Psychedelic
Integration
“If you’re frightened of something, the best thing is to draw it.”
-Paula Rego
Long before Freud or Prozac, there were psychedelics.
For thousands of years psychedelics have been used for their healing and transformative properties. Traditionally a shaman with their dedicated training and indigenous knowledge would ensure the right context and rituals would surround these sacred practices. Nowadays because these substances are illegal the preparation and processing of these experiences, arguably the most important aspects, are often forgotten about.
Art therapy, the modern reincarnation of shamanism, is the perfect container for the psychedelic experience.
Psychedelic integration is the name given to the process by which we prepare for the psychedelic experience and how we process or ‘integrate’ it afterwards. If you are planning on having a psychedelic experience, I offer one on one sessions for preparation and follow up integration sessions. These are aimed at harm reduction and in order to maximize the healing potential of the experience for the individual. Not only is it important that we properly prepare for the experience but if we do not explore it afterwards, no matter how intense and life changing the experience can seem at the time, like a dream its’ memory and wisdom fade with time.
I believe art therapy offers the perfect framework to support these experiences. Entering the creative state of flow is an non ordinary state of consciousness, which I believe can be considered a mini-trip. It is a way of relaxing your ego in preparation for the more intense ego-dissolution often experienced with psychedelics. Art is also the ideal method for making sense of the experience afterwards. ‘Ineffable’ or indescribable is one of the core features of the psychedelic experience, as such art offers the perfect medium to explore the meaning of the experience. In fact, one theory of cave paintings is that they were made by shamans trying to understand their psychedelic trips!
The bad trip
When psychedelics are taken in the wrong setting or you are in the wrong frame of mind, this can result in a ‘bad trip’. A bad trip can be associated with feelings like; panic, dread, anxiety, feeling like you’re going to die, like you’re going insane, paranoia and grief, an intense list no doubt! But these feelings are also the key to becoming whole. Art therapy and psychedelic therapy operate within the same homeopathic model. This entails the belief that in non ordinary states of consciousness we have an internal radar that scans the system and alerts us to psychological areas that need attention. The bad trip is so bad for a reason. These are the parts of ourselves, our memories and feelings that our conscious mind has been repressing. Exploring and integrating these feelings, however uncomfortable this may be, is key to transforming your consciousness and becoming whole.
If you have had a bad trip in the past or are considering having a psychedelic experience in the future, get in touch for more information.
“The counterintuitive finding that extremely diffciult experiences can sometimes also be very meaningful experiences is consistent with what we see in our studies with psilocybin-that resolution of a difficult experience, sometimes describe as catharsis, often results in positive personal meaning or spirtiual significance“—.”
Roland Griffits, John Hopkins Universtity researcher
(Read more about the study here)