Table of Contents
Embarking on self-designed healing journeys
The responsible use of psychedelic substances has been my profession for the best part of a decade; during this time, I discovered that preparation is often more important (and challenging) than the psychedelic experience itself. Taking time to prepare for psychedelics and plan your ceremony and set the soil for life-changing insights is one of the leading indicators of successfully integrating the lessons experienced during the mystical journey into our everyday lifestyle.
Before embarking on a psychedelic journey, conduct your research and make informed decisions. Educate yourself about the substance’s effects, potential risks, and legal status by delving into thoroughly reputable sources of information, such as scientific studies and expert insights (check our substances guides!). It is fundamental to arm yourself with knowledge and approach the experience with a sense of responsibility and awareness, maximizing the potential benefits while minimizing potential pitfalls. Developing a well-rounded perspective on the properties and effects of the substance is a right-minded way to start preparing for your next psychedelic journey.
Prepare for psychedelics By Setting Your Intention
Your intention for the psychedelic ceremony paves the way for the positive changes we seek. Year after year, some of the most prestigious research institutions in the world publish studies exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances like LSD, Psilocybin, Mescaline, and MDMA. In some of these research, the volunteers are patients suffering from psychological issues, including PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, OCD, etc. As it stands, science has been painting the picture of psychedelics as an effective tool for inducing new mental configurations, allowing people to kick harmful habits and substitute them with positive wholesome ones. Nonetheless, entheogens are not magic pills. We must work to integrate the lessons of the trip into everyday life. Having an intention clear in your mind can help you in the process of self-discovery and improvement with psychedelics.
Setting your intention can be as simple as taking a few minutes every day leading up to the trip to reflect on your objectives for the ceremony and what changes you would like to see in your life. It is handy to carry this intention to the ceremony and keep it in mind throughout the entire integration process following the trip. Having a clear intent during the psychedelic retreat can help the participant to remain centred in challenging moments, guiding them to the journey that will desirably impact them. During integration, your intention will serve as a compass that points to the lessons that will get you closer to your objectives in everyday life.
Affirmations To Bring With You
It is convenient to come up with both general and specific intentions. Something like the following affirmations are good examples of general intentions that could fit just about any psychonaut:
- I want to know more about my authentic self;
- I want to have a divine experience;
In contrast, there are also specific intentions that are unique to your life situation:
- I want to reflect on my professional future;
- I want to communicate better with people in a specific environment;
Even though we can’t hope to control where the trip goes, we can still steer the experience in determined directions by firmly mentalizing our intentions during the psychedelic experience. Coming up with multiple intentions for the ceremony increases the chances of navigating the psychedelic waters toward at least one of our objectives.
Whether aimed at self-discovery, healing, creativity, or personal growth, intentions can shape the direction of the journey and provide a focus for integration afterwards.
Prepare The Right Environment
Creating a safe, comfortable, and supportive space is crucial to ensure a positive and transformative psychedelic journey. Prepare a private and familiar place to promote a sense of security and ease anxiety. Take time to remove potential stressors or distractions from the environment. This helps the participants fully immerse themselves in the experience.
To enhance the overall atmosphere and set the stage for profound inner explorations, add elements that evoke positive emotions and sacredness, like soft lighting, calming music, or symbolic objects. The sense of safety coupled with an immersive atmosphere can help the participants go deeper into the experience while feeling confident about facing even the most challenging psychedelic experiences.
A Trip Sitter
In order to help all the participants (especially the beginners) to steer the journey in a positive direction and aid them in processing the insights and emotions that emerge during the experience, it could be useful to prepare a reliable and trustworthy trip sitter. A designated person who can offer emotional support, reassurance, and guidance throughout the experience provides a safety net, ensuring the feeling of being protected.
Preparing The Mindset
The mentality of the participant is one of the most important aspects of any successful psychedelic experience. The mindset significantly influences the trajectory of the psychedelic experience, and it is worth considering postponing the ceremony if the participants are not in the right state of mind for the journey.
During the preparation stage, the participant should cultivate an open and accepting mindset. This is key to embracing the journey’s potential revelations and transformative power. Let go of rigid expectations and fears, and allow yourself to be more receptive to the unfolding experience. Engaging in activities that promote mindfulness can help the participant to calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Prepare a positive mental state that leads to a more enriching and meaningful psychedelic ceremony.
Integration Planning
The real work behind the psychedelic experience comes after the effects are over. Following the psychedelic experience psychedelic integration is the stage in which the participant actively tries to make sense of the lessons that occurred during the ceremony and apply them to everyday life. The integration of insights gained during the journey paves the way for lasting positive changes and personal growth, ultimately unlocking the potential for profound inner exploration and transformation.
We can start thinking about integration before the trip, during the preparation phase. Journaling can be a powerful tool for recording the experience’s nuances and emotions, providing a reference point for reflection and for keeping track of the integration practice. Before the journey, prepare by thinking about what you plan to learn, heal or achieve through the experience and how you plan to integrate those insights into your life afterwards. By setting integration intentions, we create a roadmap for the post-psychedelic journey of integration.
Enhancing The Transformative Potential
By preparing for the psychedelic integration during the preparation phase, we enhance the transformative potential of the psychedelic experience. Journaling before and during the experience aids memory recall and provides a record of emotions and thoughts. Engaging in mindful activities prepares the participant for processing challenging emotions and exploring profound insights. Identifying areas for personal growth focuses the integration efforts while cultivating self-compassion allows for a nurturing and growth-oriented experience.
To ensure that the insights gained during your journey become catalysts for lasting positive change in your life, consider seeking guidance from professional integration coaches. These experienced professionals specialize in supporting individuals through the integration process, providing personalized strategies to navigate challenges, embrace newfound insights, and foster personal growth. Don’t miss the opportunity to make the most of your psychedelic journey. Take the next step in your inner exploration by browsing our selection of integration coaches and embark on a journey of profound self-discovery and transformation.
References:
Hadar A, David J, Shalit N, Roseman L, Gross R, Sessa B, Lev-Ran S. The Psychedelic Renaissance in Clinical Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Three Decades of Human Studies with Psychedelics. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2023 Jan-Mar;55(1):1-10. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2021.2022254. Epub 2022 Jan 9. PMID: 35000572.
Goodwin GM, Aaronson ST, Alvarez O, et al. Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(18):1637-1648. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2206443
Kelmendi B, Kichuk SA, DePalmer G, Maloney G, Ching THW, Belser A, Pittenger C. Single-dose psilocybin for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A case report. Heliyon. 2022 Dec 6;8(12):e12135. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12135. PMID: 36536916; PMCID: PMC9758406.
