Integration
Integration of a psychedelic experience involves incorporating insights and lessons gained from the journey into your daily life. Consider it a time in which you allow the experience to become you mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Integration takes time! Sometimes weeks, months or years until you fully embody the lessons you have learned. The term "psychedelic" originates from the Greek words "psyche," meaning “mind," or ‘’soul’’ and "deloun," meaning "to manifest,” "to reveal" or "to make visible.” Therefore, "psychedelic" literally means "mind-manifesting" or “soul-revealing.”
As you navigate this new landscape of expanded awareness, you may encounter fresh challenges in integrating these experiences into your everyday life. Grounding yourself and finding meaning amidst this newfound understanding can feel daunting. Remember, you're not alone in this journey, and there's no topic too unconventional for us to discuss and support you through. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, consider taking a moment to quiet your mind and focus on deep breathing to help navigate any challenging moments. Embrace the process of integration by allowing yourself to feel rather than solely intellectualize, as this can foster a deeper sense of connection and understanding.
The Yagé medicine is a purgative cleanser, and it will stay working in your system for about 2-4 more weeks, which is considered the time for integration. Therefore our first suggestion is to keep the preparation diet for as long as you can post ceremony. This will greatly increase the amount of information you are able to receive and implement outside of the ceremony setting. Get as much rest as you possibly can.
Here are some additional ways to facilitate integration
1. Mental Integration:
• Reflection and Quiet Time: Spend time reflecting on your experience. Journaling can be a powerful tool for processing thoughts, emotions, and insights as well as how you are feeling post ceremony. Remembering our intention and then writing down how that intention was met during ceremony. Reflecting on your experiences can help you make sense of
them and integrate any new perspectives or understandings into your daily life.
Meditation and Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques to stay present and cultivate awareness of your thoughts and feelings. Meditation can help you integrate the lessons learned from your psychedelic experience into your daily life. Allow yourself to rest the mind and just feel. Activating the body’s receptors this way will allow your subconscious to absorb and integrate as well.
Therapeutic Support: Seek support from one of our therapist or counselors experienced in psychedelic integration. Professional guidance can help you navigate challenging emotions, integrate insights, and develop coping strategies for any difficulties that arise during the integration process.
2. Physical Integration:
Self-Care: Prioritize self-care practices such as adequate sleep, nutrition, exercise, and relaxation techniques. Taking care of your physical health can support overall well-being and help integrate the insights gained from your experience into your daily life.
Body Awareness: Pay attention to physical sensations and how they may be connected to your psychedelic experiences. Practices such as yoga, tai chi, or mindful movement can help cultivate body awareness and facilitate integration by connecting mind and body.
Energy Alchemy: We are energy, and it is all vibration. We are learning with every ceremony more and more what is happening within ourselves. It does take time for us to figure it out, and it is never-ending. Sometimes, after ceremonies, our energy becomes a bit congested, our emotions and thoughts become more challenging, and the physical body could also experience a certain density level. It is at this time that we can benefit from the following additional practices: Prepare sweet baths and bitter baths and use them daily. All you need to do is boil a big pot of water and break up the herbs into the pot, letting it simmer for an hour, then turn it off and let it cool. Bitter herbs are Tobacco, Datura (angel trumpet flower LEAVES), white sage, & rue. Sweet herbs are Basil, Lavender, Rosemary, Mint, Lemongrass. If you just have tobacco (for the bitter baths) & Basil (for the sweet baths) that's enough. You can buy a few cigars and break them up if you don't have access to loose leaf tobacco. After the tea is made, you can strain it and then bring a cup with you into the shower. After you towel dry, pour the bath over your body and let it air dry. The plants will seep into your pores and begin to dialogue with the ancient memory of your cells. Because the medicine removes a lot of bitterness
from us during ceremonies, after the ceremonies you want to use sweet baths for at least 10 days. If something strong is coming up for you, you are feeling very confused or feel like you need to cut an energy then you can use the bitter baths. The minimum number of days to use the bitter bath is 3 and the maximum is 7. You must always do the same number of sweet baths as bitter baths. (For example, 7 days of bitter, 7 days of sweet with one day of rest in between) This keeps the energies in balance. Using this plant technology is a beautiful practice that you can use for the rest of your life and is highly recommended! You can also use sweet baths and drink basil tea every day to keep the sweetness present perpetually but take a one-day break between bitter and sweet if something comes up you want to extract from your essence with the bitter bath. These baths are plant technology that works; it grows and cleanses the energy in the subtle levels of your body. Practice the baths for at least 15 days after the ceremonies. Consider them Homework for the next two weeks.
3. Spiritual Integration:
Community and Support: Seek out community support or a trusted individual through our group chats, spiritual groups and gatherings such as song circles or sound healing. Sharing your experiences and insights with others can provide validation and support.
Spiritual Payments & Offerings: Spiritual Payments: This foundational practice holds immense significance. Whenever there's an imbalance or misuse of energy, it's crucial to restore equilibrium. Yage serves as a means of repayment, as does meditation and fasting. These practices are avenues for restoring balance within our energetic framework. If the body is experiencing distress, fasting, meditation, and prayer can recalibrate our energy and facilitate a departure from old narratives. An offering or a ‘Pagamento’ refers to the act of giving in exchange for goods or services. In this case it refers to metaphorical actions or practices undertaken to restore balance or harmony on a spiritual level, rather than literal monetary transactions.
Some common spiritual offerings include:
1. Prayer and Meditation: Many individuals engage in prayer or meditation as a form of spiritual offering, seeking connection with a higher power, inner peace, or guidance.
Rituals and Ceremonies: Various rituals and ceremonies are performed as offerings in different religious and spiritual traditions. These may include offerings of food, incense, flowers, or symbolic items to deities, ancestors, or spirits.
Sacred Offerings: Offerings of sacred items such as water, fire, or herbs are made in some spiritual practices to honor and connect with divine forces or spiritual beings.
Acts of Service: Acts of service, such as volunteering, charity work, or helping others in need, can be seen as spiritual offerings aimed at cultivating compassion, empathy, and goodwill.
Fasting and Sacrifice: Fasting or abstaining from certain activities or pleasures can be a form of spiritual offering in many traditions, symbolizing discipline, purification, or devotion.
Creative Expression: Engaging in creative activities such as art, music, dance, or writing can be a way of offering one's talents and creativity as a form of spiritual expression or devotion.
Nature Offerings: Some spiritual practices involve offerings to nature, such as planting trees, tending to gardens, or participating in environmental conservation efforts as a way of honoring and respecting the natural world. Spend time in nature and cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for the natural world. Connecting with nature can facilitate spiritual integration and provide a sense of interconnectedness and belonging.
Mindfulness and Gratitude: Practicing mindfulness and expressing gratitude for the blessings in one's life can be considered spiritual offerings that cultivate awareness, contentment, and a sense of connection to the universe and communities around the world today. The specific offerings vary widely depending on cultural, religious, and personal beliefs, but they often share the common intention of fostering spiritual growth, connection, and harmony.
These are just a few examples of the diverse spiritual offerings practiced by individuals.
Integration is an ongoing process that unfolds over time, so be patient and compassionate with yourself as you navigate the journey of integration. Give yourself plenty of time and know we are always available to support you.