The Psychedelic Journey as a Creative Process
The Psychedelic Journey as a Creative Process The time following an acute psychedelic experience is pivotal for psychological transformation. Researcher Gül Dölen suggests that psychedelics can reopen “critical periods”—windows of heightened brain plasticity typically experienced only during youth. Psychedelics may allow us to access this flexibility later in life, making the post-journey period essential for reassembling our sense of self. During this time, we can adjust how we interact with the world and perceive ourselves. However, this precious window can be easily missed. When psychedelics are used merely for partying, the opportunity for personal growth may be lost.
Creativity in the Aftermath
Immediately following a psychedelic journey, we enter a creative process, shaping how we want to be moving forward. Typically, we don’t feel capable of such deep change or recognize that we have control over our perceptions and thoughts. However, during this neuroplastic state, we regain some control. We can either re-establish old patterns or create new ones, becoming the artists of our lives in a more accessible way than usual—or we can miss this opportunity.
Artistic tools are ideal for this mission. Fantasy, imagination, exploration, openness to possibilities, designing experiences and perspectives, experimentation, intuition, feeling, sketching, freewriting, deep listening, and discovery are all invaluable during this period. Viewing your life as a creative h process aligns seamlessly with the reassembling of the self that can occur after a deep psychedelic journey.
Integrating the Journey into Daily Life
Take the lessons from your psychedelic journey and apply them to designing your daily life, fostering more love, depth, and fulfillment in your relationships and activities. Even superficial relationships can gain a spiritual depth that elevates everyone involved when you adopt this mindset.
Since 1995, I have made it a point to undertake a psilocybin vision quest at least once a year. Each year, I delve deeply within and emerge in the following weeks with designs for my next venture or the evolution of my current project. This practice connects me to my deepest self and muse, maintaining my connection to life. It has been integral to the confidence and faith I’ve developed in my inner wisdom—wisdom I rely on when designing sculptures and installations. Designs that I don’t always consciously understand.
In 1997, during a psilocybin journey in Joaquin Miller Park, I envisioned the arts company I wanted to direct. At the time, amidst the first dot-com boom, there was significant tension between the burgeoning tech industry and the underground performing arts scene. Small alternative performance venues were closing as startups occupied their spaces with high rents. Brady Street Dance Center closed soon after I premiered a piece called “BreathTank” there, followed by Dancer’s Group h within a few years. Even some nightclubs where we performed were sold for luxury lofts. In my vision, I saw how the tech industry could provide new technologies—high-powered lenses and other tools—to
Each annual vision quest detailed themes for my subsequent ten full-evening shows, keeping me inspired and continually reborn into my creative self. This deep dive into my inner world allowed me to relocate my muse and avoid repetitive creations. I realized that my art was a byproduct of learning, leading me to develop the Capacitor Lab—a space to continue learning and inspiring new projects. Through six-month processes, I invited scientists to the dance studio to share their passions with the creative team. In turn, the creative team shared their evolving ideas and processes. The Lab inspired scientists by encouraging them to describe their work through metaphor and giving them a vehicle for sharing their discoveries with the public.
During a vision quest, I realized the need to collaborate with top scientists—leaders in their fields—and use my creative work to amplify their messages about life on Earth and the environment. This was a significant shift from my previous focus on my own career and reputation as an artist. The vision quest helped me identify an initiative worthy of my artwork’s service.
During Shelter in Place, all my shows were canceled. Instead of shifting from one project to another, I had ample time to reflect on my work. My husband and I took turns doing sensory deprivation journeys in the closet while staying home with our children. During one of these journeys, I dismantled my artist ego. After years of focusing almost exclusively on my art career and Though I’ve never been suicidal, this felt like a form of suicide—I wanted to disappear completely. Holding the weight of that ego had become intolerable.
Launching Creative Journey
For almost three years now, I have formally conducted this work. We all thrive when connecting—with ourselves or others. Life is an endless stream of creative problems to solve, and this approach allows you to engage proactively and fully. Let’s embark on this journey together.