An Expanded Approach to Forgiveness for Expanded States
But first, a film recommendation from your sponsor...
The Next Chapter - Scott Wright’s new documentary about older adults and psychedelics is out, and I’m in it!
When he was 68, filmmaker Scott Wright participated in a psilocybin ceremony in Mexico that changed his life. He returned a year later with a group of older adults to try and document the magic of the experience. The result is a beautiful immersion into the transformative power of psilocybin in older life.
To watch the film, simply click here - and enter the code: pgdc4tjo8j for $2.00 off the rental price.
A Conversation on Forgiveness with Oregon Psilocybin Facilitator, Ana Holub
I first connected with Ana Holub several years ago, drawn to her work around forgiveness as a form of letting go. In my interviews with older psychonauts for my book, forgiveness kept coming up as a theme – and I could see how the ability to shed old grievances was helping them live in greater alignment and approach mortality with peace in their hearts.
But as I was to learn from Ana, forgiveness isn’t only about remorse and apologies. She actually defines forgiveness as letting go of anything that’s in the way of inner peace – with full freedom of choice to do so or not.
Ana’s book, Forgive and Be Free – A Step-by-Step Guide to Release, Healing & Higher Consciousness, made a huge impression on me. I followed the instructions outlined in the book, created a sacred space, consciously laid down my burden and humbly invited grace into my heart. Suddenly and miraculously, my devoutly secular self understood the power of prayer.
Originally published in 2014, Holub is now reissuing the book, with updated language and an addendum on how her approach to forgiveness supported her during a powerful Ibogaine experience.
We spoke on zoom recently about the book’s original origins and the new release.
Between the late 1990s through 2008, I was working as a mediator and offering peace education to high conflict couples and incarcerated people. Influenced by Colin Tipping’s Radical Forgiveness and The Course in Miracles, I developed a process to help people learn to let go. I was doing that work mainly one-on-one. The desire to share this approach more broadly was the impetus for writing the book.
When I started to do more psychedelics, I realized how much having this forgiveness practice deep in my bones helped me when I was under the influence of the mushrooms. Some really intense things were arising – at times things were very uncomfortable – but I was able to release them without getting stuck because of this life skill of deep letting go that I had developed.
I consider expanded forgiveness to be a kind of inner yoga. A way of moving stuck energy so we can experience peace and freedom.
This is what my book, and my work, are all about – teaching people the nuts and bolts of helping them feel in their bodies, their minds, their emotions and in their spirit what it feels like to let go. This practice is beneficial in general because opportunities to release tension and resentments arise every day. It’s also a practical skill to support us in psychedelic journeying.
As a licensed facilitator in Oregon, Ana offers clients an optional forgiveness session during the preparation phase before a psilocybin journey.
By practicing these skills ahead of time, if a traumatic event comes up during their psychedelic journey, my clients know how to let go and release; then they can make room for new understanding. If an experience of vast beauty comes to them, they can let go into receiving joy and wisdom.
This expanded forgiveness model is a way of deciding that we’re not going to hold on anymore, and we’re free to make the choice to release. We can make this decision now or at any time we’re ready.
We need to be gentle with ourselves in order to decide – do I want to keep the pain, resentments, old memories and traumas or do I want to let them go? I teach people the practical steps of HOW to do that so that they can be intuitive, creative and free.
To order Ana’s book, here’s the link. And for the ebook.
My book, Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging, will be officially out in a matter of days. Here are links to celebratory events that are open to the public: Would be great to see you!
July 7, 7 PM - My official Washington, DC book launch at Busboys and Poets, Takoma, in conversation with Prof. Mikhail Kogan of the GW Center for Integrative Medicine
July 11, 3 PM - Baltimore, MD: A Panel Discussion on Psychedelics in Older Age with Bill Richards, Mary Cosimano and John Rhead, hosted by the Baltimore Psychedelic Society
July 19, 3 PM - Vancouver, WA: Book event at the Dovetail Cellars, sponsored by the Portland Psychedelic Society
July 24, 5 PM - Berkeley, CA: Psychedelics and the Reimagining of Aging, at the Berkeley Alembic.
July 30, 6 PM - Santa Cruz, CA: Hosted by the Santa Cruz Psychedelic Society:
Ana was my facilitator for several profound experiences, and I have found forgiveness for many, most importantly, myself.
Deeply beautiful sentiments from Ana . . . and LOVE the SCPS poster!!