Festival Frontline Risk Reduction
I am a 15 year veteran teacher of risk reduction writing this guide from a mounting sense of responsibility– there are more people out there experimenting with psychedelics, either with inexperienced sitters, or no sitter at all {please at the very least find a friend and have them read this guide!}. Having a trained sitter drastically decreases the likelihood of negative outcomes {eg. not risking your life unnecessarily because you have a reality anchor} and can reduce a lot of fear {knowing someone is there specifically watching out for you}. I have been working in risk reduction at higher and higher levels of organization for 15 years now and want to share what I have learned from combining a meta-perspective having taken a diversity of trainings, controlled container ‘ceremony’ skills, and innovative tools I have developed from my ‘in the wild’ work at gatherings of all stripes and sizes on the ‘festival frontlines’ of entheogenic exploration.
Although, hopefully, most of the time most people will have an easier time then some of the trying tales in this tome, I believe that anyone who is purporting to be able to hold space needs to at the very least to be aware of what could happen and be prepared to the best of their ability to deal with a extreme situations. This is psychedelic risk reduction – be aware of the risks, make an informed decision, and prepare for the worst. You owe it to the people that are putting their trust in you to keep them safe.
This guidebook goes beyond assuming positive intent and actively aims to equip you with the tools necessary to encourage ethical behavior and to evaluate your Spaceholder.
Controlled Ceremonial Container
This is the typical scenario that most people will think of as spaceholding, in which there is opportunity to pre-arrange details and agreements for the session.
Working within your Scope of Practice
When asked to hold space in this way, I recommend meeting in person or at the very least having several phone calls at least a month before the session {ideally several months in advance so that the material can be worked on in therapy, dreams, and other technologies of the subconscious}. In the initial conversation the Spaceholder needs to determine if they are good fit to work together with the Journeyer, in that the Spaceholder feel capable of supporting them in their inquiry. This is one potential point of ethical tension – you as a Spaceholder need to feel comfortable and capable saying no to sitting with the Journeyer. If your ego is getting in the way, in so far as you would ‘never say no’ this is problematic as it indicates you have not examined your personal triggers to the degree necessary to hold the deep space that may be called for. Additionally, if you are motivated by the financial gain of doing this work, or being ‘cool’ in being able to ‘handle anything’, you will be unlikely to turn anyone down, even if someone you know may be a better fit for what the client is needing. This will also make you less likely to ‘kick it sideways’ or call for help even though it may be needed {such as in a medical emergency}. As a generalized rule, the Journeyers needs should take precedence over your preferences / personal view of yourself {within reason for your own sense of safety}, and when this is not the case there is a clear ethical snarl that is worth untangling.
As an academic example, while I was enrolled in my master’s program in transpersonal therapy at CIIS, the idea of self-knowledge around personal therapist triggers when sitting with a client was repeatedly impressed upon us. Insofar as the therapist has a trigger around sexual assault, animal cruelty, pedophilia, racial violence, gender violence {etc} and the client desires to explore these aspects of themselves as a victim {or victimizer}, the therapists need to be aware of their bias and potentially refer the client elsewhere. Thus, there are likely some situations in which a particular Spaceholder may not be a good fit for that particular Journeyer such as when the Spaceholder has a trigger related to what the Journeyer wishes to work on.
Another situation in which the Spaceholder / Journeyer combination may not be the best fit is when the physical characteristics of the Spaceholder are related to the trauma of the Journeyer {eg. potential Spaceholder is a large Caucasian male, when Journeyer has experienced sexual assault at the hands of a large Caucasian male}. Over time as a relationship of trust develops and the material has been explored in a way that discharges some of the energy around it, the Journeyer may determine that it would be beneficial to have space held for them by someone who is reminiscent of their violator, but this needs to be carefully and clearly discussed, in so far as it increases the risk of an adverse reaction as the likelihood of re-traumatization is greater.
