Tempe is a city located in the East Valley section of the Phoenix metropolitan area, and much like all of Phoenix, the population growth there has been explosive. Tempe and Arizona, in general, have an interesting relationship when it comes to psychedelics. For a while, lawmakers classed psilocybin and other psychedelics as “dangerous substances.”
Now, legislative changes have made Arizona home to a few branches of the Native American Church, which allows members to use peyote in ceremonial contexts. Aside from this though, the options for seeking psychedelic therapy in Tempe seem fairly unclear.
Today, our goal is to share useful information for those interested in seeking psychedelic therapy. Not only will we discuss the role of a psychedelic guide, but we’ll also detail all of your options for finding legal, therapeutic psychedelic support in Arizona, specifically in Tempe.
What is The Role of a Psychedelic Guide?
In many cultures, psychedelics have a rich history of healing and are revered and respected. Whether you’re an Amazonian tribe using Yopo or ayahuasca, or part of the Native American church, having a guide or shaman is an integral part of the process.
A psychedelic guide or a facilitator’s goal is to help guide you through the process of psychedelic therapy and healing. They’re there to help accelerate your personal transformation by helping you adequately prepare for the journey.
In the beginning, facilitators and guides will start your psychedelic journey off by conducting a health screening to make sure that psychedelics are right for you. They want to ensure that you are physically, emotionally, and mentally fit for what can often be a life-changing experience.
It’s important to know though, that psychedelics are not for everyone. If you’re taking certain medications or have a certain diagnosis, the guide or the facilitator will want you to work closely with your doctor for better guidance.
On the day of your journey, you’ll ingest a psychedelic drug in the presence of your chosen facilitator. During this time, you and the facilitator will keep the intention you set during the preparation process front and center of your mind. Not only does this help with direction, but it can also act as an anchor point.
The job of the guide or facilitator isn’t over just yet. It continues in the weeks following your experience. After you’ve had some time to reflect on the experience is when the work really begins. This process is known as integration, and it’s one of the most critical parts of your psychedelic journey.
This process typically begins with an in-depth discussion of any important realizations or shifts in perspective that may have results from your journey. Their goal is to help you retain and implement what you have learned.
Is it Really Necessary to Hire a Psychedelic Guide?
Hiring a facilitator or guide is not necessary. Many people over the years have had productive journeys on their own. Still, if you look at the history of psychedelics throughout many cultures, the medicine was always served by a shaman or spiritual guide.
The reason medicine men were instrumental is the same reason we recommend a guide or facilitator. Not only do they contribute massively to your overall experience by allowing you to go deeper with trust in your safety, but they also help you stay focused on the intentions at hand.
A large part of the magic that psychedelics possess comes from their ability to strip down the ego and let you more easily connect to repressed fears and traumas. Although this can be a good tool for treating deep-seated issues, it is definitely a double-edged sword.
Psychedelics often amplify any past issues and the emotions you have attached to them. If this is not properly supported by a guide or facilitator, the chances of a difficult experience increase. This is just one of the reasons we suggest having a guide present if this is your first time using psychedelics.
Your facilitator will be there to support you with love and non-judgment during the day of the ceremony. This process of applying what you’ve learned is known as integration. At Psychedelic Passage, we see integration as the most critical part of your psychedelic healing journey.
Without proper guidance on how to approach intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships following a psychedelic experience, it can be easy to leave new-found knowledge on the backburner.
As with all parts of the experience, your guide will draw on their knowledge, using everything they’ve learned throughout their own and others’ psychedelic travels to help personalize every aspect of your journey.
Where To Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences in Tempe 2023
Though psychedelics are currently illegal, a few options still exist for engaging with psychedelic medicine in Tempe. The main two will be ketamine clinics or guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage, but you can also work with the NAC (Native American Church) to experience a peyote ceremony.
1. Ketamine Clinics
Ketamine clinics offer an easy entry into the world of psychedelic healing. This is where many of our clients start their journey. These clinics specialize in treating depression and chronic pain.
While ketamine may not be considered a classical psychedelic, such as psilocybin, LSD, or DMT, it’s the only FDA-approved psychedelic-like drug available for use currently. Ketamine, unlike other psychedelics, does not cause hallucinations that are traditionally associated with psychedelics, but instead produces a dissociative experience.
This detachment often allows for a more objective view of people’s life and increased self-empathy. As mentioned earlier, many of our clients start their journey through ketamine clinics and eventually find their way to us.
The reason for this is simple, ketamine often provides only temporary relief due to improper therapeutic support at ketamine clinics. To learn more, check out our article on the benefits and pitfalls of ketamine therapy.
2. Guided Psychedelic Experiences with Psychedelic Passage
At Psychedelic Passage, we’re dedicated to spreading the message of psychedelic healing and giving everyone an equal opportunity to benefit from these medicines. Every part of our 5-week program is designed for personal transformation and customized to each client’s specific needs.
Not only can you choose from a wide range of psychedelics, some facilitators in our pre-vetted network even offer a sliding payment scale, so those from all income levels can benefit from high-quality psychedelic support.
We’ve taken the guesswork out of the process. It can be tricky to qualify a facilitator, especially if you’re new to psychedelic healing. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to curate a specialized network of pre-vetted psychedelic facilitators.
Located around the country, our guides are able to meet you exactly where you are, both physically and energetically. Experience the benefits of psychedelic medicine from the comfort of your own home, trusting that you’re in the hands of experienced professionals who have your best interests in mind.
3. Native American Church
For thousands of years, Native Americans have been using peyote for spiritual purposes. Despite peyote being a cultural landmark for hundreds of thousands of people, the US government attempted to ban peyote from the 1880s to the 1930s.
Luckily, this didn’t happen, and after years of fighting, the Native American Church was created. During peyote ceremonies, the intention is to achieve heightened awareness, especially of one’s internal conflicts and emotions, allowing for spiritual and physical healing.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Journey in Any Major Tempe Area
- Scottsdale
- Mesa
- Paradise Valley
- Phoenix
- Chandler
- Gilbert
- Glendale
- Fountain Hills
- Peoria
- Apache Junction
Explore How it Feels to be Connected
The world of psychedelic healing can seem complicated to access. Where do you go and who can you trust? Currently, there is not a robust system in place to allow everyone access to psychedelic healing, but our network of facilitators are working to change this.
If you’re interested in connecting with one of our psychedelic concierges, we empower you to book a consultation with us. They’ll help you find a psychedelic facilitator that’s located in your area, who has the skills and specializations necessary to guide your specific intentions.
Psychedelics have been used for thousands of years for healing and insight, and we would like to give you the same opportunity. If you’d like to learn more about psychedelics, head on over to our resources page and explore our content. Have fun, enjoy the journey of self-discovery, and stay safe!
