Psychedelics Saved Me!

“Don't let anything or anyone keep you from fulfilling the mission that you came here to fulfill. There's a way to do that and it might be through using the power of plant medicine to get you there.” - Declan Oceguera

Controversial opinion: psychedelics can unlock new dimensions of self-discovery and help you embark on a transformative journey like no other. In this Webdelics episode, guests Declan Oceguera, Joe Apfelbaum, David Morin, and Katherine Bell, along with host Scott Mason, delve into the truth about psychedelics and plant medicine, challenging myths and reshaping the narrative. They share their experiences with how psychedelics propelled them towards spiritual awakening, personal growth, and the dismantling of the ego and explore the power of guided journeys, the importance of responsible usage, and the potential of psychedelics to heal deep-seated traumas. 

Katherine Bell is a dream coach. With a background in astrophysics, and a fascination with the inner world and dreams, she brings a unique perspective to the discussion about the transformative power of psychedelics. Declan Oceguera (called Rich in the audio version of this episode) is a media consultant and video visibility coach. He helps individuals share their messages with the world using video. David Morin is a performance coach and advocate for ketamine treatment, particularly for treatment-resistant depression. As the CEO of a digital marketing agency, Joe Apfelbaum understands the power of communication and breaking stigmas. He recognizes the immense benefits that psychedelics can offer.

Highlights from the conversation:

• While it's important to consider the insights of scientists and experts, what truly matters are the human stories that reveal the profound impact of psychedelics. As Scott puts it, "Human stories are the ones that matter most of all." 
• Insights from David Morin
  • David's near-death experience transformed his perspective on psychedelics and spirituality. He shares, "My perspective on psychedelics vastly changed because I had a very intimate experience with near death." 
  • Psychedelics are not a quick fix, but rather a tool that, when combined with personal agency and support, can lead to profound transformations and enlightenment. David remarks, “One dose of ketamine combined with talk therapy, rewires the brain, … allows [the patient] to reformulate their life in such a profound way…”
  • David shares how psychedelics have opened his eyes to the distinction between the personal experiences shaped by societal constructs and the boundless energetic realm that encompasses us. This journey has brought him peace and a transformed outlook on existential challenges. 
• Insights from Katherine Bell
  • “One of the things that dreams do is they take things from the waking life, they take things from the past, they take things from the present, they take things that are totally made up, and they mix them all together, and they bring together these different ideas, these different memories, different experiences, and they put them together in new ways,” Katherine tells Scott. “…And I think psychedelics do something similar.” 
  • Embracing both dream and psychedelic states offers you an opportunity to let go of your rigid beliefs and rearrange your priorities, resulting in a fresh outlook on life when awake. 
  • Katherine reflects, “But there was something about psychedelics that kind of focused me into realizing that there's more than this body, then there's more than this earth…” She believes that psychedelics are a catalyst for spiritual exploration as they awakened her to the concept of spirituality and opened her up to the idea that there is more to life than just the physical world.
• Insights from Declan Oceguera
  • Declan shares his personal journey, where he found a sense of spirituality through psychedelic experiences. He describes a transformative moment on the dance floor, feeling a deep connection and considering it his own form of church. These experiences helped him explore spirituality outside of the traditional religious context he grew up in.
  • At a low point in his life a guided psilocybin journey helped Declan remember and reconnect with his true self and spiritual practices, “and I can honestly say if I hadn't had that journey, that one particular guided journey, I don't know if I'd be here right now to be telling the story.” 
  • “I'm a huge advocate of using [psychedelics] in the proper way, in the right circumstances, using these tools, because they're tools that are ancient, that have been here for millennia in different cultures around the world in different ways, and they can be life saving,” Declan emphasizes. 
• Insights from Joe Apfelbaum
  • “To me,” Joe says, “death of the ego is being able to observe your own identity and knowing that you're not the voice in your head. … And we all know what that voice is. It's there judging and criticizing and all that stuff. So for me, the death of the ego allows me to turn off the right and the wrong, removing the judgment.” 
  • “Fear is what makes us stop taking action,” Joe tells Scott. He acknowledges the limitations of ego and the benefits of experiencing life without judgment and with heightened senses, connecting with the present moment. 
  • Psychedelics can give you a sneak peek into the spiritual realm and broaden your consciousness. They open doors to a whole new way of seeing and comprehending reality, as well as new insights into your own being. 
• Advice for listeners:
  • David: “It's time to start choosing to have the uncomfortable experiences that are really going to help you grow in such a profound transformative way. So don't let fear reservations and excuses and that little box that you put yourself in and what you think capable will stop you from having the experience.” 
  • Rich: “...if you get into this rut that you can't seem to get out of, then getting with someone who's trained, who's a professional to support you, perhaps with one of these psychedelics could literally be life changing or life saving.” 
  • Joe: “The things that are making you uncomfortable are action signals for you to be able to experience a whole new level of life.” 
  • Katherine: “...one of the big parts of the journey of the psychedelics and the journey around dreaming has been learning to trust myself.” 

Resources

Katherine Bell: Website | Instagram | Facebook | The Dream Journal Podcast

Declan Oceguera: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | SoundCloud

David Morin: Instagram

Joe Apfelbaum: Ajax Union | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkTree

Webdelics On the web | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn