185: The Power of Psychedelics

“Different plant medicines will help you dive deeper into your psyche.”

This week on ONKEN RADIO, we're going far out, guys. As you all probably know, I recorded a podcast episode at the end of last year about the 21 things I learned in 2019. This year, I've dedicated one entire episode to each item on that list, and this week, we're on number three: the healing power of psychedelics. 

A few years ago, I went through a dark time. I no longer had the desire to be creative, and I barely had the drive to do even mundane tasks. I began searching for meaning in my life, and that's when I first started my foray into the mystical world of psychedelics and plant medicines. 

You may remember that I talked about all things mushrooms and creativity with Tero Isokauppila, the founder of Four Sigmatic — a food and beverage company that specializes in mushroom-based drinks. I also had an interview with Gerry Powell, the founder of Rhythmia, discussing how plant medicine can change your life. To follow up, I had Dr. Jeff McNairy on the podcast to explain how plant medicine works in your brain. 

Today, you'll get my take on the power of psychedelics and plant medicine — what I've tried, what my experience was, and how it's helped me heal from a difficult time. I'll also provide some information from different scientific resources, which show that some psychedelic drugs and natural medicines may help heal depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. 

Without further ado, let's get started.

My Experience Trying DMT Psychedelics for the First Time 

A couple of years ago, I was going through my very own "dark night of the soul." I had lost purpose in my life, and I no longer had the creative drive I used to. I was in a lost space, and so I decided to try something new — psychedelics.

The first one I tried was 5-MeO DMT, which is crystalized toad venom. I smoked it, and it took me on this crazy journey outside my body and through my consciousness. Everyone has a different experience, but for me, it was like I left my body and ventured into the universe. I saw all these colored fractals and found myself amongst the stars. It was a beautiful experience during a dark time in my life.

At that point, I really didn't know what to expect. And more importantly, I didn't know how to interpret my psychedelic experience afterward. As beautiful as it was, I came back from that experience sort of shell-shocked. I had experienced this beautiful 5D reality, and then all of a sudden, I was back in the 3D physical world. That contrast was so abrupt for me, and afterward, I experienced somewhat of an existential crisis. 

Looking back, I know that experience served its purpose. It showed me that I didn't know how to integrate my psychedelic experience into reality. I didn't even know I needed to integrate that experience into my life. 

When you do psychedelics or plant medicine, it takes you to a different place. You experience and see things that are not in the 3D realm. It's important to integrate that experience back into 3D reality so that you're not using it as an "escape" but as a way to understand the world and yourself on a deeper level. 

After my first experience, I realized that I had a lot to learn about psychedelics — I didn't know how to harness their power. That's when I came across an invaluable resource: a book titled How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan.

Psychedelics 101: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

This book completely revolutionized my point of view on psychedelics. You all know that I'm really interested in the concrete science behind things when I'm trying any new modality to improve my life, whether it be religion, healing, or spirituality. This book by Michael Pollan provided all that for me. It gave me the grounding to really understand how psychedel...