Creating Engagement
Building a psychedelic society is about more than just getting people through the door; it's about creating a space where they feel connected, engaged, and inspired to participate. Engagement is the key to cultivating a thriving community where members feel a sense of belonging and purpose. This section explores various ways to foster engagement through different strategies, including asynchronous communication, cohort-based connections, and events that bring people together.
A-Synchronous Communication
Not all engagement happens in real-time. Asynchronous communication provides an avenue for members to stay connected between events and fosters ongoing dialogue. It helps maintain engagement even when members cannot be physically present.
Word of Mouth
Word of mouth is the original discovery platform and as you get started, this is probably going to be your main driver of growth. Even societies that have been around for years and that have excellent systems in place s
Newsletter
A monthly newsletter is a great way to keep your community informed about upcoming events, share important updates, and provide educational content. It serves as a consistent touchpoint that keeps members engaged even if they haven’t attended an event recently. A well-crafted newsletter should include:
A calendar of upcoming events
Summaries of past events or key takeaways
Resources and educational material
A call to action, such as volunteering opportunities or fundraising efforts
There are many different email services out there and you will have to do your own research to figure out which one is best for you. Some initial services to start looking at would be Mailchimp, MailerLite, Kit, BeeHive and Substack. A lot of these platforms will offer free tiers for organizations that are just getting started.
Online Community Spaces
Creating a digital gathering space allows for continuous conversation and engagement. Some platforms to consider include:
Signal Groups – Private and secure, great for fostering deeper discussions.
Facebook Groups – Useful for connecting with a broader audience and sharing event information.
WhatsApp Groups - Useful because many people already have this app and use it daily or weekly
Discord/Slack – Ideal for more structured conversations with separate channels for different topics.
To keep these spaces active, you can:
Post conversation prompts on hot topics within the psychedelic space.
Share relevant news and research articles.
Encourage members to share their experiences, reflections, or creative works.
Create specific channels or threads for event planning, harm reduction discussions, and local meetups.
Outside of the more message focussed platforms listed above, there are also the nurturing platforms which we mentioned in the previous chapter.
Cohorts & Liaison Programs
Building strong interpersonal connections is a crucial component of engagement. One way to facilitate this is by creating cohort-based programs where new members join at the same time and progress together.
Quarterly Cohorts
Introducing a quarterly cohort model can help people feel connected to a particular set of peers. For instance, everyone who joins in the fall could be placed in the same group, allowing them to develop deeper relationships from the start. Each cohort could also be introduced to a Psychedelics 101 introductory program to go over harm reduction, community guidelines, and cultural norms. Cohorts can be hosted virtually but you can also structure your in-person events to also take this form as well. Sometimes, turning an individual event into a series can be a great way to increase engagement because people have the desire to attend multiple events and follow through with the series. We recommend exploring this sort of series model especially when you have events that are performing really well.
Liaison Programs
Liaison programs create bridges between long-time members and newcomers, ensuring that fresh faces feel welcome and supported. Another familiar term for this sort of program is a buddy program. A structured approach may include:
Assigning experienced members as mentors to new members.
Encouraging periodic check-ins and meetups.
Creating accountability partnerships for those interested in personal growth and psychedelic integration.
Events & Activities
Regular events are the lifeblood of engagement in any psychedelic society. Having at least one recurring event per month ensures that members know they can always count on an upcoming gathering. Below are different types of events you might consider incorporating into your society.
Educational Events
Providing structured learning opportunities fosters engagement and positions your society as a valuable resource. A common and easily approached event type to create here would be some form of seminar. When you are just starting out, you might focus on having one presenter but as you grow, you can add more value to these events by including additional panelists and also combining this with Q/A periods. In terms of topics, there are really endless options to explore but here are a few suggestions…
Introduction to Psychedelics
History of Psychedelic Use
Harm Reduction Strategies
Sex and Psychedelics
Research and Scientific Developments
Ecology & Psychedelics
Guest Lectures from Experts in the Field
Integration Circles
Integration circles are arguably the bread and butter of psychedelic societies, as they provide a safe space for people to process their experiences. Different types of integration circles may include:
General Integration Circles
BIPOC-Specific Circles
Women’s or Men’s Circles
Queer/LGBTQ+ Circles
Trans/Non binary Circles
Therapeutic Use Circles
Substance Use Recovery Circles
When creating integration circles, it is important to set a safe and inviting container for sharing. This can be achieved with the introduction of different integration circle agreements such as the following…
SAFETY: We do not condone the use of psychedelics during our integration circles. We also do not discuss procurement of medicine on premise.
