So you’re psychedelic curious, but you’re not sure if you’re ready to work with psychedelic medicines?
I get it, there’s a lot to be curious about:
- The research and studies that are supporting the use of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions more effectively than traditional pharamaceuticals
- The hyper-productivity that tech giants in Silicon Valley are realizing in their microdosing journeys
- See the universe and potentially God…
Though psychedelics aren’t new to the scene, having been around and used by ancient cultures for thousands of years, they are flooding the news and creating a very loud comeback, meaning the more you hear about it, the more you may be asking, ‘Do I want to use psychedelics?’
Let me tell you, this is not light work, so if you’re in the market for doing the work, pull up a chair. If not, there are other avenues that you will want to explore first.
Exploring the Different Psychedelic Medicine Approaches
To understand if you’re ready to work with psychedelic substances as medicine, you must first understand what it means to work with psychedelic medicine. Like the full scope.
The use of psychedelics is very different recreationally versus clinically versus ceremonially.
Each applications has their own list of pros and cons, as well as best-use cases, so understanding the spectrum is key to knowing if this path is right for you.
Recreational Use of Psychedelics
When psychedelics made their way, in some cases, back on the scene in the 60’s, they quickly found a home in rave and club culture.
The traditional psychedelic substances like LSD, MDMA, aka ecstasy, and magic mushrooms serve a very particular purpose in rave and club settings:
- Enhance sensory experiences
- Induce euphoria
- Hallucinogenic and introspective insights
- Create synergy with music and movement
These substances collectively influenced music, fashion and art trends in the 60s and 70s. This time frame also influenced how the world perceived these substances as a whole.
Due to the lack of responsible use that is hallmark of recreational drugs, these substances soon became targets of the war on drugs, deeming them unsafe, brain rotting, and lethal. A bit of a stretch of the truth but that’s besides the point.
This resulted in these substances being rescheduled as schedule I substances, making possession and sale federally illegal.
Today, we know that much of what was exploited in the war on drugs was not based on real, scientific evidence. Psychedelics still have their use in recreational settings for the same reasons as above.
Who is The Recreational Use of Psychedelics For?
There’s no shame in using psychedelics to explore more of the sensory experience of being human, in fact, even though I haven’t gotten to the clinical and ceremonial use cases yet, I think this is a great balance once in a while.
Overall, if you want to intentionally feel more alive, more in touch with the world and energy, and you want to do this with your friends to deepen your relationships, I think it’s a perfectly good use case. And because I’m not going to explain the recreational use much further, you’re probably good to go. Just read about the safety below.
When using psychedelics recreationally, there are some key things to consider to do so safely:
ALWAYS test your drugs: Specifically substances like Molly, ecstasy and LSD are crucial to test because they have a high likelihood of being laced. Organizations such as DanceSafe have drug testing kits for purchase. Considering the Fentynal crisis is so severe right now, always, always, always test your supply, even if you trust your dealer.
Set and setting: Be clear about why you’re using the substance and also that you have a way of keeping yourself safe whether you are familiar with the environment or you have a buddy that’s keeping an eye on you during the night. This can mitigate harm and risk.
Start low and go slow: You can always take more, but you can’t take less. Even recreationally, dose matters. Don’t eyeball a dose or take something just because someone gave it to you. Also, don’t try to keep up with your friends who have done these substances before, recognize that you’re a beginner and you’d rather not potentially harm or embarrass yourself by trying to keep up. It’s the same as alcohol consumption.
Don’t give into peer pressure: It’s one thing to want to intentionally take a drug and enjoy your night in a new way, it’s another to be pressured by others if that’s not what you want to do. With substances like these, you’re much better off choosing this path for yourself and not being forced. I believe this is where ‘bad trips‘ happen, so be mindful if it’s something you really want to do or not. You can always say, ‘no,’ even if you don’t feel like you can.
Know which substances are safe and not safe to mix: A big thing people overlook when taking drugs recreationally is mixing drugs together and not knowing the side effects. Do your research on this ahead of time so that you know which substances are safe to mix and which ones are not. Knowing this ahead of the experience may mitigate any potential risks even when you’re under the influence and not making rational decisions. This may even look like making a pact with the person who’s keeping an eye on you, let them mediate so that you know you’re going to be safe.
Clinical Use of Psychedelics
The reemergence of psychedelics after the war on drugs has been heavily focused on the clinical application of these medicines. Unsurprisingly.
