In life’s vast tapestry, we often feel separate and detached from the world around us. This sense of disconnection can lead to a myriad of challenges, including mental health issues and a lack of understanding of our place in the world. But what if we could bridge this gap? What if we could reconnect with the world around us and realize that we are not separate from nature, but are nature ourselves?
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is a powerful catalyst that awakens us to the mystery of life and the sacred teachings that nature gifts us every day. One of these teachings is the role of nature itself in the therapeutic process, and psychedelic therapists can benefit from incorporating nature into their practices and inviting nature to be a co-therapist, working alongside them.
The Sacred Dance of Nature and Psychedelics
The healing power of nature has been recognized for centuries. From the Japanese practice of forest bathing to the use of natural settings in mindfulness meditation, nature has a profound ability to soothe our minds and heal our bodies.
As researchers at Providence Saint John’s Health Center have found, even “a dose of nature” from a nature-themed immersive video experience, “could be beneficial in the clinical use of psilocybin to treat alcohol use disorder”1. This study found that participants were calmer and better able to ease into psilocybin-assisted therapy. If a video could be this powerful, imagine the benefits of walking in the woods, touching a feather, or journeying while lying in the grass.
In the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy, nature can serve as a co-therapist, providing a grounding presence that enhances the therapeutic process. This is particularly true in therapies involving substances like psilocybin, which often induce a deep sense of connection to the natural world. In Colorado, where PRATI is based, as psilocybin therapy moves towards legalization and regulation in late 2024, incorporating nature into therapy should be a vital consideration of psychedelic therapists working with this medicine.
Psychedelic Plant Medicines in Indigenous Traditions
In indigenous traditions, the use of psychedelic medicines is deeply intertwined with nature. These communities tend to see such plants and fungi as sacred family members who are central to their spirituality. For millennia, Indigenous peoples have been the caretakers and knowledge keepers of psychedelic plant medicines.
The use of these substances is often embedded within rich ritualistic contexts that comprise mental, physical, and spiritual dimensions. The natural environment plays a crucial role in these rituals, providing a space for the therapeutic process to unfold.
In the context of Westernized psychedelic-assisted therapy, including here at PRATI, we have a lot to learn from these indigenous traditions. One lesson from these plant medicine traditions is the importance of incorporating nature into the therapeutic process — enhancing the therapeutic benefits and providing a grounding presence that complements the transformative power of psychedelic medicines.
After all, nature and psychedelics dance together in a sacred rhythm, each enhancing the other and reminding us that we are part of a complex web of life. In this dance, we find healing, connection, and a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Incorporating Nature into Psychedelic Therapy
How can we incorporate nature into psychedelic-assisted therapy? One approach is through the use of natural settings for therapy sessions. This could involve conducting sessions outdoors in a peaceful, secluded location, or using nature-inspired elements in an indoor setting.
Another approach is through the integration of nature-based practices into the therapeutic process in preparation for the psychedelic journey. This could involve activities like nature walks, gardening, or animal-assisted therapy. These activities can help individuals connect with the natural world and integrate their psychedelic experiences into their everyday lives.
Integration is a vital part of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and nature can also be incorporated throughout therapeutic integration work. Spending time in nature post-therapy can provide a peaceful and grounding environment that supports introspection and the assimilation of new perspectives. Nature can serve as a gentle guide in the process of integration.
Integration is a creative process, customized to your client’s therapeutic goals and personality. We encourage therapists to be creative in their integration techniques, providing a range of options for their clients to work with. If you’re interested in learning more, check out our blog post about the importance of psychedelic integration and integration techniques.
We Are Nature
One of the profound realizations that can emerge from psychedelic-assisted therapy is the understanding that we are not separate from nature; we are nature ourselves. Psychedelic experiences often dissolve the artificial boundaries that we construct between ourselves and the natural world, revealing an underlying unity and interconnectedness. This realization can be deeply healing, as it aligns us with the rhythms and cycles of nature and reminds us of our place within the web of life. It invites us to see ourselves not as observers of nature, but as participants in the ongoing dance of creation and decay, growth and rest, life and death. This shift in perspective can foster a deep sense of belonging and wholeness, and inspire us to live in harmony with the natural world.
This realization that we are not separate from nature, but are nature ourselves, has the potential to create a profound shift in our cultural consciousness. It can move us from a mindset of exploitation to one of stewardship, from seeing nature as a resource to be used to seeing it as a community to which we belong. This shift in perspective can inspire us to take action to address the climate and ecological crisis, not out of fear or obligation, but out of love and respect for the natural world. When we understand that harming nature means harming ourselves, we are motivated to live in a way that is regenerative and harmonious. Psychedelic-assisted therapy, by fostering this deep sense of connection and interdependence, can play a vital role in this cultural transformation. It’s not just about healing individuals; it’s about healing our collective relationship with the planet.
Restoring Connection With The Natural World
As we continue to explore the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy, let’s remember to honor and incorporate the healing power of nature. After all, if we seek true healing, as a species and as a living planet, we must reconsider our culture’s flawed story of separateness from nature and recognize that inner and outer transformation are collective processes, intimately intertwined.
We hope you will join us in this sacred work.
Additional Resources:
- Nature-Themed Psychedelic Therapy for Alcohol Addiction
- Medicinal Psychedelics and Indigenous Knowledge – SAPIENS
- Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Practices and Human Caring Science
- Professional Practice Guidelines for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Aug 2023
- Frontiers | Nature-themed video intervention
