What the modern-day professional psychopomp is wearing this season

In his definitive book Psychedelic Renaissance, Dr Ben Sessa of Bristol’s Awakn Clinics writes: “An unfortunate but necessary truth is that profession­als working in this field must remain as boring and staid as possible.” 

No ceremonial robes allowed?

What’s the sartorially minded integration coach to do? 

Faced by this matter of cosmic import, I turned to Vital’s students for answers after Kyle Buller’s lecture on ‘psychedelic integration’. Which is, for the uninitiated, ‘the process by which a psychedelic experience translates into positive changes in daily life.’

“I'm a professional therapist and I've got tattoos on knuckles and neck,” says my Vital colleague Mackenzie Amara.

“My image filters out the people that would be distracted by that,” says the head-turning Jungian depth psychologist, based in Zurich. Though, “the flipside is more likelihood of extreme projections” she says, referring to a client’s tendency to act out behaviour patterns on their therapist… that’s often intensified in psychedelic sessions.

“Image considerations are more about what projections you might be managing”

Sporting a strong look might muddy the astral airwaves once the archetypes start flying: “Image considerations are less about fitting in with the crowd, and more about what projection you might be managing,” Mackenzie advises.

The general concensus from the students is that the culture behind whatever medicine’s going down can be respected in the ceremony. Personally I take that as a green light for cloaks and headdresses. 

You’re not at an after party, though. Even the most progressive psychedelic ceremonies demand some decorum.

“It goes back to: how much are we influencing people?” says integration lecturer and Vital founder Kyle Buller, “I wanted to wear a shirt in our last Jamaica retreat of this reindeer eating a mushroom. And I was, like… maybe I'll save that and just wear something bland…”