This is also not new, clinical trials were taking place in the 60s and 70s for treatments of mental health conditions such as PTSD and depression. However, they were premature and irresponsible in their approach, leading to the research from this time to not be viable or usable in the new age.
In the current state of psychedelics in the clinical model, Oregon is pioneering the therapeutic use of psilocybin under Measure 109.
The intention is to provide a legal and regulated framework for the therapeutic use of psilocybin, prioritizing safety, efficacy, and accessibility while integrating evidence-based practices from psychedelic research and traditional healing modalities.
The MAPS non-profit is conducting Phase 3 clinical trials for MDMA assisted therapy, which are the final stage of research required for FDA approval of a new therapy.
Research continues to grow for the clinical application of psychedelics and we can expect to see much more data emerge in the next 5 to 10 years.
Who is The Clinical Use of Psychedelics For?
The clinical route is it’s own unique area in the world of psychedelic medicines. It can be a great option for someone who is suffering from mental illness and seeking safe, effective, and structured treatment.
There’s argument that these medicines weren’t intended to be used clinically, since psychedelics often induce a mystical and spiritual experience which doesn’t categorize well in the scientific model and approach.
The clinical application allows for clear and concise outcomes, which is supportive for those who are impacted by their mental health diagnoses and is a great option for care, whether it includes the mystical or spiritual experience to the fullest extent or not. Not to mention they provide safety, which is of utmost importance for any type of healing journey, which I would argue it’s the most important thing to consider when engaging with psychedelics.
If you seek the safe application of psychedelic medicine, there are clinical trials happening all over the world that you can check out. Ketamine clinics are also available in many cities nationwide, which offer ketamine treatment sessions under the care of a clinician for the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Ceremonial Use of Psychedelics
Retreats, ceremonies, and journeys in the jungle have become somewhat of a luxury in this coming age, but the ceremonial application of psychedelic medicines is anything but luxurious.
Ayahuasca and psilocybin medicines are most common in this application, but there’s also Iboga, Mescalin, Bufo, and Kambo.
Whereas the clinical use of psychedelics occur in a controlled and therapeutic environment, the ceremonial use of psychedelics is rooted in traditional, indigenous, and spiritual practices and often takes place in ceremonial or ritualistic settings, such as shamanic ceremonies, religious rituals, or community gatherings.
Who is The Ceremonial Use of Psychedelics For?
This application typically serves spiritual, healing, or transformative purposes, aiming to connect individuals with higher consciousness, inner wisdom, or the divine.
When working with these sacred plant allies, there is a heavy emphasis and expectation to respect the indigenous wisdom, cultural traditions, the lineage and teachings of the plants.
Ceremonies and community medicine circles offer healing in a much different way than the clinical setting, promoting the power of human connection with each other and the divine to reveal and heal.
When entering this type of sacred space, it’s important to surrender and trust that the medicine will show you what you need to know, and to respect and honor it. Psychedelic preparation for the mind, body, and soul is advised, since the experience can be intense on all these levels.
It’s also important to respect that the people you are journeying with are also going to be transmitters of the medicine’s unique wisdom, and to respect them as well for their work and presence.
Entering ceremonial space may seem like a luxury, but beware that though medicine work is beautiful in many ways, it can also be difficult.
I suggest if you’re thinking of working with psychedelic medicine in the ceremonial setting, seek guidance from an integration coach and sit with this decision to make sure it’s the right one for you, not because it’s trendy.
Signs You Might Be Ready to Work With Psychedelic Medicine
For the sake of this conversation, I’m going to dive more extensively into the readiness factors of clinical and ceremonial psychedelic use, since I believe these require the most awareness and contemplation before embarking on.
You may be seeking to work with psychedelic medicine for inner healing, resolving mental health issues, or even to personally transform.
This is a great start to understanding if you’re ready to work with the medicine, but it may not be a strong enough reason to take this journey.
Readiness to work with psychedelic substances depends on how much you’re willing to invite, prepare, and integrate the experience.
This is mainly how psychedelic substances and treatments differ from traditional treatment plans: You don’t simply take a psychedelic and it cures you or immediately helps you reach your goal, there’s preparation, openness, and consistent action and integration that is required of you to get the most from these substances.
Psychedelic substances beg active participation in your healing journey, rather than being passive like SSRIs or other pharmaceuticals.
Here are some ways you may assess your readiness to work with psychedelics:
You feel called: The medicine spoke to you in a dream, through another person’s experience or came to you suddenly without much explanation or prompting. If you feel called you’ll know.
