PT547 – Coaching, Fractal Inquiry, and How to Create Your Own Psychedelic Integration Circle, with Daniel Shankin
Sep 13, 2024
auto_awesome
Daniel Shankin, a psychedelic integration coach and founder of Tam Integration, discusses the vital role of integration circles in personal healing and community building. He shares insights on creating these circles simply and effectively. The intriguing 'fractal inquiry' method highlights the power of asking the right questions to unlock personal wisdom. Shankin explores the necessity of embracing individuality and the weirdness often found in the psychonaut community, while emphasizing mindfulness practices, like breath focus, during challenging experiences.
Daniel Shankin emphasizes the critical role of integration circles in providing community support and facilitating shared psychedelic experiences.
The concept of spiritual bypassing is discussed, highlighting the necessity of confronting personal challenges rather than adopting a false sense of enlightenment.
Shankin introduces 'fractal inquiry' as a transformative coaching method that encourages self-exploration through layered questioning.
Deep dives
A Journey of Mysticism and Psychedelics
The host and guest explore the intertwining nature of spirituality and psychedelics in Daniel Shankin's life. Daniel shares that both elements have been woven together since childhood, with early experiences ranging from receiving a yoga book from his grandmother to engaging in cannabis use as a teenager. He reflects on using psychedelics, such as LSD, as tools for deeper self-awareness and understanding. Daniel emphasizes that the experience of altering consciousness doesn’t equate to wisdom; rather, it requires ongoing work and exploration.
The Complexity of Spiritual Bypassing
A discussion arises about the concept of spiritual bypassing, where individuals might adopt a falsely enlightened persona to avoid facing personal challenges. Daniel stresses the importance of being real about one's struggles and the messiness of life, noting that true spiritual understanding includes acknowledgment of suffering and imperfections. He refers to insights from seasoned practitioners who accept vulnerability and the continuous journey of personal growth. This reflection invites listeners to embrace their complexities rather than hide behind a facade of perfection.
The Power of Meditation and Breath
Meditation and mindfulness are highlighted for their role in fostering self-awareness and presence. Daniel shares his challenges with meditation in his youth, suggesting that it can sometimes lead individuals to darker paths if not approached with balance. He emphasizes the need for techniques that allow people to return to the present moment during heightened emotional states, especially in psychedelic settings. This practice of returning to breath helps manage intrusive thoughts and creates a space for clarity and calm.
Building Community through Integration Circles
Daniel discusses his efforts in creating integration circles, emphasizing their importance for community support and sharing experiences related to psychedelics. He notes that these circles were designed to provide safe spaces for people to discuss their journeys, whether challenging or uplifting. The evolution of these circles reflects a collective desire for connection and understanding in a world where psychedelic use is becoming more mainstream. Daniel envisions a future where integration circles proliferate, driven by local communities rather than centralized organizations.
Fractal Inquiry: Deepening Self-Exploration
The introduction of the concept of 'fractal inquiry' serves as a tool for deep self-exploration and coaching. Daniel defines this approach as a method of asking layered questions that allow clients to delve deeper into their thoughts and emotions. He likens this process to fractals, where the more one investigates, the more intricate and beautiful the patterns become. Ultimately, this approach fosters greater awareness, encouraging individuals to tap into their innate wisdom and navigate the complexities of their inner landscape.
In this episode, David interviews Daniel Shankin: psychedelic integration coach, Vital instructor, and founder and director of Tam Integration.
He talks about the underrated importance of integration circles, how he created Tam Integration out of a personal need for them, how simple it can be for people to create their own groups, and how open-ended newly formed groups can be. He also discusses his “fractal inquiry” coaching method, and how the best coaching involves simply asking questions that lead clients to their own realizations and wisdom. He is offering courses that teach both of these skills: a course called Creating Community Psychedelic Integration Circles, and the newly-launched, year-long Mt. Tam Psychedelic Integration Coaching Program, beginning in October.
He discusses:
The importance of learning how to focus on your breath, especially during a tough experience
Hugging the Hindu spiritual leader, Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), and the special energy that some people have
The benefits of knowing when a mind path isn’t worth exploring
The difference between judgment and curiosity
The weirdness of psychonauts, and how maybe getting a little weirder is what’s needed for your healing