Different paths a psychedelic journey might take - Part 2

In my previous article, we explored the different paths a psychedelic journey might take. Let's look into a few more aspects of a psychedelic journey that might bring you along the way.

Other extremes.

We can also place the experiences along other axes, from the intrapsychic and quite specific (as your relationship to work, your partner, or alcohol as an example) via the so-called perinatal – what connects the fetus' experience in the mother's womb – to the more archetypal and transpersonal (described as the areas outside of ourselves in the previous article). While many psychedelic journeys are very thematically oriented, some might become highly physical. In these cases, we might experience the redemption of decades of stored tensions within our bodies or even get rid of particular pain or blockades that have been bothering us.

Meanwhile, we are only sometimes able to understand what we just experienced. We know intuitively that it's essential and that it feels good afterward. In practice, we often experience a mix of all the elements described above, but not rarely; the psychedelic experience might be categorized in line with these divisions.

It might also occur that the primary focus of the psychedelic experience is the relationship between the client and the trip sitter. The client will often experience redirection (recurring) to previous stages and various transfer phenomena related to the trip sitter. In other words, the trip sitter evokes different emotions and reactions, usually connected to the client's theme.

"Standard experiences."

There is a range of experiences that most people who explore psychedelics over time at some point are likely to go through. An example of this is ego death, in addition to the process of death and being reborn.

Experiencing ego death.

Ego death is typically experienced by the person we believe and think we are peeled layer by layer until it is nothing but pure experience of consciousness left: The emotion of being present, without being "something" apart from the presence. Personal history, family, body, gender, and all shapes of identity are gone – as with the circumstances. This might be experienced as highly demanding, which typically raises the question, "Am I nothing?" Typically, this evokes our existential fear of annihilation, but when we accept this opportunity and "go with the flow," we melt together with everything. The psychedelic experience then wholly changes character and becomes something comfortable and very positive.

Experiencing death and being reborn.

Experiencing death and being reborn is a type of psychedelic experience that gives firsthand insights into biology and the continued circle of death, putrefaction, and the transformation to a new life. Some individuals might experience in this context that they are becoming an object for ritual sacrifices or gain deep insights into the consciousness' – the souls – relationship to the perishable body.

It can't be concluded beforehand whether these experiences represent insights into actual cosmic conditions or pure symbolic experiences. Each of us has found our interpretation of our own psychedelic experiences, which we will help you with post-journey.

Chronology.

It is nearly impossible to predict what exact psychedelic experience you will have your first time. If you choose to continue with a series of psychedelic sessions, you are most likely to experience every category listed above and in my first article. Experience also shows that unexpected themes are preventing further development. Even if you have a clear intention and an expectation of the desired outcome of your psychedelic journey (for example, reduced depression or insight in a specific area of your life), there might be other themes you haven't directed your attention at, that must be resolved before you can proceed.

Our experience is that "first timers" within psychedelics usually get a positive experience, even though there can be demanding elements within the psychedelic journey – often connected to one or more aspects of your personality.

Within a potential second session, it is common that the experience is more demanding than the previous one. You might be in touch with the two "standard experiences" described above or other dark and challenging themes. Our interpretation of the chronology is that's when you first sufficiently open and ready to embrace these themes – because your first psychedelic journey might have prepared the reason, or simply because you have learned to "go with the flow" and embrace the psychedelic journey, discovering along the way that it is entirely harmless.