You’re yearning for perspective and insight: Maybe you’re seeing that the way you’ve always done things is no longer the way you wish to proceed.
You feel stuck on your current healing journey: You’ve been in therapy for a long time but can’t seem to go deeper or make progress, or you feel like something is blocking you and no matter how hard you’ve been trying you can’t seem to bring awareness to it.
You want to actively participate in your healing and you’re willing to do the work: You don’t want to take pharmaceuticals anymore and numb out to life or pray for a miracle that you’ll wake up feeling better, you want to do the work that you believe the medicine may guide you towards.
You can’t stop thinking about it: If you’ve been thinking about working with psychedelic medicine for a while and the thought won’t leave your mind, it may be a good sign that you’re ready. If you do feel hesitant or even a bit nervous, it’s actually a very common and healthy feeling, it means there’s a certain level of respect you already have for the medicine. Assess this nervousness before choosing this path, if it feels extreme, perhaps you’re not ready just yet, but if it feels more of a nervousness of the unknown, know that that’s completely normal and welcomed.
There is a caveat I’d like to address in relationship to the last point I made above. There may be a situation in which all of this is true and yet you still feel like jumping into a high-dose journey is terrifying for you but you want to try. This is where I would suggest microdosing, or taking low, sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics.
Download my free microdosing guide.
Microdosing can be really supportive for someone who is brand new to the psychedelic medicine space because it can prime you to create a relationship with the medicine and yourself in a way that you may not have explored before.
For some people this can be enough and they don’t want to explore beyond these low-dose treatment plans, and for others, they feel more confident now that they know they have a certain relationship with themselves and the medicine.
If this feels like you, I would advise to work with a microdosing coach so that you properly follow a protocol and a treatment plan and get the most from your experience. Hi, that’s me!
✨Book a free 60 minute consultation call if this feels like something you want more information on.
Addressing Risks and Concerns
Not everyone should work with psychedelic medicines, there are certain populations of people that these medicines are truly harmful for.
When exploring any psychedelic work, you should always go through a screening process for this exact reason. If, for example, you’re signing up for a ceremony and they do not screen you, it’s an indicator that it is not operating for your safety or doing things ethically.
Some of the most common subsets of the population that should consult their doctor or a professional for the use of psychedelics include:
- Anyone who has a family or personal history of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, you still may be able to work with psychedelic medicines, but only under the care of a highly trained clinician to mitigate risks
- Anyone who has a history of heart conditions or severe hypertension
- Anyone who has a history of epilepsy
- Someone taking MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), which can interact dangerously with psychedelics, leading to serotonin syndrome or other adverse reactions
Psychedelics can also trigger trauma, therefore it’s important that if you have had severe trauma throughout your life that you consult with a counselor or trained therapist who will be able to help you work through this experience with more safety and efficacy.
When participating in journeys and ceremonies, understand that you’ll be doing this work in community, therefore if you struggle in group settings or feel uneasy about losing control, take the extra precautions ahead of time so you don’t find yourself in a situation that is traumatic.
It’s always a good idea to enter a potential ceremony experience with questions such as:
- How do the facilitators keep the space safe during ceremony?
- What can I expect on the day of ceremony?
- What is expected of the participants who attend this ceremony? Are there rules to protect us while we’re in the medicine?
- Can you explain a time someone had a disruptive experience? How did you manage that situation that was best for that participant and the others?
So, Should You Work With Psychedelic Medicine?
Honestly, the most important thing I can relay is simply to be prepared and know what you’re in for.
You’ll know you’re ready to work with psychedelic medicine when you understand that preparedness means mind, body, and spirit as well as knowing logistics and risks associated with taking these substances.
You’ll understand that this isn’t a passive experience, it requires your commitment to participate actively in your own healing and transformation.
And lastly, you’ll be sure that the curiosity you feel to try these medicines for a deeper purpose is coming from you and not anyone around you.
When all this feels true for you, then there’s a good chance you’re ready to begin your psychedelic path.
Was This Post Helpful? Are You Thinking of Working With Psychedelics Now?
If yes but you’re not sure what would be best for you, or you’re totally ready to get started, go ahead and book a free call with me. I’ll help you understand the best path for you so you can truly get the most out of it! And for more psychedelic and emotional resiliency tips like this, subscribe to my weekly newsletter, Read my journal to get them delivered straight to your inbox, along with the gory deets about how I navigate this world as a highly sensitive girlie who uses psychedelics. 🎉🙆🏽♀️
