In the journey of decolonizing the self, individuals work to dismantle internal power structures that hinder personal freedom, which can be enhanced through practices like observing emotions and behaviors. Ultimately, true self-actualization fosters community actualization, emphasizing collective healing and the importance of interconnectedness in personal and communal growth.
In this episode of the Psychedelic Passage podcast, host Jimmy Nguyen explores the concept of personal liberation through psychedelic experiences, particularly around themes of getting “unstuck” and achieving personal freedom.
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches many people reflect on gratitude, community, and healing, prompting us to consider the complexities of our personal and collective histories, including our relationships with indigenous peoples and the diverse experiences of individuals across society. Amidst this reflection, psychedelics offer a potent framework for understanding and achieving personal freedom and healing, particularly for those who feel “stuck.”
Nguyen is no different as he reflects on the historical complexities of the holiday and emphasizes the potential for psychedelics to unify and heal diverse groups. The episode delves into the internal power structures that individuals may unknowingly adhere to, and how these can be dismantled and rebuilt to foster true personal freedom.
The importance of preparation, ceremony, and integration in psychedelic work are also discussed, drawing parallels with concepts like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Blackfoot wisdom. The episode concludes with actionable insights on the art of noticing and how simply observing one’s emotions and behaviors can initiate change.
This article is inspired by our insightful podcast episode hosted by Psychedelic Passage co-founder, Jimmy Nguyen, which you can listen to on all streaming platforms.
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Key Takeaways
- Decolonizing the Self and Personal Freedom: The process of personal liberation involves dismantling internal power structures, much like decolonizing the self, to gain control over emotions and beliefs that constrain us. Psychedelics can facilitate profound self-reflection, acting as catalysts to break free from limitations and fostering empowerment.
- Intentionality and Mindfulness: Mindfulness is crucial in identifying and transforming the subconscious power structures that influence our behavior and emotions. By observing and naming emotions, one can disrupt rigid patterns, allowing for a more open exploration of feelings without societal labels.
- Community Actualization and Healing: Inspired by Blackfoot wisdom, the goal of self-actualization extends beyond individual achievements to include community benefit. True personal fulfillment involves contributing to and uplifting the community.
- Psychedelic Passage: Your Psychedelic Concierge — The easy, legal way to find trustworthy psilocybin guides, facilitators and psychedelic-assisted therapy near you in the United States.
We start here today by recognizing our country’s challenging history, in our relationship with indigenous people of this land and those who came before us.
It is our hope that psychedelics foster unity opposed to dividing us, even as the variety of life circumstances in this country is undoubtedly boundless.
Secondly, we sincerely hope that this holiday season, each and every person has the privilege to sit down with their loved ones, take a break from the fast-paced modern world we live in, and bask in that freedom.
Understanding the Feeling of Being Stuck
An overwhelming number of our clients convey this desire to become “unstuck” or “free” from what it is that constrains them—be they emotional, mental, or circumstantial.
This desire for liberation is deeply intertwined with our experiences of pain, suffering, and the limitations imposed by our internal and external environments.
There are many ways to think about freedom. Someone adhering to the symptomatic approach might say, “If I could free myself from suffering, then I can finally live the life I truly want to live.”
A more holistic approach would look more like, “I want more power or control over the things that constrain me.” This approach follows the Buddist belief that suffering is a fact of life and comes in many forms.
The idea of personal liberation can penetrate many areas of life, like internal family systems, DEI work, and diversity.
Psychedelics, with their ability to facilitate profound self-reflection and transformation, can act as catalysts for breaking free from these limitations, for all walks of life.
Decolonizing the Self
“We are talking about moving through a process of dismantling our own existing internal power structures within ourselves that no longer serve us and creating new power systems that best serve our truest selves.”
The journey to personal freedom often involves dismantling internal power structures—beliefs, memories, and emotions that hold sway over us.
This process can be likened to decolonizing the self, where we consciously deconstruct the internal hierarchies that dictate how we feel, think, and act.
Colonization in a societal lens, can be seen as the act of establishing power, control, or space for one’s own use, usually at the cost of another population.
If we look at it in terms of personal healing, we see how we are breaking down our old constructs and gaining control of our internal environment.
By addressing these internal systems, we can reclaim personal sovereignty and cultivate a sense of autonomy and empowerment, which most likely will start to affect other aspects of life as well, like community and relationships.
The Role of Power Structures
In both societal and personal contexts, power structures influence our perceptions and choices.
Power structures are foundational elements in both societal and personal contexts, shaping how power is divided and distributed across various realms.
In society, particularly in countries like the United States, power structures manifest in formalized systems such as laws, regulations, and political influence, as well as in intangible cultural norms and traditions.
These structures dictate the deference and respect afforded to others, influencing decisions about what is deemed permissible or impermissible, and carrying significant repercussions.
For instance, the way individuals regard elders or peers can vary greatly depending on regional or cultural backgrounds.
Similarly, within each individual exists a set of internal power structures—deep-seated beliefs, experiences, and emotions that hold varying degrees of influence over our actions and thoughts.
