How to use psychedelic meditation to free your mind

May 28, 2020 — Leave a comment

Well hello again! Yesterday’s discussion of psychedelics and meditation left me intrigued. While researching the topic, I discovered SO MUCH MORE than anticipated, especially on the topic of “psychedelic meditation” – meditation specifically intended to induce a particularly “psychedelic” state of consciousness (no substances required). I found out that a variety of psychedelic meditation practices exist, yet many techniques are trademarked and only practiced in special group settings behind closed doors (for some serious $$$). Today, my goal is to make the magic of psychedelic meditation feel a little more accessible to the world. All earthlings are welcome here!

Let’s talk about how you can use psychedelic meditation in your personal practice at home. Better yet, let’s talk about how to use psychedelic meditation to free your mind and make positive changes in your life!

Why do psychedelics and meditation feel similar?

May 27, 2020 — Leave a comment

Years before I tried any psychedelics or even cannabis, I had a pretty trippy experience through meditation alone. At the end of an intense breath work class I lay down to close my eyes, and was met with bright exploding fractals and mandalas cavorting across my closed eyelids. These visuals were accompanied by a feeling that I was melting into the floor and the world around me. I felt a sense of oneness with the world that felt both strange and familiar, and made me start to giggle. Years later when I had an opportunity to experience psychedelics, I couldn’t help but notice that they often took me to the same post-meditation mindset. The more I asked around, the more I realized I was not alone in this. So what gives?

Why do psychedelics and meditation feel similar? The simple answer is that they influence the brain in similar ways. Both meditation and psychedelics affect, among other things, a regulatory system in our brains called the Default Mode Network (DMN). This network of neuronal connections is thought to be responsible for the “autobiographical self,” our mental framework that maintains an individual’s story and sense of self over time. Both meditation and psychedelics quiet the DMN’s activity, allowing a wider variety of neuronal connections and mental processes to take place.

Act now: try this mini meditation today to reset your whole outlook on life!

March 18, 2020 — 2 Comments

What a week, world!

We are seeing so many rapid changes to life all over the planet. Here in San Francisco and much of the surrounding area, all residents have received a “shelter in place” order, which effectively means we have to stay at home for the next three weeks! (We are permitted to go outside to take a solo walk or do essential activities, but that’s about it.) These instructions come under undoubtedly scary circumstances, but seeing as the uncertain future is largely out of our control, we need to turn our attention to what we can do.

It is all too easy to succumb to fear in the face of the unknown. But who is that helping? It’s been scientifically proven that stress is crappy for your immune system. And whether you spend this time panicking or doing something productive, the time will pass anyway. We may not know exactly what lies ahead, but we know that we have this time to pause and collect ourselves. Life rarely takes such a significant pause. I hereby propose that we take this time to reflect and recharge so we can move forward with strength when the time comes. This time offers an opportunity to realign ourselves with what matters most.

The lost art of being with yourself

November 20, 2019 — Leave a comment

Did you miss me?

If you did, I’m happy I found you again. If you didn’t, I’m happy you were okay with me taking some time to be with myself.

Where do we go now? This post-solstice journal meditation will carry you out of the darkness and into the light

December 25, 2018 — Leave a comment

The darkest times are over, really: December 21st brought us the longest night of the year, also known as the winter solstice, and with it, the year’s longest visible full moon. To see the culmination of our darkest nights meet the bright glow of our fully illuminated moon was a powerful reminder that just as the sky can move from shadows into light, so can our consciousness. It is no new school of thought to view the end of the year as a time to shed what is no longer serving us, and direct our focus where it is truly needed. But this isn’t just a time to make a new year’s resolution and call it a day (or night); it is a time to reflect inward on what truly matters to you, and how you can move forward with intent to better align your life with your soul’s purpose. This journal meditation will assist you in processing what you have been through, so you can learn from it and decide where to go from here.

Ritualize your life! (AKA the art of transforming everyday tasks into meaningful meditations)

April 19, 2018 — 1 Comment

I’ve been a busy witch lately, and like most of us, I have no shortage of responsibilities to keep up with! I’ve noticed that my day-to-day routine keeps me constantly occupied and although I am glad to never feel bored, I have been left with precious little free time for my magical endeavors. I’m sure many can relate — although it would be nice to always be able to set aside a scheduled moment for spiritual reflection, it doesn’t always seem possible. Sometimes we ache to delve into our inner work but can’t set aside more than a moment. So how can we squeeze in a little magic without any wiggle room? You don’t need any extra time or materials — a bit of creativity is all you need to create a magical meditation space anytime, anywhere!

Develop your intuition with passive divination!

April 8, 2018 — Leave a comment

Have you ever heard a snippet of a random conversation from passers-by and caught a few words that seem relevant to your life? Have you ever come across something while lost in thought and said to yourself, that’s a sign? You are onto something when this happens — in fact, you are practicing what I like to call “passive divination.” You are tapping into your intuition using your senses, and the more you stay aware of it, the better you’ll get. So let’s talk about it!

What the blue moon means, and how it can help you glow too

March 31, 2018 — 2 Comments

It’s the last day of March, but what else makes this time special? It’s the night of the second blue moon this year! I keep blurting this out excitedly, and the reaction I get is mostly, “Cool… so what does it mean?”

Magical mantras for motivation

March 21, 2018 — Leave a comment

Welcome back, my magical friends! This week’s first topic is a bit less lighthearted than the last, but still super fun, I promise! We’re covering one of my favorite ways to get and stay motivated: personal mantras. There are so many different ways that life can get tough. You might be doing your best, but not every issue is instantly fixable. Sometimes you need a super accessible reminder that will keep you focused on your goals and prevent you from losing that inner fire you need to stay passionate. That’s where a personal mantra comes in! Read on for what a personal mantra is, why it will help you, and how to use it to get the most out of your life!

How to actually use crystals

March 7, 2018 — 2 Comments

You might have heard crystals can bring you an unlimited source of good vibes. You might be hearing all about how crystals can help you reduce stress, cope with depression, or just improve your overall quality of life. But you might also be wondering, how the heck do you actually use these things? How do we tap into the infinite benefits supposedly enclosed in these shiny little guys?

Well wonder no more, because I’m totally here to help you through this. I’ve made a list of my top five favorite ways to use crystals. These tips will work with literally any kind of crystal, so feel free to experiment! If you’re new to crystals, go and pick one out! Seriously, just try listening to your first instinct and take home the one that first grabs your attention. (Unless that’s the $3,500 geode in the window that you’ll need to open a new credit card for, in which case, maybe work up to that eventually.)

Now that you have a sparkly new friend, keep one really important thing in mind! Ultimately, a crystal’s true meaning is what it means to you. This can be as life-altering or as lighthearted as you care to think of it. Aside from all the folklore and fabled magical properties, the true power of a crystal is that it triggers an association in your mind with the characteristics it represents. It is a tangible reminder of what you’re choosing to invite more of into your life. You can hold it and behold it, you can see it and believe in it. But ultimately the qualities being brought to the surface are qualities already in you. Sometimes you just need to make things feel a little more magical to see it.