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 INTEGRATION TOOLS

 The world is waking up to the impactful benefits of psychedelic plant medicines. Embarking on a plant medicine ceremony, whether it's with Ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms, or another sacred plant, can be incredibly helpful but it can also be an intense experience that brings up deep emotions and profound insights. 

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"Integration" is the process of making sense of these experiences and incorporating the insights and shifts in perspective into your day-to-day life. Sadly, many people are bypassing this important part.

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To reap the full benefits of your plant medicine experience, you must make time for conscious integration.

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Read through the free integration tools below. Pick a few that resonate with you. Start small.

Be patient, compassionate, and supportive of yourself.

A little mindfulness will go a long way on your journey to wholeness.

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If you desire some help, check out our RECOMMENDATIONS where you'll find therapist, coaches, healers,

apps, books, podcasts, events and courses.

We also offer PREPARATION GUIDANCE to optimize your plant medicine journey, as well as

suggestions for TALKING to FAMILY & FRIENDS about your experience.

Woman writing a diary

REFLECTION

Reflecting on your plant medicine experience is a valuable way to process your thoughts and emotions. It's important to set aside dedicated and undistracted time to note everything you remember about your experience. Ideally, this should be done shortly after your ceremony to ensure you don't forget any important details. Then, revisit your notes over the following days, weeks, and months to stay connected to the powerful insights you received. 

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3 EASY WAYS TO REFLECT & RECORD:

  •  Write by hand in a journal - try the Integration Journal.

  •  Type in Word, Google Docs, or a Notes app - sometimes it’s easier to journal on a laptop or phone when traveling or on the go.

  •  Speak into a recording app - an easy method for capturing thoughts while driving, walking, jogging, ect. Try the free Voice Memos app that is preinstalled on iOS devices, or Google Recorder for Androids.

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QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

  •  What emotions came up for me during the ceremony?

  •  What insights or realizations did I have?

  •  How can I integrate what I learned into my daily life?

  •  What challenges did I face during the ceremony, and how did I overcome them?

  •  What do I want to focus on or work on in the future?

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Time in Nature can help you stay connected to the insights and emotions you experienced during the ceremony. Nature can be grounding and healing, and can help facilitate the integration process.

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3 EASY WAYS TO SPEND TIME IN NATURE:​

  • Take solitary walks in nature, without distractions (no ear buds). Practice mindfulness by being still, deep breathing and focusing your senses on nature's sounds and sensations on your skin.   

  • Try walking barefoot. It can foster a greater connection with nature, helping us feel grounded and at one with the Earth.

  • Get your hands in the dirt. Gardening is grounding. Work in your yard, plant a window sill herb garden, join a community garden in your area.

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App Recommendation for walking & hiking trails around the world: All Trails

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TIME IN NATURE

Reaching Out

SEEK 
SUPPORT
 

Seek Support ~It can be incredibly beneficial to speak with a therapist, coach or healer who understands plant medicine work.

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  • They can help you accurately understand and interpret your experience, reducing potential confusion, disappointment, or harm.

 

  • Guide you to ground yourself post-ceremony, which is especially crucial if you've had a challenging or destabilizing experience.

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  • Aid you in integrating the lessons and insights from the ceremony for your long-term betterment.

 

  • Assist you in distinguishing between the profound experiences induced by plant medicine and everyday reality, thus fostering a balanced perspective.

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Visit our Therapists & Coaches page where we've curated a list of preparation and integration trained guides.

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If you're considering sharing your journey with friends and family who may not be familiar with plant medicine, we're here to help. We highly recommend reading our Talking to Family & Friends guide, designed to support you in these conversations with compassion and understanding.

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Mindfulness practices such as meditation and breathwork can help you stay grounded and present in your everyday life as you navigate through integration.

INSIGHT TIMER is a fabulous resource, offering free and paid options. 

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​FREE MEDITATIONS ON INSIGHT TIMER:

 

FREE BREATHWORK ON INSIGHT TIMER: 

​Breathing Practice For Clarity & Calm - Andy Hobson - 7 mins

Breathwork For Healing + Transformation - Bree Melanson - 17 mins

Meditating at Home

MINDFULNESS

Yoga Asana

MOVEMENT

Movement, when done mindfully, can be a highly effective tool for integration after a plant medicine ceremony. Listen to your body and choose a form of movement that feels right for you.

  • Yoga helps connect the mind and body. It can be a wonderful tool for integrating insights from plant medicine ceremonies, particularly slower and more introspective styles like Yin or Restorative Yoga.

