Questions people ask before they begin

Your facilitator works with you before, during and after your administration session.

Preparation isn't paperwork before the "real" event. It's part of the process. Your facilitator learns about you, discusses what you're hoping for and what concerns you, reviews relevant safety considerations and prepares you for what the day may be like.

During the session, the facilitator's job is to help keep you safe and support you if difficult moments arise. The facilitator stays with you throughout the administration session and works with you afterward during integration.

Absolutely. In fact, we think it's a good idea to speak to two or three before making a choice.

You're choosing someone who may be sitting beside you during an unusually vulnerable experience. Spending 20 or 30 minutes talking with another facilitator before making that choice is time well spent.

Ask about their experience. Ask how they prepare people. Ask what they do when somebody becomes frightened or overwhelmed. Ask how they approach integration. Ask anything that's important to you.

Then pay attention to something that isn't on their résumé: How do you feel talking with them?

Every facilitator working at Satya must be licensed under Oregon's regulated psilocybin program. Beyond that, backgrounds vary widely. Some have healthcare, therapy, coaching, recovery, bodywork, spiritual or other professional experience.

Those additional credentials can matter, but they are not the only thing that matters. We suggest reading the bios and speaking directly with the facilitators who interest you.

Yes. We want you to have a chance to ask questions and get a feel for the facilitator before you commit. The initial conversation is free.

Yes. You make the final choice, but if you tell us what you are looking for we can suggest facilitators who may be a good fit and help make the connection.

No. Oregon's psilocybin program isn't a prescription program, and you don't need a particular diagnosis to participate.

That doesn't mean your health history isn't important. You will be asked to share information that may be relevant to safety and preparation. It is in your best interest to be honest about your medical history and medications with your facilitator.

Oregon's regulated psilocybin services are for adults age 21 and older.

Be honest about your medical history, mental-health history, medications and substance use. At the same time, you should only share the things you feel comfortable sharing.

Don't decide that something probably isn't important and leave it out. The purpose isn't to judge you. It's to make a responsible decision about whether and how to proceed.

Privacy is very important to us. Satya's current practice is to keep client records in hard-copy form in a limited-access area rather than using a general digital client-record system. We do not sell client information.

If privacy is especially important to you, ask us exactly how your records are handled before you begin.

Don't change a prescription medication because something you read on the internet told you it might interfere with psilocybin.

Tell your facilitator what you're taking. If a medication change is being considered, that decision should involve an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

These are exactly the kinds of things that should be discussed openly before participating. Don't hide psychiatric history because you're afraid someone will tell you no.

Facilitators would rather have an uncomfortable conversation before a session than discover important information when someone is already under the influence of psilocybin.

Satya's current FAQ identifies lithium use, active psychosis and active thoughts of harming yourself or others as key disqualifying concerns under Oregon's program. Bipolar disorder is not automatically treated the same way, but it still deserves a careful conversation with your prospective facilitator and, when appropriate, a healthcare professional.

Tell your facilitator. A significant health concern doesn't necessarily mean you cannot participate, but it may mean more information or medical input is appropriate before making the decision.

Nausea, temporary changes in heart rate or blood pressure, headache and fatigue can occur. Psychological effects can also be intense.

Your facilitator should review the risks that are relevant to you during preparation rather than treating the session as risk-free.

We don't proceed. Sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes it's not now. Sometimes we need more information.

You should only do this process after a well-thought-out decision.

Set is your mindset — what you're carrying into the experience, your expectations, fears and intentions. Setting is the physical and interpersonal environment around you.

Both matter. A comfortable room and a facilitator you trust do not guarantee a particular outcome, but they can make a meaningful difference in how prepared and supported you feel.

Very.

If someone asked us what we've learned from seeing so many people go through this process, preparation would be near the top of the list.

The psilocybin gets most of the attention because it's the unusual part. But your expectations, your relationship with your facilitator, your understanding of what may happen and your willingness to discuss your concerns beforehand can all matter.

An intention can be useful. But don't feel like you need to come up with something profound because you're taking psilocybin.

"I want to understand why I keep doing this." "I want some perspective." "I've been stuck." "I'm curious." Those can all be perfectly legitimate places to begin.

An intention is a direction, not an assignment you give the psilocybin.

Some nervousness is very normal. You're preparing to enter an altered state of consciousness with another person present for several hours in a location you may never have seen before.

