The Psychedelic Retreat Experience-A Break from Reality
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
Anne Lamott
The psychedelic retreat experience is a break from reality. A break from the constant striving–to be better and do better. A break from not enough–not enough time or money. A break from too much–too much to do, too many responsibilities.
What most of us need is a break, not a breakdown.
Imagine what it would feel like to unplug from the daily grind and allow yourself time to think freely and creatively. To contemplate what’s next in your life. To give yourself a time out to get quiet, relax your mind, and open to new possibilities.
The psychedelic retreat takes place on sacred ground in the mountains of Southwest Colorado, under an open sky, with our feet on the earth, around a ceremonial fire. In the fresh air and year round sunshine, stress and tension melt away. There’s no hurry to get anywhere, we’re right where we need to be. The intention is to clear the deck, remove distractions, and make space for peace and clarity. As the outer world noise falls away a broader perspective emerges. In a spirit of deep inquiry, listening and self reflection, we discover what we’ve come to learn about ourselves.
When someone finds their way to the fire and the medicine, it’s because they’ve felt a call to something more authentic and true within themselves. Even if they aren’t sure what that something is, it won’t leave them alone. They may be wondering, what am I supposed to be doing with my life? Or, what’s going on with me? They’re restless, curious, even frustrated. They’re successful, and sometimes struggling, like most of us. It’s a question of what to do with this “one wild and precious life,” as poet Mary Oliver writes. Often it’s a call to awaken, to pay attention, and to make the best of the rest of our lives.
On the first day of the retreat, after arriving and settling in, we head up to the fire circle to get acquainted. With the fire burning, we open the ceremony with a ritual to delineate the world outside the circle from the world inside. We come together and create a safe container for authentic sharing. As the sun sets and the stars come out, we spend time in meaningful conversation. The warmth of the fire on our faces and the chill night air at our backs helps us to realize it’s safe to open up to each other. The fire circle brings us into the light of our own wisdom and authenticity. In the firelight we listen and reflect, and our hearts become more open. We get to know one another, talk about what we’re up against and what our intentions are as we lay the ground for our medicine journey the next night.
After we close the circle, we head back for a soul warming dinner of homemade chicken noodle soup, fresh baked bread, organic green salad, and chocolate for dessert.
Over coffee and during breakfast the following day, our conversation continues to unfold as we make ready for our medicine journey. After breakfast there’s time to read and journal or go for a hike in the woods. Later we’ll make a medicine bag talisman to take into the ceremony. In the afternoon, we have lunch and then go into a quiet time. After we come back together, we gather our gear and head up to the fire circle. As before, we open with a ritual to set sacred space. With sage smoke we bless ourselves and the plant medicine, find our places around the fire, and prepare to enter into the medicine journey.
Each journey has an arc–a beginning, a middle and an end. What happens in between is rarely predictable and always memorable. Through deep listening, we learn things about ourselves in an inquiry that is often life changing. Immersed in nature around a ceremonial fire, we unearth wisdom and insights. Who we are and the reason why we are here become more clear. We have the opportunity to offer our prayers, our blessings, and our gratitude, and to unburden ourselves of anything we want to leave at the fire. A rich discussion arises out of our shared experience.
After the journey we have a hearty feast right on the stone hearth to celebrate our time together. Our conversation eventually winds down amidst yawns and we call it a night and sleep under the stars, or return to the lodge.
In the morning we unpack and integrate our experience, putting into perspective the insights and openings from the night before. Later in the day we go into town for a rejuvenating soak at the hot springs, and continue our integration through deep relaxation in the water element. We end the day with an early dinner and an early bedtime.
The following day we prepare for the next medicine journey, much as we did for the first. This second journey will take us into a more profound experience, followed by another day of integration to anchor the memory. Our conversation helps to find ways to translate the transformation into our daily lives. On this second day of integration we have a choice of activities: a mountain hike, lounging by the Animas River, or relaxing in a coffee shop downtown. An early dinner, a scoop of organic ice cream, and a walk down Main Street rounds out the day and brings our retreat to a close.
In a rare kind of mastermind, we are engaged in a conversation for possibility that broadens and deepens. At every turn it reveals new insights and openings. We learn best when we’re having fun, feeling a sense of connection, and spending time in nature. The psychedelic retreat experience is a profound opportunity for healing and transformation in safe, sacred space.
Love and Blessings,
Tom