The convergence of music and psychedelics is not just a modern phenomenon arising from the rise of therapeutic psychedelic use. This harmonious marriage is an ancient spiritual practice deeply rooted in human history, one that helps explain why the presence of music in psychedelic therapy is so significant.
Sound-induced trance states allowed our ancestors to alter their consciousness and transcend the physical world into a mystical experience, from which they returned with meaningful symbols that formed the basis of our future metaphysical beliefs.
In the same way that our ancestors used sound to induce these ecstatic, spiritual states, they also consumed psychoactive plants and fungi for the same purpose, often combining the two for a deeper connection to the divine.
Today, as the field of psychedelic therapy grows, music’s ability to facilitate altered experiences has gained renewed attention. Featuring certain music in psychedelic therapy can help deepen someone’s emotional and mystical states, which is linked to therapeutic benefits.
The mechanism that gave our ancestors healing and connection to the mystical is integral to the emergence of psychedelic therapy. From indigenous shamanic ceremonies to modern clinical settings, music amplifies the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in profound and mysterious ways.
We examine the history, science, and future of music as they relate to the psychedelic experience, offering insights into why it plays such a crucial role and how it can be effectively curated to maximize the impact of psychedelic therapy. Indeed, we now have research on the best music for psychedelic therapy—the kind of music that increases the chances someone will have a profound, transformative therapeutic experience.
The Importance of Music in Psychedelic Therapy: A Historical and Cultural Perspective
In many ancient and shamanic traditions, sound is seen as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, guiding participants through transformative experiences and fostering a deeper connection to themselves, the universe, and the divine. The role of sound in these traditions helps to highlight the importance of music in psychedelic therapy:
Shipibo Tradition (Peru): Music is an essential element of the Shipibo people within the Amazon rainforest, who work with ayahuasca in local ceremonies. Icaros, sacred songs believed to hold spiritual power, are at the core of their ceremonies. Icaros serve as navigational tools that guide the shamans through the complex spiritual landscapes opened up by ayahuasca. Each icaro is chosen for the needs of the ceremony, whether it is for protection, healing, or amplifying the effects of the medicine. The Shipibo healers, also known as curanderos or curanderas, receive these songs through their spiritual visions or from the plant spirits themselves, further emphasizing the sacred connection between music and psychedelics.
Bwiti Tradition (Africa): In the Bwiti religion of Central Africa, music plays a central role in iboga ceremonies. Ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic derived from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga plant, is used as a sacrament to induce deep introspection and spiritual awakening. During these ceremonies, repetitive rhythms, drumming, and chanting create a hypnotic soundscape that helps participants enter and sustain altered states of consciousness. Psychedelics and music synergize, enhancing the experiences of participants in the ceremonies.
Huichol Tradition (Mexico): The Huichol people, native to Mexico, incorporate music into their peyote ceremonies, where this psychoactive cactus allows access to spiritual insight and healing. The ceremonies are accompanied by the melodic sounds of traditional instruments, including violins, drums, and rattles, as well as chanting and singing.
Siberian Shamanism (Russia and Mongolia): In the Siberian and Mongolian shamanic traditions, music plays a crucial role in ceremonies that involve the use of psychoactive plants or other trance-inducing practices. Shamans use instruments like drums, jaw harps, and throat singing to create rhythmic vibrations that help them and their participants enter altered states.
Modern Psychedelic Therapy: The wisdom of shamanic traditions is translated in a modern context, in which we see the inclusion of music in psychedelic therapy. Playlists curated for therapeutic sessions often feature ambient, meditative, or classical music that complements the participant’s emotional and psychological journey. These are widely considered some of the best types of music for psychedelic therapy. Research has shown that music enhances the therapeutic effects of psychedelics by evoking deep emotions, guiding the experience, and helping participants process their insights. Each track is carefully selected. The best music for psychedelic therapy matches the different phases of the journey, from the initial ascent to the peak and eventual return to baseline.
Across cultures and traditions, the relationship between music and psychedelics serves a purpose. Music becomes a guide, a protector, and a tool for healing and connection through the amplification of emotional and spiritual intensity. Whether it’s through ancient rituals or modern therapeutic practices, this timeless connection underscores the universal power of music and sound to tap into the depths of human consciousness. This is why researchers have started to explore more deeply the role of music in psychedelic therapy, as we’ll see below.
The Synergy Between Psychedelic Therapy and Music
Psychedelics alter our perception of reality by dissolving the ego’s boundaries and beliefs, which serve to help us understand ourselves and everything around us in ordinary states of consciousness. They do so by disrupting the usual patterns between brain networks and enabling new connections, echoing research that shows how music has a similar effect of engaging diverse networks of brain regions. Combining psychedelics and music, therefore, can have a unique effect.
Music serves as an additional catalyst by guiding the unfolding psychedelic experience. The qualities of the selected music in psychedelic therapy help shape the perception and emotion of the journeyer. Together, psychedelics and music form a synergistic relationship, amplifying the potential for personal transformation and introspection.
Processing trauma often necessitates accessing difficult emotions buried beneath layers of defence mechanisms, and music creates a safe container within which to explore those emotions. For example, in psilocybin therapy, calming tones may evoke nostalgia and safety, while heavier, dramatic pieces can help patients confront grief, loss, or fear.
Profound Visionary Experiences
Inner visions often accompany psychedelics, and the music playing during the experience can significantly influence the nature of these visions. Visions can serve as powerful tools for self-reflection, insight, and emotional release, making music a helpful means for individuals to connect with their inner world.
A Sense of Direction
Music also serves as a guide during a psychedelic experience by shaping the journey and providing direction. The qualities of the music create a trajectory that influences the emotional and mental path of the experience. By setting the pace and atmosphere, music helps navigate the depths of the mind, offering a sense of structure and flow as the medicine takes effect.
Mystical Experiences
Music can also help facilitate mystical effects. One study found that the best music for psychedelic therapy, to encourage a mystical experience, is overtone-based music. This is music featuring instruments with a strong overtone signature, such as Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, didgeridoo, chimes, bells, sitar, and human voice overtone singing. Participants in psychedelic therapy listening to this type of music were more likely to have a mystical experience than those listening to Western classical music.
A 2017 survey examined individuals who had experience administering psilocybin in a therapeutic context. The researchers wanted to identify the music that would best predict the occurrence of mystical experiences. They found that the best music for psychedelics, in this respect, was music with “regular, predictable, formulaic phrase structure, and orchestration, a feeling of continuous movement and forward motion that slowly builds over time”.
An example of modern music that has helped to support peak experiences is the track ‘Azure’ by Greg Haines. It features in Mendel Kaelen’s playlist used in Imperial College London’s2016 study on psilocybin for depression. It occurs around the ‘peak’ timeframe of the psychedelic session (02:34:41). ‘Azure’ was one of the only songs that patients specifically mentioned in post-session interviews, due to the effect it had on them.
Music in Psychedelic Therapy’s Renaissance
The importance of music in psychedelic therapy cannot be overstated. With the resurgence of psychedelic therapy to treat depression, PTSD, end-of-life distress, and more, music has emerged as an essential accompaniment for this process. Clinical studies at Imperial College London demonstrate that curated music enhances the outcomes of psychedelic-assisted therapies. It serves as both a grounding element and an amplifier of experience, helping individuals navigate the complex nature of the psychedelic state.
But why is music’s role so crucial in the modern context?
Guiding the Experience: Music in psychedelic therapy serves as a therapeutic guide, helping clients navigate various phases of their psychedelic sessions. For instance, uplifting tracks might support a “breakthrough” moment, while softer music during the descent phase fosters emotional integration.
Connecting Therapists and Clients: Astute therapists can gain a deeper understanding of a client’s state by knowing the path taken by the music in psychedelic therapy. Shifts in emotional state often correlate with distinct phases of an album or playlist.
Filling Emotional Voids: Psychedelic experiences can feel confusing or disorienting when left suspended without direction. Music fills this potential void, essentially acting as a co-therapist to help maintain emotional flow and stability.
Without this carefully curated soundscape, psychedelic therapy sessions lose an essential dimension that is shown to facilitate depth, safety, and meaning.
Research suggests that music takes on an entirely different quality during psychedelic-assisted therapy when compared to its properties in everyday circumstances.
When combined with the mind-altering effects of psychedelics, music is so profound that its presence is like a sentient actor that collaborates with the participants and therapists involved in the experience.
As we have seen, music can facilitate emotional catharsis, insights, and mystical experiences, which studies have found to predict therapeutic benefits. The best music for psychedelic therapy, then, is the kind that allows one to sink into a deep, internal experience.
What About the Role of Silence in Psychedelic Therapy?
The benefits of music in psychedelic therapy don’t mean that silence has no role to play in this form of treatment. One study looked at psilocybin-assisted therapy that incorporated intentional periods without music. It examined the experiences of two breast cancer patients receiving psilocybin therapy as part of Canada’s special access program. The authors write:
“Patients had previously experienced psychedelics in therapeutic contexts but only with continuous music, as is common practice. Here, each patient participated in a 30-minute silent period involving mindfulness exercises and therapist discussions. These periods of relative silence resulted in both challenges and benefits. One patient found that the absence of music was difficult initially, but that the relative silence allowed for engagement with mindfulness exercises that were experienced as highly meaningful. The other patient reported that music had evoked challenging past memories early in the dosing session, which were then productively explored with her guides during the subsequent period without music. These findings suggest that integrating silent intervals in psilocybin-assisted therapy can enhance mindfulness practices and therapist-patient interactions, potentially offering distinct therapeutic benefits.”
How to Prepare the Best Music for Psychedelic Therapy
Given how subjective the experience of music is, it can be a challenge to choose the best music for psychedelic therapy, as opinions differ from person to person. Whether you are creating a playlist for yourself or your clients, it requires an understanding of the participant’s emotional state, preferences, and areas of resistance, such as fear of losing control, confronting emotions, or over-analyzing.
Music selected in psychedelic therapy tends to evoke emotional experiences, and this process can be challenging to go through. Clients can often exhibit psychological resistances as a means to avoid change. These psychological patterns can be understood through adequate screening and preparation with clients, where psychedelic therapists can learn the client’s tendencies to support them best.
A successful music selection for psychedelic therapy will evoke feelings of safety, introspection, and openness, allowing the participant to access deeper layers of emotion and insight. The playlist should also align with the session’s goal. Selecting the wrong music can disrupt this process, cause confusion, and lead to distraction or detachment.
Selecting the right music requires intention and understanding of how it interacts with the unique states of consciousness induced during psychedelic therapy. A thoughtfully curated playlist or album design creates an ideal inner space for the individual to surrender to the process, be open to emotions, and achieve meaningful breakthroughs.
Key Considerations When Curating Music in Psychedelic Therapy
Theme and Resonance
Choose music that aligns with the participant’s preferences to create a more personalized and meaningful experience. For instance, some people might find classical compositions, such as symphonies or operas, too dramatic or opulent to relate to. On the other hand, others may resonate deeply with the complexities of classical music, finding it inspiring or cathartic.
Similarly, including tracks with yogic chanting may be well-suited for those looking to imbue their experience with an air of Eastern mysticism, or perhaps to connect them with an Indian lineage. However, others may find these songs too exotic and distant.
Understanding the participant’s unique tastes and what resonates with them is key to selecting music that enhances the experience rather than detracts from it.
Tone and Direction
Since music can significantly influence mood, identifying the purpose of the session is crucial in selecting the right psychedelic playlist to support the process. It is best to choose music with a particular emotional direction to set the overall tone and feel for the journey.
For example, a light, ambient tone with soft melodies might foster introspection, creating a calm and reflective atmosphere ideal for contemplation or moments of gentle emotional release. On the other hand, intense drum rhythms or dynamic, powerful compositions could evoke catharsis, helping to release pent-up emotions or trauma more actively and expressively.
Consider the tempo, tone, and emotional suitability of the music to ensure it complements the intended focus and desired outcome of the session, as this will guide you toward a deeper, more meaningful experience.
Timing and Transition
Music in psychedelic therapy should match the session’s arc, as this plays a crucial role in supporting the participant’s experience. Psychedelic sessions often follow a natural progression of ascent, peak, and descent based on each medicine’s unique duration period. The playlist for psychedelic therapy should align with these phases to create a cohesive and fluid journey.
During the ascent, the music can gently build anticipation and set a tone of curiosity and openness, preparing the participant for what lies ahead. At its peak, the music may be immersive and expansive, encouraging introspection, emotional release, or profound insights. As the session transitions to the descent, the soundtrack can gradually soften, offering a sense of grounding, comfort, and closure.
Another consideration is how individual songs are blended with those that precede or follow them. Psychedelic playlists that don’t mix well can be distracting. For example, if a song that predominantly features a cello is followed by a song with Tibetan throat singing, these songs will clash stylistically. This disharmony can be enough to disrupt the participant’s flow.
Ensure that transitions between genres or other musical qualities in the psychedelic therapy playlist are tasteful and gradual. Abrupt shifts in theme, tone, and style can disrupt the therapeutic process by pulling participants out of their journey.
Lyrics
Music with lyrics in the participant’s native language is generally avoided in psychedelic therapy because it can be overly directive, potentially influencing thought patterns or emotions in a way that distracts from the participant’s own organic experience. Research even shows that lyrical music interferes with cognitive tasks.
Instead, non-lyrical music is often preferred in psychedelic therapy. Vocals in a foreign language can also work, as the participant won’t be able to focus on the meaning of the lyrics. These styles provide a sense of humanity and connection without dictating or interfering with the participant’s process.
As you can see, compiling music playlists for psychedelic therapy is an art that involves psychological, emotional, and artistic considerations to support the best therapeutic process.
Ultimately, thoughtfully curated music in psychedelic therapy acts as a guide. It enhances the therapeutic potential of the session by helping participants navigate their internal landscape with greater ease and depth. By setting the tone and holding space for all that emerges from within the participant, the music provides a foundation for the therapeutic process while remaining unobtrusive and supportive. Music’s role is to enhance, not overshadow, the journey by ensuring that the internal experience remains the focal point. This careful balance between guidance and neutrality is what makes music such a powerful yet delicate tool in therapeutic contexts.
