Since the dawn of humanity, adventurous men and women have used psychedelic medicines, within ritual contexts, for purposes of healing, spiritual exploration, and creative expression. In modern times, psychedelics have been rediscovered and popularized through social movements of cultural renewal, and transmitted through the arts, including literature, music, painting, film, and, most recently, digital art.

However, the experimental and often unrestrained use of psychedelics by the counter-culture of the 1960s sparked an authoritarian backlash, which we are only just beginning to emerge from in recent years, as a new generation of adventurers, unwilling to succumb to the fear and misinformation propagated by the establishment, has sought to re-situate psychedelics within ritual and therapeutic contexts, and to integrate the lessons of the recent past by creating safer and more intentional containers for their exploration.

Writers, artists, and cultural creatives have been at the forefront of the Psychedelic Renaissance we are witnessing today, yet most of the focus of the movement—understandably and necessarily so—has been on the medical and therapeutic aspects of psychedelic medicines, even though these are only a part of the broader benefits offered by these powerful compounds. In this retreat, we will seek to bridge the gap between the use of psychedelics for healing and spirituality, and their use for creativity in all parts of life—as a source of inspiration, new ideas, and fresh perspectives in the service of creating beautiful and meaningful art, including life as art.

This retreat is for anyone who identifies as or considers themselves to be an “artist” broadly defined, without limitations with regard to medium or professional status. The important qualification is that you are passionate about creative self-expression and developing your own unique work, and that you have a creative practice which you are looking to build upon or raise to a new level. You might also be looking for ways to “awaken your inner artist” and incorporate more creativity into your everyday life, your business or profession, or your relationships.

We will not be focused on technical considerations, questions of craft, or critical evaluation, but rather on the quality of consciousness you bring to your work (and your life). This program will be a dedicated time for you to dive deeply into ideas you may have been nurturing for some time; to radically open up to new insights and possibilities for your artistry; and to explore and reflect upon your creative practice and way of being as a whole.

During our retreat, we will gather as a small group of 6–10 participants in a private location in Colorado, for a weekend of natural and creative immersion, including one evening session involving psychedelic (psilocybin) mushrooms, supported by meditation, energy work, and alternating periods of “sacred silence” and communal sharing. Your guides, Paulina Alanis and Marco V Morelli, bring decades of experience working with psychedelics for personal, spiritual, and creative growth, with Paulina having served as an integral psychotherapist, life coach, and retreat guide (see trueisense.com), and Marco as a poet, writer, editor, publisher, and founder of a cooperative community for writers and artists, Cosmos Co-op.

Please join us if you would like to explore new directions for your artistry and life, within a safe and powerful container, in community with a supportive group of fellow psychonauts and creative souls. We look forward to serving as a catalytic part of your journey!