Aaron Rodgers’ experiences with ayahuasca have been well documented, but the Jets’ quarterback revealed in an interview with Haute Time magazine that he has also used hapé — which the outlet described as “a ritual involving a sacred tobacco blend and ashes from sacred fires” — once a week to help.
“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.”
Hapé can help with “cleansing, grounding and spiritual effects,” according to Haute Time.
Rodgers’ journey with the psychedelic tea included a trip to Peru in 2020, according to former Post columnist Ian O’Connor in his new book, “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers.”
After the trip, Rodgers “had probably the best season of my career” by winning the first of two consecutive MVP awards, he said while 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.”
Even earlier this year, as news broke about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. potentially considering adding the 40-year-old as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election, Rodgers was on an ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica with a group that included Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer, according to pictures posted on Poyer’s Instagram at the time.
Rodgers said at Psychedelic Science 2023 that “hundreds of NFL guys” have reached out to him about ayahuasca.
“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.”
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The interview appeared to take place before Rodgers and the Jets started training camp at the end of last month, as Rodgers described returning to camp and seeing how everything would “respond” as the “last bit” of his recovery from a torn Achilles.
That injury ended his first season with the Jets just four offensive snaps into the regular season and placed an increased pressure on Rodgers, on head coach Robert Saleh, on the front office and everyone associated with the Jets to win in 2024.
Rodgers and the offense mostly impressed throughout training camp, including during the Jets’ joint practice with the Giants on Wednesday.
He will enter the regular season without a snap in a game since his season-ending injury last year in Week 1, but Rodgers reiterated that he didn’t have a preference for taking preseason snaps or not.