Key Artists Making Music for Psychedelic Journeys
Innovative artists are helping to highlight the profound potential of music in psychedelic therapy, recognizing its powerful ability to enhance emotional processing and create deeply immersive experiences.
Wavepaths, founded by Mendel Kaelen, an early psychedelic researcher at Imperial College London, offers personalized, AI-curated soundscapes for psychedelic sessions. They create adaptive musical environments to support the dynamic and unique nature of psychedelic experiences through their platform. Based on all the factors discussed above, artificial intelligence, as used by companies such as Wavepaths, can enable us to tailor psychedelic therapy music selections to the exact needs of each client.
Several artists have also pursued the creation of music for psychedelic journeys. They include Jon Hopkins, East Forest, and Justin Boreta. Given the growing list of artists who have shared about how psychedelics positively impacted them, it’s easy to see why attention is going towards the musical component of therapeutic psychedelic experiences.
A quick search on Spotify or Apple Music for “Psychedelic Therapy” playlists will show curated lists consisting of additional artists ranging from Antonio Vivaldi to Brian Eno, Enya, Max Richter, and many more.
These artists, old and new, all highlight the modern intersection between music and psychedelic therapy. Their musical innovations demonstrate how we can harness sound to best support the unfolding process of a therapeutic psychedelic journey.
Best Playlists and Albums for Psychedelic Therapy
Music is an essential part of our psilocybin therapy sessions. Based on what this article has outlined, the “best” choice for any individual is impossible to determine due to how multifaceted the experience of both psychedelics and music is. However, it is possible to make a choice that is close to ideal.
We have compiled our top playlists for psychedelic therapy to help you narrow your selections for any upcoming psychedelic sessions you are preparing for.
Music for Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy
Designed by Bill Richards for the psilocybin-assisted therapy research done at Johns Hopkins University.
Created by Mendel Kaelen for psilocybin therapy studies at Imperial College London.
Made for psilocybin research at Copenhagen University Hospital. Its curation is highlighted in this in-depth analysis.
This album, created by East Forest, was inspired by his experiences at Mexican mushroom ceremony.
East Forest’s second album with his signature sound and style for psychedelic therapy.
This album is a research-backed creation for psychedelic therapy from Massey, New Zealand, consisting of a live recording utilizing 28 musicians.
Curated by MycoMeditations. Ambient music with a unique variety of tones, vibrations, and brain frequencies to deepen the therapeutic experience.
Curated by MycoMeditations. Shamanic, primordial themes with highly energetic elements that heighten and expand altered states of consciousness.
Curated by MycoMeditations. Gentle progression into a powerful mix of ambient, shamanic, and instrumental music for the peak experience.
Music for Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
Music for MDMA-Assisted Therapy
Final Thoughts: Music in Psychedelic Healing
Psychedelic therapy is ushering in a new era for mental health, and music is an indispensable part of this movement. It harnesses age-old traditions, amplifies modern scientific findings, and connects clients to their therapists, emotions, and themselves.
Looking ahead, there’s potential for even more innovation in music for psychedelic therapy. AI-driven soundscapes, immersive experiences, and personalized soundtracks will continue to shape the field in the years to come, leveraging music’s ability to facilitate profound healing.
Not all psychedelic substances are the same. Choosing between the potential benefits of substances like ayahuasca or psilocybin mushrooms is more than a matter of chemistry, as each is used in different contexts.
The use of ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms (or magic mushrooms) goes back thousands of years. However, modern use cases for psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca are being integrated into a society hungry for solutions to dismal mental health conditions and what some call a “crisis of meaning.”
Psychedelic retreats using ayahuasca and mushrooms may incorporate practices established by indigenous peoples to navigate these unique experiences. However, the exploding interest in psychedelics from advances in scientific understanding and a modern therapeutic emphasis are changing the use of these medicines in contemporary societies.
In this article, we explore the difference between ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms. From ancient use to modern evolution, chemical compounds, physical and mental effects, and what to expect at ayahuasca and mushroom retreats.
Ayahuasca vs. Mushrooms: How to Choose the Right Healing Experience
Before booking an ayahuasca or mushroom retreat, it is important to examine the type of environment you want to have your psychedelic experience in, as well as your needs and intentions. With the large variety of backgrounds and approaches from providers across numerous countries offering psychedelic retreats, it is essential to select a retreat that most closely resonates with you and your goals.
Different ayahuasca and psilocybin retreats will have unique frameworks for relating to the medicine experiences and providing integration. Based on this framework, the staff will support you in a way that aligns with their process, and the retreat will attract people who resonate with this approach to the medicine.
Are you looking for a therapeutic retreat that incorporates elements of psychotherapy with which you are most familiar?
Do you want to experience ayahuasca or psilocybin mushrooms authentically through another culture with the help of a shaman?
Are you interested in exploring consciousness and spirituality?
Are you hoping to heal trauma and overcome mental illness?
It’s essential to ask these questions, as they will help guide you to an ayahuasca or mushroom retreat provider that is best equipped to offer the support that aligns with your goals.
Setting Intentions for Ayahuasca and Psilocybin Experiences
“Setting an intention” is a popular phrase in psychedelic circles. It means asking “Why do I want to do this?” Some people may be seeking healing. Others, personal development. For another, it may be spiritual exploration. There are countless reasons to seek out a psychedelic experience, each highly individual.
An intention is typically a simple and personally meaningful statement that helps people navigate and make meaning from psychedelic experiences. Intentions could be statements like “I will stay curious,” requests like “Help me find ease,” or questions like “Why am I here?”
Understanding why you will spend time, money, and a great deal of energy on what many claim to rank as one of the most significant experiences of their lives is essential. Intentions matter because they guide you to the right retreat centers, therapists, facilitators, and groups of people with whom you will share the experience.
Once you know your motivations, the next step is to find the right retreat. Here are some questions to consider before embarking on an ayahuasca or psilocybin journey:
Why am I doing this?
What am I hoping to accomplish?
Where will I be the most comfortable?
Who do I want to be around?
What modalities will the facilitators be using?
What kind of support do I want?
What is the ratio of guests to facilitators?
What substances are best for me?
Which protocols are in place?
How does integration with this group work?
With an understanding of why you want to join a psychedelic retreat, it is easier to choose between ayahuasca and mushrooms. Specifically, there are some differences between:
Active components of each substance
The context they are taken in
What the psychedelic experience is like
What are Psilocybin Mushrooms?
Psilocybin mushrooms are naturally occurring fungi growing worldwide and have a rich historical use. Mushrooms appear in the rock art found at ancient sites. References to mushroom use appear on most of the world’s continents. We know the Aztec and Maya people of Central America used mushrooms, calling them the “flesh of the gods.”
When Spanish colonists suppressed the use of mushrooms, the practice continued in secret until 1955, when a Mazatec curandera, Maria Sabina, shared mushrooms with an American banker, R. Gordon Wasson. These “magic mushrooms” soon became a cultural sensation, leading to the discovery of new psilocybin species and their introduction into the Western world through scientific research and the 1960s counterculture movement.
After decades of prohibition starting in the early 1970s, psilocybin mushrooms have returned to the spotlight of clinical research and at psilocybin therapy retreats. Now, scientists and therapists have found newfound curiosity for the psychological impacts and psychedelic effects of the psychoactive compound “psilocybin.”
What is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is one of many active compounds found in psychedelic mushrooms and appears to occur only in fungi. The most common is Psilocybe cubensis, but we know of approximately 180 species within the category of “magic mushrooms”.
Scientists are still learning how psychedelics work. So far, we know that when psilocybin is consumed, it is converted into the active psychoactive compound, psilocin. Psilocin is what interacts with receptors in our nervous system and is responsible for the psychedelic effects of psilocybin mushrooms, as psilocybin itself is not bioactive. Different receptor sites are associated with various functions in the body. Psilocybin interacts with multiple receptors, but special attention is focused on the 5-HT2A receptor. The 5-HT2A receptor appears to be the key receptor with which all classic psychedelics interact, creating consciousness-altering effects.
What is Ayahuasca?
No one can confidently say how long ayahuasca has been in use. The origins of ayahuasca consumption can be traced back to the indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest in South America, notably the Shipibo-Conibo. People practicing ayahuasca traditions with minimal interference from the outside world have kept the relationship between ayahuasca and “vegetalismo”, or learning from plants and spirits, strong. These traditions, now commonly called “shamanism,” are a big part of ayahuasca ceremonies.
The worldview and traditional medicine of the Amazonian people is a complex world of relationships that a shaman navigates to facilitate healing. The culture surrounding the ayahuasca experience remains somewhat mysterious to outsiders, but its reputation has inspired researchers to study the psychedelic brew.
Ayahuasca is a mixture of several different plants. The core of this mixture consists of the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the chacruna plant (Psychotria viridis). Combining these plants and drinking the mixture allows for the compound N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the primary active alkaloid responsible for the ayahuasca experience, to induce its signature altered state.
What is DMT?
DMT is a naturally occurring compound found throughout the natural world. It is produced in the human body and many plants. Usually, DMT inside the human body is broken down rapidly, making psychedelic effects short if smoked in its pure form or nonexistent if eaten. DMT is broken down by an enzyme in the body called monoamine oxidase.
People in the Amazon figured out that ingesting the ayahuasca vine prevents the breakdown of DMT because it contains other active compounds known as “monoamine oxidase inhibitors.” Researcher Dennis McKenna documented how the Banisteriopsis caapi vine “inhibits” the activity of MAO, allowing DMT to be consumed in an orally active form.
DMT’s molecular structure is very similar to psilocybin, and both interact with the body in comparable ways. Each compound binds to similar receptors but elicits different reactions, along with interacting with multiple groups of receptors. Despite similarities between their physical and mental effects, there are some differences between the two substances.
Ayahuasca vs. Psilocybin Mushroom Experiences: What’s the Difference?
While both ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms generally share positive outcomes when taken responsibly, the journey that ayahuasca or mushrooms take people on to arrive at their goal is different. As they say, it’s not the destination but the journey. The actual experience of each substance will depend on the dose, preparation, and “set and setting.”
Set and setting are linked to achieving desired results with psychedelics and are key differences in the ayahuasca vs. mushrooms conversation.
“Set” means the mindset one has going into a trip. Mindset includes:
Expectations
Intentions
Beliefs
Personality
Emotional landscape
Knowledge and research
Framework of understanding
“Setting” refers to the environment in which an experience occurs. Considerations here are:
Comfort
Safety
Legality
Other participants
Facilitators
Culture
Music
Inside vs. outside
Objects present
Researchers, therapists, and group facilitators spend a great deal of time creating the ideal setting and mindset for ayahuasca and psilocybin experiences, as they both feed into one another. The emphasis on these concepts is strong because data shows clear connections to optimal set and setting leading to improved outcomes.
The most apparent distinction between ayahuasca and mushrooms is not just their effects, but the context in which they are consumed.
Effects of Ayahuasca and Mushrooms
Both ayahuasca and psilocybin are classical psychedelics. They are comparable because they induce altered states involving:
Visual distortions
Visions and memory activation
Amplified feelings and emotions
Cognitive insights and introspection
Dissolution of the ego
Changes to heart rate and body temperature
Physical reactions such as nausea, sweating, shaking, or yawning
The compounds also show groundbreaking potential in the laboratory as a much-needed mental health treatment. Psilocybin has progressed to clinical trials and is designated a “breakthrough therapy” by the FDA, paving the way for widespread legal access.
On average, both ayahuasca and psilocybin experiences last for about 4-6 hours. Both substances may help people with a growing list of other tough-to-treat conditions, including:
Ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms both require screening for mental and physical health concerns. Reputable psychedelic retreats offering ayahuasca and mushrooms will have a detailed application process and firm knowledge of what is and isn’t safe. Asking questions of retreat organizers should be easy, and the answers should be clear.
Ayahuasca – What to Expect
Ayahuasca is often held in a group ceremonial setting. An ayahuasca ceremony is typically led by traditional healers who have undergone extensive training in the jungle as part of an apprenticeship that includes learning directly from the plants and spirits. Shamans work with a unique set of tools that have been passed down through generations of curanderos and curanderas within their lineage.
The shaman often speaks very little and instead sings icaros, which are healing songs said to be delivered by the spirits of the plants. Relationships with various plants, animals, and spirits may also be part of the healing work, and to navigate these, shamans will sing, pray, and work with other healing plants, such as tobacco.
Ayahuasca traditions often focus on “cleansing”, and a powerful function of the ayahuasca brew is “la purga” or “the purge.” This manifests as strong physical effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea, crying, or shaking. From the Amazonian perspective, these responses are positive and open one up to deeper work with ayahuasca.
Ayahuasca experiences can be both very challenging and beautiful. Ayahuasca can draw attention to aspects of one’s life, leading to profound life changes and spiritual growth. This experience provides insight and meaning into how someone has arrived at their current life stage, often through what people describe as direct communication with the spirit of ayahuasca.
Preparation for Ayahuasca
A significant part of an ayahuasca experience is preparation. Ayahuasqeros – shamans who lead ayahuasca ceremonies – do extensive dietas (a period of lifestyle and dietary restrictions to prepare one for the ayahuasca experience). The shaman will often do this in isolation in the jungle to learn their craft, and it involves abstinence from sex, media, and many foods.
Participants in an ayahuasca retreat will be asked to undertake similar restrictions on food, sex, and perhaps other activities before consuming the psychoactive brew. A typical ayahuasca diet will restrict red meat, cheese, salt, sugar, and refined or fermented foods.
