Hi Reader,
Welcome to the psychonaut's newsletter with musings, ideas, and resources to keep you exploring and growing deeper on the psychedelic path.
🍄 Creating the Setting for a Psychedelic Experience
Setting, as we all know, is a crucial factor when preparing a psychedelic experience.
Today, I'd like to offer you a few notes as you consider creating a setting for yours, roughly divided into four categories (thought they do overlap):
- Physical Environment
- Aesthetic & Atmosphere
- Safety & Security
- Emotional Environment
1. Physical Environment:
- Sound:
How peaceful or noisy is the area? Pay attention to any background sounds that may filter in — ambient noise can influence your mood and focus.
- Lighting:
Do you want the space well-lit or dim? Soft, non-overpowering lighting can make it easier on the eyes, especially when you take off an eye mask.
- Heat:
Is the room at a comfortable temperature? Have blankets or fans ready depending on how things go.
- Airflow:
Fresh air can be calming. I like to open windows beforehand, but if it’s noisy outside, you might need to adjust as you go.
- Scent:
Consider incense or an aroma diffuser. Scents can be powerful memory triggers for later integration.
2. Aesthetic & Atmosphere:
- Music:
Music deserves a deep dive, but for now, just know it’s a huge consideration. More on this in a future newsletter.
- Art & Objects:
Think about the art or meaningful objects in the room. I like to include symbolic pieces from nature, like a wooden mushroom statue, to ground the experience.
- Clothing:
Are your clothes comfortable? Maybe even meaningful? It’s worth considering what you wear.
- Simplicity & Space:
A simple, uncluttered space can help with ease and well-being. Consider the spaciousness — enough room to feel comfortable without clutter.
3. Safety & Security:
- Comfort & Safety:
The space should allow you to stretch out and feel comfortable, but also check for safety. Are there hazards like things lying around that you might stub your toe on, or steep stairs that might be risky during your experience? If you're outside, make sure you’re safe from changing weather.
- Privacy & Security:
Is your space private, where interruptions are unlikely? You also want to feel secure—knowing no one will accidentally walk in on you helps maintain focus and peace.
4. Emotional Environment:
- Peace:
Is the space peaceful, and do you feel at peace internally? The setting isn’t just about external quiet, but also the state of your mind.
- Accompanying Travelers:
Are you journeying with others? What’s the level of psychedelic compatibility? This can affect the vibe of the entire experience. [Read the blog post on Psychedelic Compatibility].
- Trip Sitter:
Who’s your trip sitter? What’s their experience? Clear expectations around their role in your setting are key.
I realise these don't all fit perfectly into these four categories and some of them could go elsehwere, but this should give you a clear overview for successfully preparing a setting for your psychedelic experience.
One of My Settings
To finish, here's a picture of the setting for my last solo journey, a K session test driving Held By Sound soundtrack a couple weeks ago...
What spaces do you like to journey in? What do you consider?
Hit reply and share your thoughts or questions with me. Always nice to hear from you :)
🎵Psychedelic Supplements
So I said music was a biggie, and East Forest's album Music For Mushrooms is a bit of a favourite in the space.
Well, there's been a documentary made about this, and it is currently on a tour screening around the States (and dates in Canada and Sweden). I've heard good things!
Check out the website to see if it's screening near you, find showtimes and buy tickets
Here's a trailer:
If you can't make it and want your Forest fix, here's a live version of his album...
And something for your M.I.N.D...
❤️ Much mettá
John
John Robertson
Psychedelic Facilitator & Educator
Maps of the Mind
My Current Offers:
- The Conscious Psychedelic Explorer course is my comprehensive course on how to safely and successfully prepare for, set up, navigate, and integrate psychedelic experiences for healing insight and growth. Get started today!
- Is this the year for you to step into the role of becoming a psychedelic facilitator? Check out the newly updated course Facilitating Psychedelic Experiences.
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