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Welcome to Tricycle Day. We’re the psychedelics newsletter that thought shadow work was that thing where you put your hand in front a flashlight, make a dog shape, and then move your pinky up and down. Can’t be the only one. 🔦

Love and light, Cyclists! Good vibes only! Alas, if it were only that easy…

Even if you believe the fundamental nature of the universe is love, there’s no denying our human existence still includes pain, suffering, and darkness. And if we want to feel whole, we can’t ignore these feelings.

“Shadow work” is the practice of exploring the rejected, hidden, or disowned parts of ourselves. Many would argue it’s the most transformative aspect of psychedelic therapy.

So, we asked our network of experienced practitioners: how can you use psychedelics to engage in shadow work?

Here's what they shared about illuminating and integrating the shadow.

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Be kind to yourself

According to our practitioners, the most important shift you can make when working shadow material is from a combative to a compassionate mindset. Avery Collura explains that shadow work “is about sitting beside the parts of yourself you once exiled—the angry part, the jealous part, the ashamed part—and saying, 'I see you. You make sense. Come sit with me at the table. You're invited now.'"

Summer MacCool echoes that gentleness. She says that psychedelics can help you "meet these aspects with compassion rather than fear." Kendra Branch suggests treating your shadow parts like "real people inside you" and asking questions like "What do you need?" or "Why are you here?".

As Ben Askins puts it, "The shadow isn't your enemy; it's your unfinished self. Finish it." This reframe transforms shadow work from an act of repression or even violence into one of integration.

Stay grounded in your body

Multiple practitioners recommended connecting to the body during shadow work to avoid getting caught in mental spirals. Wallace Murray reminds us to "lean into physically felt sensations—tight chest, warm abdomen, tingling limbs." Then, he suggests techniques like "speaking observations aloud ('my stomach feels heavy')" to keep intensity manageable.

Tolga Yenilmez suggests paying attention to "where your body holds these stories: tension in the chest, tightness in the jaw, or heaviness in the lower back. Somatic therapies help release these physical patterns so that insights can truly integrate."

Avery warns that "psychedelic insight without embodiment can become another kind of bypass." She recommends the use of "breath, movement, and reflection to stay present." This grounded approach ensures shadow work leads to genuine integration rather than mere intellectualizing.

Stick with it for the long haul

It will come as no surprise that our practitioners universally stressed the importance of careful preparation and ongoing integration. Cheri Coley suggests "setting a clear intention to explore hidden or repressed parts of yourself.” Wallace recommends beginning "days or even weeks in advance with consistent breathwork, mindful movement, and brief daily check-ins" to prepare the nervous system for what’s to come.

Denise Rue offers a word of caution: "A client should have a great deal of psychic stability and stress tolerance to do shadow work, or they may easily move out of their window of tolerance, become dysregulated, and possibly traumatized." She also notes that it’s not always personal; "archetypal and collective shadows can rise into conscious awareness as well."

Of course, the real work happens after the journey ends. Alexis Gonzalez explains that "facing [the shadow] is only the first step. What makes the difference is integration.” To that end, Kari Roe-LaFramboise recommends tuning into “what is most ‘alive’ after your journey.” Acknowledging that your shadow parts “served a great purpose in keeping you alive and around,” she issues a challenge: “How can you keep working with them?”

Our take

Shadow work isn't about fixing or eliminating parts of yourself but rather reclaiming them.

One way to do that is to get curious about the hidden desires that are being unconsciously fulfilled by your shadow parts. The book Existential Kink makes the bold case that "having is evidence of wanting." Even if that statement isn’t universally true, it still offers a worthwhile lens to look through.

This situation you’re in that you’ve labeled as negative… could there be some part of you that actually enjoys it? If so, let yourself indulge in it for once, however strange that seems. Satisfy the craving, so that you can move on. Sometimes our shadows run our lives precisely because we refuse to accept what they're trying to get us.

Thanks to JL from Raleigh, NC for submitting this week’s question. 🫠

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UNTIL NEXT TIME

That’s all for today, Cyclists! Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help.

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.