Psychedelics Dreams and Rituals: A Guidebook for Explorers, Therapists, and Facilitators

About the Book

Unresolved psychological trauma is the cause of much suffering and pain—from anxiety and depression to addictions and PTSD. Psychedelics, Dreams, and Rituals: A Guidebook for Explorers, Therapists, and Facilitators, is a practical, step-by-step book on using psychedelics, dreams, and rituals to help you heal the root cause of trauma. This book will show you how to take the inner healing journey.

Find hope and healing by learning to reconnect with your true self. Enter through the door of a non-ordinary state of consciousness using psychedelics to explore your inner world. There, you can nurture, invite, and discover more of your dreams and tap into the deeper story of your life. Find generational healing and create contemporary rituals that welcome the healing power of ceremony.

A guidebook for everyone—from beginners to professionals—this book provides an understanding of the three cords and how to use these pathways individually and together. Chronicling Gay Lynn’s work for over three decades as a psychotherapist it includes the stories of real people who have experienced their own healing as well as the author’s own story. Experts in the field of psychedelic medicine are also featured and share their brilliant ideas for using these three pathways for inner healing.

Endorsements and Testimonials 

“Excellent guidebook written by a MAPS-trained and licensed therapist working in the field.”  —Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and President of MAPS

“Here is a well-researched and well-grounded guidebook and workbook for anyone motivated to seriously cultivate personal development and spiritual awakening.  Enjoy!” —William A. (Bill) Richards,Ph.D.,  Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences

“As a licensed and trained psychedelic therapist, Gay Lynn shares her expertise on how to use psychedelics, dreams, and rituals for inner healing. Through her workshops, groups, and individual sessions she guides people to their own healing of trauma and how to deal effectively with their anxiety and depression.  Gay Lynn is truly a gifted therapist.” —Eric Milbrandt, MD, Oasis Wellness & Recovery  

“Having worked for several years in the fields of neurosciences, mental health, and clinical research, I decided to take the next step to psychedelic therapies when I had the privilege to meet Gay Lynn during our MAPS therapist training. Gay Lynn is an exceptional human being and a truly gifted psychedelic therapist. As I got to know her and worked together, I witnessed her spiritual wisdom, therapeutic knowledge, and skills which are extremely valuable for work with expanded states of consciousness. In Psychedelics, Dreams, and Rituals: A Guidebook for Explorers, Therapists, and Facilitators she shares her best practices providing invaluable guidance to help people take their inner healing journey. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to beginner explorers as well as therapists and facilitators doing psychedelic work with individuals and groups.” —Fabiana da Silva Alves, Ph.D., Psychedelic Therapist, The Netherlands  

“In our rush for efficiency and explosive growth, our modern world has lost its sacredness. Today’s epidemic of loneliness and disconnection is the unfortunate fruit of this headlong rush into the future, without regard for the past. In this time of crisis and chaos, psychedelic medicine has made a timely resurgence. However psychedelic medicine is about much more than just the substance and we risk losing the deepest wisdom of these medicines if we try to make psychedelics fit into the model of Western allopathic medicine. What is needed now is the sacredness and deep care that comes with the indigenous traditions of using these medicines to work with non-ordinary states of consciousness in an intentional and respectful way. Gay Lynn has brought together the elements of medicine work, dreams, and rituals in a way that is both honoring the ways of the past and infused with fresh, modern perspectives. She provides grounded, insightful suggestions and essential reflection questions for working with non-ordinary states in her excellent workbook, written with both clinicians and journeyers in mind.  She shares a wealth of ideas that are well-planned from her decades of experience facilitating groups and individual counseling.  Gay Lynn shares how to explore non-ordinary states of consciousness to support inner healing experiences utilizing psychedelics, dreams, and rituals. I recommend this creative and engaging book to deepen your exploration and healing endeavors.” — Linnea Butler, LMFT, Founder-Bay Area Mental Health

