Integration Circle Burnout - a New Time for Meetups I've been leading free integration circles regularly for over 8 years. First monthly in person in Marin, then weekly online when the pandemic hit. It's rewarding. I've made lasting friendships. People in the circles have made lasting friendships. Folks have let me know that they've really helped and supported them. They've been special. But a year or so ago, I got a little burned out on them. I guess it happens sometimes. I've got to be...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Is Your Energy Being Harvested at the Festival? I've seen posts on social media lately where people are claiming that festivals are nefarious places designed to harvest your vital energy. Spooky. Woogity Boogity. I don't know what kind of festivals you've been going to. I'm doubtful. I was at a couple of Phish concerts at Madison Square Garden over the weekend. 20,000+ people. Two nights. Lights, Sound, Old Friends, the works. And I started thinking to myself, "Is my energy being harvested,...
16 days ago • 3 min read
Divine Mercy and the World Cup I'm not a biblical scholar, and I don't usually watch the World Cup. But there I was, watching Spain and Argentina play ball, while I was regaled with tales of grace and love and mercy. Something called "The 13 Attributes of Mercy" to be precise. This is pretty much the way I want to watch sports. Plenty of snacks, spiritual dialogue, and a mesmerizing little ball for my eyes to follow around. I'm not going to bore you with a long lecture on concepts I just...
23 days ago • 3 min read
I Thought I Already Dealt With That! Psychedelics and the Eternal Issue We asked 100 psychonauts what surprised them on a recent journey. Survey Says! In the top five has got to be "I thought I dealt with that already." We've got issues, you and I. All of us. And while we often think we've 'done the work' or 'cleared it', that's rarely the case. Not 100% anyway. We've got issues that linger. It reminds me of the old Eddie Murphy punchline, "You keep that for life, like luggage." Boy, I wish...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Remember, You're Going to Die We all have beliefs and worldviews. They shape how we see the world. They color our perspectives. We're not always conscious of them. We swim through our ideas like a fish in water. We breathe them like air, drink them like water, and don't notice them until they are challenged. Many of the ideas wiggled their way into our minds while we weren't paying attention. Culture is not your friend. This is half the fun of psychedelics. They reveal to us how the mind's...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
The Tyranny of Psychedelic Setting Longtime Phish lighting designer Chris Kuroda behind the boards at Sphere Las Vegas in April.Rene Huemer - GQ Magazine I was reading an article today about the development of new concert light-show technology. Chris Kuroda, the guy pictured above, and his team designed entirely new software for Phish's recent run at the Sphere. Usually, they used a live lighting rig. Wanting to virtually simulate both the effects and the live playability of real lights for...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Sincerity vs Seriousness in the Ceremonial Space I'm a sincere person, but I don't know that I'm a serious person. I think there is a difference. I honor the processes people go through to heal, I honor the lineages of practitioners who have worked tirelessly to support others and preserve teachings, I deeply appreciate the sacredness of all life and the interconnectedness of us all. There are so many things that make my heart humble. I was also blessed wth a strong sense of humor, a gift...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Meditation is hard sometimes, but it's good for integration There is a way to meditate for everyone. It might be different for everyone, but there is a way in. You too, can dive into yourself, past the chatter, past the pain, and sink into the truth and love that is your essential nature. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not promising that you'll get all that immediately. People who promise instant results are generally full of it. I've been dragging my neurodivergent mind to the cushion for...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Do Something Hard For Your Psychedelic Integration Sometimes people want delicate, bespoke integration homework. They want to watercolor daisies, get more massages, and make sure they are taking time for self-care. This is all fine and good. We all need this. But it's not all we need, and to be honest, most of us are living a little on the soft side already. Most of us would be better off doing something hard. I know we're slogging through the endurance challenge of being alive in 2026, but...
2 months ago • 5 min read