Tell your facilitator. Preparation should make room for fear instead of pretending it doesn't exist.

This is something to discuss with your facilitator as part of preparation. The basic goal is to arrive clear enough that you and your facilitator can understand what is affecting you and make a responsible decision about proceeding.

If caffeine is part of your normal routine, ask your facilitator whether they want you to change anything on the day of the session. Avoid making major last-minute changes simply because you read a generic recommendation online.

As much as reasonably possible. Being exhausted adds another variable to an already intense day. If you have slept poorly or are unusually depleted, tell your facilitator.

Your facilitator should give you clear instructions about eating and drinking before the session. Don't invent your own extreme fasting protocol because you read about one online.

The objective is to arrive physically comfortable and properly prepared. We generally suggest a light meal unless your facilitator has recommended something different.

Comfortable clothes. You're probably going to spend much of the day sitting or lying down. Wear layers. Your perception of temperature may change.

Don't worry about your appearance. We operate in a zero-judgment space.

Bring comfortable clothing, any personal items you have discussed with your facilitator, and some snacks in case you are hungry. Very few people eat much during the session, but it is useful to have something available.

We also have bottled water and snacks at Satya.

Anything that will distract you or create a practical problem during the session. If you are unsure about electronics, valuables, medications, food or personal objects, ask your facilitator before the day of your session.

Tell your facilitator.

You should never feel pressured to continue if you do not want to. Oregon clients have rights throughout the process, and your facilitator should review those rights with you before administration.

The amount is determined by you and your facilitator. The decision may take into account your goals, medications, prior psychedelic experience, intention and how cautious or intensive an experience you are seeking.

The goal is not to take as much as possible. The goal is to choose an amount that makes sense for you.

Satya's current all-inclusive package includes access to up to 50 mg of psilocybin. The actual amount is determined collaboratively with your facilitator.

No. A larger dose can create a more intense experience, but more intense does not automatically mean more useful.

If you have concerns about control, fear, medication interactions or prior experiences, those should be part of the dosing conversation.

Some facilitators use staged dosing strategies. Whether that makes sense depends on your facilitator, your goals, the product and the timing of the session. Discuss the plan in advance rather than assuming a booster dose will be used.

They are not the same measurement. Grams describe the weight of the mushroom material. Milligrams of psilocybin describe the amount of the active compound measured in the product.

Mushroom potency can vary, which is one reason measured psilocybin content matters in Oregon's regulated system.

Body weight alone does not tell us how strong a person's subjective experience will be. People can respond very differently to similar amounts. That's another reason dosing is a conversation rather than a simple formula.

Yes. Your facilitator remains with you throughout the administration session. They will not accompany you inside the bathroom.

No. We have seen people talk extensively and people spend long periods saying almost nothing. You aren't performing. You are working on yourself, in your way.

There isn't a correct way to have a psilocybin experience.

Many people do because eyeshades can reduce visual distraction and make it easier to focus inward. They are a tool, not a test you have to pass.

Usually. Music can have a substantial influence on the experience. Talk with your facilitator about the playlist, volume and whether you have strong preferences or sensitivities.

Yes, if you want or need to, although many people are not very interested in food during the stronger part of the experience. Water and snacks are available.

That's normal. Your facilitator can help you get there safely, but they will not accompany you inside the bathroom.

People frequently do, and you will be in the presence of a compassionate person — your facilitator.

People experience all kinds of emotions. You don't need to apologize because you're emotional. Emotional release can be an important part of the experience for some people.

Tell your facilitator if you can. The facilitator's role is to help keep you safe.

A facilitator isn't there to control your experience, but they are there to support you and help maintain a safe environment. This is also why the relationship you establish before the session matters.

People respond differently, and some people have a limited experience even when they have taken a meaningful dose. In some cases, people still report significant changes afterward.

Don't judge your experience against somebody else's story or something you watched online. And don't immediately decide the session failed because it wasn't dramatic or did not unfold in the way you wanted or expected. Talk about what actually happened during integration.

Nausea can happen. Sometimes people vomit. Your facilitator knows this and will help you deal with it if it occurs. For facilitators and staff, it is not unusual and it is nothing to be embarrassed about.

We have emergency procedures and can involve emergency medical services when necessary. Ashland Community Hospital is very close to Satya.

Most clients say it was much different than they expected and difficult to describe.

