LEGAL PSYCHEDELIC RETREATS IN THE NETHERLANDS
THE ESSENCE INSTITUTE OFFERS SAFE & LEGAL PSYCHEDELIC RETREATS
Founded by experienced mental healthcare professional, our organization bridges the gap between psychological interventions and plant medicine. Science 2019 we have welcomed over 1500 participants. We do Not offer treatment of any kind for any (mental) illness.
The Essence Institute was founded in 2019 and has since then successfully facilitated many Psychedelic Retreats. We provide a 3-day process in a safe space close to nature, to allow these truffles to boost the transformation of your life. The integration process afterwards needs some personal work and takes weeks up to a few months.
Retreats
Centre Venwoude
New Eden
Samaya
3 day psychedelic retreat in a group
Before the start of the retreat, we will send you some guiding questions, best practice and a simple diet for an optional preparation for this inner journey. if you're travelling from abroad, be sure to have one or two days to adjust to European time Zone and Dutch climate. The below program is intended as a general outline.
Day 1
Opening
When arriving at the Essence Institute, you'll be welcomed by the facilitators and meet other participants at the retreat. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and get familiar with the grounds.
Day 2
Deep Dive
On your second day, you'll experience the psilocybin ceremony. In the morning, yoga and/or a body/breathwork session can be offered so you can ground yourself in your body.
Day 3
Integration
No doubt you'll have a profound experience when you go through the Ceremony, likely tapping into more creativity, clarity, mind expansion and non-duality.
meet our team: we're ready for you and your journey
Join us on one of our Psychedelic Retreats in Holland.
CONTRA INDICATIONS
The Essence Institute aims to deliver a safe and healthy experience. To do so, there are a few precautions for engaging in the experience.
Those that have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or another mental health condition, such as Bipolar Disorder (I or II),clinical depression, PTSD, etc. are not able to participate in the Essence Experience. The reason for this is because psychedelics can induce psychotic reaction in those who are struggling with mental health disorder.
Second, if you’re using prescription anti-depressants, you may not be able to participate in the Essence Experience for safety reasons. The use of psychopharmacological drugs like SSRI antidepressants can interfere with the serotonergic system and influence the effects of psilocybin.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) anti-depressants can have a profound effect on the use of psilocybin, mostly prolonging the effects. Lithium and other tricyclic antidepressants can be dangerous in combination with psychedelics like psilocybin.
If you have a question about an anti-depressant that you’re taking and whether you can participate or not, please reach out to us.
In addition, be advised that over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or alternative medicines can interfere with the Essence Experience, such as St. John’s Wort, 5-HTP, and CBD oil. You are advised to stop using these medicines a couple of weeks prior to participating.
First, you must be in good health with no heart condition or high blood pressure. Although psilocybin is low in toxicity, an increase in blood pressure has been reported in various studies.
Upcoming group-retreats
OPTIMAL EXPERIENCE
Research and clinical experience have shown that are six elements for a successful psychedelic experience: Substance, set, Session, Setting, Sitter & Situation.
“Sitter” refers to the facilitator(s) of the psilocybin Ceremony. They will be present in case you need, but they’re likely to just be there observing and holding space for you to have an optimal experience. Your internal Self will be your guide through the experience, so you may not need a facilitator; however, in case you do need them, they’re there.
There is one facilitator for every five participants. All of them have experience taking psychedelics and facilitating others through similar experiences. They can be a firm beacon in moments of disorientation or anxiety.
The setting is the surrounding in which the whole event occurs, including the physical environment, the space for the event, and the atmosphere created by facilitators.
The event will always take place in a warm, cozy, family environment with easy access to nature. We want you to feel safe and secure, so you can let go. The only people present will be others in your group and your facilitators. We create a soothing ambiance, so you can more easily focus on your inner experience.
In terms of atmosphere, we use creative, unique music to aid in your enlightening experience. According to the Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: “Most cultures that use plants for healing, divination, or spiritual revivification use music to facilitate the transition from one level of awareness to another and to enhance the feeling of safety by providing nonverbal support.”
You can choose to close your eyes or use a blindfold to help you focus on your inner world. We encourage you to refrain from speaking out loud to keep from distracting others. We take great pride in establishing a beautiful, serene setting that invites you to experience an unforgettable mind-altering journey.
