PT486 – Steve Rio – 5-MeO-DMT, Somatic Release, and Creating Context for Spirituality
Feb 13, 2024
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Psychedelic guide and co-founder of Enfold, Steve Rio, discusses their work with 5-MeO-DMT and the importance of safety and process. They collect qualitative data and work with the University Health Network Centre for Mental Health. They explore the power of 5-MeO, the need for a clean and open container for spirituality, and the declining populations of Sonoran Desert toads. They also discuss the dangers of toad venom, the importance of unbiased studies, and the role of psychedelics in trauma and acceptance.
Enfold chooses synthetic 5-MeO-DMT over toad venom to prioritize safety, precise dosing, and ecological sustainability.
Enfold emphasizes community and support to foster stability and belonging in individuals' healing and transformative journeys.
Psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT offer a middle way between medical and shamanic approaches, combining spirituality, somatic experiences, and responsible use.
Deep dives
Use of Synthetic 5-MeO-DMT over Toad Venom
The organization, Enfold, led by Steve Rio, has chosen to use synthetic 5-MeO-DMT instead of toad venom for their healing and transformative work. This decision is motivated by two main factors. Firstly, toad populations are becoming endangered due to excessive harvesting for their venom, leading to ecological and ethical concerns. Secondly, synthetic 5-MeO-DMT offers more precise dosing and safety compared to toad venom, which can have inconsistent levels of the compound. Enfold prioritizes safety and precise dosing to ensure effective and responsible use of 5-MeO-DMT.
Importance of Connection and Community in Healing
Enfold's work revolves around the principles of coaching, community, and experiences focused on healing and transformation. They emphasize the importance of creating connections and a fabric of support among their clients. Enfold offers ongoing coaching and creates a sense of community to provide continuous support for deep healing work and transformative experiences. By fostering connection and community, Enfold believes that individuals can move through their personal journeys with more stability and find a sense of belonging in their pursuit of healing and personal growth.
Broadening the Focus Beyond Individual Healing
Enfold believes that the benefits of psychedelics extend beyond individual healing and can contribute to the overall health and well-being of society. They encourage exploring the relationship between individuals, communities, humans, and nature. Enfold sees psychedelics as a tool to foster connection with others and the world, leading to a broader understanding of spirituality and a sense of unity. They urge to move beyond focusing solely on personal healing and integrating psychedelics into a broader conversation about societal well-being and finding peaceful coexistence with the world.
Integration and Preparation for Psychedelic Experiences
The podcast episode discusses the importance of preparation and screening before engaging in a psychedelic experience. The speaker emphasizes the need for individuals to be in the right place in their lives and have previous experience with self-exploration, therapy, or spiritual work. They highlight the importance of stability and the ability to handle the dysregulation that can come with psychedelic medicine. The preparation process includes screenings, videos, one-on-one calls, group calls, and a two-week prep program involving reflections, meditations, and journaling. The speaker also explores the benefits of both individual and group work, highlighting the healing power of being vulnerable and heard in a group setting.
The Middle Way and Somatic Shifts in Psychedelic Therapy
The podcast episode discusses the concept of the middle way in psychedelic therapy, which involves blending spirituality with modern therapeutic techniques and scientific understanding. The speaker critiques the polarized approach of hyper-medicalized views and overly shamanic practices, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and variety in psychedelic experiences. They highlight the potential for somatic shifts and profound physical experiences with substances like 5-MeO-DMT. The speaker also acknowledges the importance of caution and careful consideration when using powerful substances, highlighting the potential risks and the need for responsible use and integration.
In this episode, Joe interviews Steve Rio: psychedelic guide, performance and transformation coach, musician, and co-founder of Enfold, a retreat center in BC, Canada.
While Enfold caters each experience to each client, they largely work with 5-MeO-DMT (which is unregulated in Canada); partly because of its power, and partly because Rio realized how much was missing in terms of safety and process when using the substance. They are trying to fill in the gaps, working with the University Health Network Centre for Mental Health to analyze measurements of mindfulness, DAS tests, the Brief Inventory of Thriving survey, and language used when describing experiences to collect as much qualitative data as possible. He discusses their screening process, why they work with synthetic 5-MeO-DMT, why they encourage everyone to go to a group session, and how 5-MeO seems to bypass psychological processes and largely be related to somatic release.
He talks about:
The power of 5-MeO and being humble and honest with yourself: Are you stable enough to handle the dysregulation?
5-MeO bad actors and 'Drive-by 5' people who show up, do the drug, and leave
The plight of Sonoran Dessert toads and the need for more data around their declining populations
How 5-MeO seems to connect people with a higher power, and the need for the experiencer to find their own context for it
The importance of creating a clean and open container for spirituality and meeting the client where they are
