This guide was produced as a labor of love for the benefit of the greater community.

Donations gratefully accepted at gofundme.com/nature-integration-project or subscribe to: patreon.com/understory

Building Community Around Integration​:

A Guide for Community-Led
Peer Integration

by Niki Sylva
with much assistance from community

Information contained in this resource:

A Theory of Peer Integration- p2

Power Dynamics in Integration Settings- p4

Starting a Circle- p5

Peer Integration Circle Format- p9

For Further Consideration (FAQs)- p11

Resources- p13

“The best analogy I have for what integration really is, is alchemy.
Each person has a unique reaction, the fires inside our cauldrons look different.
What precipitates our elemental reaction is an intricate and delicate process.
Sometimes it leads to explosions, sometimes it leads to lead,
and when we add just the right pieces we have transformation.
We can’t predict what will lead to that transformation, until we are in our individual cauldrons
and find the pieces that melt together as a catalyst.”
–Julie Megler

“And you can’t bring down a hundred oak trees bound beneath the soil!
How do we survive the unnatural disasters of climate change, environmental injustice,
over-policing, mass-imprisonment, militarization,
economic inequality, corporate globalization, and displacement?
We must connect in the underground, my people!
In this way, we shall survive.”
–Naima Penniman

This Guide is dedicated to Survivors and Resistors.

To Risk-takers, Teachers, and Collaborators.
Thank you for your struggle to steward this knowledge.
May we follow in your footsteps and take meaningful action
to create a world in which all beings can truly be ​free, empowered, and connected.
A Theory of Peer Integration

What is Integration?

Integration* (dictionary definition)-​ to bring

together, to combine parts to make a complete
whole
Integration in the entheogenic/psychedelic context​-
“Integration refers to the process by which the
material accessed and insights gained in an
entheogenic experience are incorporated over
time into one’s life in a way that benefits the
individual and their community.”
–Bustos, Megler, & Metz (2014)
*It is important to note that historically the word “integration” has sometimes had disturbing
political implications, such as trying to force indigenous people or people of color to comply with
dominant systems. It is important to assert that ​integration should be what helps individuals and
communities live more fully into what is authentic for them​, ​as defined by them.​

Centrality and Importance of Community

Communities are made up of individuals functioning as one to support the goals/mission of the
whole. Communities are life-supporting structures. Coming to community to share and make meaning
together is a tested, time-honored tradition and a fundamental part of being human.
Individuals do not exist outside of their social and ecological contexts​. Therefore, integration that
does not include a lens on how individuals relate to their environment and community is unlikely to
produce a holistic integration experience. It is helpful to have integration practices that acknowledge and
honor the relationship to community and the giving and receiving inherent in that relationship.

Peer Integration Circles

The Peer Integration Circle model explained here was formed by a community in the San
Francisco Bay Area in 2011. The original and continuing intention of peer integration circles is for peers
to come together to share stories of extraordinary experiences. This model of peer integration is based on
the ​council method​, long used by indigenous communities and likely a practice of many of our ancestors.
A stalwart against professional monopolization of “services” humans once offered to each other, peers
can offer support through listening and bearing witness to each other’s personal transformations and
insights.
The first peer integration circles were held in a space at a learning institute. This institute
eventually attempted to change the context of the circles from being peer-led to a therapist-led group.
Participants resisted this attempt to medicalize their group, and continued their peer circles by forming a
nonprofit organization, ​ERIE: Entheogenic Research, Integration & Education​. ​*Note that it is not
necessary to incorporate a non-profit to start a peer integration circle.
“We envision educating the self about the Self”
–ERIE’s philosophy on teaching the ego (small self)
about the larger interconnected experience (higher Self)
2
 ~What are the advantages of integrating with peers?~