These internal systems operate much like their external counterparts, affecting personal decisions and our sense of autonomy.
For example, we share how a traumatic experience can influence how one navigates their everyday life:
“You get in a car accident and now you are experiencing a little bit of trauma anytime you’re in a high speed vehicle, for example.
This generally happens incrementally over a process of years and years and years to the point where sometimes we look up or we look into our lives and say, how did I get here?
And that is because these power systems and power structures will play out, they’ll develop over time. So one of the things that we’re talking about is how do we add a level of intentionality and mindfulness to this?”
Just as societal structures guide behavior and norms, our internal power structures shape our self-perception and emotional responses, highlighting a profound interplay between the external and internal realms.
Intentionality & Mindfulness
Since these power structures often have a subconscious effect on how we operate, mindfulness is key to rooting out what you want to change. Focusing on your emotions are a key factor in recognizing and gaining control over them.
Generally there are emotions which are deemed socially acceptable, like generosity, joy and fulfillment, and emotions which are frowned upon, like anger, jealousy and fear.
This external influence can set up an internal structure that determines which emotions you show, or which you may feel ashamed of.
However, these “negative” emotions can prove to be fruitful in certain settings.
“Let’s say somebody violates a boundary of yours. Well, sometimes you need to express some anger to assert your boundary. Or let’s say, God forbid, that you are in some type of life-threatening situation.
Well, fear can kick in your nervous system and help you get from point A to point B, an area that is a little bit safer or may help you protect a loved one in let’s say a physical confrontation.”
While our bodies and minds have evolved immensely, society and technology seem to be developing ten-fold, leaving us with a less than opportune mismatch that’s hard to navigate.
By shedding the societal constructs that rule our lives, it invites an open forum for emotions to be explored freely, shedding the labels “good” or “bad”.
Our co founder and host, Jimmy Nguyen describes emotions as “gradients of the same color”, similar to how the colors in the visible light spectrum bleed into each other, which he learned from his own experience with psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
Preparation, Ceremony, and Integration
The ideal psychedelic journey involves three phases: preparation, ceremony, and integration. Preparation is about mapping and observing one’s internal landscape, identifying existing power structures and the emotions they evoke.
The Art of Noticing
A critical tool in this transformative process, especially in the preparation phase, is the art of noticing. By simply observing and naming our emotions and behaviors in the prep phase, we “shine a light” on them and can then initiate subtle yet significant changes more effectively.
Noticing shifts can alter the dynamics of our internal systems, much like the observations in the double slit experiment in quantum mechanics, where particles change behavior when observed.
This experiment, repeated over and over will produce the same results, that “noticing” or observing light, changes how light acts.
It shows that observation is more powerful than we know, and that if you have difficulty figuring out what to do during a psychedelic experience, take a deep breath and come back to cultivating your sense of being and the art of noticing.
Breaking Down & Rebuilding in the Brain
Ceremony, the centerpiece of the psychedelic experience, allows individuals to feel and embody shifts in their internal systems. It’s likened to the role of fungi in ecosystems, breaking down rigid structures to repurpose them for growth and vitality.
How is this possible? Looking at studies that investigate psilocybin’s effect on the brain, like this one published in July 2024, we see that it consistently disrupts functional connectivity, driven by brain desynchronization.
Below shows a data figure from the study published in July. It compares changes in function connectivity pre- and post-psilocybin use alongside methylphenidate (Ritalin) as a comparison.
The T value, shown as a color scale from dark purple representing zero change, to red showing the most change in functional connectivity. Here we see that psilocybin causes more than threefold acute greater change than methylphenidate.
Image from Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain on Nature.com
These findings illuminate the physical changes that take place in the brain that promote change and the breakdown of the rigid thought patterns that can rule our lives.
Integration, the final phase, focuses on rebuilding and establishing new, more empowering structures that align with one’s true self. This phase emphasizes becoming a thoughtful architect of one’s own life, translating insights from the psychedelic journey into everyday practice.
Community Actualization and Healing
The concept of self-actualization is traditionally understood through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a model that proposes a progression from fulfilling basic physiological needs to achieving personal fulfillment and self-actualization.
This Western perspective is deeply individualized, focusing on personal achievements and emotional well-being. However, Abraham Maslow was inspired by Blackfoot wisdom, which offers an alternative view.
In Blackfoot society, those who hold the most power and esteem are often those who possess the least materially, as they give generously to their communities.
This perspective shifts the goal of self-actualization from personal gain to communal benefit, emphasizing that true self-fulfillment arises from contributing to and uplifting the community.
Thus, while individual self-actualization is about personal growth and achieving one’s potential, in a more collective sense, it extends to fostering community actualization, perpetuating cultural abundance, and supporting societal healing.
This approach invites reflection on how personal journeys of growth can contribute to the larger societal fabric, suggesting a harmonious interplay between individual achievements and communal well-being.
True self-actualization leads to community actualization, fostering cultural abundance and collective healing.
Liberation At It’s Finest
In exploring the multifaceted dimensions of psychedelic experiences and their integration into personal growth, it’s essential to address ethical considerations, transformative practices, and the comprehensive journey towards healing that extends beyond the psychedelic experience itself.
