Monthly News — December
In this newsletter you will find: advice on the final step of my Triple A approach to healing, the review of the month, exciting changes for 2025 and a final reminder for the Psychedelics Design Conference happening tomorrow. Keep reading!
From Resistance to Release: The Power of Radical Acceptance
In September’s blog post, I shared my Triple A approach to healing and integration: awareness, accountability & acceptance. Awareness brings the clarity to see yourself and your experiences without judgment, acknowledging your true feelings and patterns as they arise. Accountability examines how our own behavior & core beliefs have shaped our lives, relationships, and experiences so that we can step into our true power and feel a sense of ownership on our growth journey. The final step to adopting an empowered mindset shift is acceptance.
Why Do We Suffer?
Suffering often occurs when we wish for a different outcome than what is or what was. Think about a time you resisted reality—a breakup, a missed opportunity, or even something small like bad weather or bad traffic. The resistance likely felt exhausting and created stress in your mind & body. Acceptance, on the other hand, releases that tension and creates space for self-exploration. Acceptance means letting go of resistance and wishing for things to be different. It’s about fully facing reality so you can move forward, find peace, and grow. This is where the real shift happens, but it’s definitely not easy!
Why do we resist?
Often, the exploration of the pain, hurt & fear that accompanies resistance is the key to our healing and it is the part we like to avoid. Take bad traffic as an example: many of us (myself included) have been frustrated and even angry (hello, road rage!) when caught in a traffic jam. Yet, usually what lies beneath the outward expression of our resistance, are deeper feelings about our self-worth. Some of us may be inclined to blame others (it’s not my fault I’m late), some of us may lean towards negative self-talk, blaming ourselves (why can’t I ever get up and leave on time), and many of us let fear overwhelm us, creating dooms day scenarios in our own imaginations (my boss is going to fire me). Sometimes, it’s all three scenarios happening at once! When we resist reality, no matter how trivial or serious the circumstance we basically create the fight or flight response in our brains and bodies (hello, stress!) and then we often get stuck there, replaying the events and wishing for a different outcome (the suffering). Whereas, accepting the circumstance (bad traffic) and embracing the facts (I’m going to be late) regulates our nervous system, even if we don’t like the outcome. When our nervous system is regulated, it gives our brains a fighting chance to see possible solutions, whether immediate (texting or calling to inform someone we will be late) or longer-term (making changes to our daily routine).
Practice Makes Progress.
Acceptance isn’t about getting it perfect or pretending that pain doesn’t exist—it’s about building awareness of when resistance is showing up, practicing accountability for how you respond, and embracing acceptance as a path to peace. These three steps—awareness, accountability, and acceptance—work together to create a healing mindset. When you catch yourself stuck in resistance, start with awareness: pause and notice what’s happening without judgment. Then, take accountability by asking yourself how you can respond in a way that supports your growth rather than feeding your suffering. Finally, lean into acceptance by acknowledging the reality of the situation, even if it’s uncomfortable. This process isn’t about fixing everything; it’s about freeing yourself from the fight and creating space for healing, growth and peace.
In an upcoming podcast episode (see the exciting news below), I’ll be joined by a mother who has faced the unimaginable loss of her oldest child. Her journey through radical acceptance has brought her face-to-face with grief, guilt, shame, and, ultimately, healing. It’s a raw, vulnerable conversation that highlights how acceptance can lead to transformation, even in the darkest moments. Stay tuned—it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.
How Psilocybin May Support Your Acceptance Practice.
