The Sanctuary Project

Overview

The Sanctuary Project is a harm reduction and safe space provided at large festivals and music/dance events for those having difficulty processing an experience while under the influence of psychoactive substances.

It is a safe place to process and re-integrate information from past experiences with psychoactives.

A place to share information and engage dialogue about psychoactives and their potential uses and effects.

An Essential Service

• Nobody should ever have to go through a difficult psychedelic journey without knowing that support can be found if needed.
• The inclusion of a safe environment is a benefit to any gathering where people are involved in psychedelic exploration.
• It demonstrates a shared response-ability to look out for and take care of each other.

Setting Elements

• The space is designed to operate not only as a safe zone, but also as a comfortable and interactive exploratory dimension. It includes art supplies for nonverbal expression, bottled water, fresh fruit and other snacks, as well as a collective altar space for spiritual objects, aromatherapy oils, fun toys, and information.
• These elements make the environment more interactive and helps to create an atmosphere of comfort and grounding.

The Team

• We are experienced facilitators, therapists and knowledgeable volunteers available to help process whatever difficult issues may arise during a psychoactive related experience or trip.
• We are there to assist the process of self discovery whether it is a difficult or good experience.

The Sanctuary Approach to Dealing with Psychedelic Crises

Therapeutic Approach

• Non-judgmental - based on honor and respect
• Listening is key
• Allows the process to unfold
• Acknowledges the individual’s capacity to heal themselves
• Seeks to assist in making it safe to go deeper
• Non-directive or confrontational
• Mutual learning experience

A crisis or challenge is an opportunity to turn a difficult experience into a valuable one.

Our purpose as facilitators is to support and foster the idea that we all have the ability to look inward and use our own resources to work through hard issues.

For this reason it is essential to allow the natural unfolding of the experience.

Facilitation
Facilitate

1. To make easier or less difficult; to move forward (an action, a process etc,);
2. To assist the progress of (a person).

Role of the Facilitator

• To establish trust and a sense of safety through a grounded presence
• To observe, listen and be attentive
• To gently engage in a supportive manner while minimizing interference with the flow of the user's experience

Facilitator Skills

• Recognition of and respect for diversity
• Awareness of one’s own learning process
• Ability to be attentive/good listening skills
• Trust in one’s way of working
• Willingness to do one’s own inner work
• Development of intuition, empathy, compassion and understanding

The experience of facilitating is an opportunity to explore and recognize each individual's reality or model of the world in a manner that enables us to cherish, rather than judge or fear, the differences that make us unique.

This process brings greater awareness of the amazing and wonderful diversity of humanity.