“A book that goes beyond ‘set and setting’ by a huge leap and describes in detail how to structure working with dreams and ‘non-ordinary’ states to address trauma and life’s many deeper inquiries toward a unified Self.   As a student of life, my soul, and my psyche, I cannot recommend this book highly enough to all lifelong searchers looking to refine and add significantly to their quest for rich understanding and new perspectives from within – a most worthy effort aided by a truly connected author/guide who enriches us with a three synthesis of important modalities and states which are deeply helpful and thoughtfully described herein.”   —Pam Olsen, JD, MS

“For the last nine months I have had the privilege and honor of living and experiencing — yes, ‘live and in person’ — the process you are about to discover in this book. Even saying it was “life-changing” is the understatement of my life. I am a completely different person than I was when I first started this process.

When I first started working with Gay Lynn, my life had descended into chaos and despair. I felt like a complete basket case. I had been a police officer in the inner city at the very start of the crack cocaine epidemic. And had the scars — physical and emotional — to prove it. I had also just gone through a sudden and unexpected breakup of my marriage. With Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Gay Lynn’s methods you are about to discover in this book, that I am relieved of PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. All of which had plagued me — at times it was debilitating — for more than three decades.

But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The spiritual insights, and consequential spiritual growth, that have happened during this process have been amazing. I am excited that you get to experience Gay Lynn’s talent, experience, and expertise in this book. If you only get 1 percent as much from it as I have, it will still be one of the most impactful things you have ever done.” —Dan Gallapoo, a former Law Enforcement Officer, participated in clinical work at Oasis Wellness & Recovery, Ocala, FL.

“This book is invaluable for those interested in exploring the use of psychedelics, dreams, ceremonies, and community rituals to facilitate individual and collective healing. Gay Lynn is a wise and compassionate therapist who has empowered countless people to transform their lives through her books, presentations, therapeutic sessions, and guided psychedelic journeys. In this guidebook, she shares the knowledge and insights she has gained throughout her years of practice that have helped clients access their inner healing power and move beyond surviving to thriving. She offers excellent resources for clergy, group facilitators, counselors, therapists, and anyone seeking emotional, spiritual, or relational healing.” —Rev. Cindy Cotto Grimes, Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Living Ocala

“Working in a clinical setting with Gay Lynn I have witnessed the magnificent work she is doing based on the material contained in her book.  What a gift to any nurse, doctor, or clinician to have this detailed guidebook at their fingertips.  As an RN I am thrilled to see how psychedelic medicine and non-ordinary states of consciousness are changing mental health care for the better. Her wonderfully written book shows us how!” —Lisa Kuchenchenbecker, Registered Nurse, Holistic Practitioner, Psychedelic Facilitator

“I am highly impressed with the supportive materials of this book! Gay Lynn saves you time by providing detailed directions that can immediately be used to make navigating journeys easier and more effective. The preparation and integration guidelines and homework materials have personally helped me with my own healing and transformations in the psychedelic-assisted therapy space, as well as, supported my role in helping others through these transformative processes.” —Rev. Haley Rivera, M.MSC

“Gay Lynn Grigas, with Psychedelics, Dreams, and Rituals: A Guidebook for Explorers, Therapists, and Facilitators, has introduced a much-needed practical guide into the burgeoning transpersonal field of psychedelics and dreams where focused intentions and carefully guided settings allow for inner healing. Drawing upon her vast knowledge of therapeutic practices, Jungian psychology, shamanic ceremony and ritual, and personal facilitation, Gay Lynn Grigas has given us a credible reference book for those therapists and facilitators who want to enter this exciting field of exploration, as well as, those seeking to journey with a proper mindset (intention) and safe, positive setting. Congratulations on such an important contribution to this fascinating transpersonal interdisciplinary field.” —Scott Olsen, author of Mysteries of the Amazon: Visionary Artwork of Pablo Amaringo and His Students