CONFIDENTIALITY: What people bring up is private and everything stays with the people that are present in the circle. We encourage sharing outside of the circle but just make sure to do so without any personally identifiable information.
FOCUS: This is a community space and is not a space to share about your own corporate or personal practices. Our focus is on group psychedelic integration. We strive to have a balance between structure and free flow while avoiding long unrelated tangents during conversation.
SUPPORT: This is not a group therapy session. Even though some facilitators may have a background in counselling, this is not the purpose of the circles. We are here to provide emotional support but primarily through listening and holding space.
SHARING: We intend to make this a space where everyone attending can benefit. The focus of each circle will vary from individual to individual present but we are mindful to share the time that we have together. No one person should take up all the space.
Here are some additional resources that can be helpful when creating integration circles
Tam integration - accessible course on creating and hosting an integration circle
Zendo and MAPS resources
Katherine MacLean training program on how to lead an integration circle
Fundraising Events
Fundraising is essential for sustaining and expanding your society - especially if you are structured as a non-profit or if you do not charge for your regular services. Some creative ways to raise funds include:
Partnering with local restaurants for psychedelic-themed social events.
Hosting open mic nights or art events, where proceeds go to the society.
Selling society merchandise, such as T-shirts and beanies.
Using crowdfunding platforms like GiveButter to collect donations.
Community Engagement & Service
Engaging in service projects helps break out of the psychedelic echo chamber and demonstrates to the general public that your society is a force for good. Consider organizing:
Park cleanups.
Meal preparation for the unhoused.
Creating care packages for foster children or marginalized communities.
Social Gatherings & Networking
Sometimes, members just want a chance to hang out and connect in a casual setting. This does not have to be anything fancy. Some ideas include:
Monthly potlucks or picnics.
Meet-and-greet socials at local venues.
Ecstatic dance or cacao ceremonies.
Book clubs featuring psychedelic literature.
Circles focussed on spontaneous non ordinary states - manic episodes, psychotic breaks, kundalini experiences
As your community grows, these sort of events can be good to build a system around that empowers your community members to host their own.
Harm Reduction Events
Harm reduction education is a cornerstone of responsible psychedelic use. Hosting events focused on safety, best practices, and community support can save lives and improve experiences. Consider including:
Set and setting education to emphasize mindset and environment.
Dosage awareness to inform members about safe consumption.
Drug testing demonstrations to show how to identify harmful substances.
Fireside Project (623-473-7433) – A free, 3 PM–3 AM psychedelic peer support hotline.
Zendo Project resources for harm reduction at festivals and events.
DanceSafe and other drug safety organizations for on-site support.
Drug interaction education, including information from the Spirit Pharmacist.
Mind Medicine Australia and Sussex Partnership resources for psychedelic education.
Narcan certification and CPR training to equip members with emergency response skills.
Naloxone distribution programs to prevent opioid overdoses.
Trip-sitting and crisis intervention training to help members support others.
Manual of Psychedelic Support as a reference for harm reduction best practices or Manual for Psychedelic Guides.
Workshops & Creative Spaces
Providing a space for members to explore their creativity can be a powerful tool for engagement. Consider offering:
Creative workshops where members work on individual or group projects.
Microdosing & Art Nights where members can create art with microdoses
Town halls to discuss organizational direction and member concerns.
Yoga and mindfulness sessions, which complement psychedelic integration.
Film screenings and documentary nights on psychedelic topics.
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