Harm Reduction
Harm reduction practices related
to using psychedelics involve
strategies and guidelines that aim
to minimize potential risks and
enhance safety while acknowledging
that some people will choose to use
these substances regardless of legal
or societal restrictions.
Here is a breakdown of key harm reduction practices to consider before using a psychedelic substance:
1. Education & Information
Understand the Substance:
Research the specific psychedelic substance you plan to use, including the effects, duration, potential risks, and contraindications.
Dosage Awareness:
Start with a low dose, especially if you are inexperienced or trying a new substance. Knowing the appropriate dose is crucial in preventing adverse experiences.
Set & Setting:
Set (Mindset) Ensure you are in a positive, stable mental state. Psychedelics can amplify emotions, so it is important to feel mentally prepared.
Setting ( Environment) Use psychedelics in a safe, comfortable environment, ideally with people you trust. A familiar setting can help reduce anxiety and negative experiences.
2. Physical & Mental Health Considerations
Pre-existing Conditions:
People with a history of mental health issues (ie:// psychosis, severe anxiety) should be cautious, as psychedelics can exacerbate these conditions.
Physical Health:
Ensure you are physically healthy, as some psychedelics can increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Interactions with Other Substances:
Avoid combining psychedelics with other substances, including alcohol, stimulants, or medications that might have dangerous interactions. Seeking support from a healthcare professional to verify potential contraindications for treatment or any drug/medication interactions is recommended.
3. Sober Sitter or Trip Sitter
Experienced Guide:
Having a sober person present, especially someone experienced with psychedelics, can help navigate challenging moments and ensure safety.
Non-judgmental Support:
The sitter should provide a calm, supportive presence, without interfering unless necessary.
Psychedelic Assisted Therapist: Ideally, seeking support and guidance from a trained professional is recommended to further minimize the risk for a challenging experience and ensure utmost safety.
4. Plan for the Aftermath
Integration:
Reflect on the experience afterward to make sense of any insights or challenges. Please refer to “INTEGRATION” for more detailed information.
Rest & Recovery:
Allow yourself time to rest and recover after the experience. Keep in mind that psychedelics can be mentally and physically draining.
5. Legal Considerations
Know the Laws:
Be aware of the legal status of the psychedelic you plan on using in your geographical location to avoid legal consequences.
6. Minimize Physical Risks
Hydration & Nutrition:
Stay hydrated and ensure you have eaten well before the experience.
Secure Environment: Remove potential hazards in the environment that could cause injury if mobility is impaired.
7. Emergency Plan
Access to Medical Help:
Have a plan for accessing medical help if needed. Knowing when to seek professional help crucial, such as in cases of extreme distress, physical symptoms, or unmanageable psychological effects.
8. Testing the Substance
Purity Testing: Use reagent testing kits to check the purity of the substance or access local testing sites. This reduces the risk of ingesting unknown or dangerous compounds.
It is important to note that these practices do not eliminate all risks. However, they do significantly reduce the likelihood of a negative outcome occurring when using psychedelics.
Difference between a Micro and Macro Psychedelic Dose:
Microdosing involves minimal, functional enhancement with negligible perceptual changes, while macrodosing involves significant and often profound or transformative psychedelic experiences.
MICRO-DOSING
Dosage:
Typically 1/10th to 1/20th of a standard recreational dose.
Effects:
Sub-perceptual, meaning there are no significant alterations in consciousness, hallucinations or dramatic changes in perception.
The user may experience subtle improvements in focus, creativity, energy levels and mood.
Purpose:
Often used to enhance well-being, daily functioning and productivity without disrupting normal activities.
MACRO-DOSING
Dosage:
A full recreational dose, often ranging from a few milligrams to several grams, depending on the specific psychedelic substance.
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Effects:
Intense visual and/or auditory hallucinations, profound changes in perception, altered sense of time and
space, deep emotional and psychological experiences and potentially spiritual enlightenment or insights.
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Purpose:
Typically used for deep introspection, therapeutic purposes, spiritual exploration or recreational purposes.
Therapeutic VS. Recreational Use
​Therapeutic and recreational use of psychedelics differ in intent, context and outcomes.
Therapeutic use of psychedelics
is structured and focused on long-term mental health benefits, while recreational
use is often casual and focused on short-term pleasure and exploration.
THERAPEUTIC USE
Intent:
The primary goal is to address mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction or end-of-life distress.
Context:
Administered in a controlled setting, often with a trained therapist or guide. Treatment sessions are structured and include preparation, dosing and integration phases.
Outcomes:
Aimed at achieving improved mental health, increased self-awareness and long-term psychological and emotional healing. Introspection is encouraged and may involve confronting difficult emotions or past traumas.
Substances:
Psilocybin from mushrooms, MDMA, ketamine, mescaline, and ayahuasca are commonly used therapeutically.
Research:
Supported by expanding scientific evidence and clinical trials showing efficacy in treating various mental health conditions.
RECREATIONAL USE
Intent:
The primary goal is exploration, enjoyment, and personal pleasure. This may include enhanced sensory experiences, social bonding and creativity.
Context:
Typically used in informal settings, such as in nature, at home, at parties or music festivals. The use is often spontaneous and unstructured.
Outcomes:
Focused on immediate, short-term enjoyment and altered states of consciousness. Experiences can range vastly from enlightening and euphoric to difficult and disorienting.
