Psychedelic Guide
As we move forward collectively in the post-prohibition era of psychedelic medicine, it feels important to define our roles.
Over time, I have come to know myself as a Psychedelic Guide. Admittedly, it has been a journey to find this resonance with this "title". Now, the word Guide feels expansive, liberating, and right to me. It fits.
As a Guide, I draw on my extensive personal experience in the psychedelic realms working with LSD, psilocybin, Ayahuasca, huachuma, MDMA, and ketamine since I was 13 years old. A lifetime of experiences with these substances has helped me to feel familiar and comfortable navigating the psychedelic realms. Over time, I have learned to appreciate the healing potential of each of these medicines when placed appropriately in my journey.
I feel that my personal psychedelic experiences help me normalize these expanded states of consciousness. I can relate to my clients experiences and help them create context around what they may be seeing, feeling, or understanding.
I truly love being a Guide. I love holding my clients hands as they die and are reborn again and again. I love witnessing as their minds expand and they are able to see themselves and their lives in a new way. I am honored to hold space for their transformation and Guide their journey home.
So, What makes someone a Psychedelic Guide?
1. A Psychedelic Guide is an alternative health practitioner that has received consent from the client to hold space for, support and guide a psychedelic journey.
2. A Guide generally has extensive personal experience with psychedelics and may have received formal training to work directly with these medicines from either a western or indigenous perspective.
3. A Guide may or may not have received an education as a Counselor, Marriage & Family Therapist, or in Psychology. They may or may not hold a state license to practice therapy (I recommend asking this question if it is important to you!).
5. A Guide will be trained in a variety of alternative healing and/or spiritual modalities such as: yoga, meditation, breathwork, body work, nutrition, sound healing, tarot, etc. Find a guide whose training and skills match your interests.
5. A Guide supports the client throughout preparation by educating them on the medicine they will be ingesting and supporting them to develop the inner-resources that will allow the client to surrender to the medicine. The Guide also supports the client during the journey and after the experience as an integration specialist.
6. The role of the Guide is to create a safe, trusting space and become an anchor for the client throughout their psychedelic journeys.
7. Lastly, for me Spiritual Connection is an important aspect of Guide work. However, it feels necessary to be able to put my own views aside, and hold space for the spectrum of spiritual and religious experiences that my clients may have in expanded states of consciousness.