Beltane, Bliss, and Madness

Amanda Edwards, LCSW, Inc.

Welcome back, and happy Beltane! At this midway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice, the days continue to grow longer and the blooms are abundant. It is a time to celebrate the strength of the sun and the warmth it brings. Beltane rituals typically focus on prosperity, fertility, creativity, health and growth. Themes of passion, love, fun, excitement, sex, magic, health and growth emerge, and flowers, vegetation, and May pole symbols find their way to our altars.

Personally, the roller coaster ride continues with ecstatic highs, and devastating lows. Exciting professional and personal developments are woven in with continued rage and grief. I feel the most depleted (despite getting the most rest), broken / broken open, crazy, and out of control (of my own thoughts) than ever before. At the same time, I feel that I am on the precipice of becoming my biggest, most fulfilled, fully expressed, embodied, fearless, and most fully aligned self. There is a true, bone-deep knowing that these experiences are inextricably linked; one could not exist without the other.

Practices / modalities I'm currently engaged in: dance (always), massage, acupuncture, therapy and coaching, sleep, alone time, journaling, hosting/organizing people and events, scary vulnerability, being brave / taking risks / giving no fucks, reading and other input into my psyche that feel validating, relevant, and nourishing, breathing, mantras, falling apart.

Practices / modalities I'm curious about, considering, or looking into: EMDR, 5-MeO-DMT, cold plunge, forgiveness, art, cardio, weightlifting.

As many of you know, in addition to having a ketamine-assisted therapy practice, my personal use of this medicine has been infinitely helpful and expansive. I had a stream of consciousness download come through during a recent journey that felt especially juicy, and I felt called to share it here. I hope it evokes something for you! These words poured through, as I felt a warmth all over the left side (yin/feminine side) of my torso:

Deep Red Brick

Dark Purple Molten

Lava Bruise Hot

Heat Slow Calm

Fierce Power Solid

Strong Fluid Flow

Blood Heart Tears (teers)

Pussy Heavy Tears (tares)

Pulse River Well

The messages I get are typically more in the form of sentences and concepts, so this felt new and different! If you ever want to talk more about this practice, please feel free to ask :)

We are ready to host ketamine-assisted therapy groups, starting now!

Dr. Prentice Steffen and I are prepared to facilitate four-person groups, for a treatment arc including three intramuscular (IM) medicine sessions. We are asking that folks self-organize into groups of four, and then contact us to schedule. I created a flyer and have included it below.

Two notes on this: 1) Each member of a potential group can also have a private, free consult with me if desired, and 2) You will not be required to complete a second medical intake if you have already been a client of Innate Integrative Medicine.

Please reach out with any questions or needs!