Additionally, the Spaceholder ideally is only holding space to the level of their training, especially when considering trauma background of the Journeyer. For example, if the Journeyer has a trauma history that includes intergenerational incest and the Spaceholder has no experience in how to provide support to someone who has experienced this level of embodied and emotional abuse, the Spaceholder should refer the Journeyer to someone who has training in how to support the recovery of incest survivors. If either being trained or referring out to someone who has training is not possible, at the very least, the Spaceholder should deeply educate themselves in the literature available on the topic as a proxy for training.
Screening
Screening is essential to ensure the safety of the participant and making sure there are no contraindications to the specific compound chosen, medications / supplements, or latent or active psychological conditions.
Psychedelics are not for everyone, especially not for people who are already psychologically destabilized {eg. unmanaged overwhelming mood swings, suicidal ideation, actively manic}.
There is also the risk for intense psychological experiences to activate latent destabilization factors, for example, Journeyers with schizophrenia in their blood line are contraindicated for any type of technology that may trigger a psychotic episode, such as psychedelics, or even breathwork! [1]
Ideally with a rigorous screening process, the Spaceholder can divert what would have potentially been a frightening scenario with long term consequences, instead directing the Journeyers search for healing into a another methodology that is of a lesser risk profile.
Initial screening can be done via a required Spaceholder Questionnaire and the findings corroborated with subsequent meetings in person and phone calls.
Spaceholder Questionnaire
Spaceholder Inquiries / Logistical Intake
What is helpful for me to know about you in a spaceholding context?
Do you have any allergies to food, medication, plants, seasonal pollens, animals?
Do you have any medical conditions {eg. high blood pressure, epilepsy} ?
Are you sensitive to any supplements or medications? Do you know your neurotypical patterns {eg. Extra sensitive to anything that affects seratonin}?
What medications are you taking?
What supplements/herbs are you taking?
What is your mental health history?
How is your current mental health?
What is the mental health history of your genetic line {most especially of importance is any blood relatives with schizophrenia or related conditions} ?
Do you have any preferences for how you are related to {eg. Pronoun preferences, prefer phone over email when possible, able to understand self-dialogue with greater clarity via writing/speaking} ?
If you go into a non-verbal space, how do you prefer to be supported ?
What are ways that you enjoy becoming comforted (eg. head being scratched, arm on the shoulder, heavy blanket, verbal acknowledgement that someone is present with you) ?
What helps you feel connected (eg. eye contact, words of affirmation) ?
Do you have any patterns it would be useful to know (eg. needing to feel very welcomed into things, that if you are solo for more than 30 minutes you would like to be checked in on) ?
What are your triggers? How do you prefer these to be interacted with (avoided, gently questioned/ leaned into, etc) ?
Do you have any injuries? Body traumas?
What is your trauma history?
What are your common interrelation patterns / roles (eg. fixer, helper, mediator, avoidant / anxious attachment) ?
What is your experience with altered states of consciousness {eg. birth, breath work, out of body experiences, near death experiences}?
What is your history with transformational experiences {planned/unexpected, what helped with integration, what spaceholder actions were helpful, can you extrapolate any patterns from your experiences, what helped you through any challenging moments}?
What is your experience with extreme states of feeling / sensation {eg. Bodily injury, death of a loved one}?
Do you find yourself sensitive to consciousness altering compounds {eg. stimulants {caffeine} or depressants {alcohol} } ?
What helps you fall asleep or wind down?
What types of music, artists, songs, or sounds uplift you or make you feel at home?
What would your perfect playlist for a transformational journey sound like {please feel free to create this playlist!}?
Are there any scents, foods, or sensations that comfort and ground you {eg. Lemon, a favorite robe or blanket} ?
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Recommended for Reflection & Journaling
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Intention prompts :
Journaling on the questions that call your inspiration forth helps crystalize your intention / inquery – feel free to choose your favorite(s) and focus on those.
You may also wish to create a vision board for what you desire for the experience.