Psilocybin has shown promising potential as a tool for helping individuals move through acceptance and into healing and transformation. By working on a neurobiological, emotional, and spiritual level, it facilitates shifts that are often challenging to access in our everyday state of mind. Here are a few ways psilocybin may support this journey:
Creating Space for Awareness
Psilocybin can help quiet the inner chatter of the mind and provide a sense of spaciousness, allowing individuals to step back and observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment. This heightened awareness is the first step in the Triple A approach, as it helps uncover areas of resistance and highlights where healing may need to begin.Breaking Patterns of Resistance
Many people report that psilocybin allows them to confront their pain or fears with greater compassion and less avoidance. It reduces the brain's rigid defensive patterns, enabling individuals to face difficult truths and reframe their reality. This can be a powerful way to take accountability for one’s responses and to move past the replay loop of "what if" and "if only" thinking.Facilitating Emotional Release
Acceptance often requires moving through the emotional blockages that keep us stuck in resistance. Psilocybin has a unique ability to bring suppressed emotions to the surface, allowing them to be felt, processed, and released. This emotional catharsis can pave the way for genuine acceptance of life’s challenges.Strengthening Connection to Self and Source
Psilocybin often elicits profound spiritual experiences that deepen one’s sense of connection to something greater—whether it’s the universe, nature, or a higher power. This spiritual grounding can help individuals feel supported as they navigate grief, trauma, or transitions. For many, it fosters a sense of purpose and peace, even amidst life’s difficulties.Rewiring the Brain for Growth
Research suggests that psilocybin promotes neuroplasticity, helping the brain form new pathways and perspectives. This ability to "reframe reality" is a cornerstone of healing and transformation. It allows individuals to see their challenges through a lens of growth rather than resistance, embracing acceptance not as resignation but as an opportunity for renewal.
While psilocybin is not a magic solution and should be approached with intention and care, it can be a powerful complement to the process of awareness, accountability, and acceptance. When paired with practices like therapy, journaling, or mindfulness, it can help unlock new pathways to healing and transformation.
If you are interested in exploring whether or not psilocybin may be right for you, I’m happy to offer support and answers to your questions. Book a free consultation to get started and let’s explore options that may work best for you!
Review of the Month
“Michelle was a wonderful guide for my experience. She is thoughtful, empathetic and compassionate. The experience was amazing and life altering. The place is so comfortable and nice. There is such a cozy, almost magical quality about it. The amenities and attention to detail are extraordinary and the combination of a comfortable place to relax, unwind and spend the night with the beauty of the natural surroundings is just wonderful.”
Purple Dreams for the New Year: A New Podcast + Newsletter Glow-Up!
I’m very excited to announce the launch of my new podcast (name to be determined)! We will explore the stories, tools, and insights that empower healing, transformation, and purpose. Whether you are navigating depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, burnout, or simply seeking deeper connection and clarity, this space is for you.
You’ll hear personal stories of resilience, expert perspectives on mental wellness, and conversations about legal psilocybin therapy in Oregon and beyond. But this isn’t just a podcast about psychedelics - it’s also about the journey beyond psilocybin.
2025 also brings a rebranding of my monthly newsletter. Beginning in January, I will continue to write a monthly blog here on Tree of Life and it will be shared through my monthly newsletter, A Dose of Purple.
Merging the two brands under Purple City Experience was always the long-term dream. This small step begins the longer journey of growing Purple City Experience into a full fledged retreat center where guests can reconnect with self, others, and source - with or without a dose of purple.
As always, I thank you for your trust, support and business along the way. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2025!
Make it stand out
One of my goals with the new podcast is to be able to share personal stories of healing, with or without psychedelics. It’s my personal belief that changing the culture and stigma often attached to psychedelics is through the telling of authentic healing testimonies. My hope is to inspire and educate those who may be in need of alternative solutions, so that we all can collectively begin to heal ourselves and combat the growing mental health, suicide and addiction crisis we are facing today.
If you have a story you’d like to share, know someone who does, or if you are an expert voice in wellness practices and are interested to share your knowledge in an upcoming episode, please reach out below!
TOMORROW: Psychedelics + Design
Online Conference
Do you love psychedelics and beautiful design? Then this is the conference for you! I’m excited to join Anne Philippi, Stephanie Wang and Joyce Braverman at the Psychedelics Design online conference to discuss "Cultivating Safe Spaces: Enhancing Human Potential in Regenerative Environments."
LAST CHANCE: Tickets are only $28 and the lineup of panelists is outstanding. Best part: you can join from the comfort of your own couch!
