Movement.
Stillness.
Stillness.
Movement.
These are the four modules that make up the high-dose journey arc and outline, as proposed in the Psilo Psolo Journey Manual, from Psoirée founder Ray Christian.
I recently connected with Ray over our shared love of high-dose solo sessions, and being the idea nerd that I am, today I wanted to give a quick outline and share this framework. Let’s take a look…
Four Modules
Ray outlines four modules for a high-dose trip. They go like this:
Module 1: Pre-trip
Movement
Module 2: Liftoff
Stillness
Module 3: Cruising Altitude
Stillness
Module 4: Landing:
Movement
The idea is that physicality has a powerful impact on the journey. So it’s good to toggle between both movement and stillness. Although movement and stillness both repeat, each one is different. Here’s a closer look at each of the modules (M):
M1: Pre-trip
Movement
Duration: 20–30 mins
Description: After consuming but before it has taken effect
Directions: Utilize MOVEMENT to get endorphins flowing. Your mind and body state as you enter the “Stargate” portal will dictate the tone of the journey.
M2: Liftoff
Stillness
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Description: The most intense module
Directions: Engage complete physical STILLNESS: this is key for going deep. Your body should be still for long stretches of the journey so your mind can travel.
M3: Cruising Altitude
Stillness
Duration: 30–60 minutes
Description: A stable equilibrium within the journey. You won’t feel “normal,”
but you’re finding balance
Directions: Aim for continued STILLNESS.
M4: Landing
Movement
Duration: 60–120 minutes
Description: Journey & “reality” merge
Directions: Gentle MOVEMENT. Dance or play an instrument, but take it slow. You’re like a newborn gazelle on the African plains.
Music And Modules
Ray also shares music suggestions for each of the modules. Here’s a peak…
Final Thoughts
If you know me, you know I love frameworks, systems, and methods. And when I see them applied to psychedelic work, it’s an easy fun geek-out moment.
I am happy to see stillness as the centerpiece of this framework. I consider inner work journeys to be like condensed meditation sessions, so an element of stillness is key. It means really being with the experience, being with ourselves. My own MO for these sessions is probably closer to stillness, stilness, stillness, stillness.
However, I like the movement at the start, getting the instant benefits of movement or exercise to induce the ideal set. I have tried this before, and a 20-minute low-grade run before an MDMA session, or a creative session with weed, have worked tremendously for me. Though much movement toward the end of the journey is rare for me, I know for sure that others benefit from it.
I also like the “1-2 punch” cadence suggested for music in module 2. It reminds me a lot of the “pendulum” effect employed by Mendel Kaelen in his psilocybin playlists, where he moves between intense songs (to get the emotional catharsis flowing), and more mellow songs (to give the journeyer a little respite from the intense emotional work).
I remain method agnostic when it comes to working with psychedelics and continue to champion a personalized approach, everyone finding what works for them. I think this four-module framework can work well for many, many people, and the ideas are certainly worthy of experimenting with.
You can check out the full Psilo Psolo Journey Manual here and Ray’s community at Psoirée, a hub for solo high-dose explorers.
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