An Optimistic Middle Ground for Psilocybin Facilitation in Central Oregon
I became fascinated with the
connection of science and spirituality as a young girl venturing into the
deciduous forests and lush countryside that surrounded the home I grew up in.
Interconnection — plants, critters, the seasons and cycles, my family and my
own entanglement in the web of life was obvious and intrigued my blossoming
curiosity. My interest was especially sparked upon losing my best friend to a
tragic accident in middle school. I found myself needing answers amidst my
grief, and so I tended towards the forests, the rivers, the gardens, as they
taught me of the inevitable cycles of nature, of death, rebirth and life and
the beauty that beamed within them. Since then, I have aspired to learn how
humans can best adapt to these inevitable changes we encounter, how we process
and transmute grief and loss and how we suffer less in solace and grieve more
in connection. Through personal, professional and educational pursuits, I
continue to load my quiver of knowledge in developmental psychology,
eco-psychology, trauma- informed care, nervous system function, somatic-based
therapies, earth and human centered care.
When Oregon law was passed to permit
the use of psilocybin in designated service centers, I decided to get licensed
as a facilitator. Propelled by both the science of these modalities, their
implication on the nervous system, as well as their spiritual, ancient and
earth-based roots, I saw the potential of psychedelic therapy in the U.S. to
help people who have long endured trauma, pain and dysregulation without
effective help from Western medicine and culture (Mate, 2022). The legalization
of this psilocybin therapy, however, has arisen a bit of divisiveness between
the communities who have already been using these modalities, despite the laws
against them, and the communities who are using these modalities under state
regulation. From my perspective, both communities fear the other’s ability to
provide safe, effective and knowledgeable care, while holding either standards
of law, science, ceremony or tradition. I am writing to give voice to my
personal and professional experience that may be relevant to the current polarity
that surrounds psilocybin facilitation in Central Oregon as well as throughout
our country. The first client I sat with as a licensed psilocybin facilitator
reminded me of my purpose and intention in working with psychedelics in a legal
framework. My client, Ronald, has permitted me via verbal and written consent
to share the information below.
It was a sunny and scorching day in
August here in Central Oregon when Ronald and I had our first
conversation/consultation. I had just started doing consultation calls and
working with the Drop Thesis service center. Ronald is a male veteran that experienced
sexual trauma while he was enlisted in the military. The incident happened 35
years prior but had set the tone of much of his life, as he was always
functional societally speaking, however internally and socially he struggled.
To cope with his trauma in the past he sometimes used alcohol, which could
often lead to aggression and anger. Though more recently he had a break and
realized with help from therapists at the Veterans Association, the deeper
reason for the pain and turmoil he was holding inside. Since then, he has been
seeing a licensed mental health therapist, as well as trying a variety of
modalities that could help him on his journey to recovery. He was curious about
psilocybin for a handful of reasons. Ronald had researched how psilocybin could
impact him on a somatic level, in his neural wiring, in his nervous system, his
relationships and in his habits. He also was curious to advocate it to other vets
through his nonprofit organization that supports veterans. He also is in law
school to help veteran victims of military sexual trauma receive the benefits
they deserve, as well as the LGBTQ community that have been wrongfully
discharged dishonorably.
Ronald wants to help and support vets
that have suffered like he has, and knows that first he must help himself. In
this initial conversation he also told me other noteworthy things. One being
that it’s hard for veterans to feel like they have a safe space in society to
process all they’ve been through, and that veterans oftentimes don’t feel
comfortable breaking the law and trying something that may help them if it’s
illegal. He has been thrilled upon the legalization of psilocybin services, and
I have found this to be true not just for veterans but many people I’ve spoken
with that are interested in legal psilocybin facilitation. Another important
aspect to note was my own comfortability in working and facilitating with
Ronald. He was honest with me that other facilitators he spoke with did not
feel safe to work with him because of his sometimes-violent past.
I took some time to weigh my options
and listen to my instincts. I decided to work with Ronald for a few reasons.
Not only did this man not make me feel scared or fearful in any way, I also
knew that in working with him I would always have the support of the travel
agent and owners working at Drop Thesis, as well as the support of any legal or
police force that may be needed in the event things started to not feel safe
for me or for Ronald. From all my education, personal and professional
background, I felt I had the tools to hold a safe and ceremonial setting for
Ronald. Thankfully, Ronald’s whole process was not only safe; it really helped
him and will continue to do so. His preparation, psilocybin administration
(journey) and integration has brought him great insight, healing and motivation
to continue to work on himself and to help others have access to the services
they need.
I tell this story because it is one
that has humbled me. I, myself, have always been on the fringe of society and
systems and sometimes find myself doing things that aren’t accepted through Western/colonial
law and culture (largely in part to my rural upbringing). Though more recently,
I have slowly and sensitively been remembering the harmony that can exist
between the legal and non-legal worlds. In that both being available allows
greater access to a wider array of people. As much as I see the violence and
discrimination of the system, I can’t be a hypocrite in my contribution to it.
