1.0
Verified
Not what I expected
Original Review from November 2023:
My intention for booking this retreat was to use magic mushrooms as a sacred healing tool for inner transformation. This was unfortunately not fulfilled. I cannot recommend this retreat. The good: The location can be found easily and is close to Alicante city center. The atmosphere during arrival time was very friendly, welcoming, positive and relaxed. The helpers (mostly very young women in their early twenties) were friendly, open and positive spirited. During the whole retreat weekend there were several occasions where the helpers created positive and helpful situations, for example, they were in charge of the food, they helped with arrival, they helped during ceremony, they offered a talking circle, they offered yoga sessions and were always there in case of questions/problems. The bad: The host of this place is a very troubled, unbalanced and - at times - aggressive man, that is not in control of his emotional state. He often appeared tired, bored, strained, and high. His temper was dangerous for the group in several situations. One example of his unreasonable behavior being that he entered a sharing circle with a joint in his hand, another example being that he was high himself during a ceremony, and he was high on at least two substances while driving a car with four participants himself. Another example of troubled behavior being that he tried to sell drugs during the final circle. For me, it was not at all a trustworthy retreat, mainly because of the unstable character/personality of the host. I wouldn't recommend the retreat to anyone. This is not a place for safe experience with plant medicine.
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La Mezquita's Response May 2024:
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. Your feedback is invaluable, and I want to express my deepest gratitude for bringing these concerns to our attention.
Please accept my sincerest apologies for any discomfort or unease you may have experienced during your time at our retreat. It deeply saddens me to hear that your expectations were not met and that you did not feel the healing and transformative environment that we strive to create.
Upon reflection on your feedback, I have taken significant steps to address the issues you raised. It's been a journey of profound self-realization for me personally, as your review prompted me to confront some of my own shortcomings.
I'd like to shed light on my own story which is reflected in this short film made about my life in 2017. "Journey to Spain and Feel the Psychedelic Sensations of San Pedro | HEALING POWERS". For anyone interested, the documentary can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tYHbIGEfi8&t=1
I want to clarify a few points that seem to have been misunderstood. Firstly, regarding the incident with the "joint" during the sharing circle, I must clarify that it wasn't a joint but a blend of various herbs, it was consumed in an open-air setting.
Please also understand that as facilitators, we take a small dose for the purpose of maintaining clarity and guidance throughout the session. However, I assure you that these doses are minimal and do not compromise our ability to ensure the safety and well-being of our participants.
Regarding the issue of driving, your safety is paramount to us. We now use a van as a driver.
Also, I want to address the misunderstanding regarding the sale of drugs during the final circle. Our intention is not to promote or facilitate the sale of drugs but to provide ongoing support and integration services for our guests. This includes offering microdosing packages and educating individuals on the responsible and safe use of psychedelics. This allows them to partake in psychedelic experiences without spending 1000s of euros.
In light of your feedback, I have undergone profound changes and improvements to ensure that our retreat center remains a safe, nurturing, and transformative space.
Once again, thank you for your feedback. It has been a catalyst for positive change.
With warmest regards,
Sanson
My intention for booking this retreat was to use magic mushrooms as a sacred healing tool for inner transformation. This was unfortunately not fulfilled. I cannot recommend this retreat. The good: The location can be found easily and is close to Alicante city center. The atmosphere during arrival time was very friendly, welcoming, positive and relaxed. The helpers (mostly very young women in their early twenties) were friendly, open and positive spirited. During the whole retreat weekend there were several occasions where the helpers created positive and helpful situations, for example, they were in charge of the food, they helped with arrival, they helped during ceremony, they offered a talking circle, they offered yoga sessions and were always there in case of questions/problems. The bad: The host of this place is a very troubled, unbalanced and - at times - aggressive man, that is not in control of his emotional state. He often appeared tired, bored, strained, and high. His temper was dangerous for the group in several situations. One example of his unreasonable behavior being that he entered a sharing circle with a joint in his hand, another example being that he was high himself during a ceremony, and he was high on at least two substances while driving a car with four participants himself. Another example of troubled behavior being that he tried to sell drugs during the final circle. For me, it was not at all a trustworthy retreat, mainly because of the unstable character/personality of the host. I wouldn't recommend the retreat to anyone. This is not a place for safe experience with plant medicine.
---
La Mezquita's Response May 2024:
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. Your feedback is invaluable, and I want to express my deepest gratitude for bringing these concerns to our attention.
Please accept my sincerest apologies for any discomfort or unease you may have experienced during your time at our retreat. It deeply saddens me to hear that your expectations were not met and that you did not feel the healing and transformative environment that we strive to create.
Upon reflection on your feedback, I have taken significant steps to address the issues you raised. It's been a journey of profound self-realization for me personally, as your review prompted me to confront some of my own shortcomings.
I'd like to shed light on my own story which is reflected in this short film made about my life in 2017. "Journey to Spain and Feel the Psychedelic Sensations of San Pedro | HEALING POWERS". For anyone interested, the documentary can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tYHbIGEfi8&t=1
I want to clarify a few points that seem to have been misunderstood. Firstly, regarding the incident with the "joint" during the sharing circle, I must clarify that it wasn't a joint but a blend of various herbs, it was consumed in an open-air setting.
Please also understand that as facilitators, we take a small dose for the purpose of maintaining clarity and guidance throughout the session. However, I assure you that these doses are minimal and do not compromise our ability to ensure the safety and well-being of our participants.
Regarding the issue of driving, your safety is paramount to us. We now use a van as a driver.
Also, I want to address the misunderstanding regarding the sale of drugs during the final circle. Our intention is not to promote or facilitate the sale of drugs but to provide ongoing support and integration services for our guests. This includes offering microdosing packages and educating individuals on the responsible and safe use of psychedelics. This allows them to partake in psychedelic experiences without spending 1000s of euros.
In light of your feedback, I have undergone profound changes and improvements to ensure that our retreat center remains a safe, nurturing, and transformative space.
Once again, thank you for your feedback. It has been a catalyst for positive change.
With warmest regards,
Sanson