Shifting Parts of Self Post Psychedelic Journey
Disclaimer* I am not referring to multiple personalities in this article. I believe people are all one whole personality, we are not innately fractured. Our system of parts can make subtle or profound shifts. The goal is to become more whole, not more fractured, so keep in mind the semantics here are nuanced and depend on you to name the parts of your system yourself.
When someone partakes in a psychedelic journey, they are able to observe from the perspective of Higher Self. The Higher self sits on top of the Crown Chakra and is our identity, the bird’s eye view who observes our inner system of parts. We all have different personas that make up a system of parts that protects us and get our needs met. People often say “a part of me feels…” These parts are all embarking on the psychedelic journey too, and may have some opinion to voice about the process- when they have the space.
The first journey is taking off. The second journey is getting back down to Earth, with the opportunity to consciously reorganize the internal system. The second journey is also known as “integration.” For me, it is sometimes more intense than sitting with the actual medicine. itself. During integration, the parts of us have space to weigh in on what was made conscious. Integrating the new perspectives on the way back down to Earth, means interfacing with the parts that were most affected during the first journey. They can be loud, so you may have to learn different ways to hold space for them, and they may urge you to make specific changes or actions based on the new knowledge about where you’re headed in life. If you do this, there can be grounding in whole different way, that will permanently remain. (What makes psychedelic use an addiction is when the journey(s) never integrate.)
Its often the case that some over functioning parts have not had control during the journey, aka “ego-dissolution.” They will have something to say once out of the altered state and back in ordinary state of consciousness. They need to be listened to or there will remain a lack of co-conciousness between this important part and Higher Self. The goal of therapy and psychedelics is to integrate parts of self so that the one unit is more whole, not keep an internally fractured structure functioning with lack of resources or isolated.
Integration is a time that tired parts of us can move through the unburdening process. All of the parts are gaining consciousness they did not have before, like a small child learning something new, creating new brainpathways and beliefs. Some may be shocked, resistent to change, relieved, or any number of feelings. Move through this period with grace, curiosity, openness and support from psychedelically friendly people.
The integration period is very difficult and takes time and energy. Let creative energy flow; let yourself cry, journal, enjoy doing art, swim, yoga, mountain bike, reorganize closets, create new bank accounts, approach relationships with curiosity, listen to your intuition and find the outlet you need. These practices post psychedelic journey are permanently reorganizing a part of self so that your internal system functions more optimally. Integrate in those few days after, as well as weeks and months.
Kimberly Drew, MA, LPC