I use gas to drive my car, I buy avocados from the store, I write to my local
newspapers. My sister-in-law healed from leukemia at Dartmouth hospital, my
nephews and niece were all born by the support of publicly educated midwives
and health care centers. I understand wholeheartedly the violence of
colonialism and consumerism and also see my inevitable connection in it and
gratitude, as it is not all bad. Although one day I do hope to be barefoot on
my self-sustaining farm with all my loved ones, I’m just not there yet. I see
the value in both the system and the underground world of care, and their
faults as well. In fact, some of my most personal and profound insights and
healing have come from modalities not recognized legally. To which I also know
many people who can relate. Which goes to say, everyone will have a different
comfortability to heal in different spaces.
More importantly though, those of us
providing care within a community must work together to support all pockets of
our population. Some will feel comfortable working within the legal framework,
and some will feel comfortable working in the non-legal framework.
Whichever it may be, we as sharers
of this beautiful high desert landscape must use creativity and imagination to
improve and harmonize all systems, above and underground. We must be careful
not to fall into the peril of these polarizing times, and advocate for
ourselves, our loved ones and our Earth — with respect, integrity and
humbleness. I, myself, am in awe of this community amongst the Cascades and the
amount of care and support that is offered here, within hospitals, service
centers, clinics, under canopies, atop mountains and in homes.
Perhaps both the underground and
regulatory systems of psilocybin facilitation can work together to provide
greater access to the population. Author on Indigenous cultures, death, grief
and praise, Martín Prechtel writes in his 2021 book “Rescuing the Light”:
“The maddening thing is you can
never heal the effects of evil done in the past through punitive justice in the
present, justice cannot heal what’s already happened, you can only heal what’s
going to happen, by being just and honorable today, that’s why peace and
justice don’t actually go together, because justice is only a fancy word for
state-enforced revenge, which ain’t peace.”
As always, I sow my hope into the
family of things. Into the swift smells of sage and juniper, in the crispness
and flow of the Deschutes River, in the vast and clear starry nights that we
all may gaze. In these tender times, I sow my hope into the power of
connection, and what that looks like on a local level. Into the afternoons
spent with friends under a canopy of ponderosa pines, in the family dinners, at
our places of work and school, and in the way we relate to one another,
ourselves and this lovely place we live. The polarity of national policy
requires imagination for us Central Oregonians. One that remembers our place
and neighbors within this place, in effort to live more healthful and vital
lives, authentic to our own meaning and purpose and to the land we live. Not
everyone may be called to work with these re-emerging modalities. For those
interested and already working in these fields, I wonder: How can we all
continue to foster integrity and compassion within our home in the high desert,
to extend holistic services to be more accessible to all? Healing from an
atomizing society requires patience and grace, and above all, it requires a
village.
Bibliography
Maté, Gabor. (2022). “The Myth of Normal:
Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.” Penguin Publishing.
Papaspyrou, Maria and Read, Tim. (2021). “Psychedelics
and Psychotherapy: The Healing Potential of Expanded States.” Inner Traditions
LLC.
Prechtel, Martín. (2021). “Rescuing the Light.”
North Atlantic Books.
—Molly Jacobs
Where Has Mt. Bachelor’s Semblance of Customer Service Gone?
Recently, Mt. Bachelor has stooped even lower: They boast that they have the deepest snowpack in the west. Yes, that’s true, but just yesterday these things happened: They lost power, again, but what was ridiculous was that they were unprepared for this recurring problem in that on several lifts, the tank that holds the fuel for auxiliary power was empty. So people were stranded on many chairs for an hour or longer. Then, many dozens of us were stuck at the bottom of Cloudchaser lift and had to hike out, well over an hour. Mt. Bachelor offered a drink voucher as compensation! How about a ride out? I’m sure Outback and Northwest chairs had the same stupid problem. What would happen if someone had a heart attack? Then, at 3:55pm we were denied a ride on Pine Marten, they just finally got it running a half an hour earlier, because it was already 4pm, but we had to convince them that their clock was fast. It wasn’t easy to convince them; they gave in when they looked at our phone! And this place is for sale? Good luck. Thank you for choosing Mt. Bachelor.
—Larry Annuzi
Bend Dog Town!
It is 2025, a good time to start with NEW resolutions to be better humans when it comes to our dog’s poop. PICK IT UP! Checklist when you are getting ready to take your dog for a walk… coffee (check), dog (check), leash (check and use it), poop bags (check)! Don’t be a lazy human; it is your dog — it is your responsibility to clean up after it, don’t leave it, don’t put it in a bag then leave the bag, don’t expect someone else to pick it up. Way too many piles of dog poop on Pilot Butte trails, at Good Dog park, at Hatfield ponds, at Pine Nursery Park (inside and out of off leash area) and walking in any neighborhood. Be respectful, be responsible, be aware of where your dog is and what it is doing. Do not take your dog out to the boulevard across from your apartment/townhouse and let them poop then be so lazy not pick it up! I’ve watched too many humans on their phones, jogging or drinking their coffee and NOT watching what their dog is doing, or where it is. Not being aware of where your dog is how your dog gets lost at the Good Dog park. Start a new resolution in 2025: PICK UP YOUR DOG POOP and take it to a garbage can.
—Colleen Egertson
Letter of
the Week:
Hear, hear, Colleen! No one wants to step in dog poop or see bags along trails. Pack it in, pack it out. Or better yet, make your dog carry it!
—Chris Young
This article appears in The Source Weekly January 16, 2025.
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