Introduction:
I celebrate you for the courage and strength it takes to embark on a medicine journey! I believe integration is best described as a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and metabolizing the nature of your medicine experience in order to maximize therapeutic benefits and minimize harm. Integration is the most important part of the ceremony. One reason is that afterwards, your brain is in a state of increased neuroplasticity. The activation of ‘critical periods’, which are times when the brain can easily learn new skills, promotes receptivity to implementing new thought patterns and beliefs for 2 – 4 weeks after ceremony with most medicines.
These sessions are also a safe place to discuss your experiences, insights, perspectives and any challenges you may be facing. Integration helps you find the meaning and the messages in what you experienced and becomes the bridge between momentary revelation and embodied wisdom. This fosters personal growth, healing and a deeper connection with ourselves and the world. That is embodied wisdom, that is when life becomes the ceremony! When integration work is not done or offered, we often see people become re-traumatized, confused, anxious, depressed and/or in a state of crisis.
As you step into the profound realms of inner exploration, this integration guide is designed to assist you in making the most of your experience while maximizing therapeutic benefits and reducing harm. I always recommend working with an integration specialist but if you decide to do this on your own, this guide can provide some support and guidance in the days and weeks that follow.
It is important to avoid driving, making financial or impactful decisions, using other substances or sharing your experience with others for a minimum 24 hours after your medicine ceremony.
Key Integration Principles:
- Reflection and Journaling:
- Dedicate time for self-reflection and journaling to capture your thoughts, emotions and insights
- Explore the nuances of your experience and identify key takeaways
- Mindfulness Practices:
- Incorporate mindfulness, body scans and meditation into your daily routine to stay connected with your inner self
- Use breath-work to ground yourself and maintain a sense of presence
- Self-Compassion:
- Invite self-compassion as you navigate the integration process
- Recognize and integrate any judgments that may arise
- Ask for help or hire an integration specialist if you are struggling
Integration Tools and Ideas:
- Integration Journal Prompts:
- What emotions or sensations arise when reflecting on your psychedelic experience?
- How can you implement committed actions into your daily life from the insights gained?
- What might be the value of the experience as applied to your intention, values and life going forward?
- How can you allocate time to reflect and be in relationship with this experience?
- What story or meaning are you assigning to the impactful aspects of your experience?
- What was the theme or core message from the medicine session?
- Artistic Expression:
- Use art, music, dance or creative writing to express and process your emotions
- Create a visual representation of your journey to enhance understanding
- Nature Connection:
- Spend time in nature to ground yourself and foster a sense of inter-connectedness
- Allow the healing energies of the natural world to support your integration
- Burn sage and utilize water and fire for their cleansing properties
Post Ceremony Self Care:
- Rest and Nutrition:
- Prioritize adequate rest to support your physical and emotional well-being
- Move slow! Don’t go straight back to the busyness of life
- Hydrate and fuel your body with healthy and organic, nutrient-rich foods
- Community Connection:
- Share aspects of your experience with a trusted friend or community
- Seek support from those who understand or have undergone similar experiences. Here is a link to find psychedelic community in your local area: https://globalpsychedelic.org/locator/
- Contact FireSide Project during or after your medicine experience to receive free and experienced support.
Integration Sessions:
It is highly recommended to schedule follow-up integration sessions to discuss your experiences, insights and any challenges you may be facing. These sessions will provide a safe space for further exploration. If you are working with me, I include 2 post-ceremony integration sessions in my main offering.
Closing Thoughts:
Remember that integration is a unique and ongoing process in the days and weeks to come. I would invite you to be patient and gentle with yourself and honor the wisdom gained from your journey. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
If you are interested in the free MAPS Integration Workbook you can download it via the link.
If you feel like you are in crisis and in need of immediate support you should call 911. If you are struggling and looking for support you can contact the following organizations for free and experienced psychedelic support:
The FireSide Project at:
https://firesideproject.org/ or you can call or text: 62-FIRESIDE any day from 11am – 11 pm PST. You can also download the FireSide Project App on the Apple or Google Play Store or add them via their phone number (623) 473-7433 on WhatsApp
Trip Sit at:
https://tripsit.me/#hero and click the button “ I want to talk to a trip sitter” which takes you to the link below:
Or you can visit the Zendo Projects support resource page for mental health, crisis support, psychedelic integration and psychedelic support resources. Zendo Projects resources may or may not be free
