Preparation
Live Open; Value Everything
Before embarking on a journey, educating oneself on brain function, self care practices, mindfulness, breathwork, and psilocybin education (or any psychedelic) are key to a meaningful and connected experience. Fear can creep in when we make up stories around a subject we do not know a lot about. To overcome misconceptions, assumptions, and fears, watch the videos below and/or read up on the latest studies being shared online (link below).
Knowledge is power and ultimately you are in-charge of how you enter a journey into your subconscious. The more you know, the less scary trying something new can be.
SET and SETTING
One of the most important things for you to consider when embarking on a journey is your set (the place/time) and setting (what and who are around you, what is your mindset, & why are you taking the journey). Bonnie Casamassima has graciously provided a document below for you to download and consider as you decide your set and setting. She has a Masters in interior design and a passion for assisting others to create spaces in their lives that feed the soul. She is a researcher in the psychology of design as it pertains to wellness. And, to top it off she is an incredible intuitive clairvoyant medium.
You can download Bonnie's guide to setting here.
The key to integrating a psychedelic experience and making it have lasting therapeutic and personal growth value is to set an intention before the experience, creatively reflect on the insights gained during the experience, and take spontaneous action to bring those insights into real life. Setting an intention provides a framework for the journey and helps to deconstruct the insights and challenges within that context. Creative reflection helps to express the thoughts and emotions in a concrete form that can be remembered and integrated into the future. Taking spontaneous action is necessary to make positive life changes and bring the insights from the journey into reality. Major life decisions should not be committed to during a psychedelic experience but having faith in the insights and putting them into action is crucial to making the experience truly transformative.
PSYCHEDELIC EDUCATION:
Being aware of the science and studies around psilocybin and other psychedelics is important prior to participating in any practice.
RESEARCH is GOLD!!!!
PsyPost.org
Follow the link below to see a handful of articles and studies on psilocybin research.
Psilocybin Integration
I had the chance to interview, Ashley Michaud. She leads a psychedelic wellness group (Elemental Growth) open to anyone interested in learning more or seeking support in this space. She has over 17 years of experience with psilocybin.
Creativity & Psilocybin
Laura Dawn has a passion for bringing together creativity, psychedelics, and leadership to create new systems and solve some of our biggest challenges in innovative ways. She has over 10 years of experience with psilocybin.
People on psychedelics often report sensations of clairvoyance, telepathy, and ESP. We talk with a researcher who investigates psi phenomena in psychedelics
by Jasmine Virdi on April 2, 2020
Modern neuroscience has demonstrated that psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, operate to significantly reduce activity in the brain’s default mode network (DMN). This reduction in DMN activity functions as a kind of ‘rebooting’ of the brain, and is thought to be linked to one of the most enduring therapeutic effects of psychedelic substances.
A wonderful resource for anyone journeying on their own:
The mission of Fireside Project is to help people minimize the risks and fulfill the potential of their psychedelic experiences in ways such as providing compassionate, accessible, and culturally responsive peer support, educating the public, and furthering psychedelic research, while embracing practices that increase equity, power sharing, and belonging within the psychedelic movement. https://firesideproject.org/
BRAIN EDUCATION:
The work being done through this retreat and journey is tied to restructuring the mind, brain, and thoughts. These two videos help with understanding trauma and how the brain works.
Breathwork is an important part of finding your flow:
Alan Watkins!
This talk on breath was one of the first on the subject that clicked. His explanation of how important controlled breathing is to success, changed how I step into challenging situations. I hope you find it helpful as well.
Wim Hof!
Cold Therapy at its best! Now this man, Wim Hof, brings in the awe factor when it comes to healing modalities. He is worth your time and consideration. His breath practice is powerful and impactful.
SOMATIC WORK
The self-induced shift in the neurological stages of psoas trauma release, to co- and self-regulation is the first step to embodiment and empowerment. The next step is a somatic upgrade combined with transformative consent skills applied in all relationships. Ask for what you really want and respect your own boundaries and those of others. Oxytocin-based joy is a neurotransformative path to agency and autonomy in intimate connection to self and others in world around you.