Frequently Asked Questions about Psilocybin Retreats

Q: When are the upcoming group retreats?

There are 2 Day Group Retreats with 1 Ceremony and a powerful breathwork session (Thursday-Friday or Saturday-Sunday. Price 340 in private, en-suite bedroom, 280 in shared twin) and 4 Day Group Retreats with 2 Ceremonies, 2 yoga sessions and a powerful breathwork session (Friday-Monday. Price 1200 in private, en-suite bedroom, 900 in shared twin room).

More will be planned in the autumn! :)

Upcoming group retreats:

2 Day Group Retreat - October 31 - November 1 (Thurs-Fri)

2 Day Group Retreat - November 28-29 (Thurs-Fri)

2 Day Group Retreat - Dec 7-8 (Sat-Sun)

Q. Is is possible to buy a gift voucher for someone else?

A. Yes, it is! Maybe you have already experienced the transformational power of a mushroom journey and wish to pass on this amazing gift to someone you love, or maybe it is for that person in your life who has it all. Gift vouchers is a new feature with A New Day Retreats. You can read all about it in our blog post here. It answers questions such as Is it customisable? What if the person I give it to isn't able to pass the safety screening test? And others.

Q. Is it safe to attend a session or retreat with A New Day Retreats?

A. Your safety is our top priority, both your physical and psychological safety. You will be screened before being accepted, so you can rest assured that this is suitable for your circumstances (people with bipolar or other health conditions are not advised to partake in ceremonies, for instance). Emergency services are a couple of kilometres away should they ever be needed. We will make sure that you are mentally and emotionally prepared for the retreat/session, and we have partnered with two psychotherapists who can talk you through concerns you may have related to your general mental health. Furthermore, there is a pre-retreat and a post-retreat call to make sure you are ready before and integrating well after the retreat.

Q. Can I talk to someone before booking/participating?

A. Absolutely! We can set up a phone or video call so you can familiarise yourself with A New Day Retreats before deciding to book. Moreover, we will do a pre-retreat call to make sure you feel ready for the experience.

Q. Who is a retreat or a session suitable for?

A. People from any walk of life can find healing and personal growth with sacred plants (but do note that there is a screening process in place to make sure that you will have a safe and positive experience). Maybe you have struggled with anxiety or depression, or maybe you just feel that life could have more to offer. I founded A New Day Retreats because I had a very powerful, transformational first experience with psilocybin in a therapeutic setting, and since that day I have worked towards being able to pass this gift on to others. I believe deeply that it is a gift that most people, and our society as a whole, would benefit from greatly.

Q. Is A New Day Retreat spiritual/religious?

A. While we do not promote any particular religion or spirituality, we believe in the benefits of meditation and a practice of showing daily gratitude. Also, we have experienced the spirituality that comes with the use of entheogens, and there is no turning back from it when you have lived a mystical experience yourself. But you can come as you are, no matter what you believe in. We wish to create a safe and respectful space for anyone coming to us.

Q. How old do you have to be?

A. Certainly of legal age, but anyone younger than 20-25 will have to show a certain maturity to partake in a reatreat.

Q. Individual session or group retreat - which is better for me?

A. That depends. They both offer something unique and wonderful, so I would probably suggest to start with an individual session if you are new to this type of plants, although a group retreat is perfectly suitable for both beginners and more experienced people. An individual session lets you go deeper inside, and the group retreat allows you to also feel connected, get to know new people, connect with nature and the universe in a very profound way. I started with an individual session myself and then continued with both group ceremonies and individual sessions on my journey.

Q. Will I be alone while at the retreat if I book a 1-to-1 ceremony?

A. Your facilitator will be there with you on the day of the ceremony until you are ok to be on your own again. If you stay several days, yes, you will be on your own at the premises, but I will come over for post ceremony integration talks and support as needed. However, being on your own at this tranquil and lovely place is an important part of the process, in my opinion. To me, this is also about taking time out for reflection and slowing down enough to make this experience as a whole really count. There are no distractions, no TV (yes, there is wi-fi, but I strongly recommend that you disconnect as much as you can!) This is a perfect opportunity to dig deeper within!