Substances:
LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA, and DMT are commonly used recreationally.
Risks:
Increased potential for misuse, unsafe environments and negative experiences (bad trips). Lack of guidance or support during challenging experiences can be problematic or potentially dangerous.
Most Common Types of Psychedelics
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​Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybin)
Chemical structure:
A naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms.
Effects:
Euphoria, closed and open-eye visuals, altered thinking processes, altered sense of time.
Dosage:
Microdose: 100-300mg
Low dose: 500mg-1g
Standard dose: 1-2.5g
High dose: 2.5-5g
Heroic dose: 5+ g
Administration: Usually eaten dried or fresh, brewed into a tea or ground and encapsulated.
Duration: 4-6hrs
Peak: 1.5-3hrs after ingestion. Involves intense visual distortions, profound changes in thought processes and deep emotional experiences.
Common use: Spiritual experiences, recreational use, therapeutic potential (ie:// depression, anxiety)
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
Chemical structure:
Derived from ergot alkaloids.
Effects:
Hallucinations, altered thoughts and feelings, altered sense of time.
Dosage:
Microdose: 5-20ug
Low dose: 20-75ug
High dose:150-300ug
Administration: Typically taken orally, either on blotter paper, sugar cubes or candy or in liquid form. Occasionally it may be taken sublingually (under the tongue).
Duration: 6-12hrs
Peak: 2-4hrs after ingestion. Users often experience the most intense visual and auditory hallucinations, emotional insights and altered perceptions of time and space.
Common use: Recreational, therapeutic (ie:// depression, anxiety) and research.
Risks: Bad trips, persistent psychosis, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD)
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DMT (Dimethyltryptamine)
Chemical structure:
A naturally occurring tryptamine.
Effects:
Intense visual and auditory hallucinations, euphoria, altered sense of time and reality.
Dosage:
Inhalation
Light experience: 20-40mg
Standard experience: 40-60mg
Strong experience: 60+ mg
Oral (as part of ayahuasca)
Typically 50-150mg of DMT combined with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MOAI)
Administration: Often vaporized and inhaled using a glass pipe or vaporizer. For ayahuasca, it is brewed into a tea.
Duration: 5-30 minutes (smoked or vaporized) or up to several hrs (oral ingestion with an MAOI, as in ayahuasca).
Peak: Within 2-5 minutes of inhalation. It is extremely rapid and intense, with powerful visual and auditory hallucinations, often described as a breakthrough experience.
Peak (ayahuasca): 1-2hrs after ingestion. Profound and immersive visual and auditory experiences, emotional and psychological insights.
Common use: Spiritual experiences, shamanic rituals.
Risks: Intense, overwhelming experiences and potential for anxiety and paranoia.
Mescaline (Peyote, San Pedro)
Chemical structure:
A naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid of the phenethylamine class.
Effects:
Visual hallucinations, altered states of consciousness, euphoria.
Dosage:
Pure mescaline: 200-400mg for a moderate to strong experience.
Peyote: 5-15 buttons (depending on size and potency)
San Pedro: 200-300g of fresh cactus or 20-30g of dried cactus.
Administration: Consumed orally, by eating dried buttons or cactus, drinking brewed tea or liquid solution.
Duration: 10-12hrs
Peak: 2-4hrs after ingestion. Heightened visual and auditory hallucinations, intense euphoria, deep introspection and altered sense of time and space.
Common use: Native American religious ceremonies, recreational use.
Risks: Nausea, vomiting, anxiety.
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MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
Chemical structure:
A substituted amphetamine and phenethylamine.
Effects:
Euphoria, emotional connection, increased sensory perception.
Dosage:
Common dose: 75-125mg
High dose: 125-200mg
Administration: Taken orally in tablet or capsule form. It can be taken as a powder dissolved in water.
Duration: 3-6hrs
Peak: 1-2hrs after ingestion. Heightened euphoria, emotional closeness, increased sensory perception, enhanced feelings of empathy and well-being.
Common use: Recreational, therapeutic (ie:// PTSD)
Risks: Hyperthermia, dehydration, increased heart rate and blood pressure, potential neurotoxicity, depression after prolonged use.
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Ketamine
Chemical structure: ​
​Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic and a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. It belongs to the phenylcyclohexylamine (PCPA) class of drugs. It has psychedelic effects at lower doses.
Effects:
Dissociative anesthesia, feelings of detachment from reality and the body, euphoria, hallucinations.
Dosage:
Subanesthetic (recreational): 10-15mg intramuscular (IM) or 50-299mg intranasal (insufflated)
Therapeutic (for depression): 0.5-1mg/kg intravenous (IV) or IM.
Administration: IV, IM, intranasally (insufflated) or orally (less common and less effective).
Duration: 1-2hrs (effects can be prolonged, especially with higher doses)
Peak (Intranasal): 15-30 minutes after administration.
Peak (IM/IV): 5-15minutes after administration. Intense dissociation, possible out-of-body experiences, profound alterations in perception and thought.
Common use: Medical anesthesia, therapeutically (ie:// treatment resistant depression), chronic pain management, recreational use.
Risks: Nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, potential for addiction, urinary tract problems with frequent use, cognitive impairment.
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2C-B (2, 5-Dimethoxy-4-Bromophenethylamine)
Chemical structure:
A synthetic phenethylamine.
