A Discussion about Psychedelic Integration
Full disclaimer here: not everyone is going to agree with me on this topic. And that’s ok. The important thing is to hear and consider different perspectives on things, not to necessarily agree with all of them.
I find it so interesting that when I talk to people about what I do, they often blurt out this same generic phrase of “well integration is the most important part!” before we even get deep into talking about the work. Yes, integration is an important part, but do you know what this actually means? Do we have a personal connection to this concept or do we have a poorly informed sense of meaning?
Poorly informed, is that a thing? If not, I am making it one.
We regurgitate so many phrases and can really disconnect from what the true meaning of things are in an attempt to appear informed, knowledgeable or credible. This is especially true with this work – where there are a lot of people claiming a lot of things to get clients through their door as the industry is on it’s way to becoming another profit driven business opportunity. You heard me right, but I will rage on about this another day.
Below I want to discuss who needs integration, what it looks like and what misconceptions are out there. I am discussing this topic specifically with regards to people who work with me in the Spiritual setting of Psilocybin Ceremony at Sacred Heart.
What is Integration?
I don’t know the definition of Integration and I refuse to look it up – lol – I think pretty much everything will resonate the most when I speak from the heart and from personal experience.
In my world, and in my experience, integration is the process in which the newly illuminated information or aspects of Self, revealed through Ceremony, is settling into the Self that was present before the Ceremony began. Some examples of this would be perspectives about a situation, a physical healing, soul parts that have returned, connection to self or nature, or instructions about how to move forward.
What does integration actually look like? For me, it can look like any or all of these things, depending on what I am moving through:
Time and space to just be (alone)
Yoga
Journaling
Meditating
Bodywork
Breathwork
Coaching
Therapy
Intense emotional processing for 1-3 weeks
Physical purging for days or weeks
Hiking or time in nature
Not getting out of bed for a week or two