Principles of Peer Integration

1. Non-hierarchical​- can reduce problematic power

dynamics* (see next page for more on this)
2. ​Non-judgmental-​ people feel they can more authentically
share without fear of being judged; won’t filter their story to
direct it towards any one person
3. ​Accessible-​ people may feel more comfortable around peers
in the non-judgmental environment; peer circles may also be
more financially accessible than some therapists or
integration practitioners
4. ​Diverse​- hearing a variety of perspectives can help
participants come up with new insights they may not have
otherwise gained
5. ​Educational-​ use self-investigation to explore intentions
with support and feedback from peers
Letting Community Lead
We are naturally wired to learn from the experience of being in community. We learn from
listening, from sharing, from feedback given to us and from our own response to that feedback. There is
no one right way to integrate, and we can learn from each other’s varied life experiences.
We emphasize that peer integration is​ ​led ​by​ communities ​for the benefit​ of those communities.
Together we navigate our own processes around integration. Collectively we have the wisdom to
discover our needs and how to meet them. This is inherently antithetical to the notion that so-called
“leaders” are necessary to mediate connection to ways of knowing that are our birthright.

Key Elements of ​Community-led ​Peer Integration

1. ​Personal empowerment​: Our individual and collective wisdom holds value. We all have expertise on our
own experiences, and we decide what those experiences mean for us, sometimes with collaboration. Both
formal and informal expertise may be considered side by side. Indigenous perspectives and personal
experiences (​folk knowledge​) and non-institutional ​folk ​research can be considered alongside sanctioned
research. We value science, that which can be known through study, and we also examine nuance. We
evaluate information thoroughly with the goal of reducing harm and cultivating benefit.
2. ​Community empowerment​: We get connected to each other and to ourselves. Peer integration
empowers us to support and inform ourselves and each other, not leaving us reliant solely on
professionals. The community comes together to assess and meet its own needs.
3. ​Adaptability:​ The set intentions of the group can change when needs change. The community
determines the direction of its growth. A verbal sharing format can be useful and accessible. A circle may
also incorporate practical elements like expressive arts (visual creation, music, movement), meditations,
discussions, nature-based practices, etc.

3
Power Dynamics in Integration Settings
It might seem that those who organize/facilitate
groups, or provide other integration services, have more
expertise than those who attend or seek services. Even once
you have explicitly clarified your role as a peer, it is
necessary to be aware of these perceptions, as there is
always potential to abuse power.
It is important to understand that​ ​people seeking
integration services ​may be vulnerable​. They may feel
disconnected from themselves and from their communities.
Some people preyed upon these vulnerabilities in a variety of
circumstances, including in psychedelic contexts, even when
substances are not being used.
Since the purpose of community-led peer integration
is to point people towards ​their own personal power​ and the
power of connecting with community,​ it’s a good practice for
facilitators to offer reminders of the wisdom living in all of us
as individuals, in our connections with each other, and in the
natural world. It is ideal for a facilitator to participate as a
peer and not talk more than others, so that their feedback
does not seem to hold more authority.
Simple tools for balanced conversation:
​ .A.I.T. (Why Am I Talking?) ​is a good practice for facilitators to help them reflect about whether
-W
and when to speak.
-M​ ake Space, Take Space ​is a good principle to share with all participants- those who know
themselves as talkers can hold a practice of letting others speak first, and those who tend to speak less
can challenge themselves in a way that feels comfortable to share where they usually might not.
All participants and especially facilitators should be aware of the tendency to offer support in peer
contexts as an “expert.” This can be challenging because we may feel strongly that we want to “help” or
that we do indeed know more than others. However, we might ask if our motivation is more about the
“helping” than about empowering individuals to help themselves. Of course, real concerns about harm
may necessitate having to give direct advice.
I would extend this goal of empowering versus helping as a guideline for those who consider
themselves to be integration professionals and who accept money for their services, as this particular
kind of exchange makes considerations around power dynamics even more crucial (see more in FAQs
​ n page 12).
about ​integration services o
It is good for all participants and facilitators to share information and resources in a way that
doesn’t seem like advice-giving, freeing individuals from pressure or coercion as they decide how to
interact with information. For this reason, it is important that the space also be kept free from
commercial involvement or marketing.
Anyone providing support for others’ integration should regularly seek ​accountability​ through
ongoing consultation with other members of the group and/or with trusted elders or mentors.

