Psychedelics, Breatheath and various other modalities have the potential to open us up to anything from past lives, premonitions, oneness, traumas, unconditional love, suppressed emotions in fact we may experience the most profound truths humans are capable of experiencing. Though those glimpses of truth can drastically change one’s world view, transferring that insight into actual positive change in our actions is a more difficult and complex procedure. Huston Smiths quote “After all its altered traits not altered states that matter" runs true.

It might be said that the real work of the guide and the explorer starts once the trip is over. Dialing in Intention, setting and  integration is what takes tripping  recreationally   (joy is a great thing!) to next level.   

Here let's focus on how to skillfully bring back the light from the other side and let it shine from you into your world!

Integration is a complex and on going process that requires intent and commitment.

Feel free to explore these techniques with the same sense of adventure that drew you to the inner work in the first place.  

Please take your time in honoring your odyssey giving it  space, allowing  creativity and self compassion to open your heart and allow your  beautiful story of your to unfold for the good of all.

INTEGRATION FUNDAMENTALS

Although the ways to integrate peak experiences are infinite effective, methods all share some common principles.

1. The underlying goal of psychedelic integration is take the multidimensional experiences of higher states and anchor them in our everyday lives.

2. Each technique is an opportunity to understand the emotions, thoughts, sensations, images ... the immense array of content that trip revealed to us through through either expression or contemplation or a combination of both

3. Mindfulness is at the core of integration process. as it allows us explore our selves in the light of what has been revealed to us in our experience. We honoring our selves by giving time and commitment the process transformation, clarifying and crystalizing our thoughts into words and our words in actions. This is the process by which we begin to allow our selves to evolve truths we were ready to have revealed .

4. . It’s advisable to keep your records of each sessions integration. Though each session can be remarkably different, over time a picture of one’s inner world and subconscious patterns is likely to emerge. As we become aware of our underlying beliefs and imprints we become more likely to simply drop, let go of or adapt our behaviors in light of this understanding. Reviewing our records of previous sessions and noticing the real improvement is also a way to stay motivated on our journey of self discovery and healing. All techniques are devised to be approached without judgment and with as much equanimity as possible.

5. Interpretation of experiences should be left to the individual or those qualified to do so.

6. All methods are designed to allow the seeker to revisit the emotions, themes and experiences of their journey and release or process them with acceptance and awareness.

7. A gentle, forgiving, empathic and spacious attitude is to be cultivated and encouraged by the guide or when solo traveling cultivating this open heart centered attitude will bring a healing nuance to your adventure.

8. Integration is best implemented as soon as possible after the session or to the latter stages of the parachute back to ordinary consciousness, , while the experience is still fresh. This may simply be jotting down the key points and themes of our experience so as to later trigger your memory or to verbally share your trip with trusted others.

1. MEDITATION: This is, of course as deep a topic as it gets. At the core of every spiritual tradition from Shamanism to the wooiest new age practice is some kind of mindfulness or meditation. This is one of the primary tools for for the inner journey and essential to realizing truth, gaining equanimity, cultivating wisdom and compassion. When we take a high dose of a psychedelic or enter a non ordinary state via the breath, drumming, fasting, whatever, keeping a remotely meditative, witnessing awareness will allow space between “us” and the drama that unfolds. It is this space that generates the letting go of concepts, experiences, traumas etc that limit us to our egoic patterns. The ability to access the witnessing, non judgmental awareness that meditation connects us to is the seed of being able to see that we are not a slave to our experience but its master. Once we begin to understand that we are the awareness in which everything unfolds and our identity is simply a role in drama, then we begin to be able to take on life with the freedom write our our script. For the purpose of inner exploration meditation allows us to dive deeper with less fear and to integrate more easily. Maintaining a separateness from our patterns reduces attachment to undesirable traits and gives clarity to issues otherwise blurred by becoming lost in emotions, rather than seeing them as pointers to areas requiring growth or learning. This Alan Watts video is one of a thousand great places to start or finish when it comes to meditation. I chose this as his guidance elicits the import of both music and breath as gateways to understanding reality.

