Sober Psychedelics

Abstract/Introduction

Sober psychedelics represent a revolutionary approach to achieving psychedelic-like states of awe and transformation without substances. Through light and sound technologies like Roxiva’s RX1, users experience drug free journeys that enhance mental wellbeing that is supported by emerging research on audiovisual entrainment.

Sober psychedelics is a term used for having an experience of psychedelic effects without ingesting a psychoactive substance. The mind can be guided into expanded states through various means other than drug use. And what has emerged out of the study of expanded states, is that experiences like Awe, fascination, and wonder are important catalysts of change. One of the more impactful ways to have a drug free psychedelic experience is by using technology. This is sometimes referred to as Cyberdelics. Cyberdelics is a specific branch of sober psychedelics that is a fusion of technology and psychedelic techniques and experiences. Expertly crafted sessions using principles of Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) combined with advanced sonic and light control are an example of Cyberdelic effects. And give some similar effects to psychedelics while remaining completely sober.

Research, such as a Nature study on AVS mood enhancement, confirms these sober psychedelics effects.

The origin of the word Psychedelic

Even at the time the word psychedelic was created, the understanding was that it helped alter perception. The word psychedelic was created by Humphry Osmond while working with a team of psychologists researching LSD and Mescaline in a psychiatric unit in London. And the word loosely translates from Greek as ‘mind manifesting’.

Humphry noticed that psychoactive substances created effects in people similar to schizophrenia. And by studying recovered schizophrenics, he proposed that the illness arose primarily from distortions of perception. Humphry had a fascination with the psychology of social environments and how they influence welfare and recovery. And he spent much of his life researching what he called “socio-architecture” to improve patient settings in mental health care. Because of a particularly impactful native American Peyote ceremony., Humphry drew attention to the stark differences in setting and facilitation between this experience and mental institutions. And this had a significant impact on the beginnings of environmental psychology.

And as such, the impact of people (Set), the environment (Setting), and aftercare (Integration) became entrenched in psychedelic therapy models. The integration of psychedelics in particular has become an important topic that apples to many methods of change.

Why are sober psychedelics important?

Sober psychedelics have the potential to become as appealing to people as alcohol free beers and wines are. And alcohol removed drinks are one of the fastest growing parts of the beverage industry. Because despite popular belief that alcohol is harmless, current research shows that there is almost no level that is beneficial to our health and longevity. And excitement has been raised over the last decade about using psychedelics therapeutically. Psychedelic assisted therapy has taken off in both science and medical research. But misinformation and legislation create barriers to progress in this field. And sober psychedelic experiences do not suffer this resistance. The experience itself becomes the truth to the individual. And the ease with which an experience can be started and stopped instantly., removes these barriers. Studies on flickering light stimulation hallucinations highlight the accessibility of this option.

Is there proof of psychedelic assisted therapy working?

There are studies that show remarkable results with psychedelic assisted therapy. And there are others that show inconclusive or mixed results. And long-standing legislation around legality and fears around ‘bad trips’ present significant roadblocks to researchers and therapists. Added to this., unfortunately some researchers have a bias to getting certain results. Because of so much time and money invested. Recently, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), published a report on one such organisation siting alleged misconduct in the studies. Calling into question the entire research project. The truth unfortunately, is that psychedelic therapy as a mainstream alternative, may never be universally approved. And it may take many years to get there. Because the challenge with any study like this, is separating the drug from the practice. This study shows stroboscopic light amplifies music-evoked joy and arousal, mimicking psychedelic immersion.

How are sober psychedelics separating Pharmacology from Psychology?

There are aspects of an ingested drug that potentially cannot be mimicked without the drug. And so, nothing will ever replace an ingested psychedelic. But this is where the goal of the process, replaces the means to get there. Because what has been shown to be vital in these psychedelic assisted therapy studies is the idea of Set (mindset), Setting (environment), and Integration (transferal of knowledge and skill into life). And these variables make scientific study challenging. Because how do you scientifically study a substance., if who, where and how it is taken all effect the result?

Of more importance then, are what the goals of such therapy practices are. And how else can we get those goals? This is where sober psychedelic practices are helping separate Pharmacology from Psychology or therapeutic practice. And as more ways are found to get the desired results, psychedelics become a tool suitable for SOME people and not a one stop fix all for everyone.

What are the ultimate goals of a psychedelic experience?

Currently there are experiments in progress to create a synthetic version of a psychedelic that gives the benefits without the psychedelic experience. But I think that is completely missing the point. Because many experts are now saying that the experience IS the benefit.

Let’s look at what a few experts and published authors have to say about this. Because when we separate the method from the outcome, new opportunities arise.