The ayahuasca diet is thought to increase one’s sensitivity to ayahuasca while removing distractions. The regime also includes mental preparation for what will likely be an intense experience. The diet also avoids potentially dangerous interactions with certain foods or medications. With ayahuasca in particular, certain medications (like antidepressants) must be avoided as they could cause harmful and possibly lethal interactions. The psychedelic researcher Kelan Thomas points out:
“The main risk is serotonin toxicity, which can occur when a drug that acts on the serotonin receptor — like SSRIs and many psychedelics — are mixed with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) that prevents the metabolism of serotonin.”
Since ayahuasca contains MAOIs, it should not be taken if you’re currently on any serotonin-focused antidepressants, such as SSRIs or SNRIs. This same risk is not present when taking psilocybin mushrooms, as these don’t contain MAOIs. However, the science is not so clear when it comes to whether certain foods restricted in the dieta interact with ayahuasca in a harmful way. For instance, members of the ayahuasca church União do Vegetal (UDV) don’t follow these dietary restrictions, as they don’t believe there is a significant risk involved.
Psilocybin – What to Expect
Psilocybin makes people highly sensitive to their environment and inner experiences. Small moments can seem huge and meaningful, while emotions can surface in powerful ways. With trained professionals to help prepare, navigate, and integrate a psilocybin experience, it is possible to harvest a significant amount of meaning from a psilocybin mushroom journey.
At this point in history, psilocybin is used in many different contexts. Indigenous practices and the history of psilocybin inform modern use, but the therapeutic use of psilocybin is generally very different from its traditional settings. Many practitioners still administer psilocybin mushrooms in ceremonial settings. However, psilocybin mushroom retreats in the modern world are increasingly evidence-based and supported by modern, therapeutic approaches.
Lessons learned from clinical trials with psychedelic-assisted therapy now inform the use of psilocybin mushrooms. Nowadays, many practitioners working with psilocybin have a mental health background. Similar to therapy, clients are guided through preparation and integration with an emphasis on the psilocybin experience. Practitioners are also trained in how to best support people during the session. While some have found personal growth through self-directed psilocybin journeying, we now know that the journey to healing from conditions like depression, anxiety, and addiction means including preparation and integration support from professionals.
Preparation for Psilocybin Mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms require significant mental and emotional preparation, but do not require a special diet or abstaining from sex. A high dose of psilocybin often generates intense challenges but may lead to profound cognitive insights, emotional breakthroughs, and mystical experiences. Taking the time to prepare one’s mindset before a psilocybin mushroom experience helps manage expectations, anticipate challenges, and put the mind at a bit more ease.
Preparing for a psilocybin retreat involves considering set and setting, establishing trust with facilitators and therapists, and establishing personal intentions. Most medications, like antidepressants, do not pose a serious risk but can diminish the effects of psilocybin. It’s recommended to discontinue medications with professional support before a retreat.
An ayahuasca diet might last for weeks, but before taking mushrooms, usually a few hours of fasting is recommended. Because psilocybin mushrooms can cause nausea, attention to food intake before the dose is important, although vomiting and diarrhea are rare. It’s thought that eating close to the time of consuming psilocybin mushrooms slows the onset of the experience, as it is metabolized more slowly.
In short, we can see that, when comparing ayahuasca and mushrooms, the latter usually involves less personal sacrifice and physical discomfort.
Choosing Between Ayahuasca and Mushrooms
The safety of both ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms has stood the test of time, particularly alongside skilled and professional facilitation. Choosing between ayahuasca and mushrooms means honestly considering your personal preferences for the set and setting best suited for you.
Ayahuasca vs. Psilocybin Retreats: An Overview of Legal, Therapeutic, and Cultural Factors
Ayahuasca can be accessed legally in numerous South American countries. Vetting shamans is essential because in parts of the world with less economic opportunity, poorly intentioned impersonators do take advantage of uninformed travelers. However, traditional shamans with good training and integrity help many people every year. Joining an ayahuasca retreat involves being open to interacting with a culture that is both ancient and unfamiliar. There may be language barriers, and understanding the worldview of people from the Amazon won’t happen during a short retreat.
The best ayahuasca retreats should be trauma-informed, but the quality of facilitation varies, so be sure to find centers with well-trained support staff, ideally with a mental health background. A safe ceremonial setting will be led by an experienced shaman, accompanied by a trustworthy support staff. It is essential to ask how many people will be at an ayahuasca retreat, as large groups can lead to less individual support and dramatically influence the dynamic of the experience.
Ceremonies are often led with prayers, medicine songs, icaros, tobacco, offerings, and other traditional healing technologies. Proper preparation before ayahuasca and integration afterward is essential for a safe and comfortable experience, which requires doing your homework to find trustworthy retreats, shamans, and facilitators.
Psilocybin can be accessed legally in a few countries, such as Jamaica and the Netherlands. Psilocybin retreats may draw some influence from traditional use, but practitioners utilizing psilocybin typically work through a psychological or transpersonal lens. Using relatable concepts and language helps people from Western countries prepare for, integrate, and ultimately understand their psilocybin experiences.
Psilocybin retreats should also be trauma-informed, and many still lack the necessities for the best care. The highest-quality retreats employ facilitators with strong mental health backgrounds and maintain retreat sizes that are optimal for the number of staff to provide the proper level of support.
MycoMeditations Psilocybin Retreat
The MycoMeditations experience provides numerous trained therapists to best care for guests seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy with a modern approach. People can receive psilocybin therapy in an intimate setting with a maximum of 12 guests and a high staff-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1.5. Each day, hours of preparation and integration are provided to ensure that guests receive the most healing from their psilocybin experiences, along with integration support once they return home.
If you’d like to learn more about MycoMeditations, we invite you to explore the rest of our website and apply if you wish to join us on a retreat.
Ayahuasca vs. Psilocybin Mushroom Retreats: The Ultimate Guide
The therapeutic potential of psilocybin continues to gain attention worldwide. Clinical trials further highlight the potential of psilocybin therapy each year, with increasing mentions of psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs in the research literature as this “breakthrough therapy” surrounding psychedelic substances emerges in the mainstream.
Psilocybin mushrooms are a powerful tool for overcoming depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and many other mental health challenges. People want to access these therapies more than ever.
In the United States, each year has new states moving legislation forward to eventually allow for legal psilocybin sessions to be accessed. Oregon passed Measure 109 in November 2020 to permit the regulated medical use of psilocybin under the supervision of trained and licensed facilitators in licensed service centers. Since then, Oregon Psilocybin Services has implemented rules and regulations for providing therapeutic services involving psilocybin, resulting in a growing number of companies offering legal psilocybin therapy in Oregon and people traveling from abroad to access these services.
The Legal Framework and Regulations for Psilocybin Therapy in Oregon
The official regulations, as overseen by the Oregon Health Authority, outline specific guidelines regarding the dosage of psilocybin, facilitator training, the environments in which sessions can take place, and the criteria for client eligibility. You can also monitor all available data from the Oregon Health Authority’s data dashboard for psilocybin services, where you can gather information regarding everything from licensing, compliance, to safety standards surrounding psilocybin therapy in Oregon.
While we at MycoMeditations welcome legalization that allows for psychedelic therapy to improve the mental health crisis, our experience of providing over 6000 psilocybin therapy sessions allows us to see the limitations of the regulatory framework informing the protocols for psilocybin retreats and psilocybin therapy in Oregon, which we will share below.
Exploring Psilocybin Therapy in Oregon
We understand that it can feel risky to travel somewhere new and invest thousands of dollars in the hope that a new therapy can aid in emotional healing, helping you address the root of the challenges you may face in your daily life. Or perhaps your struggles with a mental health disorder are so severe that you think you have no other options.
We hope that this article can point you in the best direction and provide you with important considerations before making any decision, especially if you are already considering signing up for psilocybin therapy or a psilocybin retreat in Oregon.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is a powerful experience that requires the utmost trust in those supporting you. This overview also provides information about some of the psilocybin service centers available there.
If you wish to explore these companies further, we recommend conducting additional research, asking questions, and determining if they are the right fit for you. Contact the psilocybin therapy centers in Oregon that interest you and speak with them directly to gain a better understanding before making any decisions. You can take a look at the Oregon Psilocybin Services Licensee Directory to conduct further research.
Please note that MycoMeditations does not endorse the retreats and centers listed below; this guide is intended to consolidate possible options for individuals seeking psilocybin therapy in Oregon.
This center emphasizes the importance of communal experiences in the healing process, making it an option for those who value shared journeys. InnerTrek offers single-day group sessions priced between $1,200 and $2,000, with an additional cost of up to $100 for psilocybin. Their three-day group retreats are available for $2,500, which consists of one session. Innertrek’s single-day group sessions provide two online preparation and integration sessions, and the retreats also include preparation and integration while on the retreat.
Their psilocybin therapy center in Portland is located in the downtown area, offering options for nearby accommodations if you are traveling from outside of Portland.
Individual sessions consist of three hours dedicated to preparation sessions followed by two hours of integration. They also offer quarterly mini psilocybin retreats in Eugene. The cost of single-dose psilocybin therapy ranges from $2,200 to $2,800, and two-dose packages range between $3,600-$4,600, depending on the facilitator.
Small group experiences will cost you $1,800 for a single session. Their psilocybin doses appear to be very low when done in their retreat setting. Located in the heart of Eugene, it serves as a convenient option for those looking to explore psilocybin therapy in urban settings.
Psilocybin Retreats in Oregon
Odyssey
Odyssey is one of the more well-known psilocybin retreats in Oregon, offering both private and group retreat options. Their center is located outside of the city and provides a beautiful setting to complement your psilocybin retreat experience.
Their private retreats are custom-curated over two or three days with a wide range of prices. The private retreats include one psilocybin session with a couple of hours of preparation and integration support around the session. The group retreats are all-inclusive with meals and lodging.
Their prices range anywhere from $3500-$6500, depending on the accommodations selected and if you choose a private or group psilocybin retreat experience. The retreats are three nights and include one psilocybin session with preparation and integration. If you have a higher budget and are looking for a more nature-based psilocybin retreat in Oregon, you may want to take a look at Odyssey.
Confluence
Confluence provides psilocybin retreats in Ashland, offering a range of services that take place in different settings. They offer private single-day psilocybin sessions, 3-day private retreats, or 5-day group retreats.
The single-day sessions take place in a private room within their licensed psilocybin service center. The psilocybin session is accompanied by a therapy session and breathwork session prior to the dose, and two integration calls following the dose. The price is $2250. The 3-day private retreats take place in the outdoor surroundings of Confluence’s healing center and involve one psilocybin session. Breathwork and meditation sessions are a part of the preparation and integration experience.
The price for this service is $3900. Their 5-day group retreats also take place within natural surroundings at the healing center and include two psilocybin sessions. Similar to the private retreats, preparation and integration are offered to complement the psilocybin journeys. Prices start at $5900. Those with a larger budget for a psilocybin retreat in Oregon may be interested in researching Confluence.
Limitations of Psilocybin Services in Oregon
While Oregon has taken a progressive step by legalizing psilocybin therapy, our experience suggests that the state’s regulations have some key shortcomings, which you may want to consider before deciding where to receive psilocybin therapy in Oregon.
The Maximum Psilocybin Dose May Not Be High Enough for Some People
The limit for the dose of psilocybin that can be provided is 50 milligrams of psilocybin, which amounts to about a 6-gram equivalent for whole psilocybin mushrooms. While this is a substantial dose by many people’s standards, when trying to maximize the effects of psilocybin as a legitimate medical treatment for a range of mental health conditions, this 6-gram cap will limit the effectiveness of Oregon’s psilocybin therapy model.
Capping maximum doses at 6 grams for psilocybin treatment will be one of the most significant limitations to psilocybin-assisted therapy in Oregon. This restriction will pose a hindrance to individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression or complex forms of anxiety.
This is especially relevant considering that people participating in psilocybin therapy in Oregon are not required to wean off antidepressants, and these medications are shown to diminish the potency of psilocybin.
In our experience, individuals with treatment-resistant, long-standing mental illness often need doses higher than 6 grams to disrupt deeply rooted neural and psychological patterns.
Longitudinal survey data from our guests shows lasting improvements in depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and PTSD when using higher doses. These results would be unlikely using smaller doses, as many guests report their breakthrough in the second or third dose, where the dose is typically higher than 6 grams.
When these experiences are navigated and supported effectively, high-dose psilocybin sessions, exceeding 6 grams, can lead to significant changes, improvements, and relief.
In a research article published in 2024 in Drugs: Education, Preventionand Policy, Jesper Dunnell explores psychedelic retreat experiences aimed at promoting personal growth. He observes how some participants at legal psychedelic retreats involving magic truffles would take quite high doses:
“During the ceremonies, the participants ingested large doses of psilocybin truffles. The doses were adapted to each participant but were on average 15–25 grams for the first ceremony and 20–50 grams for the second ceremony. Some participants consumed additional doses.”
50+ grams of magic truffles is a strong dose – higher than the equivalent of 6 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms. Some people desire and need doses of this sort to reach the depth of experience and healing they’re looking for. Many psychedelic retreats using magic truffles recognise that people’s sensitivity to psychedelics differs, as does the nature of their emotional distress. Limiting the high-dose end of psilocybin sessions in Oregon, therefore, limits opportunities for healing and growth.
Lack of Therapeutic Background Requirements and Relatively Little Training Needed to Be a Licensed Psilocybin Facilitator
It also requires no direct, personal experience with psychedelic mushrooms. This aspect has sparked conversations about the aptitude and qualifications of facilitators guiding psilocybin sessions in Oregon.
With society attempting to carve out a role for psychedelic therapy within our mental health treatment systems, there needs to be a greater emphasis on training therapists and facilitators rather than rushing to provide access. We believe that experiential training that utilizes psilocybin is a crucial component in practitioners gaining the necessary expertise. This will maximize its positive impact and reduce adverse reactions.
While the legalization of psilocybin therapy in Oregon is commendable, shortcomings in the state’s regulations emphasize the need for future adjustments and improvements.