Effects:
Mild to moderate visual and auditory hallucinations, enhanced sensory perception, euphoria, altered sense of time and space.
Known for producing more manageable and less intense experiences compared to other psychedelics (like LSD or psilocybin) making it a popular choice for those seeking a milder trip. Users often report enhanced appreciation for music, art and physical sensations.
Dosage:
Threshold dose: 5-10mg
Light dose: (5-15mg) Typically produces more stimulant-type effects with increased energy and mood elevation.
Common dose: 15-25mg
Strong dose: (25-40mg) Leads to more pronounced psychedelic effects, such as vivid visual hallucinations and altered states of consciousness.
Administration: Ususally taken orally in tablet or capsule form. It can also be insufflated (snorted) but this is less common due to discomfort.
Duration: 4-8hrs
Peak: 1-2hrs after ingestion. Enhanced sensory perceptions, moderate visual and auditory hallucinations, euphoria and heightened appreciation for music and physical sensations.
Common use: Recreational, entheogenic experiences.
Risks: Nausea, vomiting, potential for anxiety and panic attacks especially at higher dosages, mild physical discomfort (ie:// muscle tension, increased heart rate)
PREPARATION FOR
A PSYCHEDELIC JOURNEY
​Preparing for a psychedelic experience involves careful consideration of
“set”-your mindset, and “setting”-your physical and social environment.
You can enhance the safety and depth of your psychedelic experience with adequate preparation, including “set” and “setting”.
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Please consider this guide to ensure a safe
and meaningful experience!
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Set (Mindset)
Intention: Identify your purpose for the experience. Having a clear intention can guide the journey, whether it’s for healing, personal growth, exploration or creativity.
Mental State: Ensure you are in a mentally stable state. Avoid using psychedelics when you are feeling overwhelmed, increasingly anxious, depressed or have a history of mental health issues.
Education: Educate yourself about the substances you plan on using, including effects, dosage, duration and potential risks.
Readiness: Be emotionally and psychologically prepared for the possibility of encountering a challenging or intense experience.
Setting (Environment)
Safe Space: Choose a comfortable, familiar and safe environment. This could be your home or a friend/ family member’s home or place where you feel secure.
Control: Ensure you have control over the environment, including who enters or leaves, noise levels and lighting.
Comfort Items: Have comforting items readily available, such as blankets, pillows, photos, aromatherapy, and familiar objects. Include meaningful items that resonate with your intention.
Clear distractions: Remove anything that could distract or pull you away from your intention during the experience.
Music and Art: Prepare a soothing or uplifting playlist and have simple art supplies available if you feel inclined to engage creatively during the experience.
Nature: If possible, have access to nature. Being in nature can be incredibly grounding and enriching, provided that it is a safe and controlled outdoor space.
Companions
Sitter: Having a sober, trusted friend as a trip sitter can provide reassurance and assistance if you encounter difficulties.
Communication: Ensure honest and open communication with your sitter about your intentions, concerns, and how they can support you.
Trained guide or therapist: Consider seeking support from an experienced professional who will be present with you during each step of your journey.
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Practical Considerations
Timing: Choose a time when you won’t be disturbed and have no obligations or responsibilities. Allow ample time for the experience and recovery.
Dosage: Start with a lower dose, especially if you are inexperienced or trying a new substance.
Supplies: Have water, light snacks and an emergency contact information readily available.
Aftercare: Plan for post-experience integration, including time to reflect, journal and discuss your experience if needed.
Safety
Substance testing: Always test your substances! Take them to a local testing site or test them at home with a reagent testing kit to verify the purity and authenticity of your substances.
Emergency plan: Have a safety plan in case of a challenging experience, including knowing when to seek professional help.
INTENTION
An intention for a psychedelic experience can take on various forms, but the essence of an intention is your motivation for communing with the psychedelic medicine. It’s an idea that encompasses the most critical matters in your life that you wish to connect with, transition into or out of, gain clarity on, bridge, transform, or perhaps create.
Some journeyers embrace broader intentions. They may find themselves already fulfilled by their current life situation or circumstances, so feel drawn to the intention of simply receiving what the universe, God, source, or their subconscious feels is in their best interest or of most value to them.
Quite often, journeyers are looking to address specific obstacles in their lives. Many seek psychedelic-assisted therapy to overcome lifelong battles with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ect. In which case, having support from an experienced professional to personally tailor your intentions for the most beneficial healing experience is strongly recommended.
An intention serves as an anchoring point for your journey. There may be moments in your ceremony where you feel stuck, scattered or afraid. In these moments, referring back to your intention is a gentle reminder that there is a meaningful purpose to this temporary experience. Reflecting back on your intention will provide direction and grounding.
An intention is a tool that can be used to help focus your attention during your journey.
The degree of complexity and depth of an intention is influenced by the amount of inner work one has completed prior to preparing for a psychedelic journey. Working with a therapist to identify the specifics of what you may be lacking or where you may be overcompensating is often recommended before embarking on a therapeutic psychedelic experience. Maintaining realistic expectations of a desired outcome given your personal history and current life circumstances is imperative. Diving too deep, too quickly can certainly be counterintuitive and problematic.​​​​​​​​​​
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Release what doesn’t belong to you and is no longer serving your highest good.
Ie:// Release a learned behavior or defense mechanism that was instilled in you through your parents, and see yourself authentically (not through your Mother or Father’s second-hand insecurities).
