Self understanding, healing, change, transformation, insights into our inner workings and gaining new perspectives on the world around us are just some of the profound recognised benefits derived from the use of psychedelic compounds recorded over centuries and, increasingly now, emerging in both scientific literature and in the growing therapeutic use of these substances during this era of “psychedelic renaissance”.
The interruption, or disruption, of the typical flow of consciousness experienced through the peak experience of psychedelic use can open up a door for deep and lasting change, but to ensure this continues well beyond the experience itself, an understanding and implementation of the pivotal role of proper integration – both pre and post the experience – is vital.
What is integration?
“Integration is an active process, where an individual consciously reflects on their psychedelic experiences and what it means to them personally,” (Virdi, 2020)
Whatever the insights, ideas, understandings, thoughts or concepts gained from a peak experience might be for an individual, these can fade, or erode, if not explored and actualised in the following days and weeks. Through integration we connect and ground these states or feelings or insights into our normal states of consciousness and thereby into our daily lives.
Integration works to keep the learnings active and not to allow them to fade into a distant memory. Typically, integration will involve prior preparation: through identifying the purpose(s) or intention(s) for taking psychedelics and, subsequently: through the implementation of a series of actions to embody and process the experience. The importance of this process cannot be understated, and many believe that the integration protocols are crucial to the achievement of long term therapeutic outcomes and more important even than the psychedelic experience itself.
Preparation for the psychedelic experience
As in so many areas of life, preparation is key. Intention setting will ground you into the purpose for embarking on your journey and provides an anchor both for the experience itself and for its integration into your day to day “after” life. In the lead up and during the intention-setting pre-session, ask yourself what your goal or intention is for taking this path. Is it to deepen an understanding of the world, your place within it, to overcome addiction, face fears, heal trauma, connect with nature…what is it you personally are seeking to understand or to achieve?
The “set”: your mindset before embarking and your “setting”: the set up, surroundings, location and facilitation of your experience both play a key role here. The more you can consider and prepare in each of these areas, the better equipped you will be to maximise the outcome of your journey.
Post experience integration?
Clinical psychologist, psychedelic integration therapist and author of The Psychedelics Integration Handbook, Dr. Ryan Westrum advises that:
“One could argue that the first hours and the days that immediately follow the psychedelic experience are the most crucial when it comes to integration. In general, our modern-day, contemporary lifestyles are so hectic, and we find ourselves constantly working, traveling and moving. It is important if you are considering taking a psychedelic, to take the proper time to do so, more appropriately thinking of it as a two-day experience. We need to carve essential time out to reflect and digest what happened, using the second day for purposes of integration.”
Post experience integration can take on many forms and will ultimately, over time, be tailored to the individuals lifestyle and intention, however, any well structured and well supported experience, will include and/or encourage the following:
- Group and individual integration sessions in the 24 hours immediately following the experience
- Detailed recording of an individuals’ experience through writing and/or audio journaling
- Creating a quiet, safe, reflective space in which to sit with and embody thoughts, feelings and sensations
- Time spent in nature whether walking or being still
- Some form of breathwork, meditation or yoga practice to encourage remaining present in the moment and to resist the temptation to mentally and/or physically return too quickly to the distractions and noise of day to day life
- Remaining within a “safe” container space, ideally facilitated by those trained to support the integration of psychedelics.
- Longer term coaching and support provided in the months following an experience to both integrate and embody lasting change and/or to prepare for a return to further psychedelic exploration.
Re*union
Integration of the psychedelic experience undertaken by our clients is of upmost importance in every retreat held by re*union. Our team is specialised in integrative coaching and in working with our clients to ensure that the integration methods we use are tailored to and applied in a way that maximises the successful implementation of a client’s intentions, insights and experiences into their day to day life for years to come.
Disclaimer
The material in this blog is provided for informational purposes only and is not designed to prescribe, diagnose, or treat any physical or mental illness. None of the information presented here should be treated as medical or professional advice.
