Notes on Eduardo Duran, PhD's Cessation & Recovery from Commercial Tobacco Addiction

Preface

• The book is not academic but reflects Dr. Duran's voice.
• It offers a different perspective on living with the energies of substances.
• Aims to harmonize the reader's spirit with natural laws.

Cessation & Recovery

• Eduardo Duran is a clinical psychologist focusing on historical trauma.
• Historical trauma is trauma passed through generations unless addressed.

American Indian and Tribal Perspective

• Addictive substances and diseases have spirits.
• American Indians use Natural Law to deal with spiritual phenomena.
• Natural Law involves reciprocity: taking something from nature requires giving back.
• Imbalance from not following Natural Law leads to negative energy and potential addiction.

Sacred vs Commercial Tobacco

• Sacred tobacco is for prayer and medicine; commercial tobacco alters this purpose.
• Commercial tobacco is linked to corporate intent for profit, adding to addiction.
• The spiritual hold of tobacco is addressed through spiritual solutions.

Steps in Recovery

STEP 1: Awareness of Intent

• Intent behind substance use determines its sacredness or harm.
• Using commercial tobacco reflects a contract with its spirit.

STEP 2: Examining Your Religious Practice

• Tobacco use becomes a spiritual ceremony with repeated use.
• Comparing frequency of tobacco use to church attendance highlights addiction.

STEP 3: Understanding Your Chemical Addiction

• Commercial tobacco is a chemical dependency issue.
• Rituals around tobacco use resemble religious practices.

STEP 4: Communicating with the Spirits

• Engaging with the spirit of tobacco can invite healing energy.
• Awareness and interaction with the spirit is crucial.

STEP 5: Amending the Spiritual Contract

• Amends must be made to the spirit of commercial tobacco.

STEP 6: Cessation

• Recognizing the spiritual battle involved in quitting.
• Ego's resistance must be overcome to achieve soul wholeness.

STEP 7: Beyond Recovery

• Continual relationship with tobacco spirit through offerings.

STEP 8: Towards Wellness

• Establish daily routines focusing on spiritual and physical health.
• Engage in cultural activities and maintain a respectful spiritual relationship.

Additional Concepts

• Natural Law: Reciprocity in taking and giving back to nature.
• Dream Intervention: Dreams provide messages from higher powers, bypassing ego.

Conclusion

• Emphasizes gratitude and making amends to spirits and energies.
• Encouragement to live in a balanced, respectful way with all spiritual beings.

Collaborators

• Acknowledgement of various American Indian Tobacco Prevention Specialists and Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program.

Appendix

• Definitions of key terms like amends, commercial tobacco, intent, and more.