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 to Haute Time magazine, Rodgers has also admitted to using hapé.
The outlet describes hapé as ‘a ritual involving a sacred tobacco blend and ashes from sacred fires.’
Rodgers said that he does this ritual once a week in order to help ground himself.
Aaron Rodgers opened up about a special ritual he does 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 it years ago, when I was in Peru,’ Rodgers told the outlet. ‘But it has since become a weekly practice for me when I need to ground myself.
‘It’s a great tool for getting back into my body when I’m feeling a little worn out. It’s a good way to re-center.’
The ritualistic blend of ashes and tobacco can help with ‘cleansing, grounding, and spiritual effects,’ Haute Time says.
According to multiple sites, the tobacco and ashes are ground into a powder and then inhaled through the nose.
While his experiences with hapé are not as well documented, Rodgers’ journey with ayahuasca is much better known.
He went on 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’.
Following that trip, Rodgers ‘had probably the best season of my career’ – en route to winning the first of two consecutive MVP awards, he said speaking at Psychedelic Science 2023.
‘I would say that doing ayahuasca especially has changed my life for the better,’ Rodgers told Haute Time. ‘I’ve participated in numerous ayahuasca ceremonies. They are like microcosms of life.’
Rodgers is looking to make his return to the field since tearing his Achilles last season
Rodgers has said that ‘hundreds of NFL guys’ have contacted him inquiring about ayahuasca in the past.
‘In the weeklong ceremonies, there are a lot of high moments and a lot of difficult moments, but the goal is to find a deeper connection to yourself, to nature and to the people around you,’ Rodgers told Haute Time when discussing ayahuasca and other healing methods.
‘It’s given me a lot of high doses of self-love, forgiveness, and gentleness — things that have really made a big impact on my life.’
Rodgers is set to make a return to the field after tearing his Achilles tendon last season just a few plays into his Jets career. He has not taken a snap in preseason play.
