Over the years I have posted many images of knives, mainly deer stalking patterns but also other designs. Some of those designs go back18 years since they were first created, though they have seen many tweaks since, I reckon I have given away or donated to charity the best part of 110-30 knives in that time, but this latest blade was truly special for me for the reasons below.
Some time ago I applied to an organisation called Heroic Hearts Project UK which was set up by a former member of the parachute regiment in order to help members of the UK armed forces, police, paramedics and fire service personnel suffering from PTSD and Complex PTSD the opportunity to attend retreats abroad for plant based medicine in countries where psychedelics are used legally, currently in the UK they are only used under licence for research, which so far has been hugely successful .
Some of you might have seen various programs on Netflix and Amazon covering this subject as lots of research going on worldwide. In fact, Trump just allocated $50 million to research. Many countries are now legalising psychedelic therapy, the UK will likely follow, hence why research is being carried out.
A few months ago I was finally selected along with 14 others to got to the Peruvian Amazon to attend a retreat to take part in three Ayahuasca ceremonies with two maestros of the Shipibo tribe, these maestros dedicate their lives to the healing of others, it is a huge commitment on their part, often with their training starts at 12 or 13, their knowledge and connection to the jungles plants is incredible.
Equally for those who attend a retreat it is also a huge commitment, there is allot of preparation required beforehand including screening by medical professionals and informing your GP / having their support.
So, 14 of us had to make our own way to Tarapoto Peru, a town in the high Amazon, if I am honest just that journey was difficult for me as it took around two days due to tropical storms, still we all got there safely. Once there we all bonded and shared stories and it was clear that everyone had trauma of different degrees, we then moved forward to the retreat. I won't dwell too much on the retreat itself but it was a truly wonderful experience of learning and healing under the care of trained facilitators who have helped countless people over the years.
It is impossible to describe the experience itself, but I visited fear, a fear that cannot possibly be explained or imagined, but to see fear is to heal, no amount of therapy or prescription medication will unlock that fear. Fourteen people arrived at the retreat with backpacks full of emotional baggage and trauma, but all left with the weight of the world off their shoulders, laughing and smiling, the transformation was amazing. The sooner the UK completes the trials using psychedelics the better, lives will be saved and people will not be hooked on antidepressants that in many cases simple don't work.
On our return to Tarapoto the group spent the night in the hotel we had all originally met at. We were greeted by a group of US service personnel who were there with Heroic Hearts US, mainly marines, air force and special forces, I couldn't help but notice the faces on the two guys I spoke too, they looked hollow and eyes distant. I then realised our group were the same only a week before, having the same thoughts they were now. I smiled and told them to trust the process of what they were about to embark on.
Two weeks later after returning to the UK we spoke as a group online with a facilitator via a video call from Peru, he informed us that all of US group experienced healing and left different people with smiles on their faces, that made me and the rest of the group smile.
On the subject of the knife, I wanted to do something to thank the maestros for helping our group, to gift them something to remember us by and pass down to future generations of maestros, I could think of nothing better than making a knife e for them to use in the jungle. The design I chose was a camp knife; this would have the weight to be able to cut through the Ayahuasca vine which the maestros harvest in order to make the medicine.
I chose a steel that would be tough enough for the task in hand, 80CrV2 steel, an excellent steel for hard working tools. It is also a steel that will patina over time and so carry with it a lasting visual story hope as it is passed through the maestro line.
The design of the blade also meant it could be used for other tasks such as slicing or food preparation. It was handled in olive green G10 with black carbon fibre pins, the handle was then sculptured for additional grip. It was laser etched with the symbol or La Medicina who run the retreats and sheathed so it could be worn on a belt or with a shoulder strap.
For me the blade was symbolic in the respect it marks an end to me gifting knives, over 100 knives are more than enough I feel , it also symbolised a fresh start for me.
I will though continue to donate knives to the charities, one I donated last month to a palliative care organisation and have two more really special knives I am currently making for military charities; it’s a pretty exciting project but a huge commitment, still well worth it.
