Native of Eternity - Rest In Peace, Lorin Roche

Lorin Roche changed my life, and on April 18th, he died. I'm very sad about it. I thought I'd get a chance to speak to him again. We chatted a little a few months ago, and I sent him a picture of my kids. I guess that's it. I cried throughout yoga class this morning. I wonder what the teacher thought.

I found his work in 2008, when I was starting to dive into the Vijnana Bhairava Tantras, a meditation encyclopedia. While most of the translations are arcane or academic, Lorin's version, The Radiance Sutras, reads like Rumi Poetry. I loved it, and I thought it was brave. I struck up correspondence and met him the following year at Bhakti Fest in Joshua Tree. I traded him a Thai Massage for 1:1 Meditation Instruction. He gave me a Sutra to contemplate, and an instruction for living.

Rarely have I felt so seen and accepted as I have by Lorin. He saw right through me and addressed both my strengths and my weaknesses so casually, so playfully, that I couldn't help but hold myself a little lighter. If he could accept me so easily, why couldn't I? He could effortlessly reach into my soul to find a hidden, secret shame. He'd turn it over in his hands a few times and let me know why it was a gift from the divine as if it were the most obvious truth. He didn't seem to think anything was wrong with me, and didn't believe my claims to the contrary. This was revelatory.

In a world full of renunciate meditators shouting "No!" He was an emphatic "Yes!"

He showed me it was ok to say yes. He modeled a connection to spirit that was playful, enthusiastic, and vital. He pointed a way to embrace creation that was present and open. I worried at first that it was a doorway to Licentiousness or addiction, but my worries were unfounded. There was only contentment and enjoyment of what is.

I've only savored a cigar as an object of meditation once in my life, and it was with Lorin.

While so many schools of meditation insist that you must stop (stop your thoughts, stop your suffering, stop your habits), Lorin told us to go. Go on being your beautiful self. Go on and love more. Love more of life with more of your being.

He also enjoyed a good contrary take. "Everyone is having sex. Every celebate, every guru. Just assume they are having sex, and you know what? It's none of your business!" He told me once. There's an article about this topic out there, somewhere. Another time, seemingly contradicting himself, he told me, "It's a good rule of thumb to work with teachers who can maintain relationships. Stay away from the people who sleep around." Sage advice, both. I was definitely inspired by his love for his wife, Camille. Watching them work together was a treat.

I miss him already. I miss him terribly.

His advice to me, which I've been working on every day, might be universal: "Daniel, you just need to figure out how to get away with being yourself." He encouraged me to show up as authentically me as I possibly can. I think it's my best chance for an awesome life. I think it's what makes a good life for all of us. Most days, it seems like it's working.

Man, thank you, Lorin. I love you. May the four winds blow you safely home.

Sutra 109

Native of eternity.
At home in infinity.
Breathing Immortality.

Let these words sing in every cell

Oceans of splendor.
Luminous energies of creation.
Pulsating everywhere always.

Hear these astounding words continually,
Each phrase an invocation.
Let the sounds ripple through you.

Resonate with the all-pervading hum of truth
And know, every fleeting moment is
Supported by forever.
​

Lorin Roche and East Forest

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Training Info Session

If you’ve been feeling the pull to support others in psychedelic work, but want to do it in a way that’s grounded, thoughtful, and actually responsible, this is a good place to start.

I’m hosting a live info session for the Psychedelic Integration Coach Training. I’ll discuss how we approach integration as a real discipline rooted in mindfulness, somatics, and spiritual practice, not just intuition or good intentions.

We’ll talk about what makes someone effective in this role, how the training is structured, who it’s for, and what people actually do with it in their lives and work.

There will be time for questions. It’s not a pitch-heavy call. Just a chance to get a clear feel for the training and see if it’s aligned for you.

If this is something you’ve been circling, it's worth a conversation.

Wednesday May 6th at 8pm Eastern time: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mt-tam-psychedelic-integration-coaching-training-info-call-tickets-1987960210504?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true​

Some of what i'm listening to

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, and there are monthly masterclasses as well.

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 Masterclass - Tuesday, April 28th at 4pm Eastern Time

Meeting the Medicine: Holding Integrity with Psychedelics w/ Jennifer Allen

Western culture’s version of integrity is set, setting and integration. These are a translation of the reverence many indigenous people have held for millennia with plant medicines. In our two-hour class, we will explore the growth spiral relationship between set and integration, how both ask us to create bridge practices to and from non-ordinary states of consciousness and how we can align with the nature of these medicines to reveal truths vs escape them.

We will engage energy practices and bridge practices. Please have a few sheets of paper and basic colored art media (ie. pencils or markers).

About Jennifer:

After a full career as a trauma informed psychotherapist and art therapist, Jennifer shifted to psychedelic integration and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. She found this to be the perfect weaving of her clinical background, creativity and spiritual path as a student of shamanism and earth-based traditions.
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For the past seven years, Jennifer has been facilitating trainings on Integration for both practitioners and non-practitioners, groups with integration focus, women's KAP and integration groups, individual KAP sessions, and Women's Wisdom groups. Jennifer is also a public speaker and author.

​Register here - free for golden road members, $30 for the general public - forever access to the recording​
​https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meeting-the-medicine-holding-integrity-with-psychedelics-w-jennifer-allen-tickets-1985673342420?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true​

The Tam Integration Coaching Training Program - Fall Cohort

This cohort is full, and we're now interviewing for the fall session. If you're interested, fill out this form, and we'll reach out soon: https://forms.gle/oB9Xk6RrkDE6xtsV9​

Learn More Here: https://tamintegration.com/psychedelic-coach-training/​

Info Session, Wednesday May 6th at 8pm Eastern time: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mt-tam-psychedelic-integration-coaching-training-info-call-tickets-1987960210504?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true​

Disclaimer

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