Preparation and
Integration

Psychedelic experiences can be profound, opening doors to new insights, emotions, and ways of being. But the true impact of these experiences depends not only on the journey itself but also on how we prepare before and integrate afterward. We believe in a holistic approach to psychedelic work—grounded in deep preparation, trauma-informed facilitation, and ongoing integration support.

Whether you’re considering joining one of our retreats or simply looking for guidance on approaching this work with more awareness, here’s what we recommend.

Preparing for a
psychedelic journey

How you arrive shapes what unfolds.
At Kiyumi, we provide support and guidance through a thoughtful preparation process—offering 1:1 calls, group connections, and curated resources to ensure a deep and meaningful experience.

Before beginning, take time to reflect on why you are here. What emotions, themes, or questions feel present for you? Writing down your thoughts can bring clarity and deepen your sense of purpose. Cultivating presence through meditation, breath awareness, or time in nature can help you arrive with an open and receptive state of mind. Reducing digital noise by taking a break from excessive media, social scrolling, and overstimulation, creates space for deeper self-inquiry and connection.

Reflect on Your Why
  • What brings you to this work? What questions, themes, or emotions feel present for you?
  • Writing down your thoughts can help bring clarity.
Cultivate Presence
  • Meditation, breath awareness, and time in nature can support a more receptive and open state of mind.
Reduce Digital Noise
  • Taking a break from excessive media, social scrolling, and overstimulation can create space for deeper self-inquiry.

What you consume directly influences your state of being. While there is no strict diet, choosing light, nourishing, plant-based meals can support clarity and balance leading up to your experience. Minimizing processed foods, alcohol, and excessive caffeine can prevent unnecessary agitation. Gentle movement, stretching, and prioritizing quality sleep help regulate the nervous system and promote ease. Staying hydrated and incorporating herbal teas like chamomile, ginger, or peppermint can offer additional support for both body and mind.

Food as Preparation
  • While there is no required diet, we recommend balanced and nutritious meals that nourish you. Minimizing processed foods, alcohol, and excessive caffeine can help create clarity and balance.
Movement & Rest
  • Gentle movement, stretching, and prioritizing quality sleep can support nervous system regulation.
Hydration & Herbal Support
  • Drinking plenty of water and incorporating teas like chamomile, ginger, or peppermint can help maintain balance.

Entering a psychedelic experience with emotional awareness can create a more grounded and insightful journey. Rather than avoiding difficult emotions or uncertainties, consider approaching them with curiosity. Acknowledging what is present through journaling, meditation, or conversation can help ease the mind and foster self-acceptance. If you have health concerns, take medication, or feel unsure about your preparation, seeking guidance from a trusted practitioner can provide clarity and reassurance. Creating a safe and supportive foundation allows for a more meaningful experience.

Embracing What Arises
  • Psychedelic experiences amplify what is already present. If strong emotions, anxieties, or challenges arise beforehand, that’s okay.
  • Rather than pushing them away, consider acknowledging and exploring them through journaling, meditation, or supportive conversations.
Prioritizing Safety & Support
  • If you’re on medication, have specific health concerns, or need guidance on preparation, always consult a trusted practitioner.

Integration.
Making the experience matter

True change happens after the journey.

A psychedelic experience can feel like stepping into a new dimension—and how it translates into daily life depends on how it’s integrated. The weeks and months afterward are a crucial time to process, reflect, and gently implement insights.

The days following a psychedelic journey can be just as significant as the experience itself. This period of integration is a time for reflection, self-care, and gentle exploration of emerging insights. Slowing down, journaling, and spending time in nature can create space for clarity and grounding. Engaging in embodied practices like yoga, breathwork, or mindful movement helps bridge the gap between the experience and daily life. Creative expression through art, music, or writing can serve as a powerful tool for meaning-making. Connecting with trusted friends, therapists, or integration circles offers support and deeper understanding as you continue your journey.

Be Gentle with Yourself
  • The days after a psychedelic journey can feel tender. Slowing down, journaling, spending time in nature, and reducing overstimulation can help insights settle.
Embodied Integration
  • Practices like yoga, breathwork, dance, and mindful movement can help bridge the gap between experience and daily life.
Creative Expression
  • Art, music, poetry, and storytelling can serve as powerful tools for meaning-making.
Community & Support
  • Talking with trusted friends, therapists, or integration circles can offer valuable reflection and grounding.
  • We suggest to be mindful of who you open up to; seek out those who can truly listen and offer support without judgment.