Your perception, emotions, memories, thoughts and sense of time may change substantially — or, at moments, seem to disappear entirely. Some experiences are extraordinarily beautiful. Most have difficult moments, and some are continuously difficult.

You may have a very physical experience and move around, or you may be almost perfectly still.

You may have substantial visual or perceptual changes, but not everyone does. Calling the entire experience "hallucinating" doesn't really capture it.

For many people, the emotional and internal aspects are far more significant than the visuals. Sometimes the experience is less visual and more like unusual clarity. You never know exactly what you will get.

Maybe. You may see colors, geometric patterns, landscapes, faces or other imagery — or very little visual material at all.

The best expectation is not to build your session around somebody else's experience.

Your ordinary sense of control can change. That can be frightening if you're fighting against it. It's another reason trust, preparation and environment matter.

The amount of psilocybin you take can affect how altered your normal sense of reality and control becomes. More is not better. If control is a major concern for you, discuss it in preparation.

People generally remain able to communicate, move and respond to direction, even when their internal experience is very altered. That does not mean you will feel completely normal or in ordinary control.

Your facilitator should explain what to expect and how they will support you if you become confused or disoriented.

You might, but there is no requirement that you do. People define spirituality very differently. Some clients experience a stronger connection to an existing faith or worldview. Others do not frame the experience spiritually at all.

Whatever your beliefs may be, they should be respected rather than imposed upon you.

No.

This is one place where we feel the psychedelic world sometimes gets itself into trouble. Extraordinary experiences make great stories. Ordinary experiences don't get posted on Instagram.

We've seen profound changes in people. We've also seen subtle experiences, confusing experiences and experiences that didn't produce the result someone hoped for. Believing you are guaranteed a transformation can set you up for disappointment.

Not necessarily. Something difficult can ultimately be valuable.

We don't automatically call suffering "healing." The important questions come afterward: What happened? What did it mean to you? And what are you going to do with it?

Yes. Satya offers individual sessions as well as sessions for couples, families and small groups. The structure, room and facilitator arrangements need to be worked out in advance.

Satya has used a community waiting-list approach for people interested in sharing a group experience and potentially reducing cost. Ask us what group options are currently available.

Group sessions require clear agreements around safety, privacy, respect and boundaries. The facilitator should explain those expectations before anyone commits to the session.

Satya has offered group and weekend-retreat formats. Availability changes, so contact us for current options rather than assuming a retreat is always scheduled.

Possibly. A support person may be allowed in some circumstances, but this needs to be discussed and arranged with your facilitator in advance. It is not something to decide at the door on the day of your session.

Satya has offered microdosing at the service center. The psilocybin product fee and any facilitator service fee are separate considerations. Ask us for the current structure and pricing before scheduling.

Keep the evening simple. You've just spent hours in an altered state of consciousness.

This isn't when one should schedule an important business call, start an argument with your spouse or decide to reorganize your life. Eat. Rest. Give yourself some room. Be nice to yourself and rest.

We do not recommend that.

An insight can feel overwhelmingly obvious during or immediately after a psilocybin experience. Maybe it's right. Give it some time anyway.

If it's still right after you've slept, reflected and talked about it, you haven't lost anything by waiting.

Talk with your facilitator about this beforehand. Our general preference is to give the experience some room rather than immediately changing your state again with another substance.

Integration is where you figure out what you're going to do with the experience and make any valuable insights part of what you do.

An insight by itself doesn't change your life, but what you do afterward might.

We view integration work in much the same way as preparation work: mindfulness, journaling and self-reflection can all be useful. Every facilitator has a different perspective on integration. It is worth discussing this BEFORE you choose your facilitator and seeing whether their approach makes sense to you.

All facilitators working through Satya provide integration support as part of their all-inclusive offering, although the number and format of sessions can differ by facilitator. Ask what is included before you choose.

Most people are tired and some have a headache. Many spend part of the day reflecting on what happened.

You might feel wonderful — even exhilarated. You might feel emotional. You might be confused. You might feel almost completely normal. Don't evaluate the entire experience based on the following morning.

We sometimes describe it like shaking a snow globe. The next day can be like watching the snow settle.

If it helps you, yes. Journaling can be a strong preparation tool, and if it helped beforehand it may also help during integration.

Memories of the experience can fade surprisingly quickly. Writing can preserve things you want to come back to. But don't turn integration into another project you need to perform perfectly. Journaling is a tool to serve you.