  • Tai Chi focuses on slow, deliberate movements and deep breathing. It can help ground you and promote a calm, focused state of mind, supporting integration.

  • Qigong involves meditative movements, promoting energy flow and balance. This practice can support emotional balance and calm, aiding integration.

  • Walking meditation combines slow, mindful walking with mindful awareness. It can help you stay grounded and present, important aspects of the integration process.

 

    ONLINE YIN YOGA CLASSES:

    ONLINE QIGONG & TIA CHI CLASSES:

  • Gaia (7 day free trail, $12 monthly)

   ONLINE TRAUME-INFORMED YOGA CLASSES:​

A life style consisting of a healthy diet, regular exercise, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding substances like alcohol can help support your physical and mental health during the integration process.​

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  • Eat organic fruits, vegetables and proteins. Consider checking out the Medical Medium's Cleanse to Heal book for guidance to overall cleaner eating.

  • Avoid processed foods and refined sugar.

  • Avoid alcohol for a minimum of two weeks following your plant medicine experience. If you choose to reintroduce alcohol, ensure you do so with mindful consumption. App Recommendation: Consider using the Reframe app to monitor and be more aware of your alcohol intake.

  • Take time to rest and return to your normal routine gradually.

Fresh Produce

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Dancing Women

CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Creative Expression after a plant medicine ceremony is a powerful way to process your experience and integrate any insights gained. Creativity opens our minds and allows us to view and solve problems more openly and with innovation. 

 

  • Dance: Dancing can be a powerful way to express and release emotions and energy that may have been stirred up during the ceremony. Check out 5Rythms ecstatic in-person classes and Ecstatic Dance for online and in-person classes offered around the world. Or create your own with an Ecstatic Dance playlist on Spotify.

 

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  • Create an altar space to stay connected with the insights and experiences gained during your plant medicine journey. Make your altar space unique to you by adding personal touches, such as artwork, symbols, or sacred objects. Visit Dharmacrafts for inspiration.

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  • Art: Painting, drawing, or sculpting can be a way to externalize your internal experience. Check out this affordable beginners painting kit.

 ADDITIONAL INTEGRATION TOOLS 

Here are some additional healing modalities to help with your integration journey. Some of these are easy to learn and treat yourself, while others involve the skills of a trained practitioner. 

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  • Energy Medicine: Reiki and other styles of energy work are a form of energy healing that works on the principle of channeling universal life energy to support the body's natural healing processes and promote physical and emotional well-being.

  • Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping): EFT is a therapeutic technique that combines elements of cognitive therapy with acupressure to alleviate physical and emotional distress, using tapping on certain body points while focusing on specific issues.

  • The Emotion Code: The Emotion Code is a holistic healing technique designed to identify and release trapped emotions, which are believed to contribute to various physical and emotional ailments, thus promoting overall wellness.

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS): IFS is a form of psychotherapy that sees the mind as a collection of sub-personalities, or 'parts', and seeks to promote healing by fostering harmony among these parts through self-leadership.

  • Energetic Cord Cutting: Energetic Cord Cutting is a spiritual practice that aims to sever negative energy ties or 'cords' between individuals, promoting emotional healing and helping one to move forward unencumbered.

  • Ho'oponopono: Ho'oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness, used to resolve conflicts and restore harmony within oneself or with others.

Reiki Treatment

ADDITIONAL INTEGRATION TOOLS

Foggy Forest

PERSONAL AWARENESS TOOLS

PERSONAL AWARENESS TOOLS

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A plant medicine ceremony can serve as a profound journey into self-exploration. It can sometimes prompt an even deeper dive into self-understanding and self-awareness. Here are some additional tools to help you on the journey of further discovery:

 

  • Human Design: Human Design is a self-discovery tool that blends elements from astrology, the I Ching, Kabbalah, the Hindu-Brahmin chakra system, and quantum physics to provide a unique chart, or 'bodygraph,' explaining one's personality traits, behaviors, and life purpose.

  • Astrology: Astrology is a system of beliefs that links human characteristics and destinies with the positions of celestial bodies at the time of a person's birth.

  • Enneagram: The Enneagram is a model of the human psyche that identifies nine interconnected personality types, offering insights into people's motivations and emotional outlooks.

  • 5 Personality Patterns: Refers to a system such as the 'Five Factor Model' of personality, which defines personality traits along five broad dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

  • Saboteur Work: Saboteur Work involves identifying and understanding self-defeating behaviors or 'saboteurs,' helping individuals overcome them to promote personal growth and self-improvement.

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