“Session” refers to the general timeframe for the psilocybin trip, which is usually around six hours. We like to call this experience a “Ceremony”.
According to the Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide, there are six stages to a psychedelic session:
- 1Ingesting the Psychedelic
- 2Initial Onset
- 3Opening and Letting Go
- 4Plateau
- 5The Gentle Glide
- 6The End of the Formal Session
Rest assured that your session will be supervised by caring and compassionate facilitators that are there if you need. They’ll be there holding sacred space for you, so can feel free to rest and let go.
Your session will be uniquely yours. Other participants report experiencing various emotions, insights, ideas, and valuable information that brings them to a higher conscious level. They also report that the experience stays with them long-term, working at more of a subconscious level.
“Set” refers to your mental state, mindset, or attitude before, during, and after your Essence Retreat. This includes your preparations before and during your ceremony, as well as your integration on the third day and afterwards in your daily life.
You’ll want to ask yourself why you’re wanting to participate in the psilocybin experience, to be sure you have a positive motivation for doing so. Not being clear or trying to escape or numb out for some reason could result in a bad trip.
To assist you with the “Set”, we will provide a number of recommendations to prepare you for the three-day Essence Retreat, including how to prepare nutritionally and questions to help you self-reflect.
According to the 2017 Global Drug Survey, the safest hallucinogen to take is psilocybin. According to professor Paul Hutson from the University of Wisconsin, psilocybin is preferred over other hallucinogens because:
According to Wikipedia, psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms, collectively known as psilocybin mushrooms. The most potent are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens, but psilocybin has also been isolated from about a dozen other genera.
As a prodrug, psilocybin is quickly converted by the body to psilocin, which has mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD, mescaline and DMT. In general, the effects include euphoria, visual and mental hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and spiritual experiences. Keep in mind that it can also include possible adverse reactions, such as nausea and panic attacks.
testimonials
Frequently asked questions
Whether you take ayahuasca or psilocybin, you’re likely to have a profound mental, emotional, and spiritual experience. However, psilocybin has less of a physical impact on your body as ayahuasca. Essentially, this means that with psilocybin, you’re much less likely to suffer nausea and vomiting than if you were taking ayahuasca. And, the psilocybin “mind-altering” experience lasts a shorter time and recovery is faster.
Psilocybin is not an addictive substance. You may enjoy and get a lot out of the experience, but you’re not likely to become physically dependent on psilocybin.
If you’d like to attend more than one retreat, this is acceptable, and many people choose to do this. You can wait several months in between and then return for a new, oftentimes deeper experience.
Scientific studies indicate that the Set and Setting in which the psychedelic is taken are key factors to the impact and benefits of the session. For an ideal experience, it’s best to take psilocybin in a safe and serene setting where you can be monitored by professionals. We have found that there is great value in partaking in a psilocybin experience with others who are also seeking a deeper spiritual experience. See optimal experience (Set, Setting and Situation) for more information.
Psilocybin is one of the safest hallucinogens, but you should be aware of the contraindications. See optimal experience (Substance) for more information.
In the Netherlands, it is legal to purchase and consume psilocybin in the form of ‘magic truffles’. Truffles are a different part of the mushroom, known as sclerotia, which remain dormant and help the mushroom regrow after damage. Magic mushrooms, in contrast, are illegal.
the science of psilocybin and its use to relieve suffering
Leading psycho pharmacologist Roland Griffiths disclosed the way that psychedelics cab be used to create meaningful personal and spiritual transformative experiences for everyone, also the terminally ill. He past away October 16th 2023 and we honour him and his huge contribution to the research that helped kickstart this new era of psychedelics,
recommended readings on psilocybin en psychedelics
Find out more about psilocybin and the profound effect of psilocybin retreats by checking our list of articles, books and videos. We especially recommend reading 'how to change your mind' by Michael Pollan. Reading this book before you come to one of our Psilocybin Retreats in the Netherland is an excellent preparation.
Decomposing the Shadow
James W. Jesso
The Psychedelics Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys
James Fadiman
Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge
Terence McKenna
How to Change your Mind
Michael Pollan