ISNESS

"Hey check out this mushroom! Let's see what happens when we eat it!" -Our Ancestors (probably)

This page outlines a proposed interfaith community psychedelic integration circle and psychological sciences study group called ISNESS.

What is ISNESS?

ISNESS stands for the Interfaith Study of Noetic and Entheogenic Spiritual Science.

It comes from the philosophical term isness that refers to the quality of being or existing as something. It may also help to know the definitions of Noetic [1] and Entheogen, too. We'll assume familiarity with the other terms in the acronym.

While the concept goes all the way back to Aristotle's Metaphysics and Vedanta traditions, it is often associated with the writings (inspired by psychedelics and Eastern spirituality) of Ram Dass, Alan Watts, Terence McKenna, Ken Wilber, and Eckhardt Tolle.

"All there is, is the Isness of Being." -Alan Watts [2][3][4][5][6]

The Goal of ISNESS

The goal of ISNESS is to facilitate discussions about the intersection of science, psychology, psychedelics, and spirituality among diverse religious and secular communities.

We study the nature of mind, and explore ways to improve the subjective experience of consciousness.

We bring together communities of intellectually curious and open-minded people to revel in our shared human experience, deepen our universal values, and curate a sense of wonder.

Why We Need a Community Psychedelic Integration Circle

The first goal of ISNESS is the formation of a monthly, peer-led, community psychedelic integration circle. Groups like these have formed all over the country in order to facilitate discussions of psychedelics, helping people make meaning from the simultaneously profound and absurd experiences they produce.

Psychedelics are one of the most common ways that modern people experience transcendence, effervescence, ineffable epiphanies and awe-inspiring awakenings about the nature of reality and consciousness. If those who believe in love, inclusivity, science, and progress aren't there to embrace people in those moments when their minds and hearts are most open, it is easy for questioning to become contrarianism and trust to be lost, leading people to find answers in conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, and radical ideologies. This is especially the case in the internet age, where Joe Rogan has the nation's biggest media platform and regularly advocates using psychedelics to his huge audience of impressionable young minds. It is vital that we form real, in-person communities in order to counteract the extremist influence of algorithmic integration with the power of true human connections.

Psychedelics are called entheogens because they have a strong tendency to induce a significant, profound spiritual experience. For some, this can mean the dissolution of existing mythologies and questioning of everything they've ever been taught. For others, it means recognizing the connection we each have with every other human, and every atom in the universe, leading to a newfound sense of spirituality. Sometimes it's both!

This is why an interfaith partnership between the progressive spiritual community, atheists and secular humanists, and members of the therapeutic and academic psychology communities is important. This will help ensure that the group stays firmly grounded in positive, universalist spiritual traditions, and evidence-based interpretations of psychological phenomenon. People who have recently had their belief systems shattered (or unified!) can meet others who are in the same place, and learn from those who have been there before.

It will provide many opportunities for attendees to explore additional therapies, yoga and meditation classes, discussion groups, book clubs, and values-based communities that the contributing organizations provide. These partnerships will also help keep the group focused on the scientific, therapeutic, and spiritual aspects of psychedelics, over more recreational uses.

No, We Aren't Taking Psychedelics at the Meeting

These meetings are strictly sober--the goal is to discuss previous psychedelic experiences, not to create present ones. This creates a safe, legal environment that should fully align with the code of conduct of any partner organization.

Benefits and Expectations of Partner Organizations

The goal of ISNESS partnership is to facilitate conversations and introduce new people with similar values and passions to local groups that share them.

A Way to Attract Young People

Many of our potential partner organizations have memberships that are both declining in number and increasing in age. This is especially true since COVID-19, when so many of our in-person gatherings either went online or went away completely, and young people lost the habit of community building.

Psychedelic integration circles tend to attract people in the 25-50 year old range, who are active, outgoing, adventurous, professionals interested in discussing topics like psychology and spirituality, but unlikely to identify with either organized religion or humanism. They see themselves as "spiritual but not religious" and even though they may share many of the values of these groups, they don't yet see the value in joining them.

Many of these people are also going through major life transitions that have led them to psychedelic therapy, and need guidance and community more than ever! The psychedelic experience often leads to a crisis of ego, identity, and faith. If mainstream groups don't meet people in these moments, they will find fellowship in the fringe.

By partnering with the ISNESS project, your organization can be associated with something bold, new, and engaging, without the effort and risk needed to undertake it alone. By making ISNESS an interfaith partnership between many organizations, we can amplify our reach, attract the kinds of people that are interested in our groups, let them know you exist, that you share their values, and will provide a welcoming community for those who need one.

What We Ask of Partners

• Share ISNESS events on your group's calendar, mailing lists, and social media
• Designate one or more representatives who can commit to attending one meeting per quarter
• Provide handouts or any other materials you would like to make available at meetings
• Allow us to list your organization as a partner in announcements and other promotions

That's it! There is no financial commitment, and minimal time commitment.

Any usage of your organization's name, logos, materials, etc, are subject to your approval to ensure that you organization and it's association with the group are represented accurately.

