SET AND SETTING IN PSYCHEDLIC CEREMONIES

You may have heard these terms if you’ve had previous psychedelic experiences or you’re researching this for the first time. “Set” refers to your mindset and “setting” refers to the environment where you will have your experience. These are important to consider before you start because, from my perspective, everything within you is in relationship with all that is inside of you and all that is outside of you. These relationships are often heightened during psychedelic experiences that I call ceremonies, because their impact is often life-changing and they have a “ceremonial” energy to them.

               What is an appropriate mindset before the ceremony? First, calling this a ceremony sets your mind to prepare for the potential impact of the journey you’re embarking upon. Secondly, you’re entering into a relationship not only with this physical substance, that I call medicine, but also with the spirit of this substance. Tune into the feelings, sensations, and thoughts you’re having about the upcoming ceremony. Can you hear this spirit talking to you? They may show up in your dreams (night or day), and may not speak in words, but through image, felt sense in the body, or intuition. This may be hard for some, and if you don’t “get it” immediately, that’s OK. I encourage you to keep trying, but know your limits. After the ceremony, it's typically easier. Others may want to cultivate this relationship through a shamanic journey or meditation practice, and/or setting a space for this spirit on your altar.

               Setting an intention is a great way to focus on what you want. Once you ingest the medicine, state your intention, and then let it go. The spirit is an ancient and wise teacher who often takes people to places they weren’t considering. In Western culture we're so wired to think linearly, but that’s often the reason people get stuck. The medicine thinks outside the box and opens doorways to paths novel or forgotten. It's important to set your expectations about the ceremony itself. Some experience a bolt of lightning while, for others, it’s more subtle. Either way is effective, so don’t judge your experience on this metric. The medicine stays with you for a period of time after the ceremony. This is not the end, but the beginning.

               Another aspect of preparation is being mindful about what you ingest beforehand. Different substances have different protocols, so ask your guide. Prepare your body, mind, emotions, and Soul not only in what you eat, but what else you take in—news, movies, sexual activity, and environmental and emotional toxins. This creates a sacred internal container that should be matched with a sacred external container.

               Your guide is a critical component in setting that sacred external container. Most guides meet with you beforehand to understand your background and intention, make sure you’re the right fit for this medicine, and help you feel comfortable. Ask about the place of the ceremony. Will you have access to the outdoors? Will you be with other people? It’s important that you feel safe and cared for. Anxiety is typical before and during the ceremony. How can your guide help? Often, during these ceremonies senses become heightened, so the sights, tastes, sounds, smells, textures, and temperature need to be conducive to your experience.

               People often ask if it’s better to have a group ceremony or individual. It really depends on what you’re looking for. For people who intuitively and subconsciously pick up on environmental energies, particularly with other people, they may have a harder time going deeper into their own process if they’re distracted in a group. On the other hand, a group can provide a collective experience, embracing container, and help you develop more open relationships.

               In short, prepare, be open, and trust the process. You’re going on a trip you’ll never forget!