Humble ideas to help you integrate psychedelic wisdom into lived reality.
Today's special edition is written by our guest Troy McFadden
In this edition:
Breathe. Trust. Open. Surrender. (Repeat)
One-Degree Shift: Diamonds from Heaven
Seeds of Interest
A Song to Move You: I Am Light
Greetings Earthlings,
May this find you peaceful, happy, and thriving, in the process of moving toward these states, or simply “okay” with not being okay, wherever you are in the here and now. All is welcome here.
Being a simple person, I like to distill the essence of psychedelic integration into, well, just that—a few drops of “essential oil”: hard-won, concentrated wisdom that gets to the heart of the matter—Okay, that happened; now what?
In this question, there is no denial or diminishment of the experience or story, but rather an acknowledgment of our history without indulging it (which has its place, of course), together with an invitation to both deepen into ourselves and move forward—while remaining informed, encouraged, inspired, and reverent toward all that has led us here.
We might view this question as resting in the middle of a spectrum, with trauma, healing work, and therapy at one end (elements that often—almost always—arise as the integration process unfolds) and a desired future state at the other (where mental, imaginative, and emotional visualizations serve as powerful fuel for manifestation).
At the center of the question itself lies the here and now—the only place we can ever truly inhabit. In the present, we can allow whatever unprocessed experiences need to arise to do so safely and in the light, while remaining well-resourced. As we free ourselves, the resulting clarity, expansion, and freedom enable us to make more informed choices—guided by all levels of our being—so that our future experiences, our highest destiny, bring joy, fulfillment, satisfaction, peace, and yes, the right types and amount of challenges to awaken us further and guide us Home.
Returning to simplicity: whether before, during, or after a journey, here’s a reminder—a mantra, if you will—Breathe. Trust. Open. Surrender. Not necessarily in that order. All interrelated concepts. Repeat as necessary.
One of the great things about these four words is that they’re not just for preparation, ceremony, or integration—they’re for every conscious moment of our lives. Moment by moment, day in and day out, they offer a way to be with all our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and life experiences.
Life is one big ceremony, after all, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. We enter a shrine at birth; we learn within it, respect it, honor it, love within it, serve within it, and heal within it—until we “depart for a dissimilar and fascinating world,” as Yogananda said.
Breathe. Trust. Open. Surrender. A simple adage—perhaps not always easy, yet deeply profound—and a vital part of theArt of Life.It changed mine; may it enrich yours and those you support.
One-Degree Shift:
Professor Christopher M Bache:
LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven
This is one of the most profound, trustworthy, and comprehensive descriptions of the potential of psychedelics that has ever crossed my path. This man, a very conventional one in many respects, applied a keen mind and an open heart, an academic rigor and discipline and an enormous amount of courage over a 20-year span, literally going to the edges of the universe and beyond, within and without, during 73 extremely high dose LSD-25 sessions and then meticulously “recorded” them. Guided by his “Beloved” as he puts it, he was taken on a methodical journey, beginning with his personal imbalances and wounds, expanding to the collective challenges of all life on earth, and then surrendering into “Diamond Luminosity” – and beyond.
One of the most powerful aspects of his story involves the fate of humanity in the near future, the larger reason we are exactly where we are, and the “Birth of the Future Human”. It is sobering, it is scary, it is beautiful, it is magnificent, and it has helped both my heart and head be with all that is unfolding on the global stage in 2025. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for the lionhearted.
While I highly recommend the book, (he narrates the audio version himself, so that’s an option) even viewing/listening to some of his interviews (podcasts, YouTube etc) will be intriguing and informative. If you do explore, please feel free to post about his “work” on the Nectara Circle site!
Seeds of Interest:
Kahu: A concept to consider
My stepfather was Hawaiian (and though he’s an ancestor now, he may still be) so Hawaiian culture has a special place in my heart.
In ancient (and continuing) Hawaiian culture, a kahu is a person who serves as a guardian, caretaker, keeper, attendant, steward, and/or spiritual custodian. The term carries deep cultural, familial, and sacred responsibilities. It is not limited to one role—someone can be kahu of lands, ancestral bones, pets, a temple, or a person. They may perform prayers, chants, blessings, cleansing rituals, and mediation between the physical and spiritual realms (please note, this term is not to be confused with the more widely-known “Kahuna”).
How might we attune to and/or utilize at least certain aspects of this role with our friends, family, clients – all our relations?
Answers to the age-old question
Why - if we are all One, if God is Love, and we are all God - is there so much suffering in the world?
The Divine wanted to experience itself, with contrast.
Love, to be free, must include the choice to forget.
We are evolving God through ourselves.
The wound makes the return meaningful.
There is no answer — only awe.
And maybe a new universe could exist where there’s both differentiation and deep remembrance. Maybe that's what we're evolving toward.
Maybe your longing for it is the seed of that future reality.
This is such a beautiful, wise, and triumphant song—a soulful, soothing reminder of the truth of who and what we are, and an acknowledgment of all the false—or at least limited—aspects of being that we tend to identify with as “us.” It aligns perfectly with my optimism bias, my“The Sun is Always Shining”mantra—not denying anything, but rather bringing it all into the light, as it were.
It’s hard to imagine that if this song arose in ceremony, it wouldn’t shift you out of a tough spot, supporting you as you’re in one, or reinforce a blissful state with its hymn-like grandeur, gravitas, warmth, honesty, and self-love.
Plus, anytime a woman—and especially a BIPOC woman (or any member of the LGBTQIA+ community for that matter)—stands fully in their power and celebrates it, my heart swells with gratitude and reverence. It’s so hard-earned; the whole “backwards and in heels” thing. More power to you, sister, and thank you for your inspiring and healing music.