It is recommended to write out a phrase to your future self while you are in the transformational experience in case of difficulty {eg. This too shall pass, remember you ancestors supporting you}.
PAST WORK
Who are your guardians, allies, ancestors spirits ?
What patterns are you seeking to let go of ?
How have these patterns helped you survive in the past ?
What does the new pattern feel like in your body?
How will you embody the new pattern, what helps you remember the new form?
What roles do you enjoy playing ? What roles do you wish you could play more ?
What do you wish you could tell your past self?
How does your shadow express itself, what forms does it take, what are it’s charachter traits? When it shows up how do you acknowledge & integrate it ?
What would it look and feel like to embody the drama of the stories you are letting go of / stepping into through performance ? How can you turn up the dial on emotion to ‘fully feel to free’ it ?
Are there any wounds you are protecting that are binding your energy? How can you let them go ?
What keeps you from vulnerability, intimacy, play ?
What stories are you telling about yourself ?
In creating an altar, what would you out in it {eg. Stones, healing tools, art, photographs of loved ones, candles, feathers, flowers}
PRESENT WORK
What are you seeking to explore?
What parts of yourself do you want to know better?
What do you pray for help with ?
What mantras / phrases help you feel supported?
What actions from others, objects, people, activities make you feel supported?
Who are your current prominent allies (animal, plant, mentors, teachers) ?
What grounds you (food, touch, words, questions, affirmations) ?
What creates safe sanctuary for you ?
How does immediate integration of insights manifest in your body and actions {what does it feel and look like} ?
How do you need to be seen ?
What wants to be seen in relationship ?
How can you give yourself the love that you want from others?
What would it look like if you gave yourself more permission?
What outcome would make this experience a success in your eyes?
What creates sacred space for you ?
What movments/action patterns/activities help your energy move?
FUTURE WORK
What archetypes do you wish to embody?
If everything could be as you wish, what would happen, what would this look and feel like (multisensory) ?
What reminders will help you embody the realizations the new way you are exploring (visual, movement, sound)?
What would your future self say to you?
In what signs & sigils does your future self communicate to you?
What is your new story ?
TRANSPERSONAL WORK
What is your life’s purpose?
How does spirit speak to you?
When would heaven on earth look and feel like to you?
What would a ‘dreams coming true’ field look and feel like to you?
How would it be to see as god/spirit/the underlying field sees?
How would it be to see as medicine sees?
How is your relationship to God / spirit?
How is your relationship to yourself ?
How is your relationship to : friends, family, lover{s} , community, and world?
How can you embody sacred innocence ?
What is creators plan for you ?
What is your birthright?
What did you do as a child {what could captivate you} ?
How can you know as spirit knows?
How can you choose easy life?
How can you be the vibration of your choice?
How can you live as divinely intended ?
What are the desires of your sacred heart?
What helps you know you are living in divine timing ?
How will you know you are in closest alignment with you life’s purpose?
How will the reminders come across to get in closer alignment?
How to you relate to your dreams?
INTEGRATION
Are there any images, animal/ plant allies, spirits that emerged in your experience that you can use to anchor your new patterns and insights ?
Are there any words, mantras, memes, phrases, or encapsulated understandings that emerged to help you remember your new way?
Are there any objects, pieces of adornment {jewlery, facepaint markings, pieces of clothing} , or material(s), colors, actions, movements, activities that will help continuously remind you to deepen into your new way ?
Did any sounds, chants, toning, songs come through this experience you’d like to carry forward into the future?
What is the elevator speech of your experience {3 minute summary} ?
What would help you with your self care? Are there any new practices that emerged from your experience that you would like to incorporate into your routine?
You may wish to create a vision board, journal, write a list, or write out a meditation to place you back in the state(s) that served your growth moving forward from the experience.