2. JOURNALING: This is one of the simplest and most proven methods of getting to know yourself. It’s recommended that at least some key phrases or words be put down in 2D as soon as possible to trigger the memory so when you can devote the appropriate time to journaling more deeply, you’ll be more likely to get a better picture of what was shown to you. Try prompting or questioning yourself if you find it difficult to approach the subject. Here are some to start you off, What did I see, hear, feel, or think during the session? What emotions or sensations did I experience? What insights or lessons did I receive ? How did the session affect me or change me? You are encouraged to write freely and honestly, without censoring or editing. The power of becoming honest with yourself coupled with actually recording your inner mind is skill that honing is likely to accelerate your journey of self discovery.

3. MANDALA DRAWING: Prepare some paper, a sketchbook, colored pencils, crayons, or markers etc. Try drawing a mandala that represents your experience. Mandala’s are circular an often symmetrical patterns that can express your inner state or essence. There is something esoteric about the circle and symmetry that somehow helps us access our higher selves. Becoming familiar with mandalas from different cultures or traditions will help you express yourself in this format. Later if you have a trusted friend or professional other, sharing and explaining your mandala with them and discussing its meaning and significance can help you add the power of vocalization to this technique. This has become my go to method and I’m always surprised how the drawing seems to happen by itself. Often things I couldn’t readily express verbally become clear through the power of the image and insights become more readily applicable. Mandala drawing unfailingly aids me in bringing the seemingly ineffable through a filter that is readily decodable to my normal consciousness. Often I take a photo of the mandala and keep it as my home screen on my phone or have the original displayed prominently for sometime. This keep me revisiting the lessons of the journey and helps ground the wisdom into daily life. There are several excellent books available on the subject. Here’s a link to the one that got me started.

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FYF59MY?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_Y9YFBFRXGZRWTRBTMZVK

3. TALKING: Talking with someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or therapist, about your experience is a simple and powerful way to bring the otherwise otherworldly into something your logical mind can make sense of. It requires creating an atmosphere of acceptance, non judgement and empathy, so carefully choosing your confidant is essential. In our group sessions privacy is paramount, cross talking is discouraged and empathic, heart centered listening becomes a healing exercise for all involved, especially when we are still in a state of higher consciousness. Asking yourself, or others, if it’s a group session, open-ended questions can facilitate deeper introspection. Being heard and in turn listening helps our feelings and thoughts to be validated and can broaden our perspective as we connect deeply in the art of conversation. Freely expressing our emotions, needs, and desires helps us explore how our experience relates to our life story and current situation. Digitally recording the conversation or monologue is an excellent way to keep a log of your experiences.

4. COLLAGE THERAPY : Having prepared some magazines, newspapers, or other sources of images, words, or symbols you can to cut out and paste the ones that resonate with your experience on a large piece of paper. Collage therapy is a creative way of visualizing and organizing your experience, as well as identifying and exploring the themes and messages that emerge from it. Explaining your collage with trusted others and discussing its meaning and significance can combine the power of talking with this technique. As with mandalas displaying the collage somewhere prominent or using a photo as a screen on your phone etc can further help integrate the lessons into your consciousness.

5. CONNECTING WITH NATURE: Taking time to become mindful in a natural setting, such as a park, forest, or beach, is powerful way to reconnect with our senses and emotions, as well as appreciate the beauty and harmony of life. Ideally our journeys are taken close to nature, but if not scheduling a trip to nature after your session is a great idea. For some just sitting or lying in nature is perfect while others might find activities such as walking, yoga , gardening, or animal watching help enhance the connection. . It’s a no cost powerful tool that can’t be underestimated for its value in helping us accept and obtain clarity over the underlying meaning/messages of our experiences. Nature provides the unfathomable powers of silence, simplicity and infinite scale to give perspective on what can otherwise seem overly important and complex.

