Psychedelics: home VS retreat

[TheThingy]

I have always been tripping McKenna's way - at home, in complete darkness, sitting in half lotus on a cushion if I'm able to on very heavy doses. My wife is always available in another room if I need assistance. However, some months ago I had my first ayahuasca experience on a weekend retreat. It was my first time doing it in a group with 20 other participants. I went deep and had an extremely positive experience until I started to hear suffering around me - mourning, crying, vomiting. A weekend retreat with one ceremony attracts many, to whom it is the first psychedelic experience. No surprise - it turned into a circus. Some got a desire to talk, others wanted to go home, etc. It completely changed the direction of my trip and I just couldn't go inwards anymore. The shaman told me that after 10 ceremonies or so one learns to ignore the noise.

Now I have an opportunity to participate in another ayahuasca retreat that is 1 week long and with a group of around 5 people. All participants are very experienced travelers. However, I'm not convinced whether it's a good investment of resources. I feel I wouldn't gain less by spending that week at home practicing silent vipassana with occasional trips in between.

I wonder what's your take on this?

[iTommy]

@TheThingy

I think tripping with others, and a person that can guide you has its pro and cons. A con in my view might be other people tripping alongside with you, besides the shaman who can guide you and offer advice which can be a pro. It's good to know the people one wants to trip with, and their behavior on the psychedelic of choice. 

Personally I like to trip alone, silence has a good impact when it comes to looking inward, one is less distracted. For me, tripping is a journey done by myself, for myself (there are times when I'd like to trip with other people, but it would be more for "fun" than doing focused looking, inwards). I've done trips outside amongst other people, and got easily distracted and somewhat anxious at times. I mainly do this when I want to make music while relaxing in a park (I live in a larger city, so there's always people around), besides that, tripping alone for me is favoured when it comes to introspection. 

Maybe tripping with those people might be good for you since they're experienced travelers, but idunno. Trippin' alone with a shaman would probably be a cool thing...

[Leo Gura]

@TheThingy When you get really serious about this work, solo is the only way to go.

You don't need anyone. You don't need a shaman. You ARE the shaman. You ARE GOD! And all the answers are inside of you.

You will never grow faster or deeper than doing a solo retreat. Here is where you truly confront yourself. This is how all the most advanced yogis do it.

Want to grow more in 1 month than you have in 10 years? Take 30 days off for a solo retreat. Add in psychedelics and BAM! There is no faster way to grow yourself.

[ThinAir]

I would not underestimate the power of a ceremony with an experienced shaman (who can influence the cermemony in profound ways, if skilled) and in a small group. 

I'm close to finishing my travels and had incredibly deep experiences with lasting impact from these Ayahuasca sessions in small groups (3-4 ppl).

I definitely like both options, in groups but also alone. But specially if you're around ppl who already have experience, you can exchange yourself with them, share perspectives and insights, make valuable friendships  and so on.

If you have the money and feel like the shaman is a real deal, I'd say go for it.

[RawJudah]

@Leo Gura What about solo retreats without the psychedelics?

Will it still grow you massively?

[Leo Gura]

@RawJudah Yes

[herghly]

@Leo Gura Before you have mentioned you should do a handful of retreats before attempting a solo retreat. What do you think about dark room retreats? 

[Leo Gura]

@herghly I have not done one.

[herghly]

@Leo Gura Have you considered doing one? One week alone in darkness scares me more than any 30 day retreat

[TheThingy]

In conclusion - I'm going to an 8-day ayahuasca retreat with catered isolation for the entire time. I'll join the group only for the ceremonies at nights.

I listened to @Leo Gura and did the first solo retreat last week. Even though it was 2 days long only, I planed a brutally strict schedule. Was blindfolded and with earplugs the entire time. Did this at my own home, so could navigate without seeing. Had 3 alarms set for each day - the first in the morning signaling to get up, the second at noon to eat, the third at night to go to bed. Spent the first day meditating for 16+ hours. On the 2nd day took 350ug LSD. Lucy really surprised me. Once it kicked in, it dropped me straight to the DMT-like world. Meditated for around 9 hours afterwards.

The 8 days will follow the same fashion I guess. I'm slightly worried though about the chance of losing my mind. It's going to be an experience on a whole new level. Looking forward!

[electroBeam]

On 26/05/2019 at 5:31 AM, Leo Gura said:

@TheThingy When you get really serious about this work, solo is the only way to go.

You don't need anyone. You don't need a shaman. You ARE the shaman. You ARE GOD! And all the answers are inside of you.

You will never grow faster or deeper than doing a solo retreat. Here is where you truly confront yourself. This is how all the most advanced yogis do it.

Want to grow more in 1 month than you have in 10 years? Take 30 days off for a solo retreat. Add in psychedelics and BAM! There is no faster way to grow yourself.

Are you saying masters are not important?

Masters are important in almost any other field for developing mastery: want to be the best musician, study with a master. Want to be a mathematician? Study with a master, want to be the world's best soccer player? Get coached by a master, want to be the world's most advanced yogi? Don't look for a master and learn it yourself in the woods for a month...

[tedens]

@electroBeam if you practice, you will discover that you are the best master for yourself.

[StarStruck]

Is there a guide for the solo retreat? Is only meditation allowed? Is reading books allowed? Etc. 

 

edit: I found the video 

Edited June 10, 2019 by StarStruck

[StarStruck]

Thing about 30 day retreat. It is very long. I don’t have free time in the form of lumped up 30 days.