You can intend to meet your spirituality/ God from a place of reverence and through the relinquishing of your conditioned resistance.
Often times, the process of experiencing the energetic release of a repressed emotion can be one’s primary intention for a psychedelic journey, rather than reliving a trauma or trying to get to the root of a problem without having done the required deep inner work yet.
Focus on the changes you want to see, rather than the problems you currently have.
Whenever possible, your intention should involve how your conflicts are inwardly experienced and developed, rather than what your conflicts are outwardly projected as. It is helpful to frame your intention as what you want to feel, instead of what you do not.
Framing your intention as an affirmation can be really useful, as this allows you to notice the presence of your efforts as they are occurring, inhibiting you from viewing your healing as something taking place in the future but rather taking place in the present.
Avoid using phrases like “I want” or “I need” and alternatively open your intention with:
“I’m in the process of…”
“I am developing…”
“I am (creating, connecting, rekindling)”
Releasing expectations for how your intentions will unfold and trusting in the process are essential parts of journeying with psychedelic medicines. Repeating an affirmative intention will be a reminder that you are in the process of healing regardless of how the journey is presenting itself.
Steps to consider to create a clear and effective intention:
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1. Reflect on your motivations
Ask yourself why you are choosing to have this experience- Are you seeking healing, insight, creativity, connection or something else?- Practice journaling by writing down your thoughts and feelings about the upcoming experience. This can help clarify what you hope to gain or understand.
2. Identify a core theme or question
Focus. Choose one or two key themes or questions that resonate deeply with you. (ie:// “How can I cultivate more self-self and acceptance?” or “What is holding me back in life?”)- Keep it simple. Your intention should be clear and straight-forward. Avoid ideas that are too complex or ambiguous.
3. Phrase your intention positively
Use positive language. Frame your intention in a positive way, focusing on what you want to achieve or explore, rather than what you want to avoid. (ie:// I intend to enhance my connection to source” rather than “I don’t want to feel anxious”.
4. Prioritize time for meditation and mindfulness
Mindful practice: Spend time meditating or practicing mindfulness in the days leading up to the experience, focusing on your intention. This can help you internalize and embody your intention.- Visualization: Imagine yourself achieving or gaining insight into your intention. Visualize how this might feel or manifest in your life.
5. Verbalize or write down your intention
Speak it: Verbally state your intention out loud before beginning your experience. This can help solidify your focus.- Write it: Write your intention on a piece of paper or in a journal. This can be kept with you as a reminder during your experience.
6. Embrace openness and flexibility
Let go of expectations: Remain open to the experience taking you in unexpected directions, while holding your intention in mind. Be aware that sometimes the most profound insights come from letting go of control.- Trust the process: Trust that the experience and wisdom of the medicine will provide exactly what you need, even if it differs from what you initially intended.
7. Reflect post-experience
Integration: After the experience, take time to reflect on how your intention transpired. Journal about your insights and how they relate to your initial intention.- Take action: Consider any steps you can take to integrate the insights gained into your daily life.
Integration
​Integration is a vital component of the psychedelic experience. It involves processing and making sense of the insights, emotions and sensations encountered during the experience and then making them accessible and meaningful in daily life. Some studies suggest integration accounts for 80% of the healing process.
Let’s explore why integration is so important…
1. Grounding Insights into Reality
Finding Meaning: Psychedelic experiences often reveal profound insights, but without proper integration these can remain abstract or disconnected from your everyday life. Integration helps transform these insights into actionable understanding.
Long-term Change: You can create lasting, positive changes in your behavior, thoughts, and emotions by reflecting on the experience and applying what you have learned.
2. Emotional and Psychological Stability
Processing Difficult Emotions: Psychedelic experiences can sometimes bring up challenging emotions or memories. Integration allows you to work through these feelings in a safe and structured way, preventing them from causing further distress.
Balancing Perspective: You can easily feel overwhelmed after a profound experience. Integration helps you balance the new perspectives with your everyday life, avoiding potential confusion or disorientation.
3. Promoting Personal Growth
Continuous Learning: Integration is an ongoing process that cultivates continuous learning and self-discovery. It allows you to revisit and reflect on the experience over time, uncovering deeper layers of understanding.
Applying Lessons: Integration enables you to apply the learned lessons to various aspects of your life including relationships, personal development, or career, leading to holistic growth.
4. Strengthening Positive Outcomes
Reinforcing Positivity: Integration practices, such as journaling or talking with a therapist, can reinforce the positive changes and insights gained from the experience, helping them become more deeply rooted in your life.
Building Resilience: Resilience can be developed through integration by learning how to navigate and make the most of future experiences, both psychedelic and otherwise.
5. Supporting Community Connection
Sharing with Others: Integration can involve sharing your experiences with a trusted community or therapist, which can provide support, different perspectives and stronger sense of connection.
Building a Support Network: Engaging in integration practices with others who have had similar experiences can build a supportive network, reducing feelings of alienation or isolation.
6. Enhancing Spiritual or Existential Understanding
Connecting With Purpose: For many, psychedelic experiences unveil spiritual or existential questions. Integration helps you connect these experiences with your broader life purpose, beliefs and values.
Deepening Spiritual Practice: If spirituality is a part of your life, integration can deepen your practice by incorporating the insights from the experience into your spiritual or meditative routines.
