The Healing Potential of Parts Work and Psychedelics: Integration
Integration. Do we really want to hear that word again? It’s the phase that comes after the mystery, magic, joy, connection, celebration, cleansing, purging, grieving, ecstasy, awe, comfort, and ease. It’s akin to the time in intimate partnership after the romantic phase has simmered down, the time when we are invited into the more intentional healing work.
How many of us have come to the well of psychedelics seeking the panacea, that elusive glimpse of Truth and Love, finally breaking through the blindness that comes with inner walls built to protect us from the present moment, often a result of years of stumbling blindly, trauma, and/or systemic oppression and exploitation. Those tastes of divinity and long sought-after clarity are so sweet, golden. And then there’s that word – integration. The medicine has worn off, the soft and tender afterglow settles in. Tender memories of the journey linger, hope inspired. And then slowly the outer and inner worlds begin to close in, resuming their familiar roles and patterns.
This is a moment when working with our parts can help take that medicine that was given to us and bring it into this realm. When we are in those altered states of consciousness, we connect with the numinous – with our own divinity. We have access to what is beyond the walls of protection, as our defenses are softened. Sometimes our journey takes us a short distance from our inner village of parts, and sometimes we travel to the far reaches of time and space. Out there, we find wisdom to bring home to our inner village. As a journeyer returning from their travels gathers around the fire and tells their community their stories, bringing back the gems of wisdom gleaned along the way, so do we have the opportunity to come home to ourselves and bring the wisdom to our inner community.
In the past, when I’ve thought about integration, I’ve felt a sense of needing to strive for it. I need to hold onto the wisdom. I need to apply it. I need to DO something. We do not need to cling to what we received. In fact, that clinging is a constriction, limiting our access to the present moment. We have only to be with what is here. What is needed is simply to show up. Sit in communion with the inner village as you have your morning tea or coffee. The twinge of fear, anxiety, sadness – a part is present. We have only to sit with them. Meet them. See them. Simply feel in our body what they’re feeling. We don’t have to ‘do,’ yet everything gets done. Just notice.
The wisdom experienced with the medicine journey remains within; that wisdom is you and it is the source of all wisdom, love, and compassion. It is our connection with each other. It is why we are never alone. As we move into the days after deepening into connection with the medicine, we can take the opportunity to remain with the opening, allowing Self or Source energy to mediate love and connection to our parts. This is where integration happens.