4
Starting a Circle​ – Set, Setting, and Communication

Why a circle?​ A circle is an egalitarian shape- all points are equally distant from the center. The
center is the ​group intention or “set​,” ​not the facilitator! ​(*If you skipped the section about Power
Dynamics, go back and read it now).

Set = mindset
Every person comes in with different frameworks and worldviews. Group intention is formed by
considering needs/personal intentions of all individuals equally and endeavors to meet and support
people where they are.
People are part of the setting and bring their individual ​sets​, so the circle is different every time.
Everyone is a participant, including the ​facilitator​. There are additional roles for ​time-keeping​ and
organizing​ (ie. renting space, reaching out to get people there, etc.) This can be done by one person or
may be split between several people. Roles can also rotate.

Personal Intentions
There are a wide variety of needs, which can reveal themselves in our questions and will in turn
constitute part of the setting. ​We are all seeking something.​ General curiosity is as valid an intention as
any. If we have a specific intention, we may find we also feel similarly about what others share as theirs.
Information​- We may seek basic info about substances, (dose, etc.) how to choose or vet a setting,
practitioner or practice​ (​ any of a variety of solo, group or ceremonial contexts with or without guides,
shaman, etc.), phenomenology (from the physical to the psycho-emotional)

Meaning-​ We may be assessing what intentions and experiences mean to us personally. We may wish to
reflect on other perspectives such as those of individuals, indigenous groups, mythological, archetypal,
etc.

5
Connection/Community​- We may want to feel that we
don’t have to keep this to ourselves. Sometimes we feel
we have not been able to share our experiences with
anyone or with close people in our lives.

Witness​-​ We often just need to be heard and seen, may

not require any other interpretation or
meaning-making at the moment

Reframing​- We may want to try to see our experience

differently (ie. a “difficult” trip vs. a “bad” trip)

Resolution​- Something may feel unresolved from a

journey. We may want to further process or simply sit
with and metabolize the experience.

Application-​ ​We​ ​may be looking for a practice or a way

to incorporate what we’ve learned into our daily lives
Psychological relief​-
We may understandably be seeking relief from difficult emotions such as sadness and anger that have
come up over the course of psychedelic experiences or that we have sought help through psychedelics to
investigate. Community integration may or may not be enough; sometimes we do need additional
one-to-one support from a friend, an elder, an integration consultant or a therapist (see FAQs on page
11-12)
A note about ​trauma-informed integration​- ​Anyone​ may be shocked by the power of a psychedelic
experience, particularly if the experience happens in a setting that is not optimal. For individuals who
have experienced trauma, either one or a number of traumatic incidents, as well as ongoing traumas (ie.
poverty, abusive relationships, violence in one’s environment, including racism, sexism, homophobia,
etc.) it is important to note that there may be additional considerations for using psychedelic substances.
Re-experiencing trauma during a psychedelic journey is not uncommon, and individuals may find that
they have different needs as to preparation, integration, or guidance. It may also just not be the right time
for a psychedelic experience, and there is no shame in choosing an alternative that could be much safer.
Additionally, sharing a difficult experience may feel like too much for some. It can be helpful to
suggest at the beginning of the circle that people only share what they really feel comfortable sharing; the
group can hold difficult stories, but there is no expectation for people to push themselves beyond the
boundaries that are naturally in place for them at the time. Integration of transformative experiences can
be held and nourished in a way that kindles non-traumatic expansion of one’s current container to
incorporate the insights received in a journey into one’s everyday life. Integration never has to look a
certain way.
All personal intentions are valid and valuable​. We honor all aspects of the human experience, from the
explicitly “sacred” to the worldly. Categorizing some intentions as “profane” promotes spiritual
exceptionalism and may unnecessarily bring up feelings of shame for people about their intentions. We
can respect all viewpoints in a non-hierarchical, non-judgmental way. It is wonderful to share deeply
personal experiences, as well as humorous anecdotes.
6
 The Bigger Picture- Connection to Environment
Our ​environmental/ecological​ frameworks (“eco” meaning
home) have effects on us. Our intentions are influenced by
how we situate ourselves in relation to our bodies,
personalities, relationships, communities, geographical
regions (towns, cities, watersheds, states, nations), greater
humanity, interspecies connections, nature, Earth, and the
universe. These together constitute our unique worldviews,
elements of which we share culturally.
Your community may have ​particular or different needs
than these. Be sure to ask what people are looking for. This
can be simple- include a note in your email
communications encouraging people to reach out if they
feel the need to make your aware of something, or ask how
you can better accommodate people.
It will be difficult or impossible to meet every single
person’s needs to be able to come to circle. While there are
inevitable circumstances that won’t allow someone to show
up for a circle, there are other times that diverse needs
around feeling safe and comfortable must be taken into
account. It is essential for these needs to be prioritized in
community circles.