7. Preventing Re-Traumatization
Safe Processing: Depending on your history, traumatic memories or emotions may surface during a psychedelic experience. Integration is essential for processing these memories or emotions in a safe way, ideally with support from a therapist or trained guide. This can prevent the risk of re-traumatization or exacerbating psychological distress.
8. Facilitating Future Experiences
Preparation for Future Journeys: Effective integration amplifies the healing potential of past experiences and prepares you for future journeys. It strengthens your ability to set intentions, manage challenges, and deepen your practice.
Integration is where the real work begins after a psychedelic experience. It is the bridge between the often-unimaginable insights gained during the experience and your everyday reality, ensuring that these insights lead to meaningful and lasting transformation.
Examples of Integration Practices
After a Psychedelic Journey
After a psychedelic journey, integration practices help to process and incorporate the insights gained into your daily life.
Here are some examples of integration practices:
1. Journaling
Reflective Writing: Write down your thoughts, feelings and insights from the experience. Reflect on what the experience meant to you and how it connects to your life.
Continued Exploration: Regularly revisit your journal entries and explore how your understanding evolves over time.
2. Meditation and Mindfulness
Daily Meditation: Engage in regular meditation to reconnect with the insights gained. Focus on remaining present and feeling into whatever arises, without judgement.
Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine by being fully present in everyday activities such as eating, walking, driving or interacting with others.
3. Therapy & Counselling
Psychedelic Integration Therapy: Work with a therapist who specializes in psychedelic integration. This can help you process complex emotions, memories or insights in a safe and supportive environment.
Traditional Therapy: Discussing your experience during a regular therapy session can still be extremely beneficial, even if your therapist does not specialize in psychedelic integration.
4. Body Work Practices
Massage Therapy:
Relaxation & Release: A professional massage can help release physical tension and emotional stress that may have been brought to the surface during the experience.
Mind-Body Connection: Massage encourages a deeper connection between your mind and body, helping to ground the insights and emotions from your experience.
Yoga:
Restorative Yoga (Yin): Engage in gentle restorative yoga practices that emphasize relaxation, deep breathing and gentle stretching. This can help you unwind and integrate the experience at a physical level.
Hatha or Vinyasa Yoga: For those looking to engage more actively, this kind of yoga can help in building strength, flexibility, and mindfulness, further deepening the connection between body and mind.
Somatic Experiencing:
Trauma Release: If your psychedelic experience brought up intense emotions or trauma, somatic experiencing with a trained practitioner can help release stored trauma in the body. It focuses on bodily sensations to process and release trauma without needing to relive it cognitively.
Body Awareness: This practice enhances your awareness of bodily sensations, helping to integrate the experience by connecting emotions and insights with physical sensations.
Breathwork
Holotropic Breathwork: Engage in a session of holotropic breathwork, which can induce an altered state of consciousness through controlled breathing patterns, allowing further processing and integration of the psychedelic experience.
Pranayama: Practice pranayama, or breath control, to balance energy, calm the mind, and facilitate a deeper connection between your physical and mental states.
Acupuncture
Energy Flow: Acupuncture can help balance and restore the flow of energy (Qi) in the body, which may have been disrupted or heightened during the psychedelic experience.
Emotional Release: Specific acupuncture points can be targeted to help release emotional blockages and promote relaxation and healing.
Movement & Dance
Ecstatic Dance: Participate in ecstatic dance, a free-form movement practice that allows you to express and release emotions through dance. It is a powerful way to integrate the experience by moving energy through the body.
Intuitive Movement: Engage in intuitive movement or freeform dance at home, allowing your body to move in whatever way feels right, helping to process and integrate the experience.
Craniosacral Therapy
Subtle Bodywork: This gentle therapy involves the manipulation of the skull and sacrum to release deep tensions in the body. It can be particularly useful for calming the nervous system and integrating subtle shifts in consciousness.
Deep Relaxation: Craniosacral therapy promotes deep relaxation, helping you to process the experience and bring a sense of calm and balance.
Qi Gong or Tai Chi
Energy Cultivation: These ancient practices combine slow, deliberate movements with breath control and mental focus, helping to cultivate and balance your internal energy (Qi). This can be especially beneficial for integrating the energetic shifts from a psychedelic experience.
Grounding Practice: The emphasis on grounding and centering in Qi Gong and Tai Chi can help you feel more stable and connected after a psychedelic journey.
Feldenkrais Method
Awareness Through Movement: The Feldenkrais Method focuses on gentle movements and increased awareness of how your body moves, which can help integrate the experience by improving connection between body and mind,
Neural Repatterning: This method can help you develop new patterns of movement and behaviour, integrating changes in perception and thought that arose during the psychedelic experience.
Body Scanning & Progressive Relaxation
Body Scanning: Practice body scanning meditation where you focus on each part of your body in turn, noticing any sensations or tension. This can help you reconnect with your body and process physical and emotional experiences.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Engage in progressive muscle relaxation, a technique where you tense and then slowly release each muscle group in your body, which can help release stored tension and promote relaxation.
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Yoga Nidra: Use this guided meditation practice to induce deep relaxation while maintaining a state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep. It typically includes body scanning as well as breath awareness, visualization, and sometimes setting a sankalpa (positive intention or resolve).
Self-Massage
Personal Touch: Practice self-massage techniques, such as massaging your feet, hands or neck. This can be particularly grounding and can help you connect with your body in a nurturing way.
