How to set an intention for a psychedelic journey

What is intention setting in relation to psychedelics assisted therapy? Do’s and don’ts for setting your intention

When it comes to getting a meaningful and transformative experience when using psychedelics, intention setting is a very good idea, if not a must. Many people take psychedelics for fun in a recreational setting, and it can be a really wonderful and amazing experience with the right people and some good music! But psychedelics have so much more to offer, and setting an intention for your journey in a therapeutic setting can help make the experience truly life-changing. But what does it mean to set an intention for your psychedelic journey? And how do you do it?

In essence, an intention for your psychedelic journey is the Why I am embarking on this journey? What do I wish to gain or work on? How do I get there? You can begin to reflect on these questions from the moment you decide to do a psychedelic journey – which may be months before your actual journey.

A psychedelic journey on higher doses can be a bit of a whirlwind of an experience, and your intention can be used as an anchor that keeps you grounded and connected to your Why, What and How. As your mind travels to the most unimaginable and beautiful places, your intention can help give the whole journey shape, focus and meaning.

Setting your intention is a very individual process and there is no right or wrong way to do it, but it can be a good idea to try to be fairly specific, without making it too narrow. An intention is less rigid and more open-ended in nature than a goal, for example.

It is also important to remember that the plant medicines will give you what you need, which is not necessarily what you want. So you might go into your journey with a fairly specific idea of what it is you wish to work on, but your journey goes in a completely different direction, so try to be open to what comes, rather than tightly hanging on to the intention you went in with. You might have gone in with the intention to work on your social anxiety, but your journey focuses more on dealing with childhood trauma – this is ok too.

But as you start to consider your intention, zoom out and take a look at your life as it is now, reflect on what you would like to change at this point. You will have some main themes and they will help you shape your intention.

If you are quite lost as to what intention to set, you can also go in with a broader idea like “I will be completely open to this experience and I will trust the process”, or “Help me find gratitude for what I have”, or “Where do I want to be in 5 years?”

I find that each journey has a theme of sorts, and this is often shaped by your intention, or it can go in an unexpected direction. What is most important is that you remain open to the experience and that you trust the process. At A New Day Retreats we are there by your side at all times if you need to share some thoughts, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold or assistance in finding your way back to your intention. We have a lot of experience navigating our own challenging and beautiful journeys, as well as guiding people when things get difficult or overwhelming. So all you have to do is lean into the experience with trust, then your mind and heart will do the rest of the work for you.

I believe deeply, and I have witnessed through guiding many people’s journeys, that with appropriate screening and the right set and setting, the psychedelics will never give you more than you can handle. We are extremely strong and resilient, and no matter how difficult the journey gets, I hope that you will trust that you are way stronger than you can possibly imagine. If it does become too much, which it can sometimes feel like, then you will have an experienced and loving guide by your side, who can reassure you that your journey is taking you exactly where you need to go and that you are powerful beyond imagination, so you can put back on your eye shades and headphones and go back inside and resume your journey. It is not always fun and games, but that is also not what you signed up for :)

We look forward to guiding you through a transformative and overall positive experience!