Group Intentions- Common Ground

All community integration circles intend to support seekers with their personal intentions around
integration.
The way this is done is by:
-sharing experiences
-learning together
-empowering everyone (including ourselves)
-creating and strengthening connections
-​respecting the container​- it is important for participants’ safety and comfort that the circle be free from
use of substances, making plans to obtain substances, making plans to trip with an individual or group, or
promoting businesses, legal or not (ie. “ceremonies,” etc.)

Setting = physical space

Look for a community gathering place that feels safe. A closed container is preferred for people to
feel they can share freely, whereas a public space like a cafe or a park not feel secure enough.
Make sure the space is welcoming to all. Consider physical and financial ​accessibility-​ are there
ramps into the building? Can people sit comfortably on the floor or in chairs? Are there financial barriers
keeping some folks away? (cost of renting space can vary widely) Do people from marginalized groups
feel welcome to attend? (For example, if most attendees are white or men or heterosexual, consider how
this affects the space and who may feel comfortable attending.)
7
 Your group may want to consider the space to be ​sacred​ ​for the duration of the sharing process.
The word sacred means “deserving of reverence.” This word may also just not work for people who
consider themselves to be refugees of religion. What’s important to highlight is that we are coming
together to support each other in our human experiences and we can ​respect all perspectives​ and reasons
why people have come.

Communication
Be clear about the group’s intentions when inviting people to participate- this helps people understand
the group’s purpose and basic structure before coming.
Here is an example from an email to a Northern California integration circle (see note about ​privacy​ in
FAQs on page 11):

What is community-led peer integration?​

An integration circle is a place to come together with peers and share any thoughts and feelings
related to a previous journey from any time in your past, or anticipations about a journey that has not yet
happened, in order to process and more fully incorporate it into your present life. Integration is not
assimilation- we aim to witness and support the profound changes that may be experienced as a result of
visionary journeying.
We all have the capacity to hold space for each other around difficult or transformative experiences.
We are each experts on our own experiences, and with the support of community, we hope to be able to be
able to help each other grow and live what we're learning.

*Note that it is not necessary to communicate exact specifics about the structure of the circle other than
being clear that a peer format is used. Making yourself available to answer further questions can also help
participants feel safe and comfortable to attend.
8
Peer Integration Circle- Format

Opening
For the opening use a quote, a one-minute
grounding meditation, or other reflection or
question (we try to make this accessible and
universal, unless we have decided on a specific
topic).
1. State Group Intentions
Remind people why we are here, what we are doing,
and how we plan to support our goals.

Example: Our objective is​ ​to integrate our

psychedelic experiences into our daily lives by being
present for each other, sharing and bearing witness,
and respecting ourselves, each other and the
container.
2. Clarify any roles in the space (facilitator,
time-keeper, etc.)​- We are all peers, not experts.
Facilitators can be approached to ask about more
resources.

