ESSENCE OF BEING
ESSENCE OF BEING
Day 6 - Demons on a Boat (ACT Practice) + Working with Fear
Why This Matters Now
By now, you’ve learned to ground into your body, steady yourself with the breath, root yourself like a tree, and rest as the Knower of your experience.
Today we turn toward something that often arises in Ayahuasca ceremony - fear and difficulty.
Many people imagine that the goal is to avoid fear or to push difficult experiences away.
In truth, the medicine often brings us face-to-face with the parts of ourselves we’ve been running from. This isn’t a failure - it’s where much of the healing begins.
The ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) practice called Demons on a Boat offers a powerful way of relating to difficulty.
It teaches us that fear, grief, or painful memories don’t need to be eliminated before we can move forward.
We can carry them with us and still live - and still choose what matters.
Teaching & Meditation: Facing Fear with Courage
(Demons on a Boat)
Imagine rowing a boat across a lake.
The far shore represents your deepest values - healing, presence, connection, truth.
But as you row, demons climb aboard. Each demon represents something difficult: fear, anxiety, painful memories, self-doubt, shame.
The demons shout at you: “You can’t do this!” “Turn back!” “You’re not strong enough!” They try to frighten you into giving up.
Most of us spend our lives fighting these demons, trying to throw them overboard. But in the struggle, we stop rowing. We stay stuck in the middle of the lake, exhausted and afraid.
The shift comes when we realise: the demons can’t actually steer the boat. They can shout, distract, and scare us - but they can’t take away our ability to row.
This practice reminds us that even when difficulty arises, we can keep moving toward what matters.
In ceremony, this means you don’t need fear to disappear before you can keep going. You simply need to notice it, allow it to be there, and keep rowing.
Reflection & Journal Prompts
Now that you’ve completed today’s meditation, here’s a simple way to deepen the experience.
Use the reflection prompts below to explore what you noticed and how it felt. Take a moment to write down your answers or screenshot them so you can revisit them later in the day.
There’s no right or wrong - it’s simply about staying connected to the insights from your practice and letting them continue to unfold as you move through your day.
What “demons” tend to climb into my boat most often?
How have I been fighting them or letting them steer me?
What would it look like to keep rowing toward what matters, even if they stay on board?
Nervous System Grounding
When fear or intensity arises, it helps to ground through the body.
Try this simple practice:
Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly.
Breathe slowly in through the nose for a count of 4, and exhale gently through the mouth for a count of 6.
Whisper quietly: “I am safe. I am here.”
This can be used in ceremony if things feel overwhelming.
Daily Rhythm Suggestion
Morning: Demons on a boat meditation.
Daytime: When difficulty arises, pause and visualise rowing with the demons.
Evening: Journal: What demon showed up today, and how did I keep moving anyway?
Closing Note From Nik
Fear and difficulty are not signs that something is wrong.
They are part of the journey. When you stop fighting them, you reclaim the energy to move toward what matters.
Ayahuasca may bring your demons to the surface - but remember, they cannot steer the boat. You can.
“I realised I didn’t need fear to disappear before I could live. I could carry it with me and still keep going.” - Client testimonial
Tomorrow we’ll turn to Meeting a Part, an ERPT-informed practice that shows you how to approach the different parts of yourself - even the ones you find hardest to face - with curiosity and compassion.