6. RE-LISTENING TO PLAYLISTS: We all know how music can take us right back to past events. Re-listening to the playlists from you session is superb way to recall and relive your experience from a grounded mind. (I freely share all my playlists!). Re listening promotes evoking, processing and releasing any remnants of blocked emotions after a session. Recent neuroscientific studies have shown actively listening to just 9 minutes of sad music can be effective in 2 processing difficult emotions. Anecdotally the eclectic and highly emotive nature of breathwork and psychedelic playlists has made me much more comfortable with a wider and deeper array of emotions. Rather than shy away from difficult emotions trying to move quickly past anything less than joy or other “positive” feelings I find I more readily accept the subtle nuances of emotions as they arise. This can either allow them to just drift by like clouds or drive me to dive into what they are asking me to to uncover. Simply witnessing the source of emotions its not uncommon for the underlying energy to dissipate or I’m “told” what I need to focus on and the to allow more equanimity into my relationship with life. Neuroscience also revels how actively listening to a wide range of music improves our neuroplasticity. Personally this seems to translate as a marked increase in the richness of being human as though there are more colors in my palette from which to paint the drama of my life.

7. DREAMWORK: Dreamwork can help us access and integrate our unconscious and transpersonal aspects, as well as discover new insights and guidance. Keeping a dream journal can shed light on the symbols and motifs that arise in our altered states and is an excellent way to continue deepening our self understanding. Though I’ve not gone deeply into this modality, intuitively I feel it could have a synergistic effect when used in conjunction with a regular Breathwork practice. Here’s a highly regarded book you might like to check out if this avenue of exploration resonates with you. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1622034597? ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_CTBY59JZC6RZJ2F0NGDT

8. BODYWORK: Physical activities, such as yoga, massage, or dance can help the us release any tension, pain, or energy that may have accumulated during a session as well as balance and harmonize our body and mind. In particular dance can be an excellent way to express otherwise ineffable concepts that arise from our most profound experiences.

9. HEALING/COUNSELING: Having a healing or counseling session with a trusted professional can be an ideal way to process more difficult experiences. In our journey as psychonauts learning various healing modalities to assist ourselves and others to integrate and harness the full potential of what we uncover in our journeys is highly encouraged The two modalities that have proved invaluable in bringing more love peace and freedom into my world are Reiki, EFT. There are are vast number of modalities to explore, staying open to what resonates with is key to finding a way that will serve you in become more luminous.

10. RITUALS: Performing some symbolic actions, such as lighting a candle, saying a prayer, or making an offering, that we find meaningful and relevant to our experiences can really help ground the higher concepts revealed in our journeys into the here and now. We can honor and celebrate our revelations as well as expressing gratitude and intention going forward. Feel free to allow your creativity to blossom here. I love setting up sacred spaces and creating ceremonies, borrowing from different traditions and blending the aspects of varied rituals into a syncretic offering. Though some elements may remain static I find ad libbing ceremonies opens the door to inspiration and whatever higher powers we may be trying to invoke.

11. MORE BREATHWORK: The inner journey is invariably a long and deep one. Committing to doing regular sessions is one of the best ways to ensure a consistent deepening of insight and becoming more skilled and familiar with Breathwork technique and the space conscious connected breathing opens us too. As we become more connected to the breath each moment becomes a micro journey, an opportunity to be grounded in the here and now, while freeing the mind to connect with the innate wisdom that life and life giving breath is imbued with. The more sessions we do the more the neural pathways accessing our higher faculties become broader and we can more easily access the qualities these expanded states. Gradually we need less time to go deeper and more easily and seamlessly ground our insights into actions that improve all aspects of our inner life and personal relationships. Exploring the depths of these techniques or any integration tool is sure to help leverage the immense potential of all modes of accessing higher states of mind and exponentially improve the already phenomenal benefit our courageous endeavors offer. I sincerely hope this all to brief offering will aid you on your journey to the light. For the highest good, Luminous Warriors Shine on! Shaboy 3