A lesser talked about influencing factor of mindset is your relationship with psychedelics.
This relationship has the ability to both positively and negatively affect the nature of your psychedelic journeys over time.
A good place to start when looking at this relationship is any cultural and personal biases we might be bringing to the table.
Navigating the Cultural and Personal Biases
Although we are collectively making great progress in the widespread acceptance of psychedelics, there is still a hangover from the war on drugs.
Our culture is still largely peppered with misconceptions and stigmas, which often feed into our personal biases against psychedelics. These prejudices can emerge from societal conditioning or may be reflections of our upbringing.
It is important to examine these internalized associations and their origins and question their validity. Whether it’s feelings of mistrust, fear, or even guilt, it’s best if they are looked at i in the light of reason and personal experience.
Do you feel guilty about taking psychedelics? If so, why?
Are you scared that you’ll go crazy or become addicted? If so, where do those beliefs come from?
Psychedelics are some of the least addictive and physiologically safe substances on the planet, so it’s worth examining any negative connotations you have around them. The process of deconstructing these biases can be therapeutic in itself and is often the first step toward a more fulfilling and enriching relationship with psychedelics.
Once we’ve looked at any biases we’ve held, it can be useful to develop other aspects of a healthy way of relating to psychedelics.
A relationship with psychedelics that is more likely to lead to more beneficial outcomes would be one rooted in trust, respect, appreciation, and gratitude.
Trust
Trust is a cornerstone. To be fully open to what these experiences have to offer, there must be a level of trust in the substances themselves, and in what they are showing you in your experiences. To trust that you are not in any danger, and to trust that there may be a good reason for whatever your own mind is showing you in these experiences, and the potential of learning in them.
Just like any meaningful relationship in life, building trust can be a gradual process that comes with time and experience. It is something that doesn’t need to be rushed but can be cultivated over time through careful and respectful engagement.
Learning about the history and effects of substances can help develop this trust, as well as knowing their safety profile, especially at the doses you are working with.
For newcomers, beginning with microdosing can help develop trust on an experiential level, without jumping into the deep end of more intense experiences.
Respect
Respect comes from understanding the immense power of psychedelic substances. This comes naturally when we understand their ability to radically and completely change our reality. Remembering that they have the power to not only open us to healing but also the power to throw us into intense and difficult experiences in which we may feel helpless or lost.
The concept of ‘Going Pro’, borrowed from Stephen Pressfield’s creative classic The War of Art, can elevate your level of respect for psychedelics.
Think about it this way: if you were a professional psychedelic explorer, how would your approach differ?
Treating your psychedelic exploration with the seriousness and dedication that a professional would bring to their craft can change how we engage with our experiences in a positive way.
Maybe you would invest more time in preparation, creating a sacred space, and a thorough debrief to integrate insights into your daily life.
Respect for psychedelics is shown through conscious usage, thoughtful preparation, and committed integration of experiences. Bringing this respect helps to reduce the chance of bad trips and traumatic experiences, and increase the potential for benefits.
Appreciation and Gratitude
Appreciation and gratitude encourage you to approach each new journey with a sense of wonder and reverence. They help to bring a positive mood and outlook to the experience, and further encourage an attitude of being open and to receive.
Remembering a psychedelic experience you feel fortunate to have had can help to instill an appreciation for these substances. This could be simple statements of thanks, reflective journaling, or even a more elaborate ritual.
You can also express gratitude for the opportunity to have this experience. Many people in the world are seeking access to psychedelic experiences, but because of legal or other restrictions, are unable to do so. You can deepen your appreciation by acknowledging this.
Gratitude for psychedelics can also awaken a desire to pay your blessings forward and contribute positively to the lives of others, amplifying the collective potential for healing and transformation.
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Thanks for info
Very well done! Loved this read, and it’s a good reminder of a few very vital factors of the psychedelic experience that are often forgotten.
great article