Preparatory work
- Journeyer answers ‘mission critical’ spaceholding questions
- Spaceholder researches : any contraindications between medical conditions and the altered state technique, potential supplement reactions, body mass / dose recommendations of supplement based on intentions, refresher on standard duration of journey, access to accurate scale, previous knowledge of strength of this particular batch of supplements
- Gathering materials {see Journeyer materials list}
- Keeping a dream/journey journal for at least a week before the session, ideally as soon as you know there is something you want to explore/work on in a Spaceholding session, paying attention to your body, intuitions, cultivating abilities to note subtle sensations, noticing any guides/spirit animals that come into your life
- Preparing the playlists {ideally both Journeyer and Guide create several : one that is uplifting {classical, world music, sacred sounds from the lineages that the Journeyer or Spaceholder has studied are good for this}, one that is ambient / wordless, and one that is related to any memories / experiences the Journeyer wants to examine {for example if letting go of an old relationship, songs that remind you of that connection}
- Spaceholder : doing additional reading on the specifics of the type of development or trauma the Journey is wanting to work on {eg. emotional incest, menopause, end of life anxiety}. Does the Journeyer recommend any specific media resources to help the Spaceholder educate themselves in how to best support the Journeyer?
- Spaceholder meta-preparation backend : recording your dreams, getting clear in nature, tending to yourself in self-care so you are at peak energy and presence
What to wear :
Wear loose fitting clothing, ideally of natural fibers for breathability, wear layers
Journeyer packing list :
Bring items as you are going on an overnight trip to a place with a wide-ranging climate :
warm blanket, comfort objects {childhood stuffed animal, blankie}, books you might like to be read from {children’s books you loved when you were young are recommended, anything uplifting and inspiring}, robe, warm coat, hat, scarf/fabric, blindfold, earplugs, any medications you may need, any supplements you might need {ginger tincture is good for nausea}, towel in case you want to shower, change of clothes in case you need it, photos of family / mentors / loved ones / guides / spirit animals, any objects to create an altar with, hygiene products, essential oils / incense you really like, objects / activities / media that helps ground you
Spaceholder packing list : fresh ginger, tea brewing supplies {knife, cutting board, kettle, hot plate, mug}, ginger tincture, ginger capsules, any specific supplements, melatonin, sleep aids, earplugs, eyeshades, warm blanket, warm coat (size to fit Journeyer, oversize is good), any nourishment or self-care objects you need to be sitting for the expected length of the session plus 4 hours, timekeeping device, music playlists, speaker, squish/fluff/bedding, any specific healing implements you use, journal, art supplies, recorder, video/camera if desired by Journeyer {humane restraints & hard points in the case of extreme sessions}
The following are mission critical questions that are mandatory to receive the answers to when serving as a Spaceholder
allergies
knowing the answers to the Journeyer’s ‘how to comfort’ questions
Upon arrival :
Familiarize yourself with the space, where you are welcome to roam, how loud you can be, where nudity is welcome
Right before you enter into a Journey space :
give your car keys and phone to the Spaceholder
Menu of Spaceholding Offerings
Journeyer Inquiry : how much personal space do you prefer? Will this change as you get to know someone?
{formatting did not carry over well for the following, here is a google doc version : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HvGZBfFo2LlFwl6w6reBc5qQU98toPPSyzCR27dVaHg/edit?usp=sharing }
Journeyer is to rate on a 0-10 scale what actions they are comfortable with, with 0 being ‘no way under no circumstances’ and 10 indicating ‘yes please at any opportunity’ and to get specific about the conditions under which these actions are welcome {eg. This action is welcome if I am crying and you are comforting me}. The Journeyer is also welcome to indicate which actions they do not prefer, but would be comfortable with the Spaceholder using ‘in case of emergency’ by labelling them ICE {eg. being stuck in a deeply depressed negative thought loop}.
