Integrating Psychedelic & Mystical Experiences
Integration is not about figuring out your psychedelic experience. There’s nothing you need to “get” from a journey. Psychedelics, and the higher intelligence that works through them, give you exactly what you need when you need it. True integration is merely letting the magnitude of that gift unfold. ~Edan Armas, Third Wave
What is Integration?
There is a difference between having an awakening experience and living an awakened life. Integration is the process of cultivating a more awakened life. How do we hold onto insights or new perspectives? How do we stay open to what is yet to unfold or reveal itself? How do we start and sustain changes? What practices will keep our new vision or mindset alive? This is the work of Integration.
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Integration is not about figuring out or analyzing the contents of the journey, but rather it is about staying open and attentive to what is emerging and unfolding. We’ll look to your body, mind, and spirit for clues and we'll look to dreams, synchronicities, intuition and even myth for inspiration.
Sometimes sacred medicine journeys call us to release things that will make change or transformation possible. A journey of shedding, unbecoming or letting go of limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging stories may follow. Integration often involves increasing awareness, rewriting stories, shifting perspectives, and allowing new patterns of thinking to emerge.
As a bigger picture forms, it’s important to remember that there’s no set timeline for transformation. Be gentle with yourself, limit your expectations, and find ways to hold the vision. Consistent reflection, support, and integrative practices will help you stay on the path.
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Integration Practices
Four common integration practices include guided journaling, integration groups, transpersonal counseling and microdosing. Taking time to reflect on and track the unfolding of your journey is important and journaling helps keep the themes or wisdom alive. When it comes to groups and counseling, the benefit of having someone else who has "been there" walking alongside you is priceless. There are often so many nuggets of wisdom and/or invitations hidden within a journey experience that we may miss all without a guide prompting a certain type of inquiry and contemplation. Read more about some of these practices below.
Journaling
Many people are surprised by the ways their journey seems to keep unfolding and developing long beyond the day itself. Synchronicities, dreams, memories and seemingly random thoughts start to weave a profound and enlightening story. Journaling is a wonderful ritual that helps us stay connected to our journey and it also provides us with a way to track these aha moments and smaller mystical experiences as a way to see a bigger picture.
Integration Groups
Integration groups are spaces where people come together to share, process, deepen into, and continue working with mystical experiences such as those that occur during psychedelic journeys or wilderness immersions. Our time together will begin with a poem or reading, followed by an explanation of our sacred agreements and guidelines for co-creating a safe space. The majority of the time will be open for people to share stories or reflections related to their own experiences. The group facilitator will sometimes offer mirroring, reflection questions, or invitations for those who want additional support or guidance. Our Integration Groups are virtual.
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Upcoming Groups are listed on our EVENTS page.
Microdosing
Microdosing is taking a "sub-threshold" dose of psychedelic, following a schedule or protocol. The amount is too small to induce an altered state and it does not impact normal functioning. People microdose for many reasons, however as an integration practice, microdosing can help people deepen their relationship with the medicine, hold the vision or bring more ritual and meaning into their daily life following a journey. The Cavewoman Way offers Microdosing Group Cohorts and individual Mentorships. Learn more on our MICRODOSING page.
Psychedelics don’t give you what you want; they give you what you need. This is true during the ceremony, but also afterwards. Listen: what does your system want to do to fully express the change you experienced? ~Edan Armas, Third Wave
Integration Resources
Psychedelics & The Soul (Simon Yugler)
Soulcraft (Bill Plotkin)
The Journey of Soul Initiation (Bill Plotkin)
The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide (James Fadiman)
The Sacred Speaks (Podcast)
The information on this page is for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The substances mentioned have not been approved to prevent, treat or cure any disease. The Cavewoman Way does not offer medical or legal advice nor do we support illegal activity of any kind.