Psychedelic Compounds
If you’re wondering what psychedelic is right for you, do your own research on the compound(s) and find out if it fits what you’re looking for.
Discover Your Journey
Everybody has unique lived experiences, so of course, their psychedelic journeys will unfold in their own unique ways. Although some may try to tell you that one way is better than the other, everyone has different needs and comfort levels, so we encourage you to do your own research and find out what’s best for you.
Browse our discovery resources below to help you in your search of a psychedelic experience.
How to Find
Interested in psychedelics but not sure what to path to go down? Maybe you want to do some more research and make sure it’s right for you, or perhaps you’re ready to take the plunge. Regardless of where you’re at in your journey, here are some next steps that can safely guide you there.
Research
Porta Sophia
If you want to dive deeper into psychedelic research check out https://www.portasophia.org. They offer a simple resource tool to find scientific literature, historical archives, online forums, etc., by easily searching by compound, method of treatment, delivery, drug combinations, derivatives, methods of manufacturing and condition for treatment.
Clinical Trials
If you’re interested in taking the next steps and want to experience the medicine in a controlled, research setting, consider participating in a clinical trial. Visit https://clinicaltrials.gov where you can find a study by searching for condition, drug and location.
Retreats
Before booking a trip, ask yourself what you want to get out of the experience and where your comfort levels lie.
- Is legality a concern?
- Does the centre operate in a safe location?
- Are there medical and/or health professionals on site, or within close vicinity?
- Is the staff knowledgeable to deal with adverse effects or crises? Are there emergency protocols in place?
- Does the centre take appropriate measures to mitigate risks and prevent harm?
- Is the staff knowledgeable with drug disposition, contraindications, dosage and routes of administration?
- Is the staff experienced with non-ordinary states of consciousness?
- Are the guides informally or formally trained? What is their experience with psychedelics?
- Do they provide trauma-informed care?
- Do they maintain cultural competence and socially just practices?
- What is included in their offerings?
- Do they provide psychoeducation about the drug and experience?
- Do they discuss physical touch and consent?
- Do they have a screening and intake process?
- Do they provide preparation and integration sessions? If so, what do they include?
If you’re looking for more information on how to choose a retreat centre that aligns with you, check out Thirdwave’s guide.
If you’ve done your own research and are looking for a Retreat Centre that suits your needs, visit Retreat Guru. They list detailed information about the site, programming, offerings and guides - everything you need to know before deciding if it’s right for you.
If you are on any medications or have health concerns, you should consult with a medical professional prior to booking any experiences. It is crucial that you educate yourself on the psychedelic(s) of your choosing and evaluate the benefits and health risks associated.
Retreats We’ve Recently Visited
Holos Global
Diamanté, Costa Rica
What
Located on top of the mountains of the beautiful Diamanté Valley, amongst the lush jungle and endless waterfalls. Holos is a retreat centre that carefully crafts medicine experiences with best modern day practices and ancient traditions. They take a holistic approach at hospitality and a supportive role at caring for their participant’s individual needs.
Why
What stood out to us was their unique programming of the plant medicine ceremonies and their commitment to preparation and integration before, during and after their stay. Their facilitators are highly skilled at creating and holding the space you need throughout your journey and hold integrity in their practice. The breathtaking views and surrounding nature make for the perfect container to do this work.
Enfold
Outside of Vancouver, BC, Canada
What
Enfold is an intimate, modern retreat centre located on a small island, 90 minutes from YVR. Their medicine experiences are facilitated by a husband and wife duo who work with individuals, couples and small groups to maximize the level of personalized care. Their work is oriented around a combination of modern science and ancient wisdom, and built on a foundation of Buddhist philosophy. They use somatic therapy and trauma-informed practices and blend them with breathwork, meditation, hot and cold therapy and sound healing.
Why
This team pays attention to detail and thinks everything through - from meals, to aesthetics, to their holistic offerings. They’re leading experts at 5-MeO-DMT and emphasize the preparation and integration process, while avoiding religious and spiritual dogma. Whether you’re a novice or a vet, they meet you where you are in your journey and create the safety and comfort needed for deep self-exploration and healing.
In integrity with our values, we only share information on places that we have had personal experiences with and can vouch that they meet our standards of care.