- Nonphysical Neutral Non-Active Presence
- Impartial Silent witness
- Useful to have someone watching your body if you are going on a deep journey so that the part of your mind that is designed to be concerned over your well being can relax knowing it is in the presence of someone who has been assigned this task. Allows for more easeful surrender, reduces likelihood of paranoia, panic, creates a secure attachment figure who acts as a reality anchor in case anything goes sideways, allows for someone in a baseline, rational, sober mind state to act as a sounding board for an action {eg. you would like to call an ambulance because your heart is beating loudly and you think you are in a medical emergency, but your Sitter listens to your pulse, determines it is within a normal range, and offers the suggestion that you are physically ok and you are hearing your heartbeat more loudly due to increased auditory sensitivity
- Ideally the sitter will have knowledge of basic first aid and a kit for such, emergency contact information for the journeyer, information about their allergies, access to medication in case of an allergic reaction, Naloxone spray, a pulse reader and blood oxygen level monitor, knowledge of normal pulse level v elevated v concerning due to duration
- If the journeyer has medical conditions that are relevant to the experience or may come up, that the supplies needed to potentially care for them are on hand, such as those who have a history of fainting having smelling salts.
- Accompaniment on a hike in nature
- Researching the area, terrain, and timeline beforehand strongly recommended
- Reality keeper/anchor
- Carefully noting dose amount/time taken, notes about reactions at various time stamps, keeping knowledge of the duration curve of the experience in the forefront of the mind, assurances at what part of the intensity curve they are, assurances that they have taken a compound {they are not going insane} and will return to baseline in {howevermany hours},
- Documenter
- Recorder/ notetaker
- Can take physical notes on paper in notebook
- audio record the session {and make sure the recording device is always close enough to your mouth to hear you}
- photography
- before and after
- at radiant moments of realization
- videography
- when engaged in a cathartic release, spontaneous mudra, movement pattern, afterwards as a testimonial to yourself to help with integration and keep the memory of what was learned fresh and alive and able to be replayed
- Recorder/ notetaker
- Body mirror
- Spaceholder monitors their own body state and makes recommendations to change the setting or environment
- I notice I am feeling a bit cold and am going to go get my sweater, want me to get your coat for you?
- I am feeling thirsty and notice that you have not drank anything in the past two hours, can I get you a glass of your beverage of choice?
- I am noticing that the humming of the dryer is distracting me, can I turn it off while we are in this room?
- I am really needing to go to the bathroom, do you need to go?
- Other environmental alterations to consider : room temperature, sun exposure, biting insects, brightness of light, ambient noises, stuffiness of air in room
- Spaceholder monitors their own body state and makes recommendations to change the setting or environment
- Narrator : analyzing or calling attention to what is happening in real time is immanently valuable because feedback is best when timely, using present patterns as a living learning laboratory {combines well with ‘therapy in moment’ or ‘reminders of intentions’
- Discuss : In what types of scenarios would you like the witness to break silence
- If they notice you are tense in your body, balling up your fists, do you want them to neutrally mention it to bring it to your attention?
- Do you want your sitter to ask questions about such somatic signals {this indicates more of a non-physical noting presence}? About how often would you like this information, every 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, hour, or whenever there is a change?
- What about suggestions for your comfort or physical wellbeing, for example if you have not drunk water in many hours, do you want your sitter to make a recommendation towards hydration? Would you like them to fetch you the water?
