Cast Along The Path: Danny Santos and the Healing Power of Shadow Work
We’re going to catch up with Danny Santos again soon, but shortly after he appeared on the MINDBEND Podcast as my second guest ever, I interviewed Danny for an extended look into his work with the shadow.
His transformative journey of learning to become an ayahuasca shaman and spiritual life coach, illuminates the profound depths of healing accessible through psychedelics, alongside a compassionate understanding of the nature of shadow work, and how dedicated shadow work can move the needle in one’s effort to shift over into a state of lasting wellness. Santos’s practice, deeply rooted in personal experiences of trauma and recovery, offers a poignant narrative about the therapeutic potential of confronting one’s darker inner landscapes.
Danny shared his insights into the interplay between psychedelics and shadow work—a psychological concept developed by Carl Jung. According to Santos, plant medicines like ayahuasca serve as powerful tools to unlock the unconscious mind, allowing individuals to confront hidden emotional wounds, particularly those associated with sexuality. This process not only facilitates deep psychological healing but also fosters significant personal growth by bringing to light the aspects of the self that are often suppressed or ignored.
“Carl Jung has a phrase where he says, until you make the unconscious conscious, it will rule your life and you will call it fate. And I think that is very true when it comes to our sexuality, our sexual desires, etc. because oftentimes I see clients trying to work out their pain out by turning it into pleasure. So our sexual urges will oftentimes be derived by our desire to try to touch this unconscious thing that we don’t want to look at, we don’t want to touch, we don’t want to deal with.”
“My goal is to help people cope with the fact that everybody experiences trauma.”
~ Danny Santos
As healthy and candid discussions around sex and sexuality remain such an impossibly impenetrable taboo in our society, Santos’ willingness to abide in this terrain is always refreshing to me, and is one of the qualities I find to be most trustworthy when envisioning him in the role of guide, and healer.
Danny is also a musician, a singer and songwriter who knows how to tap into the song, the musicality of the psychedelic by honoring and embracing the use of icaros—traditional medicine songs that are believed to direct the healing power of ayahuasca. These songs, along with guided meditations and personalized spiritual coaching, create a supportive environment for individuals to explore their subconscious fears and traumas.
“The ayahuasca can really help you face things and have a new lease on it,” says Santos. “The shaman will be singing icaros, which are known as medicine songs, which are used to specifically channel the medicine in one way or another so that you can begin facing the shadow, looking at the darkness within, going to those dark crevices or corners in the mind and it’s just an, an incredible tool for integration.”
Santos emphasizes that this safe and sacred space is crucial for healing, as it allows individuals to face their shadows without judgment, fostering a profound transformation.
Santos’s holistic approach extends beyond individual healing, aiming to build community and collective understanding. He stresses the importance of inclusivity in healing spaces, recognizing the diverse needs of those who come seeking relief from psychological and emotional pain. His methods are designed to respect and honor all identities and experiences, contributing to a broader cultural understanding of trauma and recovery.
“This is what I teach in my spiritual life coaching program,” explains Santos. “My goal is to help people cope with the fact that everybody experiences trauma. I’ve never met a human being who hasn’t, and to to be fully integrated with yourself so that when a trigger happens, when a scenario in life comes up that’s challenging for you, you have the tools to be able to face your own instincts, gut reactions and responses to be able to exude a more enlightened perspective.”
One of the key benefits Santos highlights is the capacity for psychedelics to enhance self-awareness and reduce the fear associated with inner darkness. He notes that clients often achieve breakthroughs that lead to a more authentic existence and a deeper connection to their spiritual selves. Moreover, Santos’s practice underscores the potential of psychedelics to not only heal but also to expand one’s spiritual consciousness, making it an integral part of holistic well-being.
As he progresses in his shamanic training, Santos remains committed to his mission of guiding others through their healing journeys. He plans to continue expanding his knowledge and skills, particularly in traditional shamanic practices, to better serve those in need. His dedication to this path is driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of psychedelics and the essential nature of spiritual and psychological integration.
In his practice, Santos also addresses the societal and cultural dimensions of trauma, advocating for a shift in how we understand and engage with mental health and healing. By integrating traditional healing practices with modern therapeutic techniques, he offers a new paradigm for addressing the complexities of human suffering.
This paradigm includes the tools acquired in his study of astrology, a methodology for living a life in alignment that is dear to his heart.
“Not everyone’s going to see the world the same way that you do. And that’s why I love astrology,” said Santos. “There’s 12 signs of the zodiac for a reason. Different master perspectives. The last workshop that we did was known as the Erotic Shadow. So we worked with the concept of existential kink and this idea that when there is something that is distasteful or challenging or a negative emotion, on some level we like it.”
Santos’s work serves as a testament to the power of healing through self-discovery and acceptance, if one is willing to stay committed in their own vulnerability, humility and child-like wonder. The example of his journey may encourage others to explore the therapeutic potentials of psychedelics, shadow work, astrology and other exploratory and healing modalities, advocating for a more compassionate and understanding approach to mental health and well-being.
Through his efforts, Danny is not only healing individuals, but helping to shape a future where psychological and spiritual well-being are deeply intertwined and universally accessible.