Psychedelic group sessions: Truffle ceremony and retreats

A psilocybin ceremony is a guided session in which you embark on an inner journey using psilocybin from magic truffles in a safe, peaceful setting. At Triptherapie, we also refer to this as a truffle ceremony, as we work with legal psilocybin truffles rather than mushrooms. The ceremony focuses on personal development, healing and processing emotions, and is always facilitated by two experienced therapists or trip sitters.

There is no difference: they are two names for the same experience. A truffle ceremony and a psilocybin ceremony both refer to a session with psilocybin-containing truffles. The term “psilocybin ceremony” emphasises the active ingredient, while “truffle ceremony” refers to the truffles themselves. With us, we always use legal psilocybin truffles.

Not necessarily. Larger amounts bring more intense experiences, but that doesn't automatically translate to greater insight. Sometimes, subtler experiences are easier to integrate. It's all about finding the right balance between intensity and your process.

In an open truffle ceremony, you go through the psilocybin ceremony together with other participants. The group creates a safe environment and a sense of connection: by everyone working towards a common goal, you can let go of control more easily and surrender to the experience. The group feeling provides extra support and confidence, and many participants find the contact with like-minded people valuable. If you prefer to have a ceremony individually, please see Private truffle ceremony.

We deliberately work with small, manageable groups to ensure there is sufficient personal attention and support. In most cases, there are a maximum of four, six or eight participants per group ceremony. The maximum number of participants depends on the venue and the support provided. During each group session, two experienced therapists or trip sitters are present to ensure safety and to guide you where necessary. If there are more than six participants, we provide three facilitators.

Yes, that's possible! The benefits of a private ceremony are choosing your own group, the number of participants, the location, the theme and the structure of the ceremony. A private ceremony is therefore a more tailored service in which we take into account the wishes and the intention of the group. Read more about the private ceremonies via the following link: Private psychedelic ceremonies.

Yes. Psilocybin truffles are legal in the Netherlands, unlike mushrooms. The substance is not naturally addictive. However, not everyone can take part, for example due to potential interactions with medication. Safety is our top priority: every participant undergoes an intake and screening process beforehand.

Yes, good preparation makes the experience more valuable and safer. Based on your intake, we will draw up a personal preparation plan, where we will pay attention to mindset, lifestyle, sleep, nutrition, and your intention. We also advise against using alcohol, cannabis, or other stimulants in the days leading up to the ceremony.

When participating in a truffle ceremony or psychedelic retreat, a fully catered programme is included, allowing you to focus entirely on your inner journey. Included are:

• A personal preparation plan based on an intake

• The full psilocybin ceremony with legal psychedelics

• Guidance by two experienced therapists or trip sitters

• Aromatherapy, music and other deepening techniques