PT457 – Erika Dyck & Jono Remington-Hobbs – Rites of Passage, Psychedelic History, and Rediscovering Our Hearts
Nov 3, 2023
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Erika Dyck, historian, and Jono Remington-Hobbs, coach, talk about rites of passage and creating liminal spaces for reflection. They discuss the power of community, integrating our heads, and hearts, and living heart-led lives. They explore the historical significance of psychedelics, their relationship to non-ordinary states of consciousness, and their potential impact on shaping a different future. They also examine the intersection of psychedelics and palliative care, delve into the historical context of psychedelics in the 60s and 70s, and explore deep questions surrounding psychedelics and consciousness.
Embracing diversity as a strength and shifting towards a mindset of appreciation and acceptance fosters personal growth and transformation.
Traditional rituals and rites of passage involving non-ordinary states of consciousness and communal experiences provide opportunities for deep introspection and self-discovery.
Moving beyond a transactional approach, psychedelics should be seen as catalysts for multi-dimensional transformations and the challenging of societal structures.
Deep dives
The importance of tolerance and diversity
One of the main ideas discussed in the podcast is the importance of tolerance and diversity. The conversation highlighted the need to appreciate and embrace diversity as a strength rather than striving for sameness. It was emphasized that psychedelics can help foster this mindset shift, as they can facilitate a change in perspective and open individuals up to different ways of thinking and being.
Rediscovering traditional rituals and rites of passage
Another key point discussed in the podcast was the significance of traditional rituals and rites of passage in human societies. It was noted that these practices, which involve non-ordinary states of consciousness and communal experiences, allow individuals to delve into deep questions of meaning, purpose, and identity. The importance of heart-centered communities and communal experiences as catalysts for personal growth and individual self-discovery was also highlighted.
Moving from a transactional to a holistic approach
The discussion emphasized the need to move beyond a transactional approach to psychedelics, where their use is solely focused on medical treatment or productivity. Instead, a more holistic approach was advocated, one that recognizes the diverse and multi-dimensional impacts of psychedelics on aspects such as spirituality, cosmology, and complex meaning-making. The aim is to open up new possibilities for individual and collective transformations, challenging existing societal structures and values.
The power of experiential learning and communal connections
The podcast also explored the transformative power of experiential learning and communal connections. It was emphasized that traditional academic and clinical frameworks are not sufficient to fully understand and engage with the profound effects of psychedelics. The importance of creating heart-centered communities and experiential retreats where individuals can come together, share their experiences, and cultivate deeper connections with themselves and others was highlighted as a key aspect of engaging with psychedelics.
The importance of knowing our own history
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of understanding our own history when it comes to psychedelics. It highlights the need for quickly gaining wisdom and knowledge about the past in order to navigate the present psychedelic movement effectively. The conversation touches on the impact of the Cold War, the existential angst of the 60s and 70s, and the role of psychedelics in finding hope and meaning during that time. It also explores the dangers of forgetting or ignoring history and the need to integrate ancient and modern wisdom in the current psychedelic space.
Expanding the concept of psychedelics
The podcast delves into the discussion of broadening the definition of psychedelics beyond just drug-induced states. It suggests that psychedelic experiences can be accessed through various means, such as breathwork, meditation, art, and more. The conversation reflects on the limitations of the term 'psychedelics' and encourages a deeper exploration of mind manifesting states and altered consciousness. It also explores the idea of redefining psychedelics as a state rather than a substance, emphasizing the diversity of access points and the potential for personal growth, healing, and community-building.
In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Erika Dyck: Vital instructor, historian, professor, author, and editor of the new book, Expanding Mindscapes: A Global History of Psychedelics; and Jono Remington-Hobbs: graduate of the first cohort of Vital, coach, facilitator, and now, Co-Founder of Kaizn, an experiential wellness company with a strong focus on community, creating a feeling of safety, and modern rites of passage.
They talk a lot about rites of passage and how they create liminal spaces to reflect on the deeper questions we need to ponder but our culture doesn’t allow time for. They talk about how categorization took us away from tradition; how so much of what we get out of these experiences isn’t related to psychedelics at all; why we struggle with connection in the digital age; the power of community as medicine and recognizing a kinship in others; and why we need to integrate our heads and hearts and live more heart-led lives.
They also dive into why cultures have always sought out non-ordinary states of consciousness; how our current state of needing to make sense of a chaotic world is similar to the mindstate of the 60s; psychedelics’ success in palliative care; coaching and why it should be attached to therapy; the creation of the word “psychedelic”; flow states and discovering the intrinsic calling we all have; and the Vital question that starts the podcast out: Are psychedelics the future, or will psychedelics just bring about a different way to think about the future?
