The Power of Purpose: How Your Intentions Can Shape Your Psychedelic Journey

Embarking on a psychedelic experience is often described as a journey into the depths of one’s own mind and consciousness. For those considering psychedelic psychotherapy, there's a natural curiosity, and perhaps some apprehension, about what such a journey might entail and what its outcomes might be. While the psychedelic substance itself plays a role, a growing body of research and anecdotal evidence suggests that another crucial factor significantly influences the experience and its perceived benefits: your intention. Setting an intention is like choosing a destination or a theme for your journey. It’s not about rigidly controlling the experience, which is often unpredictable, but rather about creating a focus, a guiding light that can help navigate the often-intense landscapes of a psychedelic state. For individuals uncertain about psychedelic therapy, understanding the role of intention can be incredibly empowering and reassuring, as it highlights an active role they can play in shaping their own healing process.

What Does “Setting an Intention” Mean in Psychedelic Therapy?

In the context of psychedelic therapy, setting an intention isn’t about making a wish or a demand. It’s more about identifying a core aspiration, a question, an area of your life you wish to explore, or a quality you wish to cultivate. It’s a gentle pointing of the mind towards a meaningful direction before the psychedelic session begins. Intentions can be broad or specific. For example, someone struggling with anxiety might set an intention to understand the roots of their fear, or to cultivate a sense of inner peace. A person dealing with grief might intend to connect with their feelings in a safe way or to find a path towards acceptance. Someone seeking personal growth might intend to explore their creativity or to deepen their sense of connection to others or to nature. The key is that the intention comes from a place of genuine curiosity and a desire for positive change. It’s often developed in collaboration with a therapist during the preparation phase of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This preparation is a vital part of the process, helping individuals to feel safe, informed, and ready for the experience.

Why is Intention Setting Considered So Important?

Many researchers and practitioners in the field of psychedelic therapy emphasize the critical role of “set and setting.” “Set” refers to the mindset of the individual – their thoughts, mood, expectations, and intentions. “Setting” refers to the physical and social environment in which the experience takes place. Intention is a core component of one’s mindset. Several sources highlight why intention is so crucial:

• It Provides a Framework: A clear intention can act as an anchor or a cognitive framework during the psychedelic experience, which can sometimes feel vast, disorienting, or overwhelming. When unusual thoughts or emotions arise, gently returning to one’s intention can provide a sense of direction and purpose (Odyssey PBC, n.d.).
• It Enhances Therapeutic Focus: In a therapeutic context, an intention helps to guide the session towards addressing specific issues or goals. It helps both the individual and the therapist to maintain a focus on the healing work at hand (Equanimity Wellness, n.d.).
• It Can Influence Outcomes: There's a belief, supported by emerging research, that the intentions brought into a psychedelic experience can significantly shape not only the nature of the experience itself but also its long-term perceived outcomes and benefits (PATH Therapy, n.d.; Scholars Archive, n.d.). If you go in seeking insight into a particular problem, you are more likely to gain that insight.
• It Fosters Agency and Engagement: The act of setting an intention empowers the individual, making them an active participant in their healing journey rather than a passive recipient of a substance’s effects. This engagement can enhance commitment to the therapeutic process.

Researching the Link: The Greenwich University Study and Beyond

Understanding the precise relationship between intentions and the outcomes of psychedelic experiences is an active area of research. One such effort is a study being conducted through the University of Greenwich, titled “An exploration of effects of intentions on the perceived outcome of psychedelic experiences” (University of Greenwich, n.d.). This study, accessible via a Qualtrics survey, aims to investigate possible links between the intentions people have before a psychedelic experience and their perceived outcomes, including emotional breakthroughs, connectedness, mystical experiences, and overall well-being. The study invites individuals over 18, with experience of at least one high dose of a classical long-acting psychedelic (like psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca, etc.), to complete an online questionnaire about their last such experience. It specifically notes that “Whether there was an explicit, a conscious or a rather implicit, sub-conscious intention, does not matter,” acknowledging that intentions can operate on different levels of awareness. The stated purpose of this research is to gather data that could be “useful to improve psychedelic preparedness and therefore reduce harm.” This highlights a key practical application: if we better understand how intentions work, we can better guide people in setting helpful intentions, potentially making psychedelic experiences safer and more beneficial. While the results of this specific study will emerge over time, the very fact that such research is being conducted underscores the importance the scientific community places on understanding the role of intention. Other research and expert opinion also point in this direction. For instance, a paper on the effects of setting on psychedelic experiences noted a consensus on the importance of setting (which includes intention) in psychedelic therapies (Suzer et al., 2022). Another article from Harvard Divinity School’s Center for the Study of World Religions discusses psychedelic intention-setting rituals as critical factors determining the nature of the experience (CSWR, 2024).

