Retreat work

The Power of Ceremony: Unlocking Ancient Wisdom in Modern Life

Ben Feiertag

5 min read

The First Ceremony in Ancient Greece

One of my favorite books is The Immortality Key, by Brian Muraresku. This book gives a fascinating glimpse into why ceremonies from the past might have profoundly shaped how we have structured our lives and societies nowadays. Muraresku shows how psychoactive substances, used in sacred ceremonies as the Eleusinian Mysteries in ancient Greece, were intended not for hedonism but to facilitate transcendence and connect with the Divine. These Mysteries, which were exclusively held in secret, were attended by a wide array of individuals, from common citizens to high-ranking officials, political leaders like Marcus Aurelius, and philosophers like Aristotle and Plato.

Psychedelics Shaping Our History

While the exact details of the rites remain shrouded in secrecy (telling about them was punished by the penalty of death!), they were thought to help individuals confront existential questions and gain clarity on the mysteries of the Universe. The interesting part connected to what FEIER does is that these mysteries were fueled by the drink “the Kykeon”. This drink, a kind of beer, was full of ergot, a fungus, growing on the Barley which was used to prepare the Kykeon. Ergot is the main substance of LSD, a powerful psychedelic, so Muaresku hypothesizes that the Kykeon might have had a psychedelic effect, enlightening the participants on the Mysteries of life.

Ceremony to Reconnect with Ancient Wisdom

Muraresku concludes his book with a statement that ceremony allows us to step outside of ourselves, fostering unity and deeper meaning. It’s about how the rituals themselves can open us to a higher state of consciousness, where we can reconnect with ancient wisdom and discover profound truths about our lives and our place in the world. I believe that connecting to these higher truths can help us find our authentic path and be valuable as leaders for the world at large.

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If you want to dive deeper into the story behind the most ancient ceremony in western civilization, read Muraresku's book, the Immortality Key.

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The Power of Live Music and Song in Ceremony

Live music breathes. It listens. I tune into the energy of the room — your breath, movements, emotions — and respond intuitively. The music moves with you, holding, soothing, and guiding you wherever the medicine takes you. This story is about how live music and song can transform in retreat work.

Why Set and Setting Matter: The Invisible Architecture of Ceremony

In the quiet moments before a psychedelic ceremony begins, something intangible begins to take shape. The air feels still, sacred. Participants gather slowly, settling onto cushions arranged in a circle, the scent of sage or palo santo drifting through the space. Soft candlelight flickers, casting shadows that dance gently on the walls. Everything is intentional. I know that in the realm of psychedelic ceremony, set and setting are not just helpful—they are essential.

Psilocybin, Once Taboo, Emerges as a Tool for Healing and Insight For Leaders

I love the underground work, working with the Shamans in the Amazon, small ceremonies in the middle of nowhere, exploring life and death, and everything in between. But as I have always worked in financial politics, I couldn’t help but explore: How can these compounds, being taboo since the 1960s, create a healing effect for leaders and thus potentially create a positive butterfly effect in the world?