46. Cultivating the Witness: Inside the Psychedelic Journeys of Women Healing Without Judgment

What happens when women drop judgment and pick up the practice of compassionate self-observation? In this deeply moving episode of The High Guide, host April Pride guides us through the real-time psilocybin journeys of three sister trippers—Maria, Lalin, and Adelia. With spiritual and science-informed insight from integration coach Natasha Lannerd, this episode unpacks the meaning of “cultivating the witness,” a practice of observing yourself with neutrality during and after altered states of consciousness. Through song, symbolism, grief, and even a Viking vision, you’ll hear how these women processed everything from ancestral trauma to body trust. The psychedelic self-awareness they uncover isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about remembering who they are.

🔵 Key Takeaways

-“Cultivating the Witness” means holding space for your experience without judgment—especially in psychedelic states.

-Ritual and intention (altars, playlists, ancestor invitations) can deepen the emotional and spiritual resonance of a trip.

-Physical discomfort isn’t failure—it can be a portal to presence, embodiment, or emotional release.

-Integration coach Natasha Lannerd explains how journaling, breathwork, and self-compassion anchor long-term healing.

-Each trip is unique: from Viking ships to voodoo songs, sister trippers share what surfaced—and how it changed them.

Learn more about this episode, including guests and resources on substack:https://aprilpride.substack.com/p/psychedelic-healing-cultivating-the-witness

Hosted by April Pride

Sign up for April’s newsletter on Substack at https://aprilpride.substack.com/ or at getsetset.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@getsetset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@getsetset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@getsetset

Get full access to SetSet with April Pride at aprilpride.substack.com/subscribe