- More hand-on narrator : asking why, in curious questions mode, noticing details, pointing out patterns, making suggestions of possible connections between aspects of the Journeyer’s past / old patterns / current behaviors {and if even more active, helping create a new pattern or story in the moment}
- Another flavor : playful presence, kids exploring perspective, rhyming storybook narrator, trickster / clown energy
- Discuss : In what types of scenarios would you like the witness to break silence
- Impartial Silent witness
- Nonphysical Active Presence : reading the energy of the Journeyer, intervening when the SItter senses the Journeyer is unnecessarily struggling or when the Sitter could improve the situation by making an offer
- Fetching items
- Warm blanket, coat, robe
- If the Spaceholder notes that the Journeyer is shivering they can suggest to put more layers on
- Pillows / squish / fluff
- If the Spaceholder notes that the Journeyer is changing positions in a way that may be indicating physical discomfort, they can offer to create a more comfortable nest
- Water / tea / elixers
- The Spaceholder can oversee brewing and fetching tea {ginger tea cures nausea}
- Magnesium elixir good for relaxing tense muscles, Charlie horses
- Putting a bit of salt in the water helps remineralize it {if reverse osmosis or distilled water for example} and create the conditions for more ready uptake of hydration in the body
- Food
- Pre-planning of nourishment before, during, and after
- Typically appetite will be diminished, but having fruits, sprouted nuts and seeds, and easefully digested items on hand can be helpful for restoring energy or grounding the Journeyer. Occasionally hunger can come across as nausea if the Journeyer has been fasting
- Pre-planning of nourishment before, during, and after
- Making suggestions for a change of scenery – going for a nature walk, or activity – reminding journeyer that music, artmaking supplies are available
- Warm blanket, coat, robe
- Eye gazing
- Audible relaxed breathing
- Reading aloud from {pre-planned} books of importance for Journeyer
- Guided meditation
- For initial relaxation
- Classic full body relaxation starting from toes to top of head, can be pre-recorded {*pre-preparation*}
- Presence to breathing
- Presence to sensations, the experience of noticing them then letting them fall away
- Visualization to seek out guides, allies, colors, poses/positions of power, objects of power
- Somatic visualization / Deeper into experience of moving through something : body focused, following sensations where they are in the body as they move, diving into them, describing them in rich language {hot/cold, intensity, size, metaphor}, the Spaceholder encourages you to go more into the movements, shaking, moving the lantern of your attention to different parts of your body, amplifying whatever is happening
- For initial relaxation
- Resolving trauma
- Past resolution
- Writing a letter to communicate what the Journeyer was not able to in the moment to the person{s} that need to hear it
- Witnessing / guiding through an ‘in the chair’ exercise in which the Journeyer speaks to the people they need to clear with directly as through they are there
- Past resolution
- Verbal somatic trauma release guiding
- If you are working specifically to release a particular trauma and you have had {pre-preparation} conversations hearing the details of the story, the Spaceholder can help guide the Journeyer in re-experiencing and re-writing the tale of trauma through what had previously been a not successful ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ into a successful one
- This is ideally done with a somatic therapist, someone trained in somatic experiencing, or someone who has read Peter Levine’s body of work
- If you are working specifically to release a particular trauma and you have had {pre-preparation} conversations hearing the details of the story, the Spaceholder can help guide the Journeyer in re-experiencing and re-writing the tale of trauma through what had previously been a not successful ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ into a successful one
- Fetching items
- Nonphysical Positive Presence
- Guiding grounding practices
- Going outside and putting bare feet on the earth
- Soak in epsom salt tub {or just foot bath}
- Grounding visualizations – energy cord going into earth, rooting into core of planet, darkness draining into earth, light coming into crown
- Eating / drinking / going to the bathroom
- Loving Eye Gazing
- Role play
- Family constellations – Spaceholder role play family members
- Flipping role – Spaceholder takes identity of Journeyer, Journeyer takes on role of challenging person to find understanding and compassion for their perspective
- Spaceholder takes on identity of difficult person, Journeyer can practice speaking their truth
