What to Consider Before Embarking on a Journey
As a psychedelic practitioner, I often have conversations with people who are curious about exploring psychedelics, not out of impulsiveness, but deep, thoughtful contemplation. Many of them reach out quietly, sometimes after months or even years of reflection. They ask questions that come from a place of both interest and vulnerability.
“Am I ready for this?”
“What if I lose control?”
“What if something dark from my past comes up?”
“What if I never come back to myself?”
“Is this even legal?”
“Can my mind or body handle it?”
“What if I see something I can’t unsee?”
These are not just questions, they are honest expressions of care for one’s psyche, safety, and soul. And they matter deeply. Psychedelics are powerful; they’re not recreational toys (my opinion) or quick fixes. They are deep mirrors, sacred tools, and, at times, unpredictable teachers.
The decision to work with psychedelics, or not, is itself part of the medicine. So, if you find yourself circling this question over and over, know that it’s okay to take your time. In fact, it’s wise.
Readiness Isn’t About Having It All Together
Many people worry they need to be “fully healed” before stepping into psychedelic work, as if they must be free from anxiety, depression, trauma, fear, or uncertainty in order to have a “successful” experience.
The truth is: no one is ever perfectly ready, and healing is not a checklist we finish. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Readiness doesn’t mean being fearless, it means being willing. Willing to meet yourself where you are. Willing to be honest. Willing to stay open, even if it’s hard.
Psychedelics often bring up what’s been buried or avoided. That can be beautiful, liberating, and yes, sometimes overwhelming. But it is your willingness to meet what arises, with curiosity and care, that truly matters. You don’t need to be “done healing” to begin.
I often say: psychedelics meet you where you are. But they rarely leave you there.
Facing the Fear of Losing Control
One of the most common concerns I hear is the fear of losing control. That’s completely valid, psychedelics can dissolve our ordinary sense of identity and how we usually navigate the world. It can feel like letting go of the steering wheel, and that can be deeply unfamiliar.
There’s also the fear of what might surface: painful memories, hidden truths, emotions that have been held back for years. And while that’s possible, it’s not something you have to face alone.
With the right preparation, a safe setting, and a trusted guide or sitter, surrender can be healing, not dangerous. Letting go doesn’t mean being lost. It means trusting that something wiser in you knows the way.
Intention and Setting Matter More Than You Think
If you’re feeling called to this path, start with intention. Why are you drawn to psychedelics? What is your heart seeking: clarity, release, connection, healing?
Your intention doesn’t need to be perfect or poetic. Even something simple like “I want to understand myself better” can serve as a powerful anchor when things get intense or unclear.
Equally important is your environment, your set and setting. The “set” is your mindset going in: are you open, anxious, guarded, hopeful? Being aware of your inner state helps you prepare and care for yourself.
The “setting” is the external container: where are you? Who’s with you? Is the space warm, safe, quiet? Are you indoors, cocooned in soft lighting and blankets, or outside, in nature’s rhythm and stillness? Music, scent, touch, these small elements shape the experience profoundly.
A gentle, grounded setting offers your nervous system the safety it needs to open.
Preparing for the Journey
Preparation can be simple or sacred, and often both. For some, it’s journaling, walking in nature, meditating, or reflecting on life themes. For others, it might mean speaking with a therapist, coach, or guide to explore what might arise.
Physical preparation is important too. I recommend treating your body with care:
- Eat clean, nourishing food in the days before.
- Avoid alcohol or stimulants that may interfere.
- Get rest. Hydrate. Move gently.
- Allow spaciousness in your schedule, both before and after.
The more gently you treat your system, the more clearly the medicine can speak.
And After the Journey: Integration
Integration is where the real work begins. The journey itself is just a few hours, but the weeks and months after are where insights deepen, and healing takes root.
Some people come out of a journey feeling radiant, clear, even euphoric. Others feel tender, exposed, or confused. Both are completely valid.
You might not understand everything right away, and that’s okay. Integration means making space to digest the experience: through journaling, therapy, bodywork, rest, creative expression, or conversations with someone who understands.
If you feel vulnerable or lost afterward, please don’t isolate yourself. Reach out. Talk. Ask for support. Integration can take time, and having a grounded space to process it makes all the difference.
You don’t have to go back to “normal.” You get to decide what kind of life you want to create, now that something in you has shifted.
You’re Not Late. You’re Not Behind. You’re Right on Time.
If you’ve been thinking about psychedelics for a long time and still haven’t taken the leap, that’s okay. Truly. Thoughtfulness is not hesitation; it’s reverence. The decision to say yes, or to wait, or to walk away entirely, is all part of the path.
You don’t have to rush. You don’t have to be brave all at once. When you’re ready, you’ll know. And if you’re not, that’s sacred too.
And if you’re ever unsure, I’m here. To talk, to hold space, to walk beside you, wherever you are in your process.
Holistic Wellbeings 
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