A 2024 article published in Nature Medicine raises concerns about the lack of adequate training for psilocybin facilitators in Oregon. This could put participants’ safety at risk. The authors state:
“Oregon’s training requirements may be insufficient to enable facilitators to individualize screening and monitoring effectively, without medical oversight. Facilitator licensure requires a high-school degree and at least 120 hours of instruction (including 12 hours on safety and ethics and 4 hours devoted to the underlying science and state of research) plus 40 hours of practicum training. This training is unlikely to enable competent judgments regarding subtle psychiatric or physical symptoms characteristic of mania, psychosis, suicidality and cardiovascular disease. Oregon could mandate specific monitoring and emergency protocols, including specific signs and symptoms requiring medical evaluation and availability of clinicians who can be consulted quickly.”
You may be interested in reading this full side-by-side comparison of psilocybin services in Oregon vs. Jamaica, another location for legal psilocybin services, where the providers are free to work with their own standards and protocols.
Other Popular Destinations for Psilocybin Retreats
Many people considering psilocybin therapy for mental health issues are unaware that there is already an established psilocybin industry in Jamaica and the Netherlands, which have allowed psilocybin to be consumed legally for decades.
There are many psilocybin centers in these countries, being the first providers to offer these services legally at their own psilocybin centers. Psilocybin therapy in Jamaica and the Netherlands is typically undertaken in retreat settings as opposed to the more clinical/office-bound sessions offered in Oregon.
Netherlands
Psilocybin retreats in the Netherlands are legally offered through a unique framework that allows for the use of psilocybin, but only in truffle form. Psilocybin mushrooms are, in fact, illegal here, which has always perplexed people, as magic mushrooms and truffles contain the same psychoactive compounds. These retreats are typically run by facilitators from a range of professional or therapeutic backgrounds who focus on creating a safe and supportive environment for participants.
Jamaica
There are numerous options for psilocybin retreats in Jamaica, just like there are in Oregon or Colorado. There is also a broad range of retreats available, with frameworks ranging from those with a wellness focus to those that are more therapeutically oriented. As a result, the quality of psilocybin providers in Jamaica varies dramatically.
MycoMeditations offers a compelling alternative for those seeking a more comprehensive psilocybin therapy experience. MycoMeditations was the first psilocybin retreat in Jamaica to open its doors, and is likely the only psychedelic retreat in the world that provides actual psychedelic therapy through our unique retreat model.
Our retreat has been continually developed and refined since its inception in 2014, hosting thousands of guests. With the freedom to develop and uphold standards based on what is proven to be effective, we set out with the goal of creating the gold standard for what a therapeutic psychedelic retreat can be. Our 3-dose psilocybin treatment model led by licensed therapists allows people to go deeper in their healing than in the clinical setting or at other retreats, where you will rarely work with more than a single session. This, combined with our experience of working with higher doses than typically offered, has drastically improved the lives of those who joined us with crippling cases of depression, anxiety, and more.
If you have thought about participating in psilocybin therapy in Oregon, we invite you to first browse through our website to learn about the most mental health-oriented psilocybin retreat available. Feel free to book a call with us to explore if one of the most experienced psychedelic retreats in the world may actually be the option that serves you best.
Psilocybin Retreats and Psilocybin Therapy in Oregon
Microdosing in particular has gained popularity as a way for people to try and experience the potential benefits of psychedelics, magic mushrooms in particular, in an attempt to improve their mental health. News outlets from The Guardian to The New York Times and National Geographic have written extensively about this growing trend, and microdosing retreats for mental health issues have started to appear as discussions of psilocybin-assisted therapy become more mainstream.
But microdosing has its limits. Read below to learn the differences between microdosing and psychedelic therapy. This will help clarify why most psychedelic retreats exclusively use what, instead, might be called “macrodoses” (i.e., larger doses of psilocybin mushrooms or other psychedelic medicines) instead of microdosing.
Microdosing vs. Psychedelic Therapy: An Overview
Microdosing involves taking sub-perceptual doses of a psychedelic, typically a classic psychedelic like psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. ‘Sub-perceptual’ means that the dose is small enough so that no perceptual effects occur, such as visual distortions. However, a microdose also means that other classic psychedelic effects will be absent, including intense emotions, laughing fits, deep introspection, or even mystical experiences.
Many people opt for microdosing as a less intense way to address mental health issues. Others claim it helps enhance other aspects of life, such as focus, concentration, mindfulness, creativity, productivity, and relationships.
Psychedelic therapy, in contrast, involves working with macrodoses. These are doses high enough to induce classic psychedelic effects. The primary motivation for choosing psychedelic therapy is to alleviate a mental health condition. Nonetheless, other benefits may arise, such as an enhanced sense of meaning, purpose, and spirituality.
A key difference between microdosing and psychedelic therapy is that, in the former, you take the dose on your own and then go about your day. In the latter case, you take the dose in the presence of one or more therapists. In psychedelic therapy, you lie down with an eye mask and headphones on, playing a pre-selected playlist. It’s very much a deep, internal experience. The effects are typically strong and highly pronounced, so it’s important to have one or more facilitators present for psychological support.
Since microdosing creates more subtle effects, you should be able to function as you usually would. You don’t need a facilitator or guide present with you to offer emotional support or guide you through the experience when microdosing.
Supposed Effects of Microdosing: Does it Work?
Researchers have studied the claimed benefits of microdosing, and the results are mixed. Survey-based studies have found that people who microdose experience mental health benefits, such as reduced depression and anxiety. Observational studies provide the same evidence: microdosers experience greater improvements in mental health than non-microdosers. Nevertheless, these studies have methodological limitations. They don’t demonstrate that microdosing itself causes these benefits.
The supposed convenience of avoiding challenging psychological experiences with smaller doses of psychedelics can also make microdosing a less-than-ideal psychedelic treatment. To reap the real mental health benefits of psychedelic therapy, people often need to face challenging or even frightening psychological experiences. Taking high doses of psychedelics is what allows people to access trauma at its core, where it can be processed. Microdosing simply does not get people there.
The potential benefits of taking a high dose of psilocybin when done intentionally in a safe, supportive setting with time to effectively integrate the experience far outweigh the subjective effects that come with microdosing.
So, how would we compare microdosing with psychedelic therapy done at a psilocybin-assisted retreat? Are you considering trying a microdosing retreat? Continue reading to learn the differences between microdosing and psychedelic therapy.
Microdosing vs. Psychedelic Therapy with Psilocybin Mushrooms: The Difference is in the Dose
Instead of taking sub-perceptual amounts of psilocybin mushrooms (0.1g–0.2g) as with microdosing, psilocybin retreats provide guests with high doses, possibly anywhere in the range of 3-15g of dried psilocybin mushrooms during their stay. These dosing ranges are what many people would describe as a “heroic dose”. The amount may increase in this range throughout the retreat week with each of the dosing sessions. While psychedelic therapy typically involves high doses of psilocybin, such as 25 mg, doses of dried psilocybin mushrooms at retreats often exceed this dose of pure psilocybin.
The dosage used at a psychedelic retreat depends on many personal factors for each guest, which are determined through each retreat’s unique protocol. Some retreats may have standardized dosing, while others tailor the dose to the individual needs of each guest.
Facilitators take into account an extensive list of factors to decide the optimal psilocybin therapy dose for each individual, such as sensitivity to various substances or medications, personality type, mental health status, trauma history, inner psychological resources, and past use of psychedelics.
Why do many psilocybin retreats work with such high doses? As a psilocybin retreat center, we repeatedly see that people with intractable cases of depression and anxiety simply need to be pulled out of the negative mental pattern they are stuck in, which is only accomplished by larger doses. This is where the Default Mode Network, or “DMN,” comes in.
Microdosing vs. Psychedelic Therapy: Activity in the Default Mode Network
The Default Mode Network describes the state of our brains when we are at rest. The DMN is often associated with activities such as daydreaming and self-reflection. For many people with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, a hyperactive DMN essentially causes them to get stuck in negative ruminations. This involves spending an unhealthy amount of time replaying distressing thoughts related to themselves, their lives, other people, and the world around them.
Psilocybin has been shown to reduce activity in the Default Mode Network, allowing the brain to create new neural connections. This process is greatly enhanced when taking larger doses compared to microdosing. With the DMN offline, people have a window for novel experiences. They can learn to better relate to themselves, others, nature, or society. This rich, new experience then factors into the brain’s neural connections when the DMN comes back online. With effective psychedelic therapy and integration, the Default Mode Network takes this fresh experience into account and helps the individual find a “new normal”.
In contrast, there’s no evidence that microdosing can affect the DMN in the same way that psychedelic therapy can. It requires a macrodose to enact significant changes in this brain network. While microdosing may enhance neuroplasticity—increasing neural connections, which can benefit mental health—the positive aftereffects of significantly reducing DMN activity are missed.
Microdosing vs. Psychedelic Therapy: Positive Effects of Higher Dose Magic Mushroom Sessions
Psilocybin-assisted retreats also create cathartic psychological experiences, which is the same result of psychedelic therapy in a clinical setting. Besides the process involving the Default Mode Network, psilocybin also acts as a chemical key to open people up to deeper layers of the mind, which isn’t possible in the same way with microdosing.
With higher doses of psilocybin mushrooms, many of the emotions and feelings that have been subdued, ignored, or forgotten begin to emerge. These are often experiences that stem from childhood and our earliest encounters in life. High-dose psychedelic therapy gives someone hours to work with their deepest, core emotions and memories. During this time, an extraordinary amount of healing can be done. Microdosing simply will not open you up to this level of depth or provide the same level of therapeutic benefits.
Here’s an analogy to describe macrodosing experiences: Imagine the various layers of soil as your mind. You have the topsoil down to the bedrock. Microdosing can facilitate work at the uppermost layers, as it can activate new perspectives and insights, creating subtle shifts. Whereas with psychedelic therapy, providing larger doses of psilocybin is like drilling into the bedrock. These deeper layers (of our psyche) are where our problems stem from and where trauma is buried.
High-dose psychedelic therapy aims to go to the root cause of psychological suffering, including dealing with traumatic experiences. To cope with trauma, an individual’s psyche often uses defense mechanisms such as repressed memories or dissociative amnesia. It is much more difficult to move past these barriers with microdosing.
Dealing with Psychological Effects and Challenging Experiences
Of course, high-dose psilocybin experiences can be challenging and frightening. That is why psilocybin retreats should have trained therapists and facilitators and provide guests ample time each day to reflect and integrate their experiences.
Microdosing may ensure you won’t have difficult experiences. However, finding the courage to face uncomfortable feelings is often necessary for healing. Indeed, research by Griffiths et al. (2016) found that many people view their most challenging psychedelic experience as highly meaningful and spiritual, and that it led to an improved sense of well-being or life satisfaction.
That isn’t to say that these profound experiences on high doses of psilocybin mushrooms always have to be difficult—often, they are the most blissful experience someone will ever have. The key is being prepared and supported, because the therapeutic outcomes can be tremendous with high-dose work.
The Risks of Psychedelic Therapy
It’s important to acknowledge that working with high-dose psychedelic therapy can involve certain risks. For example, a small minority of people in the Griffiths et al. study sought treatment for the enduring distress they experienced after their challenging experience. More recent research has also brought to light the extended difficulties that some people experience after intense psychedelic journeys. Nonetheless, the majority of these difficulties occurred in an uncontrolled setting, without therapeutic intent or a guide present.
This is why any legitimate psychedelic retreat should only work with highly trained and vetted facilitators. It also underscores the need for a controlled setting, proper screening, preparation, psychological support during sessions, and post-session integration. This ensures that, should difficult emotions arise during a session, they can be addressed and worked through effectively. This helps to both maximize the potential benefits of these experiences and minimize the risks involved.
The Risks of Microdosing
The potential risks of microdosing aren’t discussed enough. So far, the evidence shows that psychedelic therapy is physically safe. Taking macrodoses of psychedelics is non-toxic—it doesn’t cause damage to any of the organs.
On the other hand, psychedelic researchers such as Kelan Thomas have raised concerns about chronic microdosing, that is, microdosing two, three, or more times a week, for several weeks or months, which is what microdosing regimens typically recommend. Thomas and other researchers worry that this may put heart health at risk. This is because classic psychedelics activate the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor, and other drugs that frequently activate this receptor have been shown to increase the risk of valvular heart disease (VHD).
Of course, we need more evidence to establish the link between long-term microdosing and effects on the heart.
We hope this helps you understand the differences between microdosing and psychedelic therapy, and why we focus on psychedelic therapy at MycoMeditations. At the end of the day, regardless of whether you choose to explore a microdosing retreat or a high-dose psilocybin retreat like ours, healing is defined by nobody besides you.
Microdosing vs. Psychedelic Therapy: Key Differences, Benefits, and Risks
Overview of Psilocybin Retreats and Psychedelic Therapy in Colorado
Psilocybin-assisted therapy is making waves in mental health and wellness, and the state of Colorado has taken a historic step forward in making psychedelic therapy in the US available. Starting January 1, 2024, psilocybin-assisted therapy has been legalized in the Centennial State, positioning Colorado as a leader in the growing movement to integrate psychedelic medicines back into our culture under regulated therapeutic applications after decades of prohibition.
For mental health advocates and psychedelic therapy enthusiasts, this is cause for celebration. Following years of studies through clinical trials at Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many other renowned universities, new psychedelic clinics and psychedelic retreats in Colorado have emerged, broadening access to these treatment options. This offers exciting options for those hoping to explore psilocybin mushrooms as a breakthrough therapy for assistance in overcoming everything from treatment-resistant depression to post-traumatic stress disorder.
But as groundbreaking as it is, psychedelic therapy in Colorado still comes with limitations. This article will explore the regulatory framework surrounding psychedelic retreats and psilocybin therapy in Colorado, comparing them with those in Oregon. We also highlight early treatment options and offer balanced insights into the challenges that seekers of personal growth through psilocybin experiences may face.