Daniel Siegel MD

(1 -see below for full bio)

Daniel is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. And he speaks of the three pillars of a psychedelic experience that have researched benefits. Those pillars are: Focusing attention, Open awareness, and Building kindness. All these pillars have researched benefits to mental and physical health. And all of them are achievable with other practices. Examples being mindfulness, breathwork, loving kindness meditation, Light and sound therapy, Magnetic brain stimulation and more. Daniel sees optimal brain and mind functioning as like a river of integrative flow between the banks of chaos and rigidity. And that focussing on this flow helps us make sense of mental health challenges and their healing.

Stanislav Grof, MD, PhD

(2 – see below)

Stan is a pioneering psychiatrist and boasts over six decades of research on non-ordinary states of consciousness. And he experimented therapeutically with LSD before prohibition. What Stan discovered early on in his studies, was that the same people on the same dose of LSD were having very different experiences. This led him to realise that what he was witnessing was a product of psyche and not pharmacology. And when using LSD became illegal, Stan’s curiosity led him to discover and create Holotropic breathwork. Holotropic breathwork is still to this day considered one way to have a sober psychedelic experience. And this then gave rise to the process of trusting the inner wisdom of the body-mind to heal and transform without even the need for a set intention. In other words, given the right environment., the mind and body can heal itself.

Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, FRCP

(3 – see below)

Deepak is founder of the Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism. As a medically trained spiritual and quantum physics teacher, Deepak Chopra states., “Healing is a return to the memory of wholeness”. And wholeness can be experienced through expanded states. Therefore, expanded states are healing. With this understanding, and the right application of Set, Setting, and Integration., sober psychedelics become far more than just a cool experience. Because as Deepak says, “In any moment we are either living in resistance or flow”. That’s our two choices. And flow is a fundamental result of expanded states. “And when flow becomes common., peak experiences become peak living”.

Cassandra Vieten, PhD

(4 – see below)

Cassandra is a Clinical Professor and Psychology Director at the Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative at UCSD.

Cassandra places great emphasis on the experience of Awe in psychedelic journeys. And in her experience as an adviser on mental health issues., Awe can facilitate a type of reverse PTSD. Because experiences of fascination, curiosity, amazement and other forms of Awe, are heart and mind opening in contrast to the shutting down of stress and anxiety. And the tipping of this balance of life experiences can have significant self-healing effects.

Interestingly, this view matches that of Dr Gabor Mate who is a world-renowned trauma and addiction expert. Dr Gabor states that trauma is more commonly caused because of good things NOT happening, than bad things happening. Which when you think about it., is quite a paradigm shift in understanding.

Applying psychedelic goals to light and sound therapy

For sober psychedelics, these psychedelic goals align with light/sound outcomes:

• Focus attention
• Open awareness
• Build kindness
• Engage self healing
• Expanded states of flow
• Heart and mind opening states of awe

Using substances to relax

One of the arguments FOR mind altering substances, is that they help people let go and relax. And that they sometimes encourage socialisation. Because there are proven benefits of relaxation and social contact on our health and lifespan. The challenge is that this becomes a problem when it stops being occasional and starts being normal. It’s all about balance.

The same can be said of psychedelics used therapeutically or for consciousness exploration. Because unfortunately, people fall into the trap of mistaking the experience for the work. IE: The experience creates a window of opportunity, but a window is only useful if you are able or willing to look through it. Sober psychedelics gives an opportunity to look through that window also. And allows for profound levels of relaxation and exploring expanded states without the risk of developing a reliance on them.

The power of stacking with sober psychedelics

The true power of sober psychedelics is in the ability to have the experience as often as needed with no adverse effect on your daily life. Because when the experience is stopped, you are instantly free to move on with your day. No single psychedelic (or sober psychedelic) experience will work every time for everyone. And this is one of the reasons why the results of psychedelic assisted therapy studies are so varied. But when you take the goal as the focus and not the method., you are free to combine multiple methods to get a result. Because you can mix and match, or stack, the best ways of achieving part of an overall result. This is known as stacking methods or experiences. And the result of stacking is usually greater than the sum of its parts.

Why does stacking experiences work?

How does the practice of stacking experience work? With the knowledge of the strengths and limitations of a specific method, comes the power to use them effectively. And one method or experience can prime the person for the next. An example of this is changing a self-limiting belief. Because attempting to simply adopt a new belief will create mixed results. However, if you start by finding counter examples to the existing belief first., any new belief will have a much higher chance of sticking. Almost like loosening the existing belief and creating a vacuum ready for the new one. And if you then mentally rehearse how the new belief will work in your future., the chance of it sticking gets even higher. This is the basis of effective therapy and coaching. A singular experience becomes part of a life changing thread of experiences. And this form of stacking is applicable to sober psychedelics too. Because what you do before and after an experience is as important as the experience. And this is the real power of the concept of Set. Setting, and Integration.

