The Humility of the Psychedelic Comedown

Ram Dass once said that coming down from a good psychedelic trip was like "getting kicked out of heaven."

I agree, it can be painful to watch your access to truth and beauty slowly fade away.

It's the worst thing in the world, and the reason why integration is so important.

Integration, in my humble opinion, is the practice of staying high, keeping your access to those higher states of consciousness available in every moment.

For example, I know that we're all one. You know it too. We've been shown it a thousand times. We've journaled about it. We've bought soap to remind us.

I know we're all one, but I'm not consciously aware of it in this moment. It's like a shadow of wisdom past. An artifact that turns to dust in my hands if i try to grasp it.

It was so clear once, and now I feel like a fool trying to act like I know something. The emperor wears no clothes.

There are so many things going on in the universe at this very moment that I'm totally unable to perceive or comprehend. There might be some wisdom locked away in this old dome of mine. But I have no access to it, no matter how hard I try! It will appear when it wants to, if it wants to. Even if I sit in meditation all day, or nibble on a sacrament or two, there's no telling if anything useful will come of it. It might be positive and life-changing, but it could just as easily be a torrent of madness or a peek into the transpersonal expression of world grief.

But we buy our ticket, and we take our ride. You get what you get and you don't get upset.

The upside is a solid dose of humility. When we come to terms that we can't know it all, we can't always be the most spiritually connected part of ourselves, we grow a little. Learning that one or two (or a hundred) initiations don't solve your problems or grant you enlightenment is an initiation of its own. We move through the world knowing that we don't, and can't know. The world needs more of that.

It builds Resilience. We must figure out a way to carry on, while still being disconnected from source. With just a scrap of knowledge, we have to return to decision-making, relationships, and complexity.

It cultivates compassion. If we're confused and emotional after a weekend of bliss, imagine how people who have never stormed heaven at all feel? It can put it all in perspective to recognize that even though our capacity for love is no longer turned up to eleven, we still have a small, humble edge when it comes to being human.

So I might still be firmly entrenched in the ego. I still think I'm me. I'm not walking around In a wildly expansive state participating in the music of the spheres. That's the way it goes. But I'm working on it. Fake it till you make it, they say. Do unto others as they do unto you.

And keep meditating, keep unraveling the ignorance. keep seeing consciousness. Stay humble.

Meditation for the Journey 3.0 !!!

​A new variation of Meditation for the Journey is launching this summer! Starting in 2019, I've taught Meditation for the Journey about 18 times to several hundred enthusiastic spiritual explorers. After a few cohorts, I extended it to six weeks.

And now, It's evolved again.

I've changed a lot since It first launched, and so has my personal and professional practice. The world has changed a lot, too, and so has the psychedelic community. People who were just considering putting a proverbial toe into psychedelic waters are now exploring the depths. The slightly curious have become guides. Coaching and psychedelic-informed therapy proliferate.

People are out of the closet, and the movement is in motion.

Folks are showing up with different problems and questions, too. People who once wondered, "Can I do this? What would it mean if I followed my calling?" now wonder, "How can I do better? How can I show up fully for this? How do I deal with my blocks so I can help my clients deal with theirs?"

The honeymoon, in some ways, is over, and the people who haven't run for the hills back to corporate are ready to roll up the sleeves of their heart-mind and recommit to clearing out the caves of their karma.

So that's what we're going to do. A more practitioner-focused class. Deeper conversations. More training of the mind. More clarification of our values and more exploration of what guides our practice.

So, I invite you to have these conversations with me. I think it's going to be awesome.

It starts July 7th and runs for six weeks. The classes are from 4 to 6 pm pacific, and 7 to 9 pm Eastern. They are all recorded.

Classes are two hours, for a total of 12 hours of class time with several additional video recordings. You'll have a group chat so you can share with your people.

We'll also meet for two 30-minute meditations to deepen your practice and have some group accountability. Those are Monday and Wednesday at 9 am Pacific, Noon Eastern

It's $450 through June 15th, and then the price raises to $600.

So, you're cordially invited to join this special group, and I look forward to seeing you there.

​Register here.​

Got turned onto Maya Hawke this weekend

​

Reminded me of Liz Phair, somehow

​

Which reminded me of Kristy MacColl, may she rest in peace

​

Which reminded me of Dolores O'Riordan, may she rest in peace

​

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 27th at 8pm Eastern time: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mt-tam-psychedelic-integration-coaching-training-info-call-tickets-1989170998002?aff=oddtdtcreator​

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​

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

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.

Sometimes, there are affiliate links in this email. It helps support this project. Thank you!