🫠 Ask a Guide Anything

PRESENTED BY SCHOOL OF PSYCHEDELICS 🤝

Welcome to Tricycle Day. We’re the psychedelics newsletter that knows timing is everything. Which is why we send our emails at the precise moment when the universe aligns your circadian rhythm, serotonin cycle, and wifi signal. 🧠

As the saying goes, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”

Though the hardcore manifestors won’t wanna hear it, sometimes life does throw a curveball you didn’t ask for. Even when you’re already challenging yourself to grow via, say, intentional psychedelic use.

So what happens when you experience a sudden loss, diagnosis, accident, or other destabilizing event before a journey? Should it interrupt your process or fuel you forward?

We posed this question to our network of experienced practitioners: Should I still move forward with a psychedelic therapy session I'd scheduled and prepared for if something traumatic has just happened?

They offer some insightful frameworks that can help guide your decision below.

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Check your nervous system first

Nearly every practitioner recommended assessing your physiological state before making any decisions. Avery Collura explains why: “Trauma really shakes the nervous system. Psychedelics will amplify what’s already there. The only way to know is to ask your body. Does the thought of moving forward bring an exhale or dread?”

Charlie Giles echoes this body-based approach: “If you are already dysregulated and this is another trauma, I would recommend working on the physical balance first. In the end, ask your guides, ask your body, and see how it feels. The medicine is wise, but the body may not be strong enough to cope.”

Mary Decker suggests a simple practice for tuning in: “Take time to listen closely to your nervous system; if it isn't ready, it isn't ready. Practice settling through breath or grounding before asking in, and notice what your body signals.”

Consider your resources

The next factor mentioned by multiple guides was whether you have adequate support to hold the experience. Kari Roe-LaFramboise asks a critical question: “Do you have the support in place to allow you to be dysregulated by things that may come up?”. She notes that while postponing may be necessary, there are also times “when you may actually need the journey to help you move through what is happening.”

Gerald Joseph stresses the importance of finding stability before moving forward: “If the client is presenting in a state of high distress, the priority for the therapist should be to engage in stabilization interventions before the psychedelic session.” These may include “somatic grounding techniques and specific breathwork exercises.”

Clara Mackinlay offers a measured take: "It's never a bad idea to err on the side of caution and push out your session a couple of weeks until you've worked through charged aspects of the trauma with other therapy, such as Somatic Experiencing or EMDR."

Open a dialogue with your facilitator

One universal appeal from our network was transparent communication with your therapist or guide. Katie Pickard says, “Talk with your psychedelic guide about what happened. An experienced facilitator is trained to understand these dynamics.” Garet Free explains that clueing in your guide helps “ensure they have space to accommodate your needs. This is an excellent example of how to lead with transparency in doing this work."

Jodie NewDelman adds important nuance. She says the decision to proceed should only be made if the “client is emotionally and physiologically regulated enough to make a rational choice,” the “client is not appeasing therapist,” and the “therapist is not compelling the client, even inadvertently.” The choice must come from genuine readiness, not external pressure.

Trish Singh reflects on a powerful case in point: “A client of ours once faced her partner's cancer diagnosis right before her session. As a team, we chose to pause, knowing she wouldn't have the spaciousness to care for herself while also supporting her partner. Though she felt grief initially, months later she thanked us, recognizing it was the right decision.”

Our take

Got a chip on your shoulder? Welcome to the club.

If you’re the type of person to whom every difficult moment feels like a challenge to overcome or a test to pass, well, first let’s recognize that that attitude has gotten you a long way in life. *pats on the back*

And, now’s not the time for that. Really. Taking psychedelics, particularly in a therapeutic context, isn't about proving anything. Not to your therapist, not to yourself, not to anyone.

Postponing is neither an admission of defeat nor permanent. In fact, it’s often the wise move.

So if you're facing this decision, consider it a practice run in applying a lesson psychedelics teach us again and again… to honor where you are rather than where you think you should be.

Thanks to Dominic from New York for submitting this week’s question. 🫠

Got a question for our guides?

Reply to this email to shoot your shot. If it’s a juicy one, we may select it for a future issue.

Seeking more personalized guidance?

Our directory of vetted psychedelic professionals is a great place to start your search. Find a facilitator on Maria’s List.

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.