We believe that meaningful change happens not just during the experience but in how it is integrated into daily life. That’s why we provide structured support to help you process and apply your insights in ways that feel grounded and relevant. Integration is a fundamental component of the Kiyumi retreat experience, offering guidance and resources to support you beyond the journey.

1:1 Integration Sessions
  • Following the retreat, you’ll have personalized sessions with a dedicated facilitator to help guide your integration process and ensure your insights are supported.

     

Group Sharing and Follow-Up
  • To support you on the long term, we also hold a group session around 1 month after the retreat

  • Here you can check in, share, and resonate with the people that were part of your journey within a supported container.
Guided Practices & Resources
  • We offer a variety of practices and video resources to help you continue your integration journey, providing tools to reflect, process, and apply your experiences.

     

Community Connection
  • Through an exclusive Kiyumi integration space, you can connect with others in the community for shared support, reflection, and deeper understanding.

     

Nutrition & Gut Health

Your gut is often called your “second brain.”

Psychedelic experiences engage both the nervous system and the gut, which is deeply connected to mood, cognition, and emotional processing. Bringing awareness to nutrition before and after a journey can support a more balanced and integrated experience.

Pre-Retreat
Nutrition Tips

Prioritize Whole, Plant-Based Foods

Eating a variety of fresh vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts provides essential nutrients that support gut health and cognitive function.

Fiber-rich foods promote digestion and microbiome balance.

Avoid processed foods, which can lead to inflammation and energy fluctuations.

Support Your Microbiome

Incorporating fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, and kefir can help regulate digestion and support mood regulation.

Prebiotic foods, including garlic, onions, leeks, and bananas, feed beneficial gut bacteria and support overall digestive well-being.

Drinking plenty of water helps maintain digestive balance.

Reduce Stimulants

Cutting down caffeine, refined sugar, and alcohol allows the nervous system to settle, reducing potential agitation or energy crashes before the experience.

Gradually tapering off stimulants rather than quitting abruptly can help prevent withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, or irritability.

Post-Retreat
Nutrition Tips

Gentle Eating

After an intense experience, the body may crave simple, grounding meals that are easy to digest.

Protein-rich foods such as lentils, quinoa, and nuts can help restore energy levels without overwhelming the system.

Eating slowly and mindfully supports digestion and helps the body integrate the experience.

Hydration & Herbal Teas

Drinking plenty of water helps the body detoxify and stay balanced. Coconut water can also replenish electrolytes naturally.

Herbal teas such as ginger, peppermint, and tulsi aid digestion and nervous system regulation, supporting a smooth transition back into daily life.

Avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol can prevent overstimulation and help maintain a sense of inner calm.

Listening to Your Body

Appetite and food preferences may shift; honoring what your system needs is key to a gentle reintegration.

Pay attention to how different foods make you feel; choosing nourishing, whole foods can help sustain clarity and emotional balance in the days after the experience.

Learn more
about Kiyumi

Our
Testimonials

Real experiences, genuine reflections – wondering what it’s like to join a Kiyumí retreat? Hear from those who have walked this path as they share their insights, pivotal moments, and the impact this work has had on their journey of growth, connection, and self-discovery.

Your
Stay

Our retreats take place in beautiful venues surrounded by nature in the Dutch countryside, providing a peaceful and tranquil setting. Enjoy all-inclusive accommodation with specially curated and nourishing meals to support your journey and a sauna to help you relax and unwind.

Kiyumi
Collaborations

Kiyumí collaborates with leading voice, including Dr. Gabor Maté and many other brilliant voices. We bring together expertise from diverse disciplines to enrich our programs and explore new frontiers in psychedelic care. If you’re interested in collaborating, we’d love to connect.

Our
Equity Program

We recognize that access to healing spaces has not been equal. Structural inequities have shaped who can participate in psychedelic work, and we are committed to shifting that reality. Our Equity Program support those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to join us.

We all
have questions

Curious about our retreats? In our frequently asked questions we cover what to expect – from psilocybin and safety protocols to the journey of preparation and integration to your stay.  Whether you’re just exploring or ready to join us, you will find essential details here.