Huachuma, Finding Your Voice, Hip-Hop Culture & Poetry of the Heart | Andrew ”FifthGod” Askari (2020)

Andrew "FifthGod" Askaripour join us for Season 1 (2020) of Birdsong.

Andrew is the host of the newly published podcast, Masters of Ceremony, where he focuses on the topics of Hip-Hop, Photography, Shamanism, Self-Development, Ancestral Wisdom, Health + Wellness, and more.

Andrew, also known as Fifth, is born of Jamaican and Iranian descent, and he is a creative artist from Long Island, New York who sheds light on his experiences in the world through varying mediums of expression. He has a strong passion for photography, record production, cinematography, plant medicine ceremonies, ancient wisdom, and various spiritual practices, and he’s all about documenting and creating genuine art that inspires others to walk a “Path of Remembrance” towards re-discovering their life's purpose and inner calling.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

 

[0:20] Caiyu tells a brief story about his connection with Andrew through drinking the plant medicine Huachuma

[6:20] Caiyu and Andrew begin the conversation

[6:54] Andrew opens up the space with a short prayer of gratitude

[9:46] The theme of finding one’s voice

[11:26] Andrew’s origin story beginning in Long Island, NY

[15:13] Becoming entrenched within hip-hop, skateboarding and NY culture

[21:30] Growing up on the Traditional American Diet

[23:38] Andrew’s 10 day fast as a catalyst for spiritual awakening

[26:28] Exchanging Eastern philosophies for Shamanism and Earth-based cultures

[27:09] Initiation into Ayahuasca + Huachuma in Ecuador

[28:10] “When I was in ceremony, I felt like I returned home…”

[29:33] The parallels between Andrew and Caiyu’s journey

[30:36] Exploring Hip-Hop with derogatory vs uplifting language

[32:30] The essence of Hip-Hop

[34:10] Many people are superficially exposed to Hip-Hop

[34:33] The Golden Era of Hip-Hop: Music of education + a culture that transcends music

[37:40] Trailing the similarities between Hip-Hop, Ceremony, Sacred Circles & Honouring the Sacred

[37:57] The ancient symbology of the Sacred Circle

[40:32] The original meaning of the “Cypher” in Hip-Hop context

[41:30] “Hip-Hop exposed me to my first psychedelic experiences…”

[43:57] The Sacred Plant Medicine Huachuma

[46:52] Andrew’s relationship to Huachuma

[47:41] Initiations into the Andean traditions of working with San Pedro Cactus

[49:20] “A sensation of feeling such a deep sense of ancient wisdom that there was no experience of time…”

[55:03] Articulating an overarching difference between Ayahuasca + Huachuma

[58:00] Finding one’s voice during Huachuma ceremonies

[1:01:01] Becoming a mouthpiece for other energies that can’t speak in the same way humans do

[1:03:29] Preparing for poetry

[1:04:05] The number one thing most people fear aside from death…

[1:05:40] An Offering to the East: A Poem by Andrew

[1:07:57] Becoming a hollow bone for nature to speak through us

[1:12:36] Everyone is a poet

[1:15:25] Our words, prayers and offerings carry frequencies that have an affect on all of nature

[1:15:40] Our words and poetry as an evolutionary life form

[1:18:06] Learnings and teachings from being the host of a podcast

[1:24:20] What is your mythopoetic title? (Andrew detailing his mission and message)

[1:27:26] How do we know which voice is ours?

[1:29:48] Letting go of the notion of possession

[1:33:00] Pausing before speaking: the deep reservoirs of stillness

[1:35:46] You must be patient with yourself

[1:37:19] Presence precedes patience

[1:38:53] Rapid fire questions

[1:39:30] Balancing between how much to share and how much to keep private.

[1:41:21] Bringing elements of the sacred into the digital world

[1:42:20] What would you like to do more of that you’re not currently doing?

[1:43:13] Singing as a deep and sacred communion

[1:45:57] Andrew’s sacred morning water prayer

[1:50:55] Closing up the conversation with a powerful and deep prayer: communing with our ancestors