Q. Do you have an overview of the options available and their prices?

A. Sure, take a look at this:

Q. Tiered pricing - what is it and how does it work?

A. Mental healthcare, and maybe this type of plants in particular, is generally unaffordable to much of the population. I wish for mental healthcare to be more accessible and have decided to use a sliding scale, so that people who are having a hard time financially can have access to the powerful transformation that can be experienced through these experiences.

Take a look at the Green Bottle sliding scale below and figure out where you fall on the financial privilege scale. (Tier 3 is not struggling, tier 1 is struggling to make ends meet). Tier 3 is at 100% of the price, tier 2 gets 15% off and tier 1 gets 30% off. (Does it make you uncomfortable to pay less if you need to? Don't be. Capitalism exists partly because of its ability to transmit shame and in that way keep the status quo. You are not poor because you don't work hard or because you choose to be poor, and you have the right to work on your mental health and wellbeing in a supporting setting as much as anybody else!)

We have included a blog post about it to explain it in a bit more detail, you can find it here.

Please note that to make A New Day Retreats sustainable, I can only take a portion of reduced rates per retreat / individual sessions per month, but my aim is to grant reductions as much as possible when requested.

(* Basic needs include food, housing and transportation. ** Expendable might mean that you are able to buy coffee or tea at at shop, go to the movies or a concert, or buy new clothes, books and similar items each month. Image and framework created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk.)

*Basic meals/food always included. Pickup and drop off in Altea/Benidorm included. Pre- & post-retreat video calls included. Towels and linen included.

Please see the blog post about reduced rates for people who aren’t financially affluent (It is called “The green bottle sliding scale”). (It is also discussed more briefly in the QA further down this page). Why do we offer reduced rates, why should you pay full price and when should you apply for reduced rates?

Q. My friend/family/partner is worried - will I be a totally different person when I get back?

A. That is areally good question, which my husband also worried about when I embarked on this journey. I am still the same person? Yes and no. But is that really the right question to ask? Maybe it would be better to ask: I am true to myself? Have I been true to myself in the past? Do I want to be true to myself in the future? If these questions scare you, then maybe you need to have some conversations with yourself/your people, regardless of wheter or not you participate in a retreat.

Q. I take SSRIs/SNRIs, can I participate?

A. While we welcome people who struggle with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, SSRIs and SNRIs make it difficult to dose these plants, so it is advised that you work together with the physician prescribing your medication to become free of the use of this type of medication at least 3-6 weeks before participating, depending on how long you have been taking it. This is to increase the likelihood that you will get a safe and meaningful experience.

Q. How do I get to the retreat?

A. The centre is located in the mountains in the region of Alicante outside a pretty, little town called Polop (go ahead and Google it to see how picturesque it is), 45 minutes from Alicante airport or 90 minues from Valencia airport. We will pick you up and drop you back off either in Altea or Benidorm, that are both easy to get to from either airport by public transportation. Or you can make things easy and book an airport pickup and drop off for 50 euros.

Q. What kind of support is included when I book a session or a reteat?

A. We offer a pre-session phone call to familiarise ourselves with one another and for you to ask any questions you may have about the process and risks involved. During your stay at A New Day Retreats there will be an experienced guide around at all times during sessions/ceremonies who are there to support your journey and help to make you feel safe. After your session/reatreat, we offer a post-session call to see how you are integrating your experience and how you feel in the days after. Should you need more support than this, our two psychedelics informed psychotherapists offer online therapy at their usual rates where you can delve deeper into your concerns.

Q. Ok, I am convinced. How do I book?

A. Great. First you have to decide whether you prefer an individual session or a retreat. (Please note that retreats can't be booked yet. The dates in the calendar are provisional, but get in touch about them if you are interested in booking a retreat once booking opens, probably late winter 2024, and I will put you on the pre-booking list). Then go to the page Contact/Book, scroll down and look at the calendar. For an individual session, pick any day that isn't greyed out (or part of a retreat), for a retreat, pick the retreat that you are interested in. Then get in touch to book via email or the form on the page.

You will go through the screening procedure, which is a questionnaire you will have to fill in and we can have a phone or video call to get to know one another further. Once you have been approved, you will be asked to pay the deposit by PayPal or bank transfer.

Q. Anything to do with darkness retreats, please see the Darkness page.