Some people do. If you have the ability to give yourself some space, we generally prefer that. You don't necessarily know beforehand how you're going to feel.

We do not recommend scheduling a psilocybin journey immediately before an important life event.

That is perfectly normal, but it can also be unsettling. As time goes by things often become clearer.

Your facilitator and service-center staff can talk with you, and that often helps. Sometimes understanding develops slowly. There is no requirement that every part of the experience make sense immediately.

Contact your facilitator. This is unusual, but some people feel more anxious, unsettled, nauseated or otherwise worse for a period of time.

If something is persistent, severe or medically concerning, appropriate healthcare professionals may need to become involved. Psilocybin isn't a reason to stop using the rest of the healthcare system.

If therapy is helping you, we see no reason to assume psilocybin replaces it. In many cases, having an existing therapeutic relationship can provide another place to work with what came out of the experience.

Some people also decide they are ready to begin or resume therapy after a journey.

You may have a clearer answer to that after your first experience and some integration time.

Generally, we suggest you do something with the experience you've already had. Then, if you're considering another session, ask yourself and your facilitator why.

Usually, we would not recommend that. Satya's long-standing position has been to start with one session and see what you learn from it.

A significant psilocybin experience can take time to integrate. Booking a second intense journey before you know how the first affects you may be unnecessary. If another session makes sense later, you can make that decision with much better information.

If you are traveling to Ashland, our current general recommendation is at least three nights: a travel/arrival day, the session day, a rest or integration day, and then travel home.

Some people choose to stay longer, especially if they are traveling a significant distance.

There are many hotels, inns and short-term lodging options in Ashland. Satya's Visit Ashland page includes suggestions, and we are happy to help with local recommendations.  We have a special rate at Ashland Springs Hotel and Lithia Springs Resort.  The word SATYA is used for online bookings.  Sometimes their staff changes and people lose track of who Satya is.  If this happens to you please let us know ASAP.

We generally prefer that people give themselves a recovery day rather than building a tight airline schedule around the session. If you have limited flexibility, discuss your travel timing with your facilitator before booking.

Most people flying to Southern Oregon use the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport. Ask us about current transportation options between the airport, Ashland and Satya when you are planning your trip.

Yes. Parking is available at Satya. Keep in mind that you still cannot drive yourself away after the administration session.

Ashland is a small college and arts town with restaurants, parks, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and easy access to Southern Oregon outdoor destinations. Our Visit Ashland page has ideas if you want to build a few quiet days around the experience.

Satya has multiple private rooms designed for psilocybin administration sessions. The rooms are intentionally different rather than identical, with varying amounts of natural light, darkness, space and views.

Yes, subject to availability. Some people prefer a brighter room with a view. Others want a darker, more inward setting. Room choice can also affect the final price, so ask about the options when you schedule.

Room 1 is our largest and most popular room with a view. Room 2 can be made very dark for people who want fewer visual distractions. Other rooms have different amounts of filtered natural light, space and views.

You do not need to decide based only on pictures of our rooms. Ask us what is available and what might fit your preferences.

We have a lobby/waiting area, and loved ones sometimes spend time there. If someone plans to remain for an extended period, ask us in advance so we can make sure the arrangement works with that day's sessions.

Tell us before you book. We would rather discuss your specific needs directly than make a generic promise that may not fit your situation. We can explain the physical layout, room options, parking and what accommodations may be practical.

Satya cultivates its own psilocybin mushrooms under a separate Oregon manufacturing license. We also package the product we use at the service center.

It gives us direct oversight of cultivation and supply, helps us maintain consistency, and reduces supply-chain costs. That is a major reason we have been able to keep the product price low.

Oregon's regulated psilocybin system includes product-testing requirements. Satya grows and packages its mushrooms under its licensed manufacturing operation rather than buying an unregulated product from an outside source.

If you want to know the current potency or testing information for the product being served, ask us.

Mushrooms themselves are not especially expensive to cultivate efficiently. Satya grows its own product and has chosen to keep the markup low.

Our current price is $25 for up to 50 mg of psilocybin, including the applicable Oregon psilocybin tax. The much larger part of the all-inclusive cost is the room, facilitator and professional support around the experience.

Yes. Satya's manufacturing operation has supplied licensed Oregon service centers as well as our own. Our current published wholesale price is $1.00 per mg of psilocybin.