Understanding Psilocybin Therapy in Colorado
Legal psilocybin therapy in Colorado involves a mix of decriminalization and structured frameworks for therapeutic use of natural medicines such as mushrooms. The decriminalization of psilocybin in Colorado dates back to 2022, when a passing vote for Proposition 122 allowed individuals over 21 to use and share certain psychedelic chemical compounds without criminal penalties. The state has now established formal regulations for trained mental health practitioners and licensed healing centers to administer psychedelic therapy in Colorado.
Key Regulations for Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Colorado
Healing Centers: Colorado will license physical spaces where psychedelic administration sessions can be legally provided. These include urban clinics and rural retreats, with unique zoning rules determined by city councils that vary by municipality.
Psilocybin Facilitators: Licensed facilitators can lead psilocybin therapy in Colorado, and only in this state. To earn certification, facilitators must complete a process of state-approved training programs, pass competency exams, and renew their licenses regularly by paying licensing fees.
Controlled Supply Chain: From cultivation to testing, all psilocybin products used within licensed programs must meet strict safety and quality standards.
Tracking and Reporting: Colorado’s psilocybin healing centers must keep in-depth records, including, but not limited to, reporting all adverse guest experiences to the state.
These measures promote safety and standardization, providing individuals with greater confidence when seeking psilocybin therapy in Colorado. This sets clear expectations for every stakeholder and ensures that psilocybin services in Colorado meet a high standard of quality and professionalism.
How Psychedelic Access in Colorado Differs from Oregon
Colorado is following Oregon’s lead in introducing legal psychedelic substance access, but with a few notable distinctions in its regulatory approach:
Vertical Integration: Psychedelic therapy in Colorado favors a vertically integrated model where healing centers manage several parts of the supply chain. Oregon, by contrast, splits licensing into four separate categories.
Flexible Locations: Psilocybin services in Colorado are available in non-center settings, including private residences (resulting from decriminalization) and healthcare facilities, offering more options for guided therapy.
Expanded Psychedelics: Colorado’s framework allows for additional psychedelic substances to become available over time.
Decriminalization Differences: Colorado’s overarching policy provides broader protections for personal psilocybin use compared to Oregon’s more restrictive decriminalization protocols.
Local Bans: Unlike Oregon, Colorado doesn’t permit municipalities to entirely ban healing centers within their jurisdiction.
As US states continue to legalize psychedelic-assisted therapy, the rules and regulations for each will vary as regulatory bodies attempt to best integrate medicines such as psilocybin mushrooms into traditional psychotherapy to treat mental illnesses.
Options for Psilocybin Therapy in Colorado
For those considering psilocybin therapy in Colorado, here’s a brief overview of notable clinics and retreats.
Please note that MycoMeditations does not endorse these providers. This is simply a list of early examples of what’s currently available in the state upon legalization.
Psychedelic Clinics in Colorado
Medicinal Mindfulness: A non-profit offering “supported personal use” services and guided psychedelic experiences facilitated by trained professionals.
Wholeness Center: Integrating psychedelic care with natural treatment options, the clinic has experience with ketamine-assisted therapy and harm-reduction approaches for psilocybin.
Reflective Healing: Offers guidance and therapeutic integration for individuals exploring decriminalized psilocybin use.
Psychedelic Retreats in Colorado
Odyssey PBC: Led by standard clinical research, Odyssey provides private sessions and group retreats.
Ceremonia: Combining science and spirituality, Ceremonia hosts psilocybin retreats centered around plant medicine ceremonies.
Before You Decide: The Limitations of Colorado’s Program
Colorado’s psilocybin therapy legalization marks significant progress towards larger access to psychedelics, but prospective clients should understand that there are certain limitations to consider before making this huge personal decision. Here are key points to consider:
Limited Practitioner Experience
Many psilocybin facilitators in Colorado are relative newcomers to psychedelics and their therapeutic applications, especially when they’re offered to address severe mental health challenges such as treatment-resistant cases of depression or anxiety. There is little experiential training in those who are becoming licensed, and direct, hands-on experience is the most important type of experience to look for when researching psychedelic guides in Colorado.
We also recommend that you take note of where psilocybin facilitators studied, as psychedelic therapy training schools differ in how they teach students to handle people’s psychedelic experiences.
Dosing Amounts
Psychedelic therapists in Colorado will likely remain conservative in their dosing protocols due to dosing limits. Effective psilocybin therapy can require a higher dose of psilocybin than most are equipped to provide and must be administered by experienced professionals to achieve safe, transformational breakthroughs.
For instance, participants at psilocybin retreats in the Netherlands take relatively high doses of magic truffles (up to 40 grams, which is equivalent to a high dose of dried psilocybin mushrooms). Specific psilocybin retreats in Jamaica work with even higher doses to assist those with mental health conditions. The option for high-dose experiences often means that those with a lower sensitivity to psychedelics or deeper forms of emotional distress can achieve the kind of therapeutic experiences they’re looking for.
New-Age Culture
Many traditional, trained psychedelic practitioners in Colorado orient their guidance and support through spiritual frameworks that often don’t align with the beliefs of the typical American client seeking psilocybin-assisted therapy. Finding facilitators who respect your belief systems and commit to working with you through that lens is crucial for a safe and grounded experience.
“It is important to operate … from a secular framework that is nonetheless open to working with patients or participant[s] of any religious/spiritual background. This is in alignment with the best practices of clinical psychology and other mental health professions that recognize the importance of strong rapport with patients, religious/spiritual tolerance, and the importance to mental health of having meaning in life…
Patient beliefs often play a large role in her or his meaning making from sessions. Just as with the practice of secular clinical psychology or psychiatry, a patient can certainly bring up religious beliefs and concepts in therapeutic discussion, e.g., Buddha, Christ, kundalini, and plant spirits, but it is not the role of the clinician or scientists to introduce such concepts. The goal of the clinician should be a create an open and supportive environment where the patient can make her or his own meaning, if any, from such experiences.”
Because of the limitations of Colorado’s psychedelic therapy program, it’s essential to take the time to conduct thorough research before committing to any clinic or retreat. This involves looking into the qualifications and experience of the staff, reading reviews or testimonials from previous clients, and confirming whether the facility aligns with your specific needs and goals.
Additionally, researching the methods or treatments offered can help ensure they are evidence-based and reputable. Taking these steps can provide peace of mind and increase the likelihood of a positive and effective experience.
The Gold Standard of Psychedelic Therapy
While psychedelic-assisted therapy in Colorado is an attractive option, people serious about psilocybin therapy should consider MycoMeditations, the original legal psilocybin therapy retreat. Located in Jamaica, where psilocybin is fully legal, we have spent over a decade refining our personalized approach to provide an unparalleled level of mental health support through psychedelic experiences. Our program is designed to be the gold standard for what psychedelic care applied to mental health can look like. Here’s what sets us apart:
Experience Matters: With over 2,000 guests served and more than 6,000 therapy sessions conducted, MycoMeditations is the most experienced psilocybin therapy retreat in the world.
Ideal Application of Psilocybin: Our week-long retreats include three guided psilocybin sessions, allowing for deeper healing than standalone experiences. Our protocols and practices also allow us to safely administer higher doses of psilocybin, which can often be a requirement for people in a mental health crisis.
Mental Health-Focused: We have developed a reputation for being the retreat people go to when they need to work with psilocybin for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and more. Our team is highly experienced and has undergone rigorous training to provide the deepest level of psychedelic psychotherapy when you join us on retreat.
Proven Results: Guests who join MycoMeditations experience clinically significant improvement across numerous mental health conditions, including major depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and PTSD, validated by multiple years of post-retreat surveys verified by a neutral third-party.
Legal Framework: Enjoy complete peace of mind knowing psilocybin retreats in Jamaica are completely legal. Psilocybin is not simply decriminalized, regulated through a gray market, or prohibited by federal law, as is the case with many other access locations.
Tailored Support: From dosage adjustments to personalized integration, our experienced psilocybin facilitators address each guest’s unique needs with compassion and expertise within an immersive, week-long therapeutic experience.
Our full-service psilocybin retreats in Jamaica are dedicated to providing therapeutic doses of psilocybin mushrooms under the guidance of trained, experienced therapists. These therapeutic mushroom experiences take place in a serene, tropical backdrop, which is as close as it gets to the ideal setting for psychedelic therapy. With a proven track record of life-changing transformations, MycoMeditations offers an unmatched experience with psilocybin, all within the beauty of the Caribbean, away from everyday life, to focus closely on your healing.
Explore the benefits of psilocybin therapy with the leading experts in this field. Look through our website to learn more and apply for an upcoming retreat. The next chapter of your life awaits.
Psilocybin Retreats and Psilocybin Therapy in Colorado
How Psychedelics Can Assist with End-of-Life Distress
By MycoMeditations
You’ve probably already heard about the healing potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health. Still, modern research into compounds like psilocybin and MDMA doesn’t just focus on depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Some of the most profound results for psychedelic medicines come from addressing the spiritual well-being of those experiencing emotional suffering at the end of their lives. Indeed, we are seeing a lot of promise in the use of psychedelics for end-of-life distress.
At MycoMeditations, we draw upon the insights gained from the last 20 years of medical research to offer compassionate, therapeutic psilocybin retreats for individuals experiencing end-of-life distress. These retreats are not just intended for sufferers themselves, but also for spouses, friends, and family members. Together, loved ones can offer support during the most emotionally and spiritually trying ordeal a person can experience, as well as process their own feelings about the impending loss of someone important to them through psilocybin-assisted therapy.
What is End-of-Life Distress?
Death is frightening. Fear of death is perfectly natural. Whether or not you hold spiritual or religious beliefs about the soul or an afterlife, it is normal to feel significant unease and anxiety at even the thought of death and dying. Most of us do our best in daily life to avoid contemplating our own mortality.
A terminal diagnosis makes this impossible. Cancer patients or sufferers from other terminal conditions who are told their lives will end and that their time is now limited report intense feelings of distress, including feelings of terror, dread, grief, and overwhelming anxiety. They experience this not just for themselves but also for their families, friends, and loved ones. The reality of their impending death becomes all-encompassing, compounding the tragedy of a terminal diagnosis by robbing individuals and families of their quality of life, bringing on intense bouts of anxiety and depression during the time they have left together. These overwhelming emotions are referred to collectively as end-of-life distress.
The therapeutic use of psychedelics for end-of-life distress may be an option when other treatments have failed to provide adequate relief. As we will see below, researchers are discovering potential links between psychedelics and palliative care.
If palliative care is meant to offer psychological and spiritual support for patients, psychedelic retreats will likely play a significant role in it. This is because, in supportive contexts, psychedelic therapy allows people to confront and resolve difficult emotions connected to the process of dying. Additionally, psychedelics can evoke mystical experiences, which provide lasting meaning and changes within people. This is particularly fitting for people with end-of-life distress, as mystical experiences are directly connected to the immense existential topic that they are navigating as they near death.
Psychedelics for End-of-Life Distress: Scientific and Legal Perspectives
Much of the modern psychedelic research and legal action around psychedelics for end-of-life distress stems from the work of Dr. Roland Griffiths at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness Research. Prompted by the positive results of a 2006 investigation into the effects of psilocybin for end-of-life distress in healthy subjects, Griffiths and his team continued and intensified their investigations into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. This covered the potential for spiritual experiences, as well as the treatment of mental health issues such as addiction, depression, and end-of-life distress for cancer patients.
Psilocybin therapy for end-of-life distress has played a significant role in the current psychedelic renaissance outside of academia.
In early 2020, the Canadian government made history by granting compassionate access to psilocybin for end-of-life distress for four patients who were terminally ill. While still strictly controlled and limited, access has since expanded over the last few years. Even non-terminal patients can apply to be treated with both psilocybin and MDMA under Health Canada’s Special Access Program, where access to psychedelic substances for psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy is approved by the government ministry on a case-by-case basis.
That said, Canada’s Special Access Program for terminally ill patients to receive psychedelic therapy has been controversial since its release.
Prominent lawsuits in both the US and Canada have sought to force the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Government of Canada, respectively, to allow increased access to psilocybin for terminal patients.
Numerous Canadians have filed a federal Charter challenge against the Canadian government due to restrictive access, claiming the current avenues for accessing psychedelic therapy violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Dr. Sunil Aggarwal of Seattle has spent years attempting to force the DEA to allow terminal cancer patients access to psilocybin therapy for end-of-life distress under provisions of the 2016 Right to Try Act. After a lengthy process, a federal court upheld the DEA’s denial of Aggarwal’s request to use psychedelics for end-of-life distress.
Psychedelic Retreats, Palliative Care & Death Doulas
Psilocybin research is only one facet of how our societal conversation around death is changing. While still a taboo subject, death and dying are now more open to discussion. Most of the more institutionally ingrained taboos that dictate the “right” or “wrong” ways to deal with death and beliefs in life after death are gradually fading away, leaving us with questions about how to process our emotions.
Counseling and psychotherapy can focus specifically on death, terminal diagnoses, and family coping, all of which reflect a broader cultural movement towards embracing and understanding the end-of-life process with greater openness and compassion. A key component in this change is the rise of death doulas, who offer non-medical support and guidance to individuals and their families as they navigate the final stages of life.
Death doulas share a critical commonality with the use of psychedelics for end-of-life distress in that they emphasize emotional, spiritual, and practical care. They work to demystify death, encouraging open conversations about mortality and aiding in the fulfillment of the dying person’s wishes. Again, much like psychedelic retreats for end-of-life distress, this shift represents a move away from the often sterile and impersonal experience of death in hospitals to a more personalized and dignified process that honors the individual’s life and preferences.
A Landmark Study on the Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics for End-of-Life Distress
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer. This isn’t just a statement; it is both the title and conclusion of a 2016 paper by Griffiths and fellow psychedelic researcher Matthew Johnson, among others.
