Research and clinical experience have shown that there are six elements for a successful psychedelic experience: Substance, Set, Session, Setting, Sitter and Situation.
Research and clinical experience have shown that there are six elements for a successful psychedelic experience: Substance, Set, Session, Setting, Sitter and Situation.
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.
“Set” refers to your mental state, mindset, or attitude before, during, and after your Essence Xperience. 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 Xperience, including how to prepare nutritionally and questions to help you self-reflect.
“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:
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.
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.
“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.
“Situation” refers to your personal situation and how the experiences from the event integrate into your life. It begins on the third day where we facilitate the integration process. From there it will extend for weeks or months into the future.
We will give a set of questions to reflect upon, such as:
We strongly advise that you not make any major life changes for the first few weeks. Be patient with yourself when making decisions. Feel free to journal regularly. Give yourself time to integrate your experience. The exception would be to stop any behavior that you wish to change, such as an addiction.
If you plan to talk to others about your experience, know that many will not understand it or even be interested. Remember, your psychedelic trip is primarily an internal experience by you, for you. Cherish this experience for yourself and grow from it. Use it to help you reach a higher level of self-awareness, show up in the world at this level, and be the change you want to see.
If someone asks about your experience, that would be a great time to share about it. At the same time, finding a compassionate audience and sharing your experience can contribute to your integration process. A common time frame for most participants to integrate insights is about six months.