent ability to self-heal. Participants are empowered to use their own intention
as an anchor throughout the ceremony, helping them stay connected to their inner
resources, holding their parts when needed. This not only gives agency to the
participant but also aligns with indigenous practices that emphasize individual
strength and resilience while in the force of the medicine.

2. Being with the Medicine

While many methods focus on preparation beforehand and integration afterward,

Cáli’s Staying Present Approach highlights the crucial phase of being actively
present with the medicine during the experience itself. Rather than encouraging
participants to passively relax or detach, this approach, rooted in both IFS and
indigenous wisdom, invites them to stay anchored and embodied in each moment,
even when faced with intense emotions, feelings or body sensations, promoting
deeper engagement with the healing process.

The plant medicine journey invites participants to fully embrace the experience
without turning away. They learn to maintain this presence, cultivating a sense of
strength and self-awareness as they navigate the journey.

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 3. Honoring Indigenous Ceremonial Wisdom

Drawing deeply from the Huni Kuin tradition, the approach honors the active
engagement seen in indigenous ceremonies. In this tradition, participants are
encouraged to stay present and engaged with the medicine, sitting upright during
the initial meditations and prayers, and invited to dancing and move their body
through the later part of the experience. This contrasts with many Western practices
that suggest lying down and relaxing into the journey. Indigenous wisdom views
plant medicine as an active engagement with the spirit world, demanding presence
and respect. There is a communion with the medicine, with a richness of DNA
imprint which is only possible by staying awake and present. Some shamans from
different traditions are also naming this new way of meeting the medicine, as the
new code of medicine we humans are now able to receive.

Cáli respects the lineage and depth of ancestral knowledge that indigenous
traditions carry, recognizing that this wisdom is irreplaceable. While Western
facilitators bring valuable insights into psychology and energy work, they lack the
unbroken ancestral connection of indigenous healers. This approach bridges these
worlds, drawing from both IFS and the cultural depth of the Huni Kuin, ensuring
participants experience an authentic and respectful interaction with the medicine.

4. Commitment to a Single Lineage and Medicine

Rather than working with a variety of plant medicines, the focus on using specific
medicines from the Huni Kuin tradition aligns with indigenous values by honoring a
single lineage and maintaining a cohesive spiritual framework. The commitment
ensures that our retreat adheres to authentic indigenous practices, providing
participants with a grounded, focused experience.

5. Community and Tribal Healing: A Collective Journey

In today’s world, loneliness and isolation are prevalent, there is a deep emphasis on
the healing power of community and tribal connection. Although the ceremony
itself is taken for one’s personal and unique way of being in it, in the retreats under
Cali’s guidance, healing is not an isolated process. It is also a communal one, where

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each participant’s journey is supported by the presence and strength of the group.
Together, participants tap into a collective force that amplifies individual healing,
creating a space where transformation unfolds through shared experiences.

Drawing from the Huni Kuin tradition, participants are guided to begin and end the
ceremony together, leaving no one behind. This shared experience fosters a sense
of unity and belonging, supporting each person’s journey and creating a lasting
bond within the group.

SUMMARY

Cáli’s Staying Present Approach brings together IFS, indigenous wisdom, and
participant agency, creating a powerful framework for deep healing. Her method
empowers participants to anchor themselves with intention, engage fully with the
medicine, and outside of the ceremony itself, connect with each other in a
community setting. It offers a transformative experience that goes beyond
conventional plant medicine practices, rooted in the ancient wisdom of the Huni
Kuin tradition and grounded in modern therapeutic insights.

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