
3 months agoGracias. I understand why people describe ayahuasca, San Pedro, DMT, and psilocybin as portals. They can create profound experiences and reveal parts of the mind, heart, and human experience that may otherwise remain unseen. But with great power comes great responsibility. For seven years, I wrote curriculum for a medicine based program and supported people as a neuroscientist and therapist. I witnessed firsthand that even with strong assessments before an experience, much of the human psyche remains unknown. These medicines can uncover or intensify psychological vulnerabilities that neither the participant nor the facilitator knew were present. What begins as something beautiful or spiritual can become confusing, frightening, destabilizing, and potentially dangerous. That does not erase the beauty or the blessings these medicines may offer. It means we must speak honestly about both sides. Anything powerful enough to open a portal is powerful enough to open something a person may not yet be prepared to face. The responsibility cannot end when the ceremony ends. It must include rigorous screening, honest informed consent, skilled facilitation, individualized processing, qualified mental health support, and meaningful long term care. These medicines should never be promoted casually, romantically, or as though profound automatically means safe. Their power deserves respect, humility, preparation, and accountability.