How to have your own sober psychedelic experience

At the forefront of using light and sound to create expanded states is roXiva. And words can’t do the experience justice. The ability to start and stop the experience at will and do so as many times as you want., is what makes this type of technology so versatile.

And sober psychedelic experiences or psychedelic light therapy is just one aspect of use. A small aspect of the overall relief and positive benefit people get from going on fully immersive journeys. And many professional outlets are using the technology for personal and professional enhancement and growth. Some offer group experiences including sober psychedelic evenings. And many more offer a one-to-one experience.

Often they will stack roXiva with other modalities to enhance the results. An example is float spas who use roXiva before and after the float session.

The Denver Zen Den wins Best Sober psychedelic experience award

The Zen Den in Denver is one such roXiva user that promotes sober psychedelics. As founder Michael Pottern said in a recent interview with trend following CanvasRebel…

“The sober-curious trend is rapidly growing, as increasing numbers of individuals are reevaluating their connection with alcohol and other substances and delving into the experience of life without them. Unique and inspiring experiences allow for the feeling of awe, without any substances. And it’s been shown that the brain loves novel experiences.”

Michael has become very clear over the years as to the benefits of sober psychedelic experiences. Including safe, transformational improvements in mental wellbeing, focus and creativity.

Zen Den regularly gets positive feedback from visitors to the centre. And recently won ‘Best sober psychedelic experience’ at the 2024 Westword event.

Neural mechanisms of Sober Psychedelics

Sober psychedelics via light and sound work through brainwave entrainment and neural modulation, as supported by research:

• Brainwave entrainment via stroboscopic light (e.g., theta waves for creativity).
• Visual patterns induction, creating phosphenes and geometric forms leading to hallucinations.
• Emotional amplification with sound, enhancing arousal and synesthesia-like effects.

Safety and comparisons

Sober psychedelics offer a low risk alternative with no dependency Which is in contrast to substance risks. They compare favorably to holotropic breathwork for stacking, providing synergistic effects in mood disorders.

Proof of Sober Psychedelics efficacy

The following table summarizes some key research supporting light and sound as sober psychedelics:

What is the ultimate lesson from Sober psychedelics?

People often want things in their lives to change. And will give many reasons for this. However, the truth is much simpler. We want to start, stop or be something, because of how we believe it will make us feel. But often our lives stay the same because we become conditioned to the emotional and neurochemical state that we spend most of our day in. And the very thoughts and feelings that we say we don’t want, produce a cocktail of physical and neurochemistry in us that becomes its own reward of familiarity and comfort. Because feeling and thinking any type of ‘way’, is basically an addiction! And to break that addiction takes both effort and a willingness to experience a type of addiction withdrawal from the mental and physical state that we are accustomed to. This withdrawal is a big reason why people fail to change. Because it’s easier to stay the same. And the key to any change is to become conscious of unconscious behaviours and modify them.

Breaking free of emotional addiction

Sober psychedelics can provide opportunities to adopt new ways of thinking and feeling. And provide relief from the withdrawal of the neurochemistry that has held us in place for so many years. Because old addictive habits of thought and feeling need to be replaced or they will persist as the easiest option. And this is best done by interrupting old patterns and introducing new ones. Expanded states become emotional rehabilitation opportunities. And provide the inspiration to create new ways of being. Change requires change. That may seem obvious, but how many people do you know that want a better life but keep doing the same things?

I look forward to hearing your own stories of change inspired by sober mind-expanding experiences. And do contact us to learn more.

A short Biography of quoted experts

• Daniel Siegel, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the Founding Co-director of its Mindful Awareness Research Centre. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an organization that focuses on the development of mindsight, teaches insight, empathy, and integration in individuals, families and communities.

• Stanislav Grof, MD, PhD, a pioneering psychiatrist, boasts over six decades researching non-ordinary states of consciousness. Originating from Prague, Czechoslovakia, he earned an MD from Charles University and a PhD from the Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences. His initial exploration into the therapeutic potential of LSD occurred at the Psychiatric Research Institute in Prague.

• Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, FRCP, founder of the Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization.

• Cassandra Vieten, PhD, is a Clinical Professor and the Director of the Centre for Mindfulness at the Centres for Integrative Health in the Department of Family Medicine at UC San Diego. She is also Director of Research at the Arthur C. Clarke Centre for Human Imagination and Clinical Psychology Director at the Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative at UCSD. She is Senior Advisor of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation where she served as Executive Director from 2019-2023, and a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, where she served as President from 2013-2019.