Psychedelics and the Soul

A Mythic Guide to Psychedelic Healing, Depth Psychology, and Cultural Repair

“This is not just another book about psychedelics. Psychedelics and the Soul effortlessly transitions between our most current understanding of the transformative properties of plant and fungal medicines and the perennial truths embedded in our earliest myths.” -Devendra Banhart

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Ancient Stories, Tangible Tools, and Depth Psychology Insights

Psychedelics and the Soul is designed for a new generation of psychedelic facilitators and seekers. This book invokes the traditions of Jungian depth psychology, mythology, and ancestral wisdom to address a critical question of our times: How can the emerging field of psychedelic medicine heal the soul amid planetary crisis and collective opportunity?

Each archetype acts as a prism, reflecting the reader's collective experiences and the unconscious truths that shape our psyches. These truths are made more profound and accessible through psychedelics. Through myths, folktales, personal accounts, and case studies, Yugler demonstrates how entheogens and plant medicine open gateways to understanding culture, the self, and the earliest stories that speak to the soul.

“Using cogent myths and depth psychology, Simon Yugler acts as a soulful guide through the liminal terrains of plant medicines and altered states. He illuminates how psychedelics have long been integral to paths of seeking and healing, offering insights that resonate both individually and collectively at this pivotal moment for life on Earth.”

-Michael Meade, mythologist and author of Awakening the Soul and The Water of Life

Prase for Psychedelics and the Soul

  • “There are only a handful of people I would willingly go to the underworld with. Simon is one of those people. *Psychedelics and the Soul* will speak to the ancient parts of you. It may inspire you to answer a call... It’s a monumental journey, and let me tell ya, it’s good to have books like this to guide us along the way.”

    Devendra Banhart, singer-songwriter & visual artist

  • “Using cogent myths and depth psychology, Simon Yugler acts as a soulful guide to and through the liminal terrains of plant medicines and altered states. He clarifies how psychedelics have always been part of the paths of seeking and of healing and how they speak to us individually and collectively at this critical time of life on earth.”

    Michael Meade, mythologist, storyteller and author of Awakening the Soul

  • “Holy wow, I can’t wait to recommend 'Psychedelics and the Soul' to everyone I know. It’s the perfect book at the perfect time. Kudos to Yugler for masterfully weaving the wisdoms of depth psychology, cross-cultural mythology, and reverence for Indigenous traditions as grounded in his own counseling, teaching, and psychedelic experiences. Nothing has been as helpful as depth psychology in my process of unpacking and integrating the major psychedelic experiences in my life. Yugler’s book—specifically geared to seekers and guides—is an all-around excellent read for the novice and psychonaut alike.”

    David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s Soap Company

  • “Simon Yugler leads us into collaborative inquiry with Mythopoetic Integration, rewilding the archetypes and legends that have inspired our dreams and nightmares for millennia so that they may guide us through the murkiness of our own visionary states. This book is a generous invitation to invite poetry and myth back into the world of healing and plant medicine.”

    Sophie Strand, author of The Flowering Wand and The Madonna Secret

  • “With deep gratitude, I welcome this work... Simon deftly navigates territory that is uniquely suited for psychedelics but is often missing from our maps and models of healing and integration. What an honor to explore psychedelic depth psychology with Simon as our guide.”

    Tom Eckert, executive director of InnerTrek and architect of Oregon’s Psilocybin Service Initiative

  • “A pioneering work entwining new insights into Irish lore with cutting-edge protocols in psychedelic therapy.”

    Manchán Magan, author of Thirty-Two Words for Field: Lost Words of the Irish Lands

  • “Simon Yugler shares his extensive knowledge of the astonishing world of psychedelic experience, no holds barred... His wise guidance through this fascinating territory is to be highly recommended for anyone wanting to go there or desiring to know what it is all about. Besides that, he is a terrific storyteller!”

    Murray Stein, PhD, Jungian analyst and author of Jung’s Map of the Soul

  • “Embark on a learning adventure that will captivate your heart, spirit, and imagination through the transformative dynamism of myth in action, psychotherapeutic ritual, and psychedelic ceremony. I certainly made the trip, and I don’t regret it.”

    Naomi Sangreal, depth psychotherapist and author of Little Hidden Doors

  • “Simon Yugler offers what is at once a conversational window into his work as a psychedelic therapist, an engaging composite of rich mythic and folkloric tales, reflections on the emergent ‘psychedelic renaissance,’ and a resource for the aspiring psychedelic guide. Newcomers and seasoned psychonauts alike will find many kernels of wisdom within.”

    Diana Quinn, ND, director of clinical education at Naropa University Center for Psychedelic Studies

  • “An essential addition to the evolving psychedelic canon. . . . Operating somewhere between a cosmic adventure story and a finely tuned, well-grounded guide to psychedelic healing, the book zooms out and zooms in, moving gracefully between the individual and the collective, with a profound respect for diverse mythic and Indigenous traditions and their essential contributions to the human experience. . . . This cosmic-mythic-psychedelic ‘tour de force’ will entertain and enlighten readers from a wide array of professional disciplines.”

