MAGIC MUSHROOMS IN YOUR GOLDEN YEARS

A GREATER SENSE OF INTERCONNECTION THROUGH GROUP PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY

The Boomer generation were the pioneers of psychedelics in the West, but oddly enough, they're often left out of today’s “psychedelic renaissance” conversation.

A recent study—The Impact of Psychedelic Retreats on Older Adults: A Preliminary Exploration—examined 62 participants aged 60+ and found some fascinating insights. While older adults didn’t experience the intense effects that younger people do, they still saw impressive improvements in mental well-being.

The real game-changer here, though, was the sense of “communitas”—that beautiful feeling of connection and togetherness during group activities. As Dr. Lorenzo Pasquini put it, “The feeling of togetherness with others emerged as the only significant predictor of changes,” proving once again that, in the end, it’s the people, not just the psychedelics, that make the journey meaningful.

This is great news for many of my clients who are nervous about the intensity of a psychedelic experience. The study shows that older adults might not face the mind-bending trips that younger generations sometimes go through. Instead, the focus is on connection, gentle healing, and finding peace through shared experiences.

So, if you're a curious Baby Boomer thinking, “Wait, am I going to lose my mind?”—no worries! It’s about a peaceful, supportive experience, not an acid trip circa 1968.