We want to ensure and maintain that all providers listed are upheld to our standards of safety and efficacy, so if you have feedback or concerns about any of the Centres we’ve visited, please contact us. Nikean works with providers to ensure that issues are addressed and feedback is leveraged.
Guides
Finding the right guide is crucial to your psychedelic experience. It may seem like a lot of work, but take your time, do your research, ask around, and follow your gut. Don’t rush this work, finding the right person who makes you feel safe and comfortable is important.
Remember to ask these questions when your vetting guides:
- What is your experience with psychedelics and how long have you been working with them?
- Do you have any informal/formal training? If so, what kind and with who?
- What psychedelics(s) do you work with? If multiple, how do you decide what to use?
- What dose range do you work with and why?
- Do you personally consume psychedelics during the session? If so, what dose?
- Do you work solo or in a dyad (male and female)?
- Where do your sessions take place? What type of environment is it?
- What is included in your session(s)?
- Do you have an intake process that ensures safety and applicability?
- Is preparation and integration included?
- Do you review safety instructions regarding the experience?
- Do you discuss physical touch and consent?
- How much is the total cost? How is it reflected in the offerings?
- What additional modalities do you include/offer?
Additional resources on how to find the right guide for you
Psychedelic Association of Canada’s “How to find an ethical and skilled therapist” Thirdwave’s “How to choose the right therapist for you” Doubleblind’s “How to vet your guide”The recommendations provided above are those of Nikean, and are in no way intended to replace professional advice.
We understand that psychedelic experiences are not ‘one size fits all’ and remain open to feedback on all guidelines and recommendations. If we’ve missed something significant or believe we’ve made an error in judgment, please let us know at info@nikean.org. We do our best to approach this work with humility and ethical integrity but are learning and growing too.
Psychedelic Communities
Interested in psychedelics and looking for community? Maybe you’re searching for local groups in your area that provide support and education on the topic? Societies are great places to meet other like-minded individuals who also have interests in the history, science, best practices and ancient traditions of psychedelics. These are great places to unite, learn from one another, share stories and openly discuss topics that tend to carry stigma in other public environments.
Check out some groups that gather across the world:
Join and support communities we’re a part of in Toronto:
https://www.torontopsychedelic.ca
https://www.meetup.com/torontopsychedelic/?_cookie-check=CjXX8rT8M0Inae2i
Nectara is a community that's filling the preparation and integration gap. They provide holistic, long-term support to the journeyer as well as the facilitator. Check out their carefully curated guides, workshops and circles.
Useful Resources
There’s so much to learn and understand before going on a psychedelic journey, so take your time and don’t rush things. The more you know, the safer you’ll feel and the more comfortable you’ll be to drop into the experience.
Fireside’s Psychedelic Peer Support Hotline
https://firesideproject.orgZendo Project: Mental Health and Crisis Support & Psychedelic Integration
https://zendoproject.org/resources/Psychedelic Association of Canada (PAC): Harm Reduction & Drug Testing Resources
https://www.psychedelicassociation.net/resources/harm-reductionPsychedelic Survivors: Support for survivors of assault, abuse or personal harm within the context of psychedelic experiences
https://www.psychedelic-survivors.comSpirit Pharmacist: Drug Interaction and Tapering Guide
https://www.spiritpharmacist.com/ADpsychedelicGuideThere are so many books that have influenced our psychedelic journey that we couldn’t pick just one. Take a look at our growing list:
https://www.amazon.ca/ideas/amzn1.account.AGKYE4D3NOEXPES5GH375RVI5FZQ/2WO5WE7FR510K?ref=idea_cp_vl_ov_dI’m sure you’ve come across psychedelic terms that have left you scratching your head. Here’s a glossary to help you make sense of all the jargon.
https://psychedelicalpha.com/learn/psychedelics-glossaryGet Involved
Donate
We partnered with the University Health Network (UHN) to create the Nikean Psychedelic Psychotherapy Research Centre to explore a new paradigm of treatment for mental illness. We believe this academic and innovation hub has the potential to harness psychedelic medicine to provide transformative care to patients, pioneer training in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and conduct high-quality research that advances the field. If you are interested in supporting the Centre, you can make a direct donation by visiting the UHN Foundation below:
Get Involved
Our volunteers are a network of individuals who are committed to advancing psychedelic science and promoting education. As we build our Foundation, we are dedicated to fostering relationships that stimulate growth and unite the community. If you are interested in supporting our mission, please reach out.
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