Aromatherapy Oils: Use essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus during self-massage to enhance relaxation and grounding.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Spinal Alignment: If you feel physically out of alignment after a psychedelic experience, a chiropractic adjustment can help realign your spine, which may support overall well-being and integration.
Network Spinal Analysis: Chiropractic technique involving gentle, precise touches to specific points along the spine, intended to release tension, improve the body’s ability to handle stress and enhance overall well-being.
Nervous System Balance: Chiropractic care can help balance the nervous system, which may have been affected during the journey.
5. Nature Connection
Spending Time Outdoors: Reconnect with nature by spending time in natural settings. Reflect on your experience while sitting by a river or lake, walking in the forest, or watching the sunrise or set.
Gardening: Tending to a garden or caring for plants can be a grounding practice that nurtures patience and mindfulness.
Earthing: Find a quiet, safe, natural environment free from electromagnetic pollution. Reconnect with the earth by walking barefoot on grass, sand or mud, allow your hands to touch moist soil or sand, swimming in a natural body of water, physically touching or hugging a tree trunk, or using a grounding mat if you are unable to go outside.
6. Community & Support Groups
Integration Circles: Join or form an integration circle where you can share your experiences with others who have had similar journeys. This provides a supportive environment for reflection and discussion.
Talking with Trusted Friends: Share your experience with a trusted friend or family member who can listen without judgment and provide a different perspective.
7. Spiritual Practices
Prayer or Rituals: If you have a spiritual practice, consider incorporating prayers, rituals, or ceremonies that resonate with the themes of your experience.
Sacred Space Creation: Create a personal alter or sacred space that includes symbols, objects or reminders of your experience. Utilize this space for mediation or reflection.
8. Set Goals & Take Action
Behavioural Changes: Identify specific changes you wish you make in your life based on your insights. Set small, manageable goals and take actionable steps toward them.
Accountability Partner: Work with someone who can support and hold you accountable as you work on these changes, helping you stay focused and motivated.
9. Self-Care Practices
Rest & Recovery: Ensure you get adequate rest and sleep after your experience. Psychedelic journeys can be physically and emotionally exhausting, so taking time to recover is imperative.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Pay attention to your diet, exercise, and overall well-being. Engaging in healthy habits can support your body and mind as they process the experience.
10. Contemplation & Study
Reading and Learning: Read books, articles, or listen to podcasts related to psychedelic integration, spirituality, or psychology. This can help deepen your understanding and provide alternate perspectives.
Contemplative Practices: Engage in practices like contemplation or reflective thinking to explore the deeper meaning of your experience and how it aligns with your life’s purpose.
11. Connection to Ancestors or Lineage
Honouring Traditions: If relevant, connect with your cultural or spiritual lineage through practices, rituals, or ceremonies that resonate with your psychedelic experience.
Ancestral Healing: Reflect on how your experience might connect with or heal generational patterns or traumas, and honour those connections in your integration process. Consider working with a therapist who is experienced in ancestral healing.
Historical Timeline of Psychedelics
Prehistoric Era​​
4000 BC
Evidence of the use of psychedelics can be traced back to prehistoric times with cave paintings and artifacts suggesting psychoactive plants were used in Europe and North Africa.
3780-3660 BC
Evidence of ceremonial use of peyote by Indigenous cultures in North and South America.
3000 BC
The use of psychoactive plants in religious rituals by various cultures, including the consumption of Amanita muscaria mushrooms by Siberian shamans.
1500 BC
Soma, a ritual drink likely made from a psychoactive plant is mentioned in The Rigveda, which is one of the oldest sacred Hinduism texts.
1300-1521 AD
Evidence of the Aztecs in Central America consuming mushrooms, which they referred to as the “Flesh of the Gods”.
1500
Catholic texts referred to peyote as “witchcraft”
Classical Antiquity
1000 BC- 200 AD
The Eleusinian Mysteries in ancient Greece involved the use of a psychedelic potion called “Kykeon”, possibly containing ergot, which is a fungus with LSD-like properties.
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Middle Ages
900-1500 AD
Psychedelic use is evident among various Indigenous cultures, such as the consumption of ayahuasca by Amazonian tribes in South America and peyote by Native American tribes in North America.
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Modern History
1850s
The Western world begins to learn about peyote and other psychedelics through the accounts of explorers and missionaries.
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The Prohibition Era
1897-1971
Advocacy for psychedelic medicine began by scientists and psychiatrists. However, uncontrolled use for recreational purposes led to governments debating the legal status of psychedelic substances.
Within decades, the recreational use of psychedelics disrupted promising medical discoveries, putting the future of the industry into question and eventually triggering the War on Drugs.
1897
Arthur Heffter, a German pharmacologist and chemist, isolates mescaline from the peyote cactus for the first time.
1901
Ibogaine was isolated from Iboga root bark by Jean Dybowsky and Edouard Landrin.
1912
Anton Kollisch, a German chemist who worked for the pharmaceutical company Merck, creates MDMA as a by-product while trying to synthesize another substance.
1938
Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann synthesizes LSD while working in Sandoz laboratories.
1943
Albert Hofmann re-synthesizes LSD and accidentally absorbs it through his skin, discovering the psychedelic effects of the compound. Three days later, Hofmann intentionally takes LSD, marking the first recorded self experimental LSD “trip”.