If your organization has a meeting space available that is suitable, that would be very helpful. Any expense required to procure a meeting space will be covered by the ISNESS organizers with no obligation to partners.

What We Provide for Partners

• Promote your organization in all announcements and promotional materials
• Provide a table for handouts, brochures, etc. at each meeting
• Announce relevant news or events about your organization at each meeting
• Encourage attendees to join partner groups that share their values and interests
• Refer attendees seeking therapy and other treatments to partners that provide them
• Opportunities for presentations or discussions about your organization at meetings

Is There an ISNESS Organization?

There is no need to form a 501(c)(3) organization for ISNESS for the time being. It will simply be a monthly meetup-style discussion group that can be organized and facilitated by individuals. The conversations are designed to be unstructured and open-ended, with minimal influence from organizers other than to help facilitate the conversation and ensure anyone who wants to has an opportunity to speak.

INSESS follows the 3C Model for nonprofit partnerships (Cooperation, Coordination, Collaboration), starting with an informal, cooperative model, with opportunities for more formal coordination and collaboration in the future.

When Will ISNESS Start?

Insess has no beginning and no end. It already is and always will be. It is the ever-present and eternal now.

Scheduling and promoting the monthly ISNESS integration circle will begin once we have initial commitments from partner organizations in each of the secular, spiritual, therapeutic and academic sectors.

Once we have an atheist, a pastor, a therapist, and a professor, we will have the perfect setup for a cosmic joke. We will also have a full representation of the scientific and spiritual coalition that ISNESS hopes to create.

This should be completed and the first integration circle scheduled by Spring of 2025.

Examples of Other Similar Groups

Similar groups exist in Atlanta, Asheville, Nashville, and even Johnson City, but no groups exist in Knoxville.

Many integration circles are sponsored by psychedelic therapy clinics, many of which charge a fee. The community-based ISNESS integration circle should always be free.

While most tend to have universalist spiritual philosophies, few have any connection to established religious or humanist organizations. This is due to the fact that psychedelics have existed mostly outside the mainstream until recently. This is no longer the case in 2024. Mainstream organizations can now comfortably promote psychedelic discussions without being seen as fringe or promoting drug culture.

• A Guide to Starting a Community Psychedelic Integration Circle - this is the template that ISNESS and groups like it tend to follow.
• Tam Integration Circles - Online and in Northern California. Example of a well-established group.
• The Psychedelic Society of Asheville
• Asheville Psychedelic Preparation and Integration
• PsyAtlanta
• Entheogenic Temple in Atlanta
• Nashville Psychedelic Therapy Center [7]
• Nashville Psychedelic Society [8]
• Tricities Psychedelic Society

What Else Could ISNESS Do?

ISNESS can facilitate a variety of activities in partnership with local faith communities that have an interest in exploring the exciting research in neuroscience, creating scientific evidence that demonstrates the benefits of many spiritual practices and beliefs.

Exploring the science of consciousness is a logical next step once the scope of the discussion group expands beyond the psychedelic experience.

Subjects should be approached from a universalist and evidence-based perspective, making them accessible to members of any religion, as well as atheists, humanists, and others without supernatural beliefs. The goal is to explore our commonalities and stimulate productive interfaith dialogue by demonstrating the underlying scientific and psychological truths that give rise to our various cultural belief systems.

ISNESS can organize and co-host events with partner organizations, as well as attending established events in the wider community that are of interest to the group.

Future activities might include:

• Philosophical and Scientific Discussion Groups
• Book Clubs (especially featuring books by these Authors)
• Meditation and Yoga Classes
• Attending Religious Services
• Hiking and Camping Trips
• Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Skydiving, and other Adventures
• Concerts, Raves, and Music Festivals [9]
• Drum Circles, Dance, and other Flow Activities
• Sweat Lodges, Ayahuasca Retreats, and other Shamanic Rituals

These types of activities are meant to get members out of their comfort zones and create peak experiences that lead to significant growth toward self-actualization, and create powerful in-group bonds.

The Sunday Nomads Meetup Group currently shares similar events in the East Tennessee region that our organizers plan to attend.

Videos on Integration Circles

Some videos talking about how to perform psychedelic integration and form community integration circles.

What is psychedelic integration? How to integrate a psychedelic experience

Psychedelic Integration Circle - Atlanta Entho Temple

Psychedelic Integration: The Most Important Part of Your Journey

Coaching, Fractal Inquiry, and Creating Your Own Psychedelic Integration Circle

Some Thoughts on Isness

Here are some videos that discuss the concept of isness from a few different spiritual perspectives.

While most content on the concept of isness tends toward the esoteric, ISNESS always seeks to find grounding in scientific evidence and psychology for these spiritual concepts.

The Illusion Of Words - Alan Watts On The Zen Game

When Attention is one with 'is-ness', all your life flowers!

Exploring the Isness of God: Embracing His Eternal Presence

What Does ISNESS Sound Like?

The inclusion of relevant music and videos on each page of this wiki site is part of the theme. Sharing a love of psychedelic music and the impact it has on the experience is a common topic in integration circles.

Future Sound of London - The Isness (Full Album)