The researchers stated that, “Cancer patients often develop chronic, clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. Previous studies suggest that psilocybin may decrease depression and anxiety in cancer patients. The effects of psilocybin were studied in 51 cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.” Using psychedelics for end-of-life distress works, then, by reducing the most severe kinds of emotional pain. The study authors concluded:
“High-dose psilocybin produced large decreases in clinician- and self-rated measures of depressed mood and anxiety, along with increases in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism, and decreases in death anxiety. At 6-month follow-up, these changes were sustained, with about 80% of participants continuing to show clinically significant decreases in depressed mood and anxiety. Participants attributed improvements in attitudes about life/self, mood, relationships, and spirituality to the high-dose experience, with >80% endorsing moderately or greater increased well-being/life satisfaction. Community observer ratings showed corresponding changes. Mystical-type psilocybin experience on session day mediated the effect of psilocybin dose on therapeutic outcomes.”
Mystical Experiences and End-of-Life Distress
The results of the 2016 study noted above raise questions about whether mystical experiences are necessary for patients to experience substantial relief from end-of-life depression and end-of-life anxiety.
Psychedelic researchers have found that the occurrence and strength of mystical experiences predict therapeutic outcomes. However, this has raised questions about precisely what it is about the mystical experience that offers patients relief from so much of their suffering.
In a popular 2015 article, published in The New Yorker, journalist Michael Pollan touched on the issue of whether mystical experiences help end-of-life distress because it leads people to believe in life after death. He asks, “Is psychedelic therapy simply foisting a comforting delusion on the sick and dying?” The philosopher Chris Letheby formulates this problem as the Comforting Delusion Objection to psychedelic therapy in his book Philosophy of Psychedelics (2020). The use of psychedelics for end-of-life distress has, therefore, led to the discussion of important ethical questions.
Letheby ultimately concludes that this objection to psychedelic therapy doesn’t hold up. This is because he believes psychedelics primarily reduce mental distress by altering people’s sense of self, not through changes to their metaphysical beliefs. However, he revised this position in a 2024 paper, published in Neuroethics, and argued that psychedelics reduce fear of death by promoting non-physicalist beliefs in patients. In other words, psychedelic therapy for end-of-life distress works by encouraging people to believe in something like life after death or our essence being part of a “Supreme Being”.
Michael Pollan’s Coverage of Psychedelics for End-of-Life Distress in How to Change Your Mind
Pollan interviewed Griffiths, along with psilocybin clinical trial patients suffering from terminal diagnoses, in his 2018 book, How to Change Your Mind, considered by many to be a catalyst in the cultural shift toward embracing psychedelic therapies.
“One of the things the psilocybin research is doing is helping open that conversation — to make people more comfortable talking about it, to get patients to actually deal with it,” said Pollan regarding his reporting on psilocybin for end-of-life distress in an interview with Time. “Oncologists don’t do a very good job of that, and we have very little for the treatment of the psychology of people who are dying. So a drug that takes you into these spiritual realms where you can begin to think it through seems to me an enormous gift.”
In How to Change Your Mind, Pollan also touched on the idea that psychedelics can offer therapeutic spiritual experiences, even if you don’t subscribe to any New Age belief:
“I could easily confirm the ‘fusion of [my] personal self into a larger whole’, as well as the ‘feeling that [I] experienced something profoundly sacred and holy’ and ‘of being at a spiritual height’ and even the ‘experience of unity with ultimate reality’. Yes, yes, yes, and yes – provided, that is, my endorsement of those loaded adjectives doesn’t imply any belief in a supernatural reality … Still, there was no question that something novel and profound had happened to me – something I am prepared to call spiritual, though only with an asterisk. I guess I’ve always assumed that spirituality implies a belief or faith I’ve never shared and from which it supposedly flows. But now I wondered, is this always or necessarily the case?”
Psychedelic Retreats for End-of-Life Distress
MycoMeditations offers therapeutic psilocybin retreats for individuals with end-of-life anxiety and end-of-life depression, along with their loved ones, to help process psychological distress during the most emotionally and spiritually challenging experience a person can endure.
What Our Guests Say About Using Psychedelics for End-of-Life Care
“Grace was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer in January of 2017,” says Richard, a widower and past MycoMeditations guest. “In 2021, we identified MycoMeditations as a promising venue to experience high-intensity psychedelics in a safe, professional, and well-supported environment. The two of us attended a retreat in late October/early November of 2021. Grace’s endurance was waning, and we felt this was likely the last time she would be able to undertake such a long journey.”
“Immediately on arrival, Grace felt confident in the team and their approach. She did not speak a lot about her experiences in her journeys, indicating that they were profound but hard to articulate. This was consistent with her introspective, reflective approach to life. However, she repeatedly expressed how valuable the retreat had been. I, on the other hand, had three profound spiritual/mystical experiences. The first two of an ecstatic nature, and the third dark, confronting the depth of loss and despair that I had to date avoided while focusing on supporting Grace. On our return, we continued to identify insights derived from our journeys. Grace felt that somehow she knew what to expect. Of course, that state of certainty fluctuated over her remaining time.”
Grace passed away surrounded by her husband, a close friend, and her home care team in early 2023.
“Early one morning, she smiled, held hands with Beth, kissed me, and closed her eyes,” Richard tells us. “The palliative care nurse indicated she was likely not going to awaken, and she passed very peacefully within a few hours. Beth and I both had a sense of peace and having been present for a profound sacred moment, and had a sense of relief.”
While I clearly miss her, I both felt her presence and felt very content and blessed with having been a part of what was the best example of a “good death” that I have ever imagined. For a few months, I wondered if I was in denial and that I might be blindsided by grief. But I felt very ready to move forward, taking the step of retiring in June and registering for a second MycoMeditations retreat in September of 2023. I wanted to either reveal any hidden issues that I might need to address or confirm that I was ready to move on with my life. The psilocybin therapy retreat both supported Grace in being fully ready, welcoming her death when it came, but made it possible for me to be fully present, open, and focused throughout the process.
Since the loss of his wife, Richard has continued to communicate with the team from MycoMeditations as he positively integrates these experiences and processes his emotions.
You can hear Richard’s full story about him and Grace’s experience with psychedelics for end-of-life distress in his podcast discussion with MAPS Canada.
Discover Transformative Psychedelic Retreats for End-of-Life Distress at MycoMeditations
A terminal diagnosis does not have to be the end of all hope. While there is no right or wrong way to feel about or process one’s impending death, a sense of peace and personal insight is possible. Psilocybin for end-of-life care can be an option when other treatments don’t provide sufficient relief, or it may be considered a helpful complementary treatment alongside others.
MycoMeditations therapists are trained to manage a wide range of emotions when guiding guests through the challenging experience of navigating the topic of death.
We also know that individuals, particularly those suffering from deep, spiritual, and existential distress, must integrate psychedelic experiences within a framework of understanding that resonates with their own beliefs about self, spirituality, and religion. Our facilitators are well-versed in major religions, mythology, philosophical schools of thought, and metaphysics, enabling them to meet guests at their level in whatever way this presents itself.
Feel free to contact us if you feel a psilocybin therapy for end-of-life distress may be helpful for you or your loved ones. Our compassionate and experienced intake team can answer any questions you may have about psychedelic retreats for end-of-life distress.
Psychedelics for End-of-Life Distress & the Role of Psychedelic Retreats in Palliative Care
Where Should You Do Psilocybin Therapy? Oregon or Jamaica?
Experiencing psychedelic therapy for healing and exploration is a balancing act between feeling safe, challenging ourselves and, of course, the costs involved.
Jamaica and Oregon are two of the very few places where you can receive legal psilocybin therapy across the world. For US citizens, Oregon comes with the comfort and familiarity of home, while a tropical destination like Jamaica offers adventure, change, and the time to shift away from daily life patterns.
You may be like many Americans, Canadians, Europeans, and others, wondering which of these legal avenues for psilocybin therapy is best for you. Both have their unique benefits, but which one is best for you?
Psilocybin Therapy in Oregon or Jamaica? A Personal Choice
Psilocybin is a powerful medicine. The time, energy, money, courage, and commitment required to work with it are no joke. Investing in your well-being deserves serious consideration.
The world of psychedelics is new and exciting. Some will brave the Amazon to drink ayahuasca with a shaman or take truffles in the streets of Amsterdam. Others will risk mushrooms in countries like Mexico and Costa Rica, where psilocybin retreats exist in a legal gray zone. Navigating trending hype requires making smart decisions about your safety and comfort to experience a meaningful and healing experience.
Oregon and Jamaica are the most popular legal options. However, what counts as “legal” differs between the two. Psilocybin therapy is legal in Oregon provided that the facilitator holds a state license. To access psilocybin services, clients must be 21 and older. Although a prescription or referral is not required, clients must complete a preparation session with a licensed facilitator before consuming psilocybin products at a licensed service center. Additional considerations may come into play for some professionals.
If you hold a current medical license, security clearance, or professional certification that is regulated under U.S. federal law, receiving a legal opinion before proceeding with treatment in Oregon or Colorado is a good idea. The legal risk may be lower when you travel to a country, like Jamaica, where the treatment is fully legal.
The U.S. Department of State occasionally releases travel advisories against countries like Jamaica due to concerns over crime; however, the country overall is safe, where tourism is core to the local economy. Retreat locations are far from the crime in urban centers, which is the root cause of the advisories. There is minimal time spent in the larger cities beyond a quick airport pickup.
Factors to Consider in Choosing Between Oregon and Jamaica for Psilocybin Therapy
Legality – What level of legal risk are you able to take? Are you comfortable accessing psilocybin where it’s legal under state law but illegal under national law, or would you rather travel to Jamaica, where it’s legal nationally?
Location – How far are you willing to travel? What makes you feel safe and comfortable? What makes for a fulfilling adventure?
Dose – How much psilocybin might you need based on your background and the mental health condition you are seeking to treat? Can you access an adequate dose?
Facilitation – Who is facilitating, and what qualifies them to do so? Are the facilitators from a clinical, mental health background, or a shamanic, Indigenous background?
Cost – How many sessions of psilocybin therapy and how much psilocybin are you receiving? What else is included in the experience?
Reputation – How long has this provider been offering psilocybin therapy? What are their outcomes, and how do people review the experience with them?
Group size – How many people are participating, and how much support is there? How much privacy or group work will there be?
Preparation and Integration – How does the provider assist with preparation before and after psilocybin therapy? How deep is the work they will offer?
Assessing these factors in choosing psilocybin-assisted therapy, whether at a retreat, clinic, or privately, will allow you to make the most informed decision about the best fit for you.
These factors may not tell the whole story because qualities not immediately obvious can make all the difference in your experience.
For example, two retreat centers may have the same number of therapeutic support staff, but one may have a particular therapist with a background in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Therapy, or Transpersonal Psychology. There may also be a facilitator with whom you truly connect with, who has faced similar struggles as you, shares your cultural background, or comes from a similar profession.
These aspects of your retreat experience can make all the difference in psilocybin therapy, assisting you in progressing towards personal transformation. A particular therapist working within a certain therapeutic framework that resonates with you might strike the right chord amid a deep journey, opening doors that were previously closed. A facilitator you see yourself in and connect deeply to may spark a profound realization. These nuanced factors can make all the difference when seeking healing, meaning, and a new, positive approach to life through psychedelic medicine.
Learn as much as you can about the psilocybin therapy providers you are looking at to make the best choice. Study a retreat’s approach and schedule or a practitioner’s credentials deeply and establish familiarity with available options. Reading reviews from trustworthy sources can be a way to see a bit of yourself in somebody who had an experience with a certain provider and how it went for them, so read as many as you can.
Choosing a mushroom retreat experience is not only about objective criteria and facts — tapping into intuition and checking in with how you feel in your heart matters too.
Psilocybin Dose for Depression or Anxiety: How Much Will You Need?
Psilocybin isn’t a quick fix. Most people require multiple psilocybin sessions to get sustained benefits. One session can certainly be a catalyst for changing your life, but when done right, there is a compounding effect that comes with each session of psychedelic therapy.
Maximizing your therapeutic psychedelic experience means finding your optimal therapeutic dose, which is unique for everyone across different moments and will vary depending on the context in which you are working with psilocybin.
For many, an initial session involves getting comfortable with what psychedelics are like. As one becomes more comfortable with psilocybin, it’s possible to use higher doses to go deeper. Over several sessions, comfort within a group and the facilitators grow, and the individual learns to work with the medicine. With the resulting flow of emotions, new insights emerge and healthy patterns begin to take place.
Finding the right mushroom dose requires some experimentation. Everyone has a different response to psilocybin. Many folks need two or three grams of mushrooms for a threshold psychedelic experience. Others may want or need a stronger journey with between four and seven grams, or sometimes more.
Individuals who have recently been on—or are still on—antidepressants may require doses upwards of ten grams to enter a substantial enough altered state for therapeutic gains. Antidepressants numb one’s emotions, and also impact the receptor sites that psilocin (the active alkaloid in psilocybin) must bind with, causing disruptions to the usual process.
Psilocybin is most effective when it allows people to tap into important feelings, heighten neuroplasticity, and shift their belief systems. With the dosing range established, it can be dialed in to optimize the intensity and trajectory of the psychedelic experience. When treating long-term mental health conditions resistant to pharmaceutical interventions, multiple doses of mushrooms may be necessary, too.
What’s a “Heroic Dose” of Mushrooms? Is It Enough?
Oregon psilocybin laws have imposed regulations on what an acceptable dose of psilocybin is, which caps out at five grams of dried mushrooms, often called a “heroic dose” in some circles. In Jamaica, there are no limits on dose.
For many people, a single five-gram session will be impactful. It may even be overwhelming without adequate preparation or support. But for others with treatment-resistant depression and/or anxiety, multiple larger doses are often needed. These strong and often long-established neural patterns require a larger disruption to trigger change. Certain personality types, like folks who are highly analytical or less in touch with their emotions, will also typically require higher doses than others.
Learning how to navigate and surrender to high doses is also a skill to cultivate. Throughout multiple sessions and increasing doses, one can learn how to engage with and learn from mushrooms. By navigating several high-dose sessions, confidence and trust in the medicine begin to set in. Single psilocybin sessions can certainly be impactful, but there is a depth that develops with back-to-back experiences.
