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FAQ

Answers to common questions and other useful details  

If you don't see what you're looking for Contact Us and we'll respond to you personally. You'll be helping us create a comprehensive body of information for both current and potential members!

How to Subscribe, Sign Up and/or become a LifeTime Member
SUBSCRIBERS: There are three types of "subscribers" to our website.

  1. You can Sign Up for a regular member account granting you access to the general members area and the booking process. 

  2. You can become a LifeTime member for a one time fee to support our local community initiatives.

  3. You can keep it simple and just subscribe to our mailing list without creating a member account.

 

MAILING LIST:  To join our mailing list and automatically receive periodic updates from DPS you can use the "Subscribe" button located in the footer of our website, or one of our "pop-up" opportunities. Joining our mailing list will not create a member account. To create a member account please use the Sign Up feature described below.
 

SIGN UP: You can create a free member account by using the "Log In/Sign Up" button in the main menu of our website, or click here. You will automatically be added to our email list as a subscriber unless you opt out by unchecking the box when you sign up. With a free member account you are welcome to participate in society activities. To be eligible for participating vendor discounts, members only pricing, access to members-only events and our private Members Forum, you'll need to purchase a LifeTime membership. To upgrade your free member account to a supporting LifeTime membership visit the Join Us page or the Become A Member page directly and log in to your account to complete your purchase.
 

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP:

You can become a LifeTime member for a one-time payment of $129 from our Join Us page. You'll be directed to complete a simple checkout from our Become A Member page. You'll be prompted to Log In or Sign Up to complete your purchase. Participating in society activities is not required, and you can cancel at any time. We are grateful for your support!

 

Participation, Booking and Cancellation policies
PARTICIPATION:

Sacred Medicine Participation Health Review. To participate in any entheogen-related activities you will be required to complete our Sacred Medicine Participation Health Review, before you book. You'll be asked to download and complete a simple questionnaire that serves to inform us of any potential contraindications with prescription or over-the-counter medications and supplements you may be taking, and to assess suitability for the set, setting, and level of support provided at your chosen retreat/event. Please see: Sacred Medicine Participation.

 

BOOKING:

The first step is to RSVP to any of our upcoming retreats, events or workshops, or submit a Private Sessions or End Of Life Retreat Request. and complete a simple checkout for your free pre-participation health review ticket. You'll automatically receive an email acknowledgement with a link to your confidential questionnaire.

- Click to download the pdf file.

- Open your downloaded pdf file and type your answers online.

- Save your completed questionnaire file to your device. 

- Use the "UPLOAD Here" link in the footer of your email acknowledgement to send it to us via our Contact Page.

- Or, attach it to an email directly to us if you prefer.

- We'll review it and reach out to schedule your phone call.

Once you've completed your pre-participation health review and phone consultation, we can move forward. We'll send you an invoice or booking link via email to pay online. A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your room. Deposit amounts may vary - please check the webpage details for your chosen activity. You'll have the option to pay in full or just the applicable deposit. Payment in full is due no later than 6 weeks prior to the start date of your booking. 

CANCELLATIONS

DPS Sessions, Retreats, Workshops & Training Programs. 

In the event you need to postpone or cancel your reservation - no problem. We can apply all funds paid to a later date or another activity of your choice for up to a year. If you prefer to receive a refund please see Refunds below.

Collaboration Retreats, Workshops & Training Programs.

We collaborate with other organizations to bring you more unique exploration experiences. These collaboration offerings may have their own booking, cancellation and refund policies - Please review your chosen activity's webpage for the details, or just ask us!

REFUNDS:

If you cancel your reservation at least 6 weeks prior to its scheduled start date your booking is eligible for a refund. The required deposit amount for your booking is not refundable and a 5% cancellation fee will be deducted.. If you cancel less than 6 weeks prior to the scheduled start date of your booking, only 50% of funds paid above the required deposit amount will be refunded.

Covid Notice

Jamaica has officially eliminated all Covid related protocols.

Covid-19 re-testing before returning to your home country (if required)

For departing visitors from countries that still require a negative Covid test for re-entry we'll arrange it for the day before your departure and provide transportation to the local clinic. The rapid Antigen test is done by a swab up your nose, costs $75 USD (or J$9500) and results are emailed within an hour or so.

What are the potential benefits of sacred medicine/psychedelic experiences?

Sacred medicines are useful tools that combined with qualified professional guidance before during and after the experience have shown tremendous results in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. Understanding the process of personal growth, the insights gained, and having a framework of reference (i.e. spiritual practice, life philosophy or religious beliefs, etc.) to integrate it into your practical life are key components to maximizing the therapeutic benefits of these magnificent tools. Purposeful sacred medicine use is a very personal journey, often described as being among the most significant spiritual experiences one can have. A sacred medicine exploration experience can be a profoundly healing one, particularly for people who have experienced mental ill health, psychological trauma, or facing end-of-life challenges. It can also be a way to unlock creativity or stifled potential. Modern research is proving the usefulness of these psychedelic experiences in facilitating deep personal transformation, remediation of mental health issues, and a profound sense of well-being.

Are sacred medicines safe?

Sacred medicines and substances with psycho-active properties have been used across the globe for physical and spiritual healing for millennia. They are generally considered safe both psychologically and physiologically however, there are some important considerations to take into account. These medicines with psycho-active properties affect everyone differently based on the set and setting as well as a person’s own biology/physiology. For your safety we employ a screening process requiring every participant to answer some mental/physical health related questions as part of the booking process. We review your answers and discuss your details further during your welcome call. This helps ensure that your situation is a good fit for sacred medicine exploration and that there are no potential conflicts with any prescribed medications you may be taking or your health history.
 

