Last fall I had the pleasure of taking @pacifica ‘s “Sacred Medicine and the Psyche” course. We studied the histories, the cultural significance, the uses (and abuses) of the variety of plant medicines humans have used both in ancient times and the more recent synthesizing of substances such as MDMA and LSD. We discussed issues of cultural appropriation, the dangers of psychedelic tourism, and the rise of shamanism in the Western Psyche and importantly, integration practices.
As a therapist who has extensively treated addiction, I have always had the view that all substances, and the people who use them, are actually trying to heal themselves. I take the Jungian view of the psyche, which is that we possess a growth instinct that guides us towards self-actualization, healing, and wholeness. This neutral and compassionate position allowed for deep, authentic connection with all of my clients.
When people ask about what I do, I say, “I work with the shadows, with what is hidden.” And use (and abuse) of substances is both a personal and collective shadow.
You can catch a glimpse of this shadow in the homeless tents set up across the cities of America, in the words of autocrats and their acts of violence, and the continued desecration of the feminine wherever she is.
We are entering the age of what some have coined, the “psychedelic renaissance.” And many, many people are seeking the wisdom of different medicines and approaches to healing outside of what has been traditionally offered.
What is revealed to people during this work is often intense, confusing, and challenging to integrate into your life because it can be as though a “veil is lifted”, and you see through the structures and systems that keep violence, abuse and greed ongoing.
This is why a solid integration practice is essential if you are to engage with these medicines. Talk therapy, movement practice, meditation, nutrition, regular sleep, and supportive relationships can help people move through the intensity of what is revealed. You will need guides to help you move into your new paradigm. We are not meant to walk alone. We are meant to walk alongside the company of sacred witnesses and companions.