Blog
The Pulse of Aliveness
To feel fully alive is not about chasing peak moments but about opening to life as it is—messy, beautiful, painful, and wondrous. This essay explores the currents of emotion, the wisdom of the body, the coherence of the heart, the invitation of shadow, and the web of belonging, guiding us back to the truth that aliveness is never absent—it is always here, waiting to be remembered and lived.
Ayahuasca in Colorado Tradition Legality and Ceremonia’s Next Chapter
Ayahuasca is decriminalized but not legalized in Colorado under the Natural Medicine Health Act. Licensed facilitators may currently only work with psilocybin, though there are discussions about legalizing DMT by 2026. In the meantime, Ceremonia offers legal and sacred ayahuasca retreats in Baja California, Mexico, with the next retreat scheduled for February 2–8, 2026.
Crossing the Threshold
This article explores the parallels between the integration phase of psychedelic experiences and the process of navigating endings and transitions in life. As Ceremonia prepares to close its current space, we reflect on the themes of grief, integration, and the sacred pause, offering practices to support individuals and our community during this time of change.
Psychedelic Science 2025
Psychedelic Science 2025 in Denver represents a historic convergence of research, policy, and spiritual practice in the field of psychedelics. Organized by MAPS, the conference underscores the growing recognition of psychedelics' therapeutic potential and the shifting legal landscape. Ceremonia's participation reflects our commitment to integrating these developments into our mission of healing and spiritual growth.
Psychedelics And Neuroplasticity
This article explores the synergistic relationship between psychedelics, neuroplasticity, and the heart's intrinsic nervous system, highlighting how these elements converge to facilitate profound personal transformation and holistic healing.
Psychedelics And Nature
This article explores the profound connection between psychedelics and nature, highlighting how these substances can deepen our bond with the Earth, inspire ecological stewardship, and promote sustainable practices.
Stewarding Psychedelics
This article explores the importance of honoring Indigenous traditions in the modern use of psychedelics, emphasizing sacred reciprocity, the role of ritual and intention, and the need for ethical engagement to prevent cultural appropriation and promote mutual respect.
Using Psychedelics In Different Settings
This article explores the varied contexts in which psychedelics are used—recreationally, therapeutically, ceremonially, and clinically—highlighting the distinct intentions, settings, guidance, and integration practices that define each approach.
Building Safety With Psychedelics
Understanding and working with our nervous system through somatic practices and Polyvagal Theory can provide tools to navigate fear during psychedelic experiences, particularly with psilocybin. By fostering a sense of safety and employing techniques to regulate our physiological states, we enhance the potential for healing and integration.
Integrating Ritual into Daily Life
Ritual is the thread that weaves psychedelic insight into everyday life. By creating sacred structure through daily habits and intentional practices, we invite healing to take root. Drawing from ancient traditions and modern psychology, this article explores how rituals regulate the nervous system, deepen integration, and turn ordinary moments into portals of meaning. At Ceremonia, ritual is not just part of our ceremonies—it’s a way of life.
Trusting the Inner Healing Intelligence
The inner healing intelligence is the natural capacity within every human being to move toward wholeness. Drawing from the Holotropic Principle, Adaptive Information Processing models, and the emerging science of the heart, this blog explores how psychedelics can reconnect us to this innate wisdom and how working with, rather than against, this intelligence allows for profound healing and integration.
Bicycle Day and the Rebirth of Psychedelic Healing
Bicycle Day commemorates Albert Hofmann's first intentional LSD experience, marking the inception of a journey into the depths of human consciousness. The subsequent decades of research and the current resurgence in psychedelic studies highlight the enduring potential of these substances to facilitate healing and personal growth. As society re-engages with psychedelics, we embrace a renewed opportunity for collective awakening and transformation.
Growing Up Psychedelic
Exploring the "Growing Up" aspect of Integral Theory reveals the significance of advancing through psychological and emotional stages of development. By aligning Erikson's psychosocial stages with personal growth and integrating insights from psychedelic experiences, individuals can achieve a more holistic transformation, contributing to both personal fulfillment and collective well-being.
Cleaning Up With Psychedelics
The "Cleaning Up" dimension of Integral Theory emphasizes the importance of confronting and integrating personal and collective traumas to achieve true wholeness. Drawing on insights from Ken Wilber's work, as well as contributions from leading trauma experts, this approach highlights the role of introspection, therapeutic support, mindfulness, psychedelics, and somatic therapies in the healing journey. By committing to this process, individuals can foster personal growth and contribute to collective well-being.
Waking Up With Psychedelics
The reintroduction of psychedelics into mainstream culture aligns with a global shift toward higher consciousness, as outlined by Integral Theory and Spiral Dynamics. This process of "Waking Up" involves transcending the ego, embracing embodied presence, and recognizing our interconnectedness. By integrating these perspectives into our personal and collective healing journeys, we can foster a more compassionate and unified world.
Psychedelics and Integral Theory A Path to Collective Awakening
Psychedelics are re-emerging at a time when humanity is undergoing a profound shift in consciousness. Integral theory and Spiral Dynamics offer a framework for understanding how these medicines support not only personal awakening but also collective evolution. By looking at psychedelics through Ken Wilber’s four quadrants—consciousness, biology, culture, and systems—we gain a comprehensive perspective on their transformative potential. Psychedelics can aid in waking up (spiritual awakening), growing up (emotional and psychological maturity), cleaning up (shadow integration), and showing up (engaging with the world). At Ceremonia, we integrate these perspectives to support sustainable healing and conscious evolution.
Psychedelics And The Intelligence of the Heart
The intelligence of the heart plays a crucial role in psychedelic healing, offering a deeper way of knowing beyond the analytical mind. Research from HeartMath highlights the heart’s unique nervous system and its ability to regulate emotions and cognition through heart-brain coherence. Authors like Kimberly Snyder and Stephen Harrod Buhner explore how the heart serves as an organ of perception, a concept long understood by indigenous traditions that use the heart to communicate with plant medicines. At Ceremonia, we integrate heart-centered practices such as cacao ceremonies and meditation to support emotional processing and integration. By cultivating heart intelligence, we create a foundation for deep healing, connection, and transformation.
Mastering Your Nervous System for Deep Psychedelic Healing
Attunement and nervous system regulation are essential for navigating psychedelic experiences with clarity and ease. By understanding polyvagal theory, practicing breathwork, and learning to track our internal state, we develop the tools needed to stay grounded in the face of intensity. At Ceremonia, we support this process by integrating breathwork, mindfulness, and co-regulation into our preparation and integration practices, helping participants cultivate resilience and presence throughout their journey.
Healing the Heart with Psychedelics and Emotional Integration
Psychedelics have the power to bring buried emotions to the surface, offering a unique opportunity for deep healing and self-awareness. By integrating insights from somatic psychology, mindfulness, and breathwork, we can learn to process emotions like grief, rage, fear, and joy in a way that leads to lasting transformation. At Ceremonia, we support emotional integration through community, mindful awareness, and group reflection, helping participants navigate the emotional landscape of psychedelic experiences with greater clarity and self-compassion.