Psychedelic facilitation necessitates a delicate attunement to present-moment experience and resistance. At Ceremonia, we've observed that guiding participants to express specific emotions when they aren't naturally present can cause inorganic state changes, fostering resistance and potentially leading to "bad trips" or spiritual bypassing. This paradigm, common in plant medicine ceremonies, can unintentionally stifle authentic emotional processing, creating barriers and exacerbating suppressed feelings. Instead, we advocate for allowing whatever emotions are present, facilitating state changes informed by trauma healing research, and using methods such as trigger sculpting to enable conscious response over reaction. This approach demands highly attuned facilitators embodying the same principles to support participants' authentic, organic experiences.

In this article, we delve into the profound yet complex realm of psychedelic therapy. We highlight its transformative potential, allowing us to access the deepest layers of our consciousness and promoting a sense of connection that transcends our everyday experiences. However, we also draw attention to its potential risks, particularly when users externalize the source of healing, rather than recognizing it as emerging from within themselves. We explore the need for proper preparation and self-guidance in psychedelic experiences, and the crucial role of facilitators in providing the right environment for self-healing, rather than being perceived as the healers themselves. The article underscores the importance of carrying the healing process into daily life, encouraging a shift from external to internal attributions of healing and cautioning against potential victim and savior mindsets. We conclude by advocating for a blend of modern modalities to help individuals navigate their experiences and strengthen their sense of self-empowerment, ultimately deepening the spiritual potential of their psychedelic journey.

The post below continues the story of Ceremonia co-founder Austin Mao of how he would create the Modern Enlightenment process facilitated at Ceremonia. It is part two of a speech being shared at the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit in Boulder, Colorado on June 7th.

This post shares the story of Ceremonia co-founder Austin Mao of how he would come to discover plant sacraments. It is part one of a speech being shared at the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit in Boulder, Colorado on June 6-8.

A poem by Ceremonia co-founder Austin Mao written while in ayahuasca ceremony.

Humanity stands on the brink of a revolution in consciousness. Advances in psychotherapy, neuroscience, psychedelics, and spiritual technology have made transcending suffering more accessible. As AI emerges, we will have more time for inner work, complementing its logical abilities with our creativity. Each age, from oral transmission to the psychedelic revolution, has propelled us forward. Embracing suffering as an opportunity for growth, we can find joy beyond material pursuits. The upcoming years promise accelerated consciousness and the discovery of our true fulfillment within. We are on the cusp of exponential growth and the singularity of the soul.

A poem written by Ceremonia co-founder, Austin Mao, while sitting with the sacrament of ayahuasca in ceremony.

Enlightenment is a non-dual state of being with the totality of experience. The path towards enlightenment is a practice that can be mastered through developing awareness and mindfulness. We need to create space for our feelings and allow ourselves to feel the impact that life and others have on us. This involves stretching our awareness to extend beyond our inner thoughts and feelings to register the subtle energy in our surroundings. The practice leads to a greater understanding of ourselves and others, allowing us to be open-hearted in our relationships. The path towards enlightenment begins with intention and cultivates a practice of awareness and mindfulness, leading to higher levels of peace, love, and joy.

Unconditional love is a necessary environment for deep healing. Inner and outer safety arises from our childhood experiences, where we learned to suppress our emotions and thoughts to meet the expectations of others. This pattern of behavior can continue into adulthood, leading to unhealthy relationships with others. Thus, an hour with someone who embodies unconditional love, like Ram Dass, can be more healing than a psychotherapeutic session because we can feel safe and accepted for who we are. This offers us the grace of accepting ourselves, flaws and all, to fully embrace the idea of unconditional love and find healing within ourselves.

A poem written by Ceremonia co-founder, Austin Mao, while sitting with the sacrament of ayahuasca in ceremony.

Attunement is a crucial component of spiritual growth and service, as it allows us to create deep, impactful, and meaningful relationships with those we serve. Self-attunement is the foundation of attunement outwards, which requires us to pause, step back from our ego, and let go to experience the essence of existence. There are five key elements of attunement that we must include in our spiritual practice: empathy, presence, active listening, non-judgment, and responsiveness. By cultivating attunement, we can connect with others on a deep and transformative level, allowing us to be in service to the transformation of others.

As humans, we start our lives in a state of unity with our mothers in the womb, but birth heralds the beginning of separateness. Spiritual teachers describe enlightenment as a non-dual state of Oneness, where the illusion of separateness between self and other dissolves, and the underlying reality is seen as fundamentally interconnected and unified. Illusion, according to Eastern philosophy, is the idea that the physical world we experience is an illusion that causes suffering due to our attachment to material possessions and identification with our ego. To shed the illusion of our impressions, we must become aware, continue to peel back the layers of our ego, and let go. Only then can we experience the essence of existence, where all we see, feel, and experience just is.

In talk therapy and common plant medicine ceremonies, there are experts to help hold one’s content: the emotions, stories, beliefs, and challenges that come up as one peels back their protective layers. Process are the tools by which we can transmute our content from the lower energies of shame, guilt, apathy, fear, and anger into Power via courage, acceptance, willingness, love, and peace. While the felt-sense of a new way of being with your content is the compass, the process is the map on how to get there.