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Mid-20th Century
1950s
Research into psychedelics flourishes. Potential therapeutic uses of LSD and Psilocybin in treating mental health conditions are studied.
1954
Aldous Huxley, an English writer and philosopher, publishes “The Doors of Perception” describing his experiences with mescaline. Huxley’s work was influential in shaping the public’s perception of hallucinogenic substances and their potential for creative and spiritual exploration.
1958
Albert Hofmann isolates and synthesizes psilocybin.
1960
Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (later Ram Dass) begin research on psychedelics at Harvard University, promoting their use and triggering broad spread interest.
1962
Calvin Stevens, an American chemist, synthesizes ketamine.
Psychedelic Era (1960s-1970s)
1966
The state of California in the U.S. criminalizes the possession, sale and manufacture of LSD.
1967
A cultural phenomenon known as “The Summer of Love” takes place in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district. Free from the constraints of mainstream society, artists, musicians, drifters, and hippies gathered to experience a new way of living by celebrating freedom, creativity, and non-conformity.
1968
Staggers-Dodd bill passes, which outlaws the possession of psilocybin and other psychedelic substances. Thereby paving the way for the War on Drugs.
1970
The U.S Controlled Substances Act was passed, categorizing most major psychedelic substances to Schedule I status, indicating there is a high abuse potential with no accepted medical use.
The U.S. government states that the purpose of the Controlled Substance Act is to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of controlled substances, intended to prevent drug abuse and drug-related crime.
This marks the beginning of the War on Drugs.
1971
The UN publishes the Convention on Psychotropic Substances stating that psychedelics including LSD, DMT and MDMA are now controlled substances.
The UN states that the convention aims to provide organized international control to reduce the illegal trafficking of psychotropic substances.
UK passes Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, placing controls on most known psychedelics.
Parliament of the UK states that the Act was introduced to consolidate and amend the law relating to the misuse of drugs and to make new provision for the control and regulation of drugs.
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The Psychedelic Renaissance​
21st Century
2000s
Scientific interest in psychedelics is renewed. Studies on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, particularly psilocybin and MDMA, make progress.
2013
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) sponsors the first government approved clinical trial of MDMA for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
2017
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants Breakthrough Therapy designation to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD.
2018
The U.S. FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy designation to COMPASS Pathways for psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
2019
The U.S. FDA approves Esketamine in the form of Spravato nasal spray in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for TRD.
Oakland, California, in the U.S. becomes the first city to effectively decriminalizes entheogenic plants and fungi for adults by a unanimous City Council vote.
The European Commission also approves Esketamine nasal spray (Spravato) in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for TRD.
The world’s first LSD microdosing study is approved in Auckland, New Zealand.
The U.S. FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy designation to Usona Institute for psilocybin-assisted therapy for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
2020
MindMed becomes the first publicly traded psychedelics company.
More than 45 companies claim to be engaged in the development and evaluation of psychedelic substances, driven by the growing recognition of their therapeutic potential.
Oregon becomes the first state in the U.S to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin and decriminalizes procession of small amounts of all drugs.
Santa Cruz, California, in the U.S. votes to decriminalize psychedelic substances including psilocybin, ayahuasca and peyote.
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the third city in the U.S. to decriminalize all naturally occurring psychedelic plants and fungi including magic mushrooms, ayahuasca, and peyote.
Studies conducted in Spain show evidence of DMT’s ability to promote neurogenesis, the formation of new neurons (brain cells).
The first successful Phase III trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is completed by MAPS.
Analysts predict that the psychedelic drugs market could exceed $100 billion in the future. This projection is based on the increasing demand for psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
2021
Arcata, California, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Detroit, Michigan, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Easthampton, Massachusetts, in the U.S decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Northampton, Massachusetts, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Port Townsend, Washington, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Seattle, Washington, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Somerville, Massachusetts, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Washington, DC, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Washtenaw County, Michigan, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
2022
Colorado becomes the second state in the U.S to legalize the use, possession and cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms with statewide decriminalization of natural plant psychedelics and fungi for personal use by individuals over 21 yrs old, including psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline.
Hazel Park, Michigan, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
2023
Australia becomes the first country to officially recognize MDMA and psilocybin as medicines, allowing authorized psychiatrists to prescribe them for the treatment of PTSD and TRD.
Berkeley, California in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Ferndale, Michigan, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Jefferson County, Washington, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Portland, Maine, in the U.S decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
Provincetown, Massachusetts, in the U.S. decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
San Francisco, California, in the U.S decriminalizes the possession and use of entheogenic plants and fungi.
2023-2024
The state of Hawaii in the U.S. proposed and passed bills for the therapeutic use and research of psilocybin and protection of practitioners from prosecution.
The state of Maine in the U.S. proposed legislation for the Maine Psilocybin Health Access Act, which aims to allow personal use and establish a licensed marketplace for psilocybin. The bill is in the legislative process and currently pending approval.
The state of New Jersey revived a bill to decriminalize home cultivation and use of psilocybin in the Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act. The bill is in the legislative process and currently pending approval.
The state of New York considers legislation to legalize the possession and use of certain plant or fungus-based hallucinogens, including DMT, ibogaine, mescaline and psilocybin. The bill aims to offer protection to adults who choose to use these substances. The bill is in the legislative process and currently pending approval.
A separate bill has been introduced in New York to create a pilot program providing psilocybin-assisted therapy to 10, 000 military veterans and first responders in NY.