I have included images of both the knife, the two maestros who I cannot thank enough, such caring people, along with the jungle and the blade leaning against the Ayahuasca vine.
Some time ago I applied to an organisation called Heroic Hearts Project UK which was set up by a former member of the parachute regiment in order to help members of the UK armed forces, police, paramedics and fire service personnel suffering from PTSD and Complex PTSD the opportunity to attend retreats abroad for plant based medicine in countries where psychedelics are used legally, currently in the UK they are only used under licence for research, which so far has been hugely successful .
Some of you might have seen various programs on Netflix and Amazon covering this subject as lots of research going on worldwide. In fact, Trump just allocated $50 million to research. Many countries are now legalising psychedelic therapy, the UK will likely follow, hence why research is being carried out.
A few months ago I was finally selected along with 14 others to got to the Peruvian Amazon to attend a retreat to take part in three Ayahuasca ceremonies with two maestros of the Shipibo tribe, these maestros dedicate their lives to the healing of others, it is a huge commitment on their part, often with their training starts at 12 or 13, their knowledge and connection to the jungles plants is incredible.
Equally for those who attend a retreat it is also a huge commitment, there is allot of preparation required beforehand including screening by medical professionals and informing your GP / having their support.
So, 14 of us had to make our own way to Tarapoto Peru, a town in the high Amazon, if I am honest just that journey was difficult for me as it took around two days due to tropical storms, still we all got there safely. Once there we all bonded and shared stories and it was clear that everyone had trauma of different degrees, we then moved forward to the retreat. I won't dwell too much on the retreat itself but it was a truly wonderful experience of learning and healing under the care of trained facilitators who have helped countless people over the years.
It is impossible to describe the experience itself, but I visited fear, a fear that cannot possibly be explained or imagined, but to see fear is to heal, no amount of therapy or prescription medication will unlock that fear. Fourteen people arrived at the retreat with backpacks full of emotional baggage and trauma, but all left with the weight of the world off their shoulders, laughing and smiling, the transformation was amazing. The sooner the UK completes the trials using psychedelics the better, lives will be saved and people will not be hooked on antidepressants that in many cases simple don't work.
On our return to Tarapoto the group spent the night in the hotel we had all originally met at. We were greeted by a group of US service personnel who were there with Heroic Hearts US, mainly marines, air force and special forces, I couldn't help but notice the faces on the two guys I spoke too, they looked hollow and eyes distant. I then realised our group were the same only a week before, having the same thoughts they were now. I smiled and told them to trust the process of what they were about to embark on.
Two weeks later after returning to the UK we spoke as a group online with a facilitator via a video call from Peru, he informed us that all of US group experienced healing and left different people with smiles on their faces, that made me and the rest of the group smile.
On the subject of the knife, I wanted to do something to thank the maestros for helping our group, to gift them something to remember us by and pass down to future generations of maestros, I could think of nothing better than making a knife e for them to use in the jungle. The design I chose was a camp knife; this would have the weight to be able to cut through the Ayahuasca vine which the maestros harvest in order to make the medicine.
I chose a steel that would be tough enough for the task in hand, 80CrV2 steel, an excellent steel for hard working tools. It is also a steel that will patina over time and so carry with it a lasting visual story hope as it is passed through the maestro line.
The design of the blade also meant it could be used for other tasks such as slicing or food preparation. It was handled in olive green G10 with black carbon fibre pins, the handle was then sculptured for additional grip. It was laser etched with the symbol or La Medicina who run the retreats and sheathed so it could be worn on a belt or with a shoulder strap.
For me the blade was symbolic in the respect it marks an end to me gifting knives, over 100 knives are more than enough I feel , it also symbolised a fresh start for me.
I will though continue to donate knives to the charities, one I donated last month to a palliative care organisation and have two more really special knives I am currently making for military charities; it’s a pretty exciting project but a huge commitment, still well worth it.
I have included images of both the knife, the two maestros who I cannot thank enough, such caring people, along with the jungle and the blade leaning against the Ayahuasca vine.
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