How to Approach Intention Setting: Tips for the Curious

For someone considering psychedelic psychotherapy and feeling uncertain, the idea of setting an intention can be a source of comfort and direction. It’s a way to approach the experience with a sense of purpose. Here are a few general principles often discussed in relation to intention setting:

1. Reflect and Explore: Before trying to formulate an intention, take time for self-reflection. What areas of your life feel challenging? What patterns would you like to change? What qualities would you like to cultivate? Journaling, meditation, or talking with a trusted friend or therapist can help.
2. Keep it Personal and Positive: Your intention should resonate deeply with you. Phrase it in a positive way, focusing on what you want to move towards, rather than just what you want to avoid. For example, instead of “I don’t want to be anxious,” a more helpful intention might be “I want to understand my anxiety and cultivate inner calm.”
3. Be Open and Flexible: While an intention provides focus, it’s important to remain open to wherever the experience takes you. Psychedelic journeys can be unpredictable. The intention is a guide, not a rigid script. Sometimes, the most profound insights come from unexpected places.
4. Trust the Process: Trust that your mind, in conjunction with the psychedelic and the support of your therapist, will work with your intention in a way that is ultimately helpful, even if the experience is challenging at times.
5. Discuss with Your Therapist: If you are undergoing psychedelic therapy, your therapist is your primary guide in forming and working with intentions. They can help you refine your intention and understand how it relates to your therapeutic goals.

The Journey Inward: An Invitation to Participate

The Greenwich University study on intentions is an example of how individuals with psychedelic experience can contribute to our collective understanding. By participating in such research (when eligible and comfortable doing so), people can help to build the knowledge base that will inform safer and more effective psychedelic practices in the future. For those who are simply curious and uncertain, the emphasis on intention in psychedelic work should be reassuring. It underscores that these are not passive experiences. You, with your unique history, hopes, and aspirations, play an active role. By thoughtfully considering what you hope to gain, what questions you hold, or what healing you seek, you are already beginning to shape the journey ahead. The power of purpose, focused through a clear and heartfelt intention, can be a profound tool in navigating the complexities of the human mind and spirit. As psychedelic therapies continue to be explored and understood, the art and science of intention setting will undoubtedly remain a cornerstone of this transformative work, helping to guide individuals towards healing, growth, and a deeper understanding of themselves.

Disclaimer: Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy has not been approved by any regulatory agencies in the United States, and the safety and efficacy are still not formally established at the time of this writing.

References

Center for the Study of World Religions (CSWR), Harvard Divinity School. (2024, December 8). With Best Intention: Psychedelic Intention-Setting Rituals as Rites of Sacralization. https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2024/12/best-intention-psychedelic-intention-setting-rituals-rites-sacralization

Equanimity Wellness. (n.d.) . The Role of Intention-Setting in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. https://equanimitywellness.co.za/intention-setting-in-psychedelic-assisted-therapy/

Odyssey PBC. (n.d.) . How Setting Intentions Transforms Psychedelic Experiences. https://www.odysseypbc.com/blog-posts/how-setting-intentions-transforms-psychedelic-experiences

P.A.T.H. Therapy. (n.d.) . Psychedelic Intention Setting - How To Do It & Why It’s Key for Psilocybin Therapy. https://www.paththerapy.ca/blog/psychedelic-intention-setting-how-to-do-it-why-its-key-for-psilocybin-therapy

Scholars Archive, University at Albany, SUNY. (n.d.) . Intention-Setting among Recreational Psychedelic Users. https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etd/134/ 

Suzer, M. M., Coburn, A., & Krediet, E. (2022). Effects of Setting on Psychedelic Experiences, Therapies, and Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 239(5), 1209-1227. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35138585/

University of Greenwich. (n.d.) . An exploration of effects of intentions on the perceived outcome of psychedelic experiences [Survey]. Qualtrics. https://greenwichuniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DDvMqUKx2SZ1Jk