2024
The cities of Vancouver, BC, and Toronto, ON, in Canada decriminalize the possession of small amounts of psilocybin for personal use.
The province of British Columbia in Canada decriminalizes small quantities of certain illegal drugs such as opioids, crack/powder cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA.
The decriminalization of psilocybin and other drugs in Vancouver was a gradual process, with the provincial government’s exemption taking effect in 2024 and the city’s pilot program starting in 2021.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a unique jurisdiction where psilocybin mushrooms are legal to possess and consume as long as they are found naturally growing in the region, despite being illegal in the United Kingdom.
The BVI has its own independent legal system. The BVI has a growing number of retreat centers and clinics offering
psilocybin-assisted therapy where visitors
can easily access psilocybin mushrooms in a safe and controlled environment. Various species of psilocybin mushrooms are native to the BVI. While the sale of psilocybin mushrooms is technically illegal, enforcement is often selective and many businesses openly sell them.
Increased decriminalization efforts and acceptance of psychedelics for therapeutic use continue to grow globally.
According to recent data, there are over 100 active psychedelic clinical trials worldwide, with 116 trials currently recruiting volunteers. These trials are being conducted across various countries, including the U.S, Canada, several European nations and more.
There are 82 active phase II trials occurring globally, with approximately 45% completed.
These trials are exploring the therapeutic potentials of various psychedelics, including psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA for a range of conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders.
Resources
The following online resources provide a wealth of information on the safe, informed, and responsible use of psychedelics covering everything from scientific research to community discussions, harm reduction and reputable sources.
​1. MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)
https://maps.org
MAPS is a leading organization dedicated to the research and development of psychedelics as prescription medicines. They provide extensive information on clinical trials, research publications, and psychedelic therapy.
2. PAC (Psychedelic Association of Canada)
https://www.psychedelicassociation.net
The PAC is a Canadian not-for-profit organization striving to usher psychedelics into the mainstream in a conscious and considered way.
3. MAPS Canada
https://www.mapscanada.org
MAPS Canada is the Canadian branch of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. They focus on research, public education, and advocacy in the field of psychedelics, particularly around the potential for these substances to treat mental health conditions.
4. TheraPsil
https://therapsil.ca
TheraPsil is a non-profit coalition in Canada that advocates for legal, compassionate access to psilocybin therapy for individuals suffering from end-of-life distress. They offer resources, support, and information on the legal landscape surrounding psilocybin in Canada.
5. Field Trip Health
https://www.fieldtriphealth.ca
Field Trip Health is a Canadian-based company offering psychedelic-assisted therapies, with clinics across Canada. Their website provides information on their services, research initiatives, and educational resources related to psychedelics and mental health.
6. VioletDrift
VioletDrift is a small Canadian business created from a deep desire to inspire others to embrace a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
Explore premium mail order plant medicine and psychedelic-inspired products that have been purity and potency tested. Each product has been carefully curated with premium ingredients in small batches, infused with mush love and the positive intention of raising the collective consciousness.
7. Blue Goba
https://www.bluegoba.com
Blue Goba is a Canadian company offering a large variety of quality mail order psychedelics that have been potency tested.
8. Mindful Meds
https://mindfulmeds.io
Mindful Meds is a premium supplement company dedicated to supplying Canadians with the tools to improve their mental health, clarity, and performance while supporting their growth along the way. Mindful Meds specializes in plant-based medicines and psychedelics with the goal of safely supporting, educating and improving the lives of others.
9. Numinus
https://numinus.com
Numinus is a Canadian health and wellness company focused on psychedelic therapy and research. Their site offers information on their clinical services, research programs, and educational content related to psychedelics.
10. The Sentinel – Psychedelic Medicine Retreat & Wellness Centre
http://sentinelbc.ca
The Sentinel is a luxury, full-service retreat center located on 5.6 acres of pristine lakefront property near Kaslo, BC. It offers cutting-edge programs, exceptional facilities, and world-renowned leaders and trainers for individuals, groups, and corporations.
11. Erowid
https://www.erowid.org
Erowid is a comprehensive online resource offering detailed information on various psychoactive substances, including personal experiences, scientific research, legal information, and harm reduction tips.
12. The Third Wave
https://thethirdwave.co
The Third Wave focuses on safe and intentional use of psychedelics. It offers guides on microdosing, psychedelic experiences, and integration, as well as a directory of legal psychedelic retreats and therapists.
13. Bluelight
https://www.bluelight.org
Bluelight is an online harm reduction community where users can discuss drug use, share experiences, and access harm reduction resources. It has a large, active forum specifically for psychedelics.
14. The Beckley Foundation
https://www.beckleyfoundation.org
The Beckley Foundation is a UK-based non-profit with a long history of pioneering psychedelic research,
focusing on global drug policy reform and scientific research into the benefits and risks of psychedelics. It’s a great resource for understanding the policy landscape and current research.
15. Psychedelic Science Review
https://psychedelicreview.com
This platform offers scientific articles and updates on psychedelic research, focusing on the latest studies, news, and analysis in the field.
16. PsyPost
https://www.psypost.org
PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website that frequently covers new studies related to psychedelics and mental health.
17. Mind Medicine Canada
https://mindmedicineaustralia.org
Although originally Australian-based, Mind Medicine has strong connections in Canada and works to promote the use of psychedelic medicines through education, research, and policy change.