New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a man of many rituals.
His experiences with the hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca have been well documented and his time on a darkness retreat helped him choose to move to the Jets in the first place.
But, speaking with Late night According to the magazine, Rodgers also admitted to using Hape.
The outlet describes hapé as “a ritual involving a mixture of sacred tobacco and ashes from sacred fires.”
Rodgers said she does this ritual once a week to help ground herself.
Aaron Rodgers talked about a special ritual he performs to ground himself each week
Rodgers has been open about his use of rituals and drugs, including ayahuasca, in the past.
“I first became familiar with this years ago when I was in Peru,” Rodgers told the outlet. “But it’s since become a weekly practice for me when I need to ground myself.”
“It’s a great tool to get back into my body when I’m feeling a little run down. It’s a good way to re-center myself.”
The ritualistic blend of ashes and tobacco can help with “cleansing, grounding, and spiritual effects,” says Haute Time.
According to various sites, tobacco and ashes are ground into powder and then inhaled through the nose.
Although his experiences with hape are not as well documented, Rodgers’ journey with ayahuasca is much better known.
He took a trip to Peru in 2020, where he drank the psychedelic tea, according to Ian O’Connor’s new book ‘Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers.’
After that trip, Rodgers “probably had the best season of my career,” en route to winning the first of two consecutive MVP awards, he said while speaking at Psychedelic Science 2023.
“I would say that taking ayahuasca in particular has changed my life for the better,” Rodgers told Haute Time. “I’ve participated in numerous ayahuasca ceremonies. They’re like microcosms of life.”
Rodgers is looking to return to the field since tearing his Achilles tendon last season.
Rodgers has said that “hundreds of NFL players” have contacted him asking about ayahuasca in the past.
“In the week-long ceremonies, there are many good moments and many difficult moments, but the goal is to find a deeper connection with yourself, with nature and with the people around you,” Rodgers told Haute Time when discussing ayahuasca and other healing methods.
“It has given me a lot of self-love, forgiveness and kindness, things that have really had a big impact on my life.”
Rodgers is ready to return to the field after tearing his Achilles tendon last season just a few plays into his career with the Jets. He has not played a single game in the preseason.