Psilocybin, the psycho-active substance in sacred mushrooms is non-addictive, non-toxic, and when taken responsibly in a safe, comfortable and supported setting, have little to no risk. Scientific research has shown that the benefits from consuming psilocybin are quite remarkable. For over 15 years the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Unit has been the preeminent and most productive research team in the United States. They have shown breathtaking scientific productivity, having published more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts on psychedelics, including 15 published laboratory studies. To learn more about psychedelics please visit our Resources Blog.

Are there any preparation or integration guidelines?

Yes.

  1. The first step in preparation is our free physical / mental  health pre-screening process. Our in-depth questionnaire is designed to facilitate a self-assessment where you take a personal inventory of yourself, your relationships, your aspirations versus accomplishments in life, and what you would like to overcome or change about it. During your pre-screening phone call we'll address any concerns you might have and evaluate the best approach for your situation. After your pre-screening phone call you'll feel comfortable going forward with a purpose. If your particular situation is not suitable for sacred medicine exploration in our set and setting it will be revealed through this process and we may be able to recommend alternatives.

  2. To get the most out of a psilocybin exploration session, preparing yourself physically and mentally is important. If your intake phone call revealed areas that are particularly challenging or of concern to you, here's where you'll begin to apply the suggestions given as a practice. Modifying your diet for the preceding week to refrain from drinking alcohol, eating a lot of meat, and even sexual activity are some of the ways you can prepare physically. Journaling or other creative outlets, meditating and other mindfulness exercises are some of the ways you can prepare mentally.

  3. The day of your experience your facilitator/medicine person will review useful mindfulness exercises as preparation prior to your experience and serve your needs and general well-being during your guided self-exploration journey. 

  4. Fasting for 6-8 hours is required prior to ingesting psilocybin mushrooms. On medicine days we typically serve a hearty brunch, begin exploration around sunset, and serve a post-medicine soup and/or light fare around midnight before you return to your room for the night. 

  5. All psilocybin exploration sessions include integration discussions the following morning to review your experience, discuss any details you would like to address, and help you map out a path with personalized "exercises" designed to help you facilitate new habits and the change you want to implement. 

  6. After your experience with us we can provide ongoing follow-up integration counseling services as needed for an additional fee. Whether you prefer to continue with the same integration person that helped you with your experience, or you would like to work with another qualified professional collaborating with our organization is up to you. Schedule and pay as you go for your private follow-up counseling - in-person if you're local, or if not via WhatsApp or Zoom phone/video conferencing.

I have some questions, how can I best reach you in Jamaica?

We are always available to answer your questions. To initiate communication please use the Contact Form on our website: https://diasporapsychedelicsociety.com/contact. Once we have connected with you we typically communicate personally via WhatsApp. If you have already connected with us via WhatsApp feel free to send a direct message. If you don't already use WhatsApp we recommend downloading it to your phone before travelling internationally - it's an excellent way to communicate across borders for free using local WiFi. Our US voicemail at (302) 827-7872 can record your message, however please allow 24-48 hours for a response to voicemail. 

Where and when do the sacred medicine explorations take place?

Our guided sacred medicine explorations can take place in different settings onsite at Doranja House, your accommodations. Choose a setting outside in nature or indoors with the privacy and comfort of your room - with or without eye coverings. Your facilitator / medicine person attends your needs during your psilocybin journey to ensure a safe experience. We provide vinyl covered foam cushions for your comfort in outdoor settings as well as plenty of water. Most of our psilocybin sessions are scheduled as evening explorations commencing around sunset and finishing around midnight.  
 

What dosage of sacred medicine will I be receiving?

During your personal health screening intake call we'll consider your prior experience, preference if any, recent prescription medications, physical/mental health concerns and related history in order to determine what the best approach is for your situation. As a reference, a dose of 3.5 grams has been assessed as an average dose for typical patients in clinical settings.  
 

Do you offer private group events?

Yes. We currently offer private exploration sessions to individuals, couples, and small groups. We also collaborate with qualified sacred medicine professionals to host their clients using our infrastructure and logistical support in Jamaica. If you're interested in a small private group event please request your dates for private exploration sessions or contact us. If you're interested in collaborating please visit our Collaboration page.

How do I get to the event/accommodations?

We provide roundtrip airport transportation from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay for private exploration sessions, DPS workshops and member-only events except for our Pay-What-You-Can gatherings. If you prefer to fly in to Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston instead, we can arrange roundtrip airport transportation for an additional fee. If you're already on the island and don't require transportation, we'll give you the details you need to find us.

Will my personal information be confidential?

Yes. All members' personal information and participation questionnaires are considered confidential and stored securely with restricted access. Your membership's recurring payment details are by default not stored by, however you can elect to store your card information in your members account. DPS does not have access to any debit or credit card information, period. All memberships purchased through our website are currently processed by PayPal. All other payments for private exploration services or DPS workshops and events are processed through our booking portal. Please view our Privacy Policy for more information. 
 

Why do you ask for an emergency contact?

This is standard procedure for participation. As with most tours, excursions, adventure activities, or sporting events, participants are required to sign a waiver of liability and provide some personal information including an emergency contact. Please choose a person close to you who is open-minded about psychedelics and who knows that you are attending this event. 

Will I need to sign a liability waiver?

Yes. This is standard procedure for all participation in any society activities. As with most tours, excursions, sporting events, or adventure activities, participants are required to read, agree to, and sign our Participation Agreement & Liability Waiver. Follow this link to open our online version. You can print the a .pdf version by scrolling down the page to the "The Participant's Statement" section. You'll see a check box and a link to the pdf file.

COVID
Participation, Booking Policies
Liability Waiver Link
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