Psilocybin has a dose-response relationship. All substances work in this manner, with a minimum effective dose required for effects like opening a window of neuroplasticity—the growth of new neurons and changing of circuitry in the brain, which research links with improvements in mental health.
Another important factor with dose is tolerance. The body rapidly develops a tolerance to psilocybin, making the compound less effective when sessions are close together. Low to moderate doses for sessions in close succession may not be enough for some people to overcome the tolerance factor.
Mushroom retreats in Jamaica, such as MycoMeditations, regularly surpass the five-gram dose limit set in the state of Oregon. Taking tolerance into consideration and steadily increasing doses over three sessions, MycoMeditations’ experienced therapists and facilitators in Jamaica have the flexibility to optimize each guest’s dose and maximize therapeutic outcomes.
Psychedelic Therapy in Jamaica or Oregon? No Substitute for Experience
Choosing the right facilitation is the difference between a beautiful, healing psilocybin experience and an uncomfortable or even dangerous one.
Skilled facilitators will make you feel comfortable before, during and after psychedelic experiences. By having their own psychedelic experiences and spending a great deal of time with people in altered states, they can empathize with your process. Many facilitators are drawn to their work because of their own transformational experiences and a desire for others to have the same opportunity.
Seasoned facilitators carefully design what we call Set and Setting for the most therapeutic experience possible. Set and Setting heavily influence the psychedelic experience. ‘Set’ is your mindset, and ‘Setting’ is the environment where the journey takes place. Facilitators you want at your side will earn your trust and curate a safe environment that supports the process of working with psilocybin mushrooms, or any other psychedelic.
Skilled facilitators aren’t just folks who have taken a lot of mushrooms, though. Psychedelic use has a long history of mentorship, such as shamans teaching their apprentices.
Today, quality training programs keep the spirit alive with those who have years of experience guiding new facilitators, familiarizing them with navigating altered states, observing apprentices, giving feedback, and collaborating with colleagues for an ideal client experience. Many programs and books provide in-depth historical and technical knowledge of psychedelics, and while this is of value, the most important piece of the puzzle is experience.
Translating personal psychedelic experience into skilled facilitation requires study, practice, and self-discipline. Modern facilitators are often psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors and social workers. Others are coaches or people who have completed psychedelic training programs. There is currently no standard for training globally, and facilitators and psychedelic retreat centers are often recommended based on reputation and time spent in their field.
In Oregon, facilitators are granted psilocybin licenses through the Oregon Health Authority. Newly minted state regulations require 120 hours of training and forty hours of practical experience guiding psilocybin experiences and integration. Facilitators do not have to be therapists to be approved to work with psilocybin legally, and are not allowed to call their work psychedelic therapy. The program is new, with about 600 people receiving psilocybin in Oregon in 2023.
In Jamaica, there are no set regulations for facilitators, although the Jamaican Psilocybin Industry Working Group, which includes leadership from local retreats, is working to standardize best practices. Instead, retreat centers are left to establish their standards, psychedelic retreat models and training programs.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Oregon Psilocybin Treatment Centers
Cost, naturally enough, is core to looking at the costs and benefits of psilocybin treatments. What might not be obvious, on the other hand, is how to get your money’s worth. Do you travel abroad for an all-inclusive? See a therapist in Oregon? Or work with somebody underground in other States? Most will cost thousands of dollars, so it’s not an investment to take lightly.
One-on-One Psilocybin Therapy Clinics in Oregon
In Oregon, a single psilocybin session at a new clinic with a trained and licensed facilitator can cost up to $3400. Costs depend on the practitioner’s experience, training, location, overhead, licensing fees, and the price of grown or synthetic psilocybin.
At a minimum, a package should include a preparation session, six or more hours for the psilocybin experience and an integration session. This price may seem expensive, but holding space for a psilocybin trip is no casual affair for a single person and requires expertise, especially when dealing with mental illnesses related to trauma. These psychedelic treatments can be akin to surgery. Psilocybin therapy is a delicate process to be handled carefully by experts, along with adequate time for preparation, the session(s), and integration.
One session can have a big impact, but it’s worth noting that studies on psilocybin and depression often involve several sessions and many hours of therapy. A single session with preparation and integration is a great start, but to explore deeper, compounding healing effects of psilocybin, multiple sessions along with additional therapy, or access to countries such as Jamaica may be required, which comes at extra cost.
One thousand dollars for a single session is often an entry-level price point for underground work. Underground guides or trip-sitters might be found at lower costs, but a realistic budget for a trained, licensed psychedelic therapist is around $1500-$3000+. Hotels, transportation, food and time off work all need to be budgeted for as well, along with potential self-care practices often included in retreats. Even when traveling from neighboring states like Washington or California, let alone from states such as New York or Florida, the costs can add up.
Psilocybin Retreats in Oregon
Licensed psilocybin retreat centers in Oregon are few and far between at the time of writing. The psychedelic industry stateside is still finding its legs. At a week-long retreat, healing has space and time to emerge, as opposed to being forced back into the bustle of daily life when a clinical session ends. Not to mention skipping awkward hassles like taking an Uber to a hotel after being in psilocybin therapy all day.
Oregon psilocybin retreat costs may be broken down into three separate categories:
Venue – The location of the psilocybin session starts at $500.
Facilitation – Whoever guides the experience can cost anywhere from $500 to over $2500.
Psilocybin – Depending on whether grown or bought synthetically, expect to pay $70 to $600+.
On the lower end, one can have a single psilocybin experience with a few others for $1000. These amount to a “day trip” with light preparation and integration with facilitators. These types of sessions should only be for wellness purposes, as this often is not an adequate amount of support for trauma work.
Multi-day, immersive Oregon mushroom retreats in 2024 range from $3500 to $5500 for three to five-day experiences with one or two psilocybin experiences at lodges in Oregon’s ancient forests and misty mountains. While costs for week-long Oregon retreats are higher overall, the value of each dollar includes more than psychedelic therapy. Licensed guides and legal psilocybin are included, along with meals and additional activities like yoga, meditation, massage, and structured integration time. At the time of writing, these centers are so new that they are still developing their approaches and programs.
Psilocybin Retreats in Jamaica
All-inclusive psilocybin retreats in Jamaica have been running for nearly a decade and fine-tuning their services and protocols. Since many people are unaware of the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in Jamaica, the retreats also often don’t have long waitlists.
Complemented by warm locals, crystal waters, vibrant flora, and integration in the sunshine, travel takes us outside of our usual routines, people and habits. Psilocybin mushrooms aside, travel has always helped put distance between us and our familiar lives to support our health and well-being in numerous ways.
Upon arrival, accommodation, food, activities, transportation, support staff, trained facilitators, specialized facilities and psilocybin mushrooms produced by master growers are all provided.
Take MycoMeditations, where pricing starts at $5950 for an 8-day luxury retreat that includes:
Three guided psilocybin therapy sessions
World-class facilitation from trained and highly experienced therapists
Zero limits on dosing to optimize outcomes
20+ hours of group therapy (preparation & integration)
Experience, having guided over 2000 guests on successful journeys
Utilization of the most effective therapeutic frameworks
Dedicated hospitality teams
Intimate group sizes
Tropical retreat settings
Massage, meditation, and yoga
Authentic Jamaican cuisine
In-depth post-retreat integration
MycoMeditations also works mostly with therapists who already have psychedelic certifications. Facilitators undergo on-site training, mentorship and observation. Only after completing six retreats, totalling 18 psilocybin experiences, upwards of 100 hours of facilitation, and over 100 hours of group integration, are staff qualified as facilitators. After training and working together for so long, the team works together seamlessly to provide the best care for each guest.
Choosing Between Oregon and Jamaica for Psilocybin Therapy
Both Oregon and Jamaica have their merits.
Oregon is familiar and close to home for North Americans, but is still finding its legs. Expensive licensing for centers and facilitators has kept costs high, limiting the services that practitioners can feasibly offer. Limits on five-gram doses by the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act will prevent some people from breaking through long-held patterns and accessing the emotional content leading to the insight and growth they deserve.
Psilocybin facilitators in Oregon undergo state-approved training programs and hold official credentials, but are not necessarily therapists. Oregon is breaking important ground, but is still in the early days of rolling out a new program for alternative therapies.
Traveling to Jamaica is a longer journey and is more expensive up front. There is no licensing system in Jamaica, making a comprehensive review of retreat options essential.
The country has no limits on dosage, and psilocybin is fully legal, meaning the protocols implemented are proven by real-world results, not committees and policy, but by what works.
The freedom of Jamaica has allowed MycoMeditations’ decade of experience to establish its own gold standard for psilocybin-assisted therapy, built from a continual refinement of methods, procedures, and delivering the outcomes their guests seek.
Psilocybin in Oregon or Jamaica: Which is Best for You?
Below you can listen to podcasts that have interviewed Justin Townsend, the CEO of MycoMeditations. This post will be continually updated with all new appearances, so if you would like to learn more about our retreats by listening to podcasts with Justin, bookmark this page!
Soft White Underbelly with Matt Laita
Episode Description:
Soft White Underbelly (5.5+ Million Subscribers) interview and portrait of Justin Townsend, the CEO of MycoMeditations, a psilocybin mushroom retreat in Jamaica.
In this latest episode, we delve into a transformative journey with our guest, Justin Townsend. Our discussion orbits around the enlightening power of present-focused attention and the rich, often untapped fullness of our experiences. We explore the transformative impact of psychedelics, not as an end but as a means to rediscover forgotten pathways within ourselves. Justin, CEO of MycoMeditations, shares his unique blend of corporate and psychedelic experiences, offering a nuanced perspective on the intersection of modern therapy and ancient wisdom.
This episode is a testament to the courage of confronting our inner darkness and the resilience found in self-acceptance and authenticity. We discuss the delicate balance between scientific rigor and the shamanic approach in psychedelic therapy, emphasizing the importance of living an integrative, authentic life. Our conversation is a deep dive into the nuances of psychedelic experiences, their therapeutic potentials, and the journey towards self-realization. This episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the intersection of modern science and ancient wisdom, and for those seeking a deeper understanding of their own psyche. Join us in this enlightening discussion where the unspoken theme is the transformative power of self-awareness and the journey towards a unified self.
The science increasingly points to a very positive link between (responsibly and professionally administered) psilocybin – or ‘magic mushrooms’ – and mental health.
After reading American-Iranian comedian, writer, and actor Negin Farsad’s experience on a Jamaican psychedelic retreat, written for AFAR, I talked to both Negin, and CEO/Head-facilitator of Mycomeditations, Justin Townsend about psychedelics, mental health, and creativity.
This is a warm, deep, intriguing insight into the world of fungi and the human experience, which touches upon Jungian depth psychology, the default mode network, and the things that hold us back from our optimal creativity.
Are you curious about psychedelic retreats? Join us for an insider’s perspective with Justin Townsend, CEO of MycoMeditations, the oldest and largest psilocybin mushroom therapeutic retreat center in Jamaica. We discuss the process of safety screening, and the potential of using psychedelics to overcome trauma, ease depression, and reconnect with our authentic selves.
Justin shares his personal journey, from tech startups, to the European psychedelic underground, to learning and teaching breathwork and meditation, and then joining MycoMeditations in Jamaica. Having facilitated thousands of healing journeys, he shares how these retreats can provide unique insights into our individual and collective human condition. We probe the metaphysics of consciousness and healing and examine how psychedelics can influence belief and faith, which can alter our physiology and bring greater understanding and meaning to our lives.
As we conclude our conversation, we reflect on Carl Jung’s concept of Individuation and Integration, and the transformative stories of guests at MycoMeditations. We discuss life and work in Jamaica, and highlight the importance of surrender and authenticity. We invite you to immerse yourself in this captivating world of psychedelic therapy – a world that promises to challenge, inspire, and transform.
The journey of bringing psilocybin therapy to the masses continues.
And the complexities of doing so as a retreat business, without being contorted away from your ethos by the economic force of the modern corporate world, while also maintaining the capacity to provide safe, positive, and effectively healing experiences for your guests, is the topic of this episode of the podcast.
Specifically, we feature an interview with Justin Townsend from MycoMediations retreat centre in Jamaica to talk about the complexities described above, as well as the nuances of his team’s therapeutic framework for group psilocybin therapy in natural contexts.
Justin Townsend is the CEO and Head Facilitator at the psilocybin therapy retreat centre MycoMeditations.
Throughout his career he has worked as a business leader across a range of industries, helping innovative companies identify opportunities, communicate their vision and deliver profitable products. But he has also been on a personal quest to explore alternative healing therapies to combat his own anxiety and depression.
Over the past 20 years Justin has delved into both transpersonal and Jungian depth psychology, explored psychedelic modes of healing and developed meditation and breath work techniques, which he taught in Germany.
After attending a private retreat with MycoMeditations in 2017, he saw the opportunity to combine his unique business skills with his interest in alternative healing methods. Justin joined the MycoMeditations team soon afterwards, becoming partner and CEO in 2019.
He is on the show for this episode to explore two specific topic themes:
1. The business side of running a successful psilocybin retreat centre in the economic context of the modern corporate world without losing your ethics in the process
2. The therapeutic framework and philosophy that MycoMeditations holds for their retreats and their guests.
In effect, these are the two sides of the conversation. Where the first half is all business, and the latter half focused in the therapeutic end of things (with a brief return business ethics at the very end).
Some of the things we cover on the first side of the conversation: Justin’s journey from the corporate world to running an psychedelic psilocybin therapy retreat centre; psychopathology and integrity in the corporate world and how good people end up doing bad things; the nuances around running a financially successful psychedelic retreat centre without ethical sacrifices; what it means to be building what they call “gold-standard for group-facilitated psilocybin therapeutics in natural settings”; data propriety; and supporting peer-reviewed research.
