6/30/24 – Washington, DC.
A psychedelic journey may leave us full of insights. It’s what we do with them afterwards that can make a difference in our lives. That’s why processing and integrating these insights after a journey – through journaling, therapy or in sessions with supportive peers – is so valuable.
These days, any self-respecting city has at least one Psychedelic Society. One of the main functions of these organizations is hosting integration circles – meetings where people can discuss their psychedelic experiences in an understanding and non-judgmental setting.
In the Washington DC area, there are at least half a dozen groups that host integration circles. I am systematically exploring them all. If there are older adults out there exploring psychedelics who might be willing to be interviewed for my book, that’s where I might find them…
So far I’ve been to one integration meeting at a Ketamine clinic in suburban Maryland. Another one in the warm and loving community of Temple Mother Earth in Southeast DC. And an integration picnic in a downtown park.
At each meeting, I tell the group that I’m working on a book about psychedelics in older life and invite anyone who this project resonates with to reach out for a conversation. The interest has been encouraging.
Because the writer’s life can be very solitary, I’m finding this outreach stage of my work incredibly refreshing. Particularly as the interviews themselves are turning out to be so rich and inspiring. I had a hunch that there are older adults out there exploring psychedelics to great effect. How right I was.
If you or someone you know would like to share how psychedelics are impacting the experience of older age, I would love to hear from you. Full confidentiality assured. abbieros@proton.me
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