Andy Joins Cults

My experience at Medicine Festival 2024 — a plant medicine, ceremony, and healing-focused gathering in the UK. This is a first-person, unfiltered look at what it’s actually like to be there.Medicine Festival isn’t happening in 2025, so I wanted to put this out for anyone curious about what it felt like to attend in previous years. There’s no big spiritual climax here — just me showing up low-energy, observing, wandering through cer...

Taking time to integrate after ISTA Level 1 in an Airbnb with two others instead of rushing back to London. These days gave me space to practice what I learned - mostly about presence, connection, and shadow work rather than the sexuality everyone assumes these trainings focus on. Looking back, I couldn't have done this three years ago. The temple arts practices and conscious sexuality work needed a foundation - My own path le...

Finished up ISTA Level 1 with closing ceremonies and a final sharing circle where I learned my "huge energy" had triggered some people - turns out doing energy work daily has effects I hadn't considered. The temple arts training brought up things I never expected, especially about how we impact each other in these spaces. Through all the sacred spot rituals, temple nights, and group practices, I discovered something important: you...

Final day at the ISTA conscious sexuality workshop - from morning ecstatic dance to an unexpectedly beautiful sacred spot ritual. Started with mixed feelings about temple ceremonies and group sharing circles, but ended up having one of the most profound experiences of my life (though don't expect me to share the details - some things you just have to experience yourself). Honest look at navigating boundaries, BDSM conversation...

My first temple experience at ISTA left me with mixed feelings. After matching flowers with partners and sensing disappointment on their faces, I found myself drained rather than enlightened. I'd been told today would be more intense, but honestly? I was just exhausted. I showed up for the evening temple ritual, determined to participate in the "gods and goddesses" ceremony. Ended up sitting in meditation pose while ...

Continuing this ISTA training documentation as we dive into day 4, where things get complicated with divine parent archetypes, gender exploration, and my brutally honest take on men's circles. For those researching what happens at ISTA workshops - today challenged my preconceptions about how these trainings approach gender and sexuality. The day moved through several temple arts exercises: working with mother/father archetypes...

Continuing my ISTA training review and documentation of what actually happens at these workshops. Day 3 dives into shadow work, the Wheel of Consent practice, and ends with a self-pleasure temple night. For those researching ISTA Level 1 experiences or wondering about tantra workshop boundaries - this one gets personal. Starting with early morning OSHO No-Dimension meditation (which involves some Sufi-style spinning), we moved thr...

Looking for an honest ISTA training review? Wondering what happens at ISTA workshops? I am continuing my documentation of what actually happens at ISTA (International School of Temple Arts with footage of Day 2. After yesterday's opening ceremony, things got more intense - from morning anxiety to full-on somatic release exercises soundtracked by Marilyn Manson. 🤘 For those searching for the temple arts training reality, this is m...

First day at ISTA (Institute of Temple Arts and Shamanism) - way different from my previous tantra classes and conscious sexuality courses. The training focuses on boundaries, consent, self-love practices, and shamanic tools. Met a mix of experienced play party folks and newcomers to conscious spaces. This 5-day journey into temple arts started with some taxi drama before diving into conscious communication exercises and integrati...

Another absurd day documenting security reactions at Egypt's temples. Started with the regular armed escort (apparently someone reported the Star Magic group for "healing"), but Abu Simbel guards took it to another level. First they said no speaking, then when I complied, they freaked out because I closed my eyes. Every attempt to film turned into a new rule - no strange languages, no standing still, no advertising......

Surveillance of the Star Magic group has reached unprecedented levels in Aswan - they're now being tracked by army personnel, international police, national police, local police, and plain-clothes officers. All because someone reported them for "healing people in Egypt" - which turns out to be illegal here.

Jerry Sergeant finally revealed why he believes the group is under such intense scrutiny: Egypt strictly controls spiritual pr...

Woke up to a misty Nile morning heading to Edfu Temple, when our Star Magic group's peaceful journey took an unexpected turn. What started as 2 police officers has escalated to 8-10 armed guards with assault rifles trailing our movements. Their focus is specifically on our guide Jerry Sergeant, actively preventing meditation or spiritual practices at the temples.

At Edfu Temple, I discovered something striking - large sections ...

From tourist to target - my incredible 10-day Egyptian journey took an unexpected turn when our spiritual tour group caught the attention of local authorities at the Pyramids of Giza. What began as peaceful meditation near these ancient wonders quickly escalated into a tense standoff with armed police, raising questions about who really controls access to Egypt's sacred sites.

Join me as I share this firsthand account of being ...