Beyond the Narrow Life: A Guide for Psychedelic Integration and Existential Exploration

by Kile M. Ortigo, William A. Richards (Foreword)

With the second renaissance and re-emergence of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the general public and therapists alike are confronting new areas of exploration with few systematic frameworks available. With questions surrounding legal access to care, ongoing criminalization, and medical restrictions to care restricting to the therapies available, the immediate future of psychedelic-assisted therapy remains shrouded uncertainty, even in the face of expanding interest. Beyond the Narrow A Guide to Psychedelic Integration and Existential Exploration seeks to ‘thread a needle’ by addressing shared elements of these intersecting complexities and possibilities. It introduces the reader to significant themes elicited by psychospiritual and therapeutic use of psychedelics but avoids exclusively ‘preaching to the choir.’ These themes integrate several frameworks, from third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapy to Jungian depth psychology, existentialism to scientific understandings of the cosmos, and mindfulness- and compassion-focused traditions to popular and secular culture. Such an approach provides value to people regardless of their history using psychedelics because it connects to the greater mysteries and concerns of the human experience.

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Nonfiction

447 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2021

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just read it straight through without doing any of the exercises (because i read in bed at night) but i am looking forward to going back and working my way through them, they seem fun and useful!
there’s so much good stuff in here that i think would be useful for everyone to go through, i don’t think you don’t have to be interested in psychedelics at all to find value.


i didn’t love how many footnotes there were, or rather how they were formatted on the kindle. there’s a way some books do it (and even some of the notes in this book did it) where tapping on the footnote number opens a pop up with the content, this makes it really quick and easy to read, close, get back to the book. the other way is more used for bibliographies where you tap the number and it navigates away from the page to the bibliography section then you have to hit the back arrow to go back. doesn’t seem like a big deal until there are several notes on a page. it just got annoying.

[Randall Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kile Ortigo is brave. He is writing about a subject that can bring up some red flags for people. As the medical community and the general public are opening up to the idea of using natural alternatives to over-the-counter pain relievers or narcotics, we are also seeing the real possibility of using psychedelics as a much more powerful way to heal from stress and anxiety and facilitate personal growth. Beyond the Narrow Life will open doors in the reader’s mind and offer additional tools for people who value self-reflection and their mental health. As Dr. Ortigo explains, this is not a standalone solution but a part of a multidimensional therapeutic approach. This book integrates several ideas and introduces novel exercises to optimize the impact of non-ordinary states of consciousness. In this way, the book offers much even for people who have not had a psychedelic experience (or even plan to).
‘Psychedelic’ is still a hot button term, relating back to the acid trips of the 1960s. This association can cloud the real research and scholarship being done in the field by forward thinking psychologists like Dr. Ortigo who see the current psychedelic renaissance as a potential sea change for the field. In his book, you’ll learn about important content that can arise with the use of mushrooms and other psychedelics when utilized for medicinal and spiritual purposes, which many indigenous and ancient cultures have done throughout time. The book is informed not only by the scientific research but by the spiritual aspects of these experiences as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about this fascinating approach to improving their sense of wellbeing and meaning in their lives.

[Graham Nelson-Zutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Narrow Life is an excellent guide to self exploration with or without psychedelics.

I had the pleasure of reading Beyond the Narrow Life while on a recent solo retreat. As both a counselling therapist and a existential explorer, I feel very fortunate to have found Kile Ortigo's book. The Hero's Journey method used to explore both psychedelic and existential themes is both practical and beautiful.

Beyond the Narrow Life is full or practical exercises and meditations to help the curious and courageous explore who they are, wether or not they choose to work with psychedelic medicines. The anonymized trip reports included serve as excellent examples for each stages of the Hero's Journey.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has had psychedelic experiences or anyone who is considering embarking on this voyage.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully crafted work that you’ll want to reread again and again. The information and exercises within the journey of this book make it timeless in my opinion. You can revisit at anytime in your journey of self actualization, and whether or not you have an interest in taking psychedelics, you will find value in this book. I say with emphasis on the existential exploration part of the book’s title. It interweaves psychedelics into a guide on how to contemplate the universe. Fantastic read!