- Works especially well if the Journeyer is scared of a particular situation – they can use this type of experiential exposure therapy as practice
- Trauma drama : different flavor of spaceholding, more from a trickster / clown humorous frame, amplifying all aspects, turning up the dial to ridiculously overblown to allow the issue to be fully seen, felt, and expressed so that the energy/trigger around it can discharge, acting as if you are on a reality TV show and you need higher drama for ratings / as if you are in a play / movie so the audience really feels it
- Live medicine music
- Spaceholder shares the medicine / folk songs of their lineage {eg. Lithuanian folk songs, South American medicine songs, drumming, holding a beat}
- Turning forks / singing bowls / sound healing
- Intention reminders
- More hands-on then a narrator, the Spaceholder, when inspired by intuition or the circumstances are relevant, reminds the Journeyer of their intention, the patterns they are reprogramming, any re-steering out of common thought loops {eg. self-defeating} that have been previously discussed
- Tending sacred smoke – if appropriate for the setting, tending a sacred fire, candle, essential oil diffuser {could be a candle diffuser or of water depending on the climate, temperature, and risk profile/safety precautions}, or coal upon which resins or woods are burned {frankincense, palo santo, sage}
- Holding ritual space
- Cleansing the space that is to be worked in, and the implements that may be used in the work
- Cleansing Spaceholder{s} and Journeyer{s} as they come into the space
- Journeyer stating their intention aloud
- Calling upon guides, allies, ancestors, giving gratitude for presence of the land, honoring the peoples who have stewarded the environment
- Water rituals : Imbuing water with intention, steam bath cleansing, shower cleansing, water anointment, pouring water into open mouth for Journeyer and stating blessings
- Fire ritual : burning letters and other objects that no longer serve
- Earth ritual : putting bare feet on earth to ground, burying objects that no longer serve
- Energy work on Journeyer
- Guiding artmaking / co-creation
- Making a nature altar
- Creating an altar together before the session
- Nature therapy walk with narration
- Divination / magical practices {if the Spaceholder is a magical practitioner and Journeyer is open to this work}
- Banishing rituals
- Circle of protection
- Making talismans / amulets {good for Integration}
- Guiding grounding practices
- Physical Presence
- Light touch : benefits include being able to measure skin temperature directly, monitoring pulse directly, movnitoring muscle tone / responsiveness to physical stimuli directly, easy way to ground
- Grounding
- Can put pressure on the feet
- Light pressure on the temples / head
- Hand holding
- Consistent presence in a way that is welcome and non-threateneing or invasive to most people
- Hair petting
- Many people feel soothed when their hair is pet, combed, or brushed rhythmically
- Skin petting
- Light traces on the outer edge of the Journeyer’s body can help physically remind them where they end and the world begins
- Hugging
- Two hearts and chest cavities in contact allows the electromagnetic fields of the heart to overlap
- Soothing sensation play : Feathering, hair spider on scalp, petting with soft fabric
- Grounding
- Medium Touch
- Light or Medium Bodywork
- Hands, elbows used on surface/fascia/top musculature of journeyers body 1-5 on intensity scale of 1-10
- Laying side by side
- Both on backs, side of ribcage to side of ribcage, side bodies connected
- Both on side, one as big spoon one as little spoon, curled in fetal position with side body contacting ground possible
- Listening to heartbeat
- Journeyer laying on back, sitter lays with head on chest, or vice versa
- Light or Medium Bodywork
- High Touch {recommended to only engage in these ways if you are trained in the somatic arts}
- Inversions
- Either from a hard point or on the back of the Spaceholder {if they are trained in contact improv / SomaSenZ bodwork}
- Assisted stretching
- Old injury work
- Diet consultations {often comes up when the Journeyer witnesses what the Spaceholder is eating and asks why}
- Bodywork ceremony / surgery
- Human gravity blanket
- Journeyer laying on back, sitter, lays with heart over their stomach
- Journeyer lays on stomach, sitter lays on top of them as human gravity blanket stomach down, adjusting weight as needed
- Physical trauma release hands on guiding
- Wrestling, fighting, allowing the previously unsuccessful trauma response to complete with a win for the body and nervous system {expert training in somatic trauma therapy needed}
- Inversions
- Light touch : benefits include being able to measure skin temperature directly, monitoring pulse directly, movnitoring muscle tone / responsiveness to physical stimuli directly, easy way to ground
Psychedelic Spaceholding Ethics