- Ethical Considerations and Industry Insights: For those navigating the psychedelic space, gain critical perspectives into consumerist traps in the psychedelic industry.
- A Scientific Experiment of the Self: Treating psychedelic use as a scientific inquiry into one’s self allows for curious exploration without bias.
- It’s All In The Integration: Deep dive into Daniel Shankin’s coaching process for integrating psychedelic experiences into your everyday life.
- Liberating Yourself From Ancestral Trauma: Explore how personal liberation can be linked with the dissolution of generational and ancestral trauma.
- Life-Saving Second Opinions: Along with innovation comes the reluctance to change, don’t let your primary caregiver be the only commanding voice in your healing journey, especially if they say no to psychedelics.
- Healing Is More Than A Psychedelic Experience: I can take this pill and it will fix my problems, right? Well… not exactly. Learn what our cofounders define as “doing the work”
Client Testimonial:
“I’m giving my facilitator a 5 out of 5 because she was great from start to finish. From the introductory video session to the final integration session, my facilitator really made me feel informed and safe. In the beginning when I was searching for a facilitator through Psychedelic Passage, I had multiple video introduction sessions with multiple facilitators.
While I think that any of them would be a good fit, this facilitator specifically felt like a familiar, wise, older sister. She related some of her experiences with what I was going through and it made me feel seen and I felt a connection.
She gave me thorough information about the process, what it can help with and how she can ensure I feel safe. Her explanations and personality were very warm and I felt like she would be a good fit.
Once I made my decision to move forward, during our preparation video sessions she was very good about informing me how to go about traveling, recommendations for where to stay nearby, and she asked me about my preferences, and I really liked that I could add on elements to make my ceremony more personalized.
During the ceremony, there were highs and lows regarding emotions that I felt, but the facilitator always made her presence known. I also reached out to her at some point, and she held my hand during a difficult part I was experiencing. She handled my “odd reaction” with grace.
Once I began to come down, she was there for me and talked through the remnants of what was working through my body and I am having immense feelings of gratitude toward her.
Shortly after the ceremony, she sent me resources for aftercare and an integration journal to use in the coming days. Weeks later, once I had processed my own trip and what it meant to me, we met for integration sessions and I still felt immensely grateful for her. We dissected some of my feelings and reactions during the ceremony, which explained a lot.
I conveyed to her the positive differences I had started to feel and had continued to feel, and I got emotional as she explained to me that I was closer to being my truer self than I’d ever been in a long time. I see and feel the difference pre- and post-trip.
I can’t believe that something so difficult for me to get through seemed to be exactly what I needed in order to heal more deeply and continue to heal. Sad that our paths may have only crossed this once, but should I want to do another macrodose session in the future, I would easily book her again.” — Psychedelic Passage Client
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some practical steps to begin the journey of personal liberation?
Individuals can start their journey toward personal liberation by practicing mindfulness, particularly through the art of noticing their emotions and behavioral patterns.
Engaging in preparation for psychedelic experiences, setting intentions, and seeking supportive communities or facilitators can also help individuals navigate their internal landscapes and begin to dismantle limiting power structures effectively.
2. What does “getting unstuck” mean in the context of psychedelics?
“Getting unstuck” refers to the desire to break free from emotional, mental, and circumstantial constraints that hinder personal growth and happiness.
Psychedelics can serve as catalysts for this change, facilitating profound self-reflection and the realization of one’s true potential by helping individuals to confront and dismantle internal power structures.
3. How do internal power structures affect our daily lives?
Internal power structures are the beliefs, emotions, and memories that shape our self-perception and decision-making. They can create rigid patterns of thinking and behavior, often leading individuals to feel trapped within their circumstances.
By recognizing and addressing these internal systems through intentional practices like mindfulness, individuals can gain control over their emotions and cultivate a greater sense of autonomy.
4. In what ways can psychedelics help with decolonizing the self?
Psychedelics can aid in decolonizing the self by providing insights into the internal hierarchies that dictate how we think and feel.
This process involves breaking down outdated beliefs and emotional blockages, empowering individuals to reclaim their personal sovereignty and fostering a deeper sense of connection to themselves and their communities.
5 . How does self-actualization relate to community healing?
Self-actualization traditionally focuses on individual growth and achievement; however, when viewed through the lens of community, it emphasizes that true fulfillment arises from contributing to and uplifting others.
This interconnected approach underscores that personal journeys of growth can positively impact the larger societal fabric, promoting cultural abundance and collective healing.
Resources
GatherFor. (2021, August 18). Could the Blackfoot Wisdom that Inspired Maslow Guide Us
Now? Medium. https://gatherfor.medium.com/maslow-got-it-wrong-ae45d6217a8c#6f9a
Loeffler, J. (2022, February 10). What is the double-slit experiment, and why is it so important?
Interestingengineering.com. https://interestingengineering.com/science/what-is-the-double-slit-experiment-and-why-is-it-so-important
Siegel, J. S., Subramanian, S., Perry, D., Kay, et al. (2024). Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07624-5
