In her latest book, My Year of Psychedelics, bestselling author Sarah Napthali embarks on a deeply personal and thought-provoking journey into the world of mind-altering medicines. Known for her insightful explorations of Buddhism and mindfulness, Sarah takes a bold leap into the uncharted, documenting a year of psychedelic experiences with raw honesty, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
Congratulations on your latest book, My Year of Psychedelics. I was completely immersed in your journey and loved every word. Given the subject matter, which is still considered somewhat taboo, were you at all nervous about putting this book out into the world?
To be honest, I didn’t really feel nervous about the subject matter of taking mind-altering medicines. I knew there would be haters, and some would disapprove of what might seem like reckless experimentation, but after doing my research I believed in the safety and the value of my project.
You’ve long been curious about altered states, but it wasn’t until your 50s that you fully committed to this journey. Was there a specific desire for healing or self-discovery that ultimately led you to take the leap?
I wasn’t looking for healing or self-discovery at the beginning, although I would later in the book as my life unfolded in unexpected ways, not least the breakup of my relationship. In the beginning, I was mainly motivated by curiosity and a desire for adventure and discovery. As someone interested in Buddhism, I wanted to fast-track my spiritual development, particularly in regard to teachings on the self.
You cover one particular life chapter, which you admit you were reluctant to share in the book after it came up for you in a session. How did you find the courage to share this story with such beautiful vulnerability?
After that particular trip I felt a little panicked at the idea of sharing my secrets in the book but the next day of the retreat I did a breathwork session full of revelations, including that I didn’t have to worry about sharing my secrets – and I never really worried about it again. In fact, there was a sense of relief that from now on I’d be a more authentic person with others without these secrets weighing me down. It helped me learn that when we make ourselves vulnerable, sharing our flaws and our lows, we open ourselves to deeper and more nourishing connections with others.
How did you approach translating such ineffable, mind-expanding journeys into words? Were you ever nervous that language might fall short in capturing what you truly experienced?
I tried to put pen to paper as soon as possible after each trip to try and capture everything I could remember while it was still fresh. I remember thinking during an ayahuasca trip that there was no way I could capture in words such exotic and elaborate visions. Likewise, many of the psilocybin ‘visuals’, or ‘sacred geometry’, are too hard to describe so a lot was left unsaid in the trip reports.
How has your day-to-day life changed after a year of such profound experiences? Do you see the world differently now?
A year later, I am far more dedicated to my daily meditation practice where I can reconnect to aspects of my psychedelic experiences such as feelings of love for self and others and communing with the Divine within. I used to be a Science Fundamentalist and an Atheist but now I’m open to all sorts of possibilities – the afterlife, reincarnation, spirits and plant intelligence. It’s not that I “believe” in them as I really don’t know, but I’m open to possibilities and this has re-enchanted my life and opened me more to the sacred and the mysterious.
Discussions around the therapeutic potential of psychedelics are becoming more mainstream. Based on your experience, where do you see this conversation heading in the next decade, particularly in Australia?
I like to think that more of the thousands of people suffering from depression, addiction and Post Traumatic Stress DIsorder will have access to psychedelic medicines as an option. They won’t cure everyone but trials suggest they are far more effective than current treatments, especially in the case of PTSD which has a particularly low recovery rate.
I’d also like to see ministries where people can meet in sacred settings to respectfully take the medicines, with intention, in a community. Such communities already exist, of course, but underground outside legal frameworks.
Sarah’s new book My Year of Psychedelics is available to purchase here.
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