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Welcome to Tricycle Day. We're the psychedelics newsletter that knows a (mental) picture is worth a thousand words. But who said you had to choose? This email contains exactly 1,131 words, and our Instagram has memes for days. 📸

The images that play out during a psychedelic journey can be some of the most memorable parts of the experience. They can also be extremely weird.

You’ve got your geometric patterns, dream-like scenes, vivid landscapes, and strange encounters. Anything goes, really. And it can all leave you wondering if these so-called “hallucinations” are in fact important messages, not to be ignored. Maybe the medicine is trying to tell me something!

So for today’s issue, we asked our network of experienced practitioners: What should I make of the visuals that come up during my journey? How can I interpret their meaning?

Here's what they had to say about decoding the visual language of psychedelics.

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Feel first, think later

Most guides recommended trying to experience visuals emotionally rather than intellectually dissecting them in the moment. Wallace Murray explains that “the images you see are the language of the psyche/non conscious.” They are “metaphorical, bodily, and relational, so treat them as invitations to notice how they make you feel rather than literal instructions.”

Teresa Crossland, too, suggests moving beyond the thinking mind: "Sometimes typical cognitive analysis can actually hinder the meaning making from your journey." Instead, she recommends a feelings-based inquiry. Imagine the visuals and notice how you feel and where you feel it, "allowing the information to rise organically."

Avery Collura reinforces the somatic approach: “Visuals are less about literal meaning and more like dream language. Instead of rushing to interpret, ask: How does this image feel in my body? Tight, open, soft? That texture holds all the wisdom.”

Take your time and trust the process

A key insight from practitioners is that meaning emerges over time. Rush to interpret, and you risk missing the point. Ryan Chanatry advises avoiding “any significant decisions in relation to what you saw, and instead, see how the visuals stick with you over time. If they remain on your mind, this may signify an opportunity for deeper analysis and integration.”

Charlie Giles employs a helpful metaphor: "Think of your visuals like pieces of a puzzle that won't make sense until later in your journey(s) when you get further into the whole picture.” Maybe a specific image offers little insight on its own, but once you place it in the right context, the takeaway becomes more obvious.

Kendra Branch reminds us that integration takes patience: "It can also help to journal, sketch, make music, or simply sit in silence with the memory of the visuals during integration; this process can unfold in ripples for weeks or even months after the journey."

Honor your own interpretation

Many of our guides warned against looking to outside authorities for immediate answers. Denise Rue cautions: "You may shortchange yourself if you outsource your meaning making to ChatGPT, a symbols book, or an overzealous guide who offers a rigid interpretation. Take the time to honor the visuals you receive."

John Moos provides helpful context: "The visuals are not literal messages, but symbolic representations of aspects of our life—past, present, or future—that are in need of our attention." In other words, they are personal, which makes you the best interpreter.

Finally, Kari Roe-LaFramboise’s response may be the most liberating of all: "Not everything in a journey needs to make sense, and you don't have to interpret or make meaning of it all. Some things are okay to just be.” As she points out, you don’t always need to recruit your logical mind for an experience to change you.

Our take

Here's the thing about meaning making. It's right there in the name.

You're not hunting for some objective, universal truth. You're not solving a math problem with one correct answer. You're making meaning. That's a fundamentally creative act.

Think of it this way. During your journey, you let go. You surrendered to the medicine like a good little psychonaut, and the medicine (or your subconscious, however you wanna look at it) took you where it wanted to go.

Now it's your turn to take back the wheel. You get to decide what that abstract geometry or visual of your mom means to you, and how you want to carry it forward into your life.

This isn't about getting it "right." It's about getting it useful. What meaning serves you? What interpretation helps you grow, heal, or understand yourself better? Your visuals are like ink waiting for an artist. So pick up the pen and draw.

Thanks to Ric T. from Sandy, UT 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.