Mindfulness & Psychedelic Practices: Inner Critic and Loving Awareness

In this continuation of BPS’ new event series, “Psychedelic Practices,” Insight meditation practitioner Guillaume Caron will facilitate experiential learnings and "consciousness skills" with the aim of making psychedelic journeys safer, deeper, and more rewarding.

One of the greatest obstacles to joy and happiness is the inner-critic. It is a force to be reckoned with, and certain psychedelic experiences tend to magnify its power. Harsh thoughts, self-criticism, self-loathing and other eroding energies can all be seen as manifestations of this force.

Mindfulness practice is an invitation to deal skillfully with the inner-critic before it shows up on steroids to ruin the party. By practicing clear seeing and loving awareness, we are able to conjure the protective and countering power of the heart in the face of self-criticism. One walks the psychedelic path with both sword and shield: cutting through the spell of identification, protected from the demeaning voices of our psyche.

Through reflections, guided meditation, Q&A, journaling, relational practices in break-out groups, and a sharing circle, we will explore the relevance of mindfulness practice for anyone on the psychedelic path.

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About the facilitator:

Guillaume Caron’s greatest teachers are the challenges and wonders of his own life: balancing artistic aspirations with the necessity to make a living, striving for a healthy lifestyle in a massive urban center, and adapting to a non-native culture and language while remaining authentic.

Guillaume started practicing meditation in 2014 at New York Insight where he was exposed to a vast array of teaching styles and ways of relating to the Dharma. While rooted in Theravada Buddhism, Guillaume has been exploring other traditions of awakening and modalities of healing such as non-violent communication, inner child awareness, and plant medicine ceremonies.

Read more about Guillaume at psychedelicsangha.org.