Satya commonly serves finely ground mushroom material prepared in a tea-like form. Other form factors may be possible. If you have a strong preference or concern about ingestion, discuss it before the session.

Satya grows multiple mushroom varieties and sometimes blends them. The most important practical issue for dosing in Oregon's regulated system is the measured psilocybin content rather than assuming that a strain name by itself predicts exactly what your experience will be.

Science shows something more complicated — and more interesting — than that.

Researchers have reported promising results in several areas, including depression, end-of-life distress and alcohol use disorder, and research continues in many other areas. Some studies are randomized controlled trials. Others are small pilot studies. Some results are strong. Others are mixed.

That's why we've built a Research Library instead of simply telling people, "The science proves it."

No. Research tells us what happened across groups of people under particular conditions. You are one person.

That's one of the reasons we think we should be simultaneously interested in the research and humble about what it can tell us.

Because otherwise it isn't really a research library.

If we only show studies that make psilocybin look good, we're doing marketing — not research education. You should be able to see where the evidence is strong, where it's preliminary and where studies have produced mixed or negative results.

Yes. That's the point of our Research Library.

Where we're legally able to provide the full paper, we do. Otherwise we link you to the original source. Don't rely entirely on our interpretation. Read the research.

Yes. Human research has examined alcohol use disorder and tobacco cessation, among other substance-use questions. The evidence is promising in some areas but should not be translated into a guarantee that psilocybin will stop an addiction for any particular person. Our Research Library links to the underlying evidence.

Our all-inclusive pricing includes preparation, facilitation during your administration session, integration, the Satya room and your psilocybin product.

We want you to understand the cost before you commit.

Our facilitators have different backgrounds, experience, credentials and approaches. As independent service providers they also establish their own professional fees.

Higher price does not automatically mean a better fit or a better experience.

Satya is the licensed service center and also operates a separately licensed manufacturing operation. The service center provides the physical environment, rooms, regulated product and service-center operations.

Facilitators are independent licensed service providers responsible for their professional work with you, including preparation, administration-session support and integration. This distinction is one reason the all-inclusive price combines several components.

Yes. Our all-inclusive options currently start at $900.

If money is the reason you haven't called, call anyway. Let's find out what the actual options are before you decide you can't afford them, because we sometimes partner with facilitators to make the session more accessible.

Yes. We have a deep commitment to veterans.

We offer a $900 all-inclusive veterans program through participating facilitators. We want veterans who are seriously considering psilocybin services to have an accessible way to explore it.

Sometimes. Availability depends on the facilitator and the circumstances. Discuss financial constraints with us and with the facilitator you are considering rather than assuming there is no flexibility.

Satya's current FAQ lists credit cards, cash and checks as accepted payment methods. If you have a specific payment question, confirm it when you schedule.

You should generally plan on paying privately unless you have confirmed some other reimbursement arrangement. Insurance treatment of psilocybin services can vary, so check directly with your insurer if reimbursement matters to you.

Satya's current FAQ says we do not generally have a wait list and that openings are available throughout the week. Actual availability depends on the facilitator and room you want, so contact us for current dates.

Cancellation and rescheduling terms can involve both Satya and the independent facilitator. Ask for the applicable policy before you pay a deposit or commit to a date so there are no surprises.

Start with a conversation.

You can contact Satya or contact one of our facilitators directly. You don't need to understand Oregon's entire psilocybin system before you call. That's our job.

Your job is simply to ask the first question.

Satya operates inside Oregon's regulated psilocybin system and is licensed as a service center. We also operate a separately licensed manufacturing operation for the psilocybin we produce.

We still suggest that you research us rather than simply believing our website. Read our reviews. Look at the facilitators. Compare centers. Ask questions. You should feel comfortable with both the people and the place before you decide.

We think our strengths are fairly simple: an experienced facilitator community, private rooms, extensive preparation and integration, transparent pricing, our own regulated psilocybin supply, and a lot of practical experience helping people through the process.

But we would still encourage you to compare us with other options. The right service center and facilitator are personal decisions.

No. Paying more does not guarantee a better psilocybin experience, and paying less does not mean you are receiving a lesser experience.

Price matters, but we would put facilitator fit, preparation, safety, environment and what is actually included ahead of the assumption that the most expensive option must be the best.