Insight is not excellence; excellence requires practice

I was at a lovely, spiritual, daylong event over the weekend. It included a ritual designed for breakthrough and transformation. We broke into small groups, and it was clear this was the first time our group leader had ever led this practice. He was sincere and devoted, but he had to read the steps off of a printout, and stumbled more than once. I had to suspend my cynicism.

But you know what? It worked. I felt something, I was moved. As clunky as it was, I was happy to do it, and I gained a little insight.

We're all clunky sometimes. I'm clunky a lot.

At my first yoga teacher training, we all joked about how many bad yoga classes we were going to teach. It wasn't a contest, but I might have ended up the winner. After a few years, I started to get better. Eventually I was even good.

Because it became embodied. Through practice, I learned how my body responded to poses and sequences. In the laboratory of my studio, the energy of the asana started to reveal itself. At the feet of teachers seasoned over decades, I learned best practices, methodology, and philosophy. I became a teacher I could be proud of.

This is integration. This is becoming the person you can be proud of. The facilitator or guide or coach you can be proud of.

Folks get integration wrong when they think that an entheogenic insight should lead instantly to new behavior patterns or a brand new personality. They don't realize it takes practice.

"I got stressed out, and I responded the way I always have in the past!"

Of course you did. The habit is in there deep. Neuroplastic change doesn't happen all at once.

In the somatic coaching world, they say that true transformation has occurred when we're able to respond in alignment with our values, even under stress.

This takes practice. We need to practice. In our personal lives, in our professional lives.

I hope my guy from the weekend keeps practicing his ritual. I'm sure he'll memorize it. He'll know it by heart, literally. It will keep opening up and deepening for him. I hope much the same for all of us who practice.

And, if I may, this is why my coaching training programs and 1:1 coaching focus on this kind of practical transformation. It's almost more of an initiation. You take the coaching tools, or the life skills, and you try them again and again. Terribly at first, of course. Improving excruciatingly slowly. But that's how it goes. That's how it gets in there.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but you'll get it. The change you want, it will come. Just keep practicing, you clunky old soul, you.

A little space jam with Karina Rykman

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A little earthy jam with Hiss Golden Messenger

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Earth Walkers with Liquid Bloom and friends

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❤️ Training Weekend in San Francisco

November 6th to 8th in the Mission

Evoke the innate wisdom of your client with curiosity and presence. Skillfully move past blocks that stall your client's integration.

Discover the unparalleled impact of mindful inquiry and deep listening in your Psychedelic Integration Coaching. You’ll learn coaching techniques designed to awaken your clients’ inner resourcefulness. You’ll be able to practice them in our community container so that you can see how they work in real-time.

Join me for a transformative weekend, where we delve into the essence of Psychedelic Integration Coaching— asking good questions.

Inquiry is a practice that goes beyond mere discussions of microdosing protocols, or educational sessions on molecules and dosages. Move beyond just lecturing your clients. Move beyond reactionary advice-giving; embrace the true art of coaching.

It’s time to recognize that your true value as a coach comes from your ability to be deeply present for your , to take your seat as a compassionate companion on the path in the truest way possible.

Fractal Inquiry allows you to meet your client as your authentic self, which ultimately maximizes the you can offer them.

​Learn More Here​

Offerings

Winter Coaching Training

Starting in the new year! Shoot me an email if you'd like to learn to be an integration coach.

~ Integration Circles

Open Circles on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. They will be at 3pm Eastern, Noon Pacific.

Women's Circles, every Thursday at 9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific

You can join here: https://sqr.co/tamcircle/​

~ The Golden Road - Mentorship, Peer Support, Supervision, and Skill Building for Serious Psychonauts and Healing Professionals

The Golden Road has evolved into a wonderful group of practitioners.

We meet every Thursday at noon eastern.

There is also a large archive (over 200 hours) of psychedelic education and past talks.

The wonderful people who show up share not only their journeys, but the journeys of those they steward. It's become a place of learning, support, accountability, and peer review. Folks are learning some things from me, but they are also learning from each other. We all face unique challenges as we work in this space, and it's great to have a place where we can bring them for non-judgmental feedback and reflection. You're invited. Click here to join​

Golden Road is a group of coaches and guides that are growing their practices and coming together in the spirit of personal and professional peer support. You also get some teaching and Q&A with yours truly. The main group meeting is Thursdays at noon Eastern. Here's the link to that.​

Coaching Training in San Francisco November 6th to 8th, SF, CA Learn More

Cannabis Ceremony with Yoga Nidra Saturday, Nov 14th, Lenox, MA Learn More

Tripsitting for Friends and Family Saturday, October 24th, Lee, MA Learn More

Spaceholder spaceholder Learn More

Disclaimer

Nothing in this email should be considered medical or legal advice. We're not suggesting that you break any laws or do anything dangerous. This email is offered as education and entertainment in the spirit of harm reduction. Consult medical and legal professionals if you have questions.

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