Of the domains of psychedelic integration in the Synthesized Integration Model, Spirit may be one of the trickiest to talk about. For many in the West and Global North, life can be lived largely disconnected from Spirit/Spirituality. Society has complicated and changing relationships with religion and the New Age has brought its own set of ideas and skepticism.
Spirit can also be tricky to discuss for those of us who are committed to the role of Science in psychedelics. However, while psychedelics means “mind manifesting” there is another word for these substances, entheogen, which means “to come into being” or “to generate into being” and harkens to the long and deeply held sense of connection between these substances, the plants that give rise to them in nature, and their connection to consciousness and spiritual mysteries and experiences.
There are many in the community who feel it is a grave mistake to cleave these substances off from the spiritual dimension of the experience--which is what many find most powerful. This can be especially true for experiences taking place in the container of journeys or retreats and those led by spiritual leaders with authentic connection to indigenous and/or folk traditions. And some of the most interesting academic research in the field is exploring how religious leaders experience psychedelics and how their experiences impact their spirituality and beliefs.
Regardless of your specific beliefs, we encourage you to consciously and intentionally explore how your experiences relate to the domain of Spirit during your periods of integration. Work in this domain typically take place across two continuums. The first is Conscious-Unconscious exploring how our experiences influence our conscious understandings of the world or how they help us work with and make sense of our unconscious patterns and structures. The second is Creative-Receptive. We can use integration in the domain of Spirit to create art, expand our beliefs, or generate. But we can also use it to bring awareness to insights that we may have received.
If you plan to work in the domain of Spirit during your integration, here are a few ideas for places to start:
- Connection to Higher Self: Reflect on any experiences of spiritual connection or a sense of unity during the psychedelic journey. How can you nurture and integrate this connection into your spiritual practices, if any?
- Exploration of Beliefs: Consider any shifts in your beliefs or perspectives on spirituality. How can you continue exploring and deepening your understanding of your spiritual path?
- Mind-Body-Spirit Alignment: Explore practices that align the mind, body, and spirit. How can you create harmony and balance between these aspects of yourself in your daily life?
