The retreat cost includes all lodging, food and ceremonies as well as the pre-retreat preparation and post-retreat integration calls. Transportation to the retreat location (2.5 hours from San Francisco) is not included and ridesharing is available upon request. Please note: medicines used in ceremony are not included in the cost of the retreat. 

Something to consider: Gathering in groups is an ancient practice. We don’t celebrate holidays alone. We don’t go to funerals alone. We are wired as humans to process things in relationship with one another. 

It’s normal to wonder if you will feel vulnerable going through your own process with so many witnesses. It’s also normal to wonder how other people’s process will affect your experience. Almost everyone comes to our retreats with some level of apprehension about this. Amazingly, we’ve seen that 100% of people have reported that the shared experience of the group, whether in moments of bliss or challenge, brought profound levels of richness and meaning to the overall process. We promise this isn’t a marketing tactic–we really believe that the group is a primary part of the magic. 

The so-called “bad trip” is usually a result of experiencing psychedelics in an unfavorable setting without proper support–or with support that doesn’t feel intuitively safe. It’s very common to have had unsettling–or downright scary–past experiences in recreational settings. 

Even in safe settings with excellent support, psychedelic journeys can sometimes be challenging. Over the hundreds of journeys we have guided we’ve seen that challenging experiences, with proper support, very often yield powerfully meaningful insights. This said, we will never minimize or dismiss any discomfort you experience. We’ll always be there to remind you that you are safe and to lovingly support you through any choppy waters. 

Yes, on our California retreats the journeys take place in a gorgeous communal structure with 180 degree views of the surrounding forest. We all create very cozy individual journey spaces (floor pads, blankets and pillows) to form a circle. While the intention is to remain in the journey space as a group you will also be free to spend time outside if you like. 

Not really. We actually think the term “guide” is a bit of a misnomer. Our job is to support and allow your process to unfold, not to guide it in a particular direction. Instead of telling you what to do during a journey, our aim is to prepare you with the mindset tools in advance so that you can fully surrender to the experience without the interruption of any agenda on our part. We genuinely believe that the medicines we use–along with your own inner wisdom–are truly the best guides in the room.

Yes. We’ve spent hundreds of hours curating playlists specifically designed for psychedelic journeys. It’s a real passion of ours. The music plays through a central speaker (no headphones) and often plays a large role in evoking imagery and emotion. There will also be intentional periods of silence. Most music will be instrumental, without vocals, and range from calming and etherial to more active and emotionally-driven pieces.

Yes. While not required, the intention with eye masks is to make the journey a more inwardly directed experience. We will begin with the eye masks on and you are welcome to remove them and put them back on at any point.

We understand that logic and it is sometimes the right place to start. But we want you to know that you don’t have to begin with a 1:1 experience. A majority of people come to our retreats having never had an individual experience. We love being a safe landing place for people who are just getting to know these medicines for the first time and we think a retreat is often the perfect setting to do so.

Not necessarily! While we are big believers in the power of group experiences we recognize that it is not the right fit for everyone. In some cases, individual work might be the best place to start and in other cases, psychedelics might not be the right pathway at all. If you’re unsure, it’s okay to fill out an application and we’ll help you discern the best path. Part of our job is to make sure the retreat is a safe choice and the right fit for your unique circumstance.

Some medications–or the conditions they treat–can disrupt the effects of psychedelic substances or could produce situations that we are not equipped to safely manage in a group retreat setting. Additionally, some mental or physical health conditions are not compatible with the retreats we offer. While we sincerely want this work to be available to everyone, we are committed to making sure we do so safely and responsibly.

We want everyone who is called to an experience like this to be able to join us. We have payment plans available and sometimes have financial assistance to offer from previous guests who have generously donated to our scholarship fund.