    Harvey Schwartz, PhD, cofounder of Polaris Insight Center

  • “Simon’s book is a generous gift in perilous times and an act of service to his community. By casting his net widely, he has drawn in a feast of stories and myths—both modern and ancient—to put at the soul’s table. In the often murky waters of the psychedelic therapy world, he sees clearly. Like his subject, this book may well provoke a deeper relationship with the true living world around us, inside us, flowing through us. May it pass from hand to hand as an ally to those who explore the vast landscapes it describes, and to those who wish to aid them.”

    Tom Hirons, poet, storyteller, and founder of Feral Angels Press

  • “An accessible resource for psychedelic facilitators old and new—a sextant for navigating the collective unconscious—as our society both taps into ancient ways of knowing and explores new terrain through widespread psychedelic healing. Yugler helps shine a vital light on what lies beyond personal healing.”

    Chris Stauffer, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University and psychedelic-assisted therapy researcher for the Department of Veterans Affairs

  • “Having worked with Simon leading psychedelic retreats in Jamaica, I have witnessed firsthand how his passion, education, and broad and deep mythopoetic knowledge combined with his astute clinical intuition provide the uncanny ability for him to accurately understand, relate, and bring guidance and meaning to psychological content typically beyond the remit and scope of the majority of therapists. With real examples of clients’ psychedelic experiences interpreted through the mythopoetic lens, this book sets itself apart from others. I wholeheartedly recommend [it] as a must-have for all psychedelic practitioners.”

    Justin Townsend, CEO of MycoMeditations

  • "Our soul needs stories. Simon gifts us mythic storytelling that offers the timeless and universal in a profoundly intimate and relatable way. We sit with his words, feeling deeply connected to ourselves and each other. We recognize that we implicitly belong to something extraordinary, even in our struggles, perhaps because of our struggles. His book reminds us that our challenges are the unfolding of our soul’s purpose and can inspire us to embrace them. He shows us that we are more than capable of walking our path, wholeheartedly and together."

    Daniel Shankin, Psychedelic Integration Coach & founder of Tam Integration

Table of Contents

Introduction
Sets the stage for exploring the intersections of psychedelics, depth psychology, and cultural healing, sharing personal experiences and the significance of the "red road" (el camino rojo) as a path of transformation.

Chapter I: The Well
Introduces the "Well" as a symbolic access point to the unconscious, emphasizing introspection and the healing potential of exploring personal depths.

Chapter II: The Temple
Examines the role of sacred spaces and rituals in the healing process, particularly in the context of psychedelics, and discusses the importance of reverence and cultural respect.

Chapter III: The Underworld
Explores the concept of the Underworld as a metaphor for shadow work and confronting one’s fears, detailing how these experiences contribute to psychological and emotional integration.

Chapter IV: The Serpent
Uses the serpent as a symbol of transformation, describing processes of renewal and identity shifts that accompany deep personal change.

Chapter V: The Monstrous
Discusses the archetype of "The Monstrous" and the necessity of facing internal fears to achieve wholeness, integrating difficult aspects of the psyche.

Chapter VI: The Trickster
Describes the Trickster archetype and the value of humor, flexibility, and creativity in navigating challenges and transformation.

Chapter VII: The Guide
Focuses on the role of mentors and guides in psychedelic healing, emphasizing wisdom, inner authority, and authenticity in support relationships.

Chapter VIII: The Sacred Mountain
Symbolizes the journey toward purpose and vision, urging readers to seek clarity and direction through self-exploration.

Chapter IX: The Tree of Life
Explores themes of interconnectedness, ancestry, and the legacy one leaves behind, underscoring the importance of community and continuity.

Chapter X: The Journey Home
Integrates the course's themes, guiding readers in bringing their experiences back into daily life and relationships, with a focus on integration.

Afterword
Reflects on the broader implications of psychedelic healing and cultural repair, connecting individual healing to collective well-being.

Appendix: Three Spheres of Integration
Provides practical guidance on integrating psychedelic experiences into life, focusing on mind, body, and soul alignment.

Simon

Yugler

Simon Yugler is an internationally experienced psychedelic therapist, educator, and writer with a master’s degree in depth counseling psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. He has taught for five psychedelic facilitator training programs, including Naropa University and Inner Trek, a pioneering legal psilocybin facilitator training program based in Oregon. Simon integrates Jungian psychology, mythology, and Internal Family Systems therapy in his private practice, focusing on psychedelic integration, masculinity, and depth psychology.

His journey began with anthropological research in an Aboriginal Australian community at the age of twenty. Today, Simon’s approach is informed by his diverse experiences traveling and learning from Indigenous cultures, including the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition and the Native American Church. He served as a retreat leader and therapist at MycoMeditations, a leading psilocybin therapy retreat center in Jamaica, for a year and a half. Before becoming a therapist, Simon worked as an experiential educator and guide, leading study-abroad programs across ten countries.

With over half a lifetime of experience working with psychedelic medicines, Simon is dedicated to helping guide clients and students through the the liminal wilds of the soul.

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