In the other half of the conversation we explore: why MycoMeditations holds an entity “non-shamanic” framework for their psilocybin work; how to support someone who has a beyond Western framework experience from a non-shamanic framework; helping to prevent post-psychedelic hypomania from evolving into psychosis; differentiating between psychosis and a “normal psychotomimetic response”; non-pharmacological interventions for psychosis and psychotomimetic responses; as well as The Golden Shadow and the dangers of golden-shadow projection in both psychedelic therapy and spiritual communities.
There are only a few places in the world which offer legal access to high impact psilocybin retreats. MycoMeditations, stewarded by today’s guest Justin Townsend, is leading the way in sustainable, ethical psychedelic healing that takes into account the unique environment and needs of Jamaica and its people.
On the show, we discuss Jungian-depth psychology and other therapeutic modalities used at MycoMeditations. We talk about the value of a comprehensive, holistic team of caregivers for cathartic experiences. We review the efficacy of psilocybin as compared to ketamine therapy and ayahuasca ceremonies. Finally, we discuss the landscape of psychedelic healing in Jamaica and the importance of ethical entheogenic businesses.
MycoMeditations is a retreat that combines the powerful healing of multiple, high-dose psilocybin experiences, a safe and caring group environment created by a knowledgeable support staff, and serene locations to catalyze life-changing transformations.
As a business leader and startup advisor in a range of industries including the health care space, Justin Townsend has also been on a personal quest to explore alternative healing therapies to combat his own anxiety and depression. Over the past 20 years, Justin has delved into both transpersonal and Jungian psychology, explored psychedelic modes of healing and developed meditation and breath work techniques, which he taught in Germany. Justin joined the MycoMeditations team in 2017, becoming partner and CEO in 2019. As a retreat facilitator, Justin draws inspiration from the profound healing he is privileged to witness and believes that psychedelics offer an exciting path forward for mental health.
A business leader and startup advisor in several industries including the healthcare space, Justin’s 20 years of experience exploring psychedelic therapies for wellbeing -and current work as a facilitator- inform his quest for providing truly thoughtful experiences for people wishing to undergo psychedelic modalities of healing.
In this episode of The Mushroom Show, we test 4 different types of mushroom jerky (so you don’t have to) and figure out which mushroom makes the best one. The answer might surprise you. We also cover everything you need to know about the growing trend of “psilocybin retreats”, what they’re like, how people are benefitting from them, and what’s the reason behind the increased popularity in recent years. Finally, we interview Justin Townsend, the head facilitator and CEO of MycoMeditations, a long standing psilocybin retreat in Jamaica.
Justin is the CEO and Head Facilitator at MycoMeditations. Based in Jamaica, MycoMeditations is one of the few legal psilocybin retreats in the world. Over the past 20 years, Justin has delved into both transpersonal and Jungian depth psychology, explored psychedelic modes of healing, and developed meditation and breathwork techniques, which he taught in Germany.
I was introduced to Justin just as I was formulating the concept around Funga. I view him as a mentor because he has given me fantastic guidance and advice and is also one of the most knowledgable people I have come across surrounding psychedelics. This episode discusses topics such as the difference between ayahuasca and psilocybin, psychedelic synchronicities, and his imposter syndrome. I apologize for the slight background noise, as we needed to record this podcast remotely. Please don’t let that stop you from listening! There is so much to learn from Justin; he is one of the most knowledgeable people I have come across surrounding psychedelics.
Justin Townsend is the CEO of MycoMeditations, a world class psilocybin mushroom retreat center in Treasure Beach, Jamaica.
We learn about the dynamics of the legal magic mushroom industry in Jamaica, the practicalities inherent to running a premium operation in the mushroom retreat space, the flow of a week at a mushroom retreat with MycoMeditations, and the net positive benefits of having such an operation present on the island of Jamaica.
Justin Townsend is the CEO for Jamaica-based MycoMeditations, a pioneer and leader in wellness tourism that has been helping thousands of people through its legal psilocybin-assisted retreats. Through his expertise and leadership, Justin has helped shape the psychedelics renaissance. As psychedelics continue to play a larger role in mental health, more and more people are seeking effective therapies that address the root of their depression, anxiety, PTSD or other conditions. Many of these individuals are pursuing treatment through the trust of psilocybin-assisted retreats. Justin has worked in many aspects of the psychedelic industry, including as a retreat facilitator where he has personally led retreat-goers through psilocybin-assisted therapy. His firsthand knowledge and in-depth field experience has positioned him as an industry thought leader. Be it an expert or novice, Justin shares his wisdom with his colleagues, guests and media in thoughtful and visionary ways. He leads with education and makes surveys a part of the success story at MycoMeditations.
In this episode we discuss the benefits of psilocybin retreats for mental and physical health, the impact of psilocybin on the brain, and contemplate the nature of mystical experiences.
Today I’m talking with Justin Townsend, CEO and Head Facilitator for MycoMeditations. His company operates legally in Jamaica doing psilocybin-assisted retreats. Participants attend for seven days, work with licensed therapists throughout, and trip three times.
You’ve probably heard about some of the potential therapeutic applications of psilocybin, and changes in states like Oregon, which legalized the medicine for therapeutic use. I’ve heard predictions that as psychedelic therapy spreads, there will soon be a huge need for tens of thousands of therapists trained in this modality.
I picked Justin’s brain about what people who are interested in working in this emerging industry should know. We also delved into why psilocybin is therapeutic in the first place, and the results his team has seen with attendees.
Below you can take a look at all media that involves MycoMeditations to help you stay up-to-date with all the stories and news that follows our psilocybin-assisted retreat program. This post will be continually updated, so if you would like to learn more about our retreats through media coverage and news surrounding MycoMeditations, bookmark this page!
AFAR Magazine
At a Magic Mushroom Retreat, a Comedian Reluctantly Embraces Her “Healing Journey”
For Negin Farsad, traveling to Jamaica for a psilocybin retreat started as a gig. After a week of tripping, she found it was about much more than getting high.
VICE correspondent Charlet Duboc joined us on retreat as part of this episode’s coverage of the emerging field of psychedelic therapy. Coverage of MycoMeditations begins at 35:22 of the video.
Are Psychedelic Retreats and Transformational Travel the Trend of the Future?
“I can honestly say that I am not the same person as when I left,” says Montgomery, a participant at MycoMeditations Psilocybin Retreats in Jamaica. A mother and wife from Louisiana, she says, “The inner critic is no longer screaming, and there is peace within me that has never existed before.”
Travel experiences like people, food, new culture, and natural beauty leave an impact. But the connections, challenges, and emotions lead to self-discovery and are the memories we take home.
The power of travel changes us, a phenomenon known as transformational travel. And as more people seek experiential travel, self-development, and healing, the call abroad to experience plant medicines like psilocybin or ayahuasca retreats is felt by many.
For years, the next adventure could only happen outside the walls of spas and all-inclusive resorts. But the new frontier is balancing an outer journey by going inward, with transformational psychedelic retreats teaching tools like meditation and yoga, while still enjoying the comfort of a relaxing vacation.
While there is some skepticism around parts of the wellness space, a safe and well-facilitated psilocybin mushroom retreat is one of the most reliable ways to create a truly meaningful and significant experience. The healing and transformation possible with psilocybin are well documented by research and thousands of years of traditional use around the world.
What is Transformational Travel?
If you are seeking more from travel, you are not alone. Recent surveys show 57% percent of people ranked transformative travel as high importance, which essentially means a trip that changes you. The Transformational Travel Council, an advocacy group for “good travel”, says it focuses on “intentionally traveling to stretch, learn and grow into new ways of being and engaging with the world.”
Perhaps part of the transformative travel trend is spiraling mental health conditions around the world. The World Health Organization estimated in 2019, one in every eight people live with mental health challenges, with anxiety and depression being the most common. People continue to prioritize travel with each passing year, both in younger generations and older generations.
Travel and Personal Growth
The state of mental health demands alternative approaches and exploration. Travel is known to already provide a slew of mental health benefits, such as relaxation, life satisfaction, personal growth, and improved quality of life. Studies back up the benefits a new adventure has to people’s lives:
Happiness and outlook– 80% said travel improved their mood
Increase energy– 94% of travelers had more energy at work after travel
Lower stress levels– 75% said travel lowered their stress
Other research shows how travel to a new destination can connect with creativity, creating the understanding that can transform our lives and help overcome mental health issues. Psilocybin pairs well with this, with many researchers and artists showing that psychedelics can increase creativity too, while perhaps one of the most potent tools to turn a short trip into a transformation that lasts.
For the next trip to contain new ideas, break the daily routine, and leave the comfort zone, real adventures into something a bit more unknown are often needed. It’s true a relaxing vacation or yoga retreat might offer some relief, but all too often, we return to daily life only to simply restart old patterns. To truly make a positive change and embrace new perspectives, we need to leave our comfort zones, with psilocybin being a powerful tool for the task.
Psilocybin Retreats for Depression, Anxiety, PTSD & More
Psilocybin, the primary psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, is emerging as a much-needed tool to shake up existing systems of therapy struggling to keep up with the state of mental health. At a psilocybin-assisted retreat, guests step outside these old patterns and routines.
A week-long psilocybin retreat takes travelers into a deep dive of beauty, challenges, insights and emotions that, in combination with therapeutic support, lead to transformation. All while relaxing poolside or enjoying the sights in between. And, the lessons learned from mushrooms tend to last, with studies showing benefits from a few trips lasting over a year in some cases.
The results of psilocybin research are already shifting narratives and questions about what therapy is and could be. The broader psychedelic renaissance, with research from leading institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London in particular, show that psilocybin can be an effective tool to treat:
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
Addiction
“This psilocybin retreat has changed my life from anxiety-ridden routine to a softer, calmer human,” reports Montgomery one month after her journey, adding, “My family is amazed at the transformation.”
The results have even given the FDA an open mind to the potential benefits of psilocybin, along with other government agencies around the world, granting psilocybin status as a “breakthrough therapy.” A big feat for a substance researchers suggests works by providing people with “mystical experiences”, which connect people to spirituality, meaning, and creativity. The move by governments will accelerate its study and adoption of these psychedelic therapy healing techniques by mental health professionals around the world.
Where is Psilocybin Legal?
Despite the enthusiasm around psychedelic medicine, psilocybin remains illegal throughout much of the world. A transformational travel experience at a magic mushroom retreat is about stepping outside one’s comfort zone, but that doesn’t have to mean doing something illegal.
Very few countries in the world can offer legal psilocybin, and even though retreats in places like Mexico or Costa Rica offer plant medicines, they aren’t actually legal yet.
Experience a Jamaican Retreat Center
Stepping into another culture and a new ecosystem opens people up to surprises long before they arrive at the retreat experience. But the challenges and perspectives from interacting with a foreign land are just the warm-up to psilocybin mushrooms which can be a difficult journey, albeit a rewarding one that can put you on a healing path.
Transformative travel focuses on an inner shift, so while psychedelic tourism is just beginning, Jamaica has become the one of safest places for many to have their first psilocybin experience as a result of the mushroom’s legal status on the island.
Psilocybin Retreats at MycoMeditations
The good news is that psilocybin retreats in Jamaica can be held openly in a supportive, safe, and comfortable environment. The nature and soul of the Caribbean island have long been a destination for those who love transformational travel, relaxation, deep healing and adventure.
Our retreats feature an attentive support staff that maintain the needs of each guest within tranquil surroundings. By removing distractions and maximizing comfort, the psilocybin sessions and integration process facilitated by our experienced team of professionals unfolds amidst an environment of swaying palms and beaches. This is complemented by yoga classes, massages, and social time immersed nature.
This is accompanied even further with luxury retreat packages like MycoMeditations Concierge Retreat in Bluefields Bay. Integration discussions unfold casually throughout the week during breakfast overlooking the sea, relaxation time at a private beachfront villa, and alongside sunset appetizer hour which is followed by a 3-course dinner where a personal chef caters to all dietary needs.
Group Psilocybin Experiences Lead to Meaningful Personal Connections
Going through such deeply personal journeys and sharing about the experience openly within a group of people fosters emotional breakthroughs and a sense of profound connection, which is significantly healing in it’s own right. A psychedelic journey might happen within, but it’s navigating the ups and downs of a retreat that inspire friendships that can last a lifetime. It is not uncommon for those going through a therapeutic psychedelic experience within a group setting to say something along the lines of, “I’ve never shared this with anybody, not even my spouse.”
“I never in a million years would have expected to become so open and vulnerable with these people – in ways I haven’t been able to be with some of my closest friends and relatives,” shares Tamara from North Carolina.
Once again, research backs psilocybin’s potential to create transformation and other plant medicines as a group. Not only is doing psilocybin therapy as a group connected to improved therapeutic outcomes but increases social connection. Psilocybin works through connection, not just to ourselves, the natural world, or spirituality, but with other people.
“Sessions were beautiful and illuminating and, sometimes, very challenging and sad. I moved through lots of unresolved grief about childhood loneliness and loss.” says Stephen from Minneapolis before adding, “I knew that the group setting offered would be good for me, but, honestly, I wasn’t prepared for how wonderful it was to heal with a group.”
Transformational Psilocybin Retreats for the Ultimate Travel Experience
How far would you travel to change your life? How deep? Travel has changed a lot. With well-worn backpacker trails and resort towns, finding meaningful experiences has become its own adventure.
But what could be more fulfilling than a personal journey within, alongside like-minded seekers of healing and growth, with the therapeutic benefits of a team supportive and personable retreat professionals? What if you could explore yourself in the deepest way possible while experiencing a level of luxury matching the most exclusive resorts?
This kind of transformation is now a possibility. MycoMeditations is one of the longest-standing psilocybin-assisted retreats in the world, having been host to nearly 2000 guests. In fact, “Life changing experience” is the most used phrase on our TripAdvisor page, indicating how transformative safe, therapeutic psilocybin mushroom experiences can be when conducted by experienced professionals using a careful screening process. If you’re interested in attending our retreat, we welcome you to apply for a psilocybin journey today.
Why Psilocybin Retreats are the New Transformational Travel Trend
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