3. Explain Community Agreements

Confidentiality​- ​People may use pseudonyms if they wish. We don’t repeat what is said in the circle or
who is there. We don’t identify people within or outside of the circle. (ie. don’t say “I’m glad to see Bill is
here; we do ceremony together,” or “My guide is Sue in Davenport”) ​What’s said here stays here and
what’s learned here can leave here.

Safety-​ This is not a space to exchange substances, nor is it a place to promote your business or yourself
as a sitter/guide/ceremonialist. We value a space that is free from the harms of coercion and undue risk.

Container​- ​stay in the circle. Come on time, don’t leave early. Get up for water or a bathroom break only
when people aren’t sharing (the transition when we switch from one person to another is a good time).

Listen attentively​- ​Silence is important for bearing witness for others. Check in with yourself
occasionally in response to what is shared.

Share authentically-​ ​Know or learn your edge for what you feel comfortable to share. It’s ok to go
outside your comfort zone, as long as you feel safe.

Talking stick/object​- ​We pass an object to be clear about whose time it is to speak and who will be
listening. This also prevents A/B conversations.

9
Timing​- ​can vary depending on size of group (in a two-hour session with a group of 9 people, we usually
have 5 minutes for sharing and 5 minutes for reflection). You don’t need to receive reflection if you don’t
want to. You can use the whole time for sharing (10 minutes) or you can ask a question and receive
reflection for almost the whole 10 minutes.
​Reflection-​ ​Avoid advice-giving. Facilitator and author, adrienne marie brown, refers to advice-giving as
“unsolicited coevolution pressure.” Advice often begins with the word “should” and may trigger feelings
of “not doing it right”. It’s ok to share resources, talk about how listening to someone’s story made you
feel, or reflect that the sharing reminded you of a similar experience you had (without then taking up a lot
of time or turning it into your story). When asking questions to someone who shared, we emphasize that
all questions should be considered rhetorical, meaning that person is under no obligation to respond in
that moment or resonate with the question.
At the end of every individual’s time for sharing and reflecting, the facilitator will ask if the person feels
complete or ok to move on to the next participant. ​If for some reason they don’t, make a plan to speak with
them afterwards.
Step Up, Step Back​- ​Those who know they are outgoing and tend to talk a lot challenge themselves to
share space with others, and those who are quieter challenge themselves to speak up more. This is how
we share space equitably, so that individuals don’t take up too much time giving feedback in place of
other people also getting to give feedback (you might find you want to put a 1 minute time limit on
feedback).

Closing
After everyone has shared, there may be time for additional questions or observations if anyone wants to
add something.
We then close the circle, again with a quote, meditation, one-word takeaways, or anything else that helps
participants feel closure.

10
For further consideration (FAQs)

-Who feels welcome/included, and who doesn’t?

The same people who have been historically excluded
from other community activities are likely to encounter
barriers to attending an integration circle, for reasons of
safety, comfort, etc. This includes women, people of color,
LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, etc.
For this reason, in my community a Women’s
Integration Circle was started. Check in with your community
about needs and be willing to step out of the box and try
different strategies to connect people with support.

-Who feels supported to share, and who doesn’t?

Some folks who tend to be quiet or reserved in group
conversations will feel empowered to share if the facilitator
manages interruptions and the time-keeper watches to make
sure no one is dominating the conversation. Take note of
societal privileges that normalize certain people speaking
more than others.

-How can we manage time well?

Given that equal time is being given to all participants, but some people may feel they have more
needs around sharing their process, how can we make sure that people are effectively served by the peer
circle format?
Here are a few solutions:
-The facilitator can explain thoroughly when introducing the format about how much time there is
for sharing and that there will be opportunities after the circle closes to speak to more people

11
individually. It’s good to build in some mingling time as people are gathering their things to leave after
the closing.
-You may want to have smaller circles in order to give people more time. It will be a balancing act
to figure out how many people can be included and for there to be enough time for each person. Some
people may attend who don’t want to talk, but it is important for it to be set up so that everyone can share
who wants to. If you have a big enough space, you could split the group in half and have two facilitators.
-What are best practices for protecting privacy?
Some people will not feel comfortable with events arranged on social media, etc. Some will not
even feel comfortable with email- they may prefer that no terms be used that would “out” them, such as
“psychedelics” or “entheogens.” Again, you may find it difficult to meet some people’s needs for extreme
discretion. However, choices to substitute triggering language for phrasing around “transformative
experiences” can help a lot of people feel much more comfortable. You won’t know who is not at the table
because they feel concerned about this, so if you can explain the intention of the group without being too
specific, so much the better. It is helpful to make people aware that you care about their well-being.
-How do we resource people who need more support?
Support beyond the circle can be necessary and helpful. Be aware of mental health resources in
your community, crisis hotlines, and other integration resources (see next page and ​Resources and
Information​ at the end of this guide).

~Peer integration can play a supportive role and complement other kinds of support~

There can be a need for individuals to receive one-to-one support, and one might decide to receive
that support from a professional source (therapist or integration consultant) or another trusted
community member. Community-led peer integration and individual-focused integration may
complement one another. No one should discourage efforts to connect with community or with
trustworthy others; individuals should be empowered to make their own decisions about what feels
helpful to them.
People may have concerns about a therapist judging them, pathologizing them, choosing not to
work with them or discontinuing the therapeutic relationship because of stigma around psychedelics as
“drugs of abuse”. It may be possible to connect with someone who identifies their familiarity with
12
psychedelics by calling themselves an integration consultant or coach. This may or may not be a trained
therapist.
The disadvantage of working with a non-therapist is that they are not likely trained in the nuances
of mental health issues and may lack some understandings and tools for working with difficult
psycho-emotional states. That being said, having a therapist’s license does not automatically confer skill
or ethics. All types of practitioners have the ability to abuse their power (see ​Power Dynamics in
Integration Settings​ on page 4). A community-led circle may be a good place to receive feedback about
what options might work best for you and how to ensure your own well-being when approaching
someone for support.
While therapists are licensed by regulatory bodies, there is no such regulation around who can
and can’t call themselves an integration consultant. Make sure the person or institution making a
recommendation to you is actually trustworthy. It would be wise to do internet research on a provider
you are considering working with to see whether any claims have been made against them.
There are currently no mechanisms in place for reporting unlicensed integration practitioners
who have acted in unprofessional ways, other than reporting them to law enforcement. Therapists may
be reported to the professional board that administers their license. Community-led integration circles
can play an important role in promoting accountability and community safety by providing safe spaces to
share information about practitioners who have been harmful.

Resources and Information

Ethics and Safety

Council on Spiritual Practices ​csp.org/docs/code-of-ethics-for-spiritual-guides
Women’s Visionary Congress
visionarycongress.org/20-safety-tips-for-participating-in-ceremonies-that-use-psychoactive-substances

Facilitation guides
Center for Council ​centerforcouncil.org/what-is-council.html

Online Publications/Community Forums

psymposia.com
erowid.org
the-nexian.me
dmt-nexus.me
forums.5meodmt.org

Organizations ​*Important: please see cautionary note on page 12 about carefully vetting providers.
Do not automatically trust someone because they are on a list on a website or are a licensed therapist.
ERIE: Entheogenic Research, Integration & Education- ​erievision.org
ICEERS: International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research & Service - iceers.org (website in
English and Spanish) ​iceers.org/support-service.php
Psychedelic Support ​psychedelic.support

13
All photos sourced from Unsplash- credits in order of appearance: Erik Kossakowski, Aaron Burden, Peng
Chen, Nathan Anderson, Jakob Creutz, Luke Stackpoole, Victoria Palacios, Michael Podger, Jeremy Bishop,
Amy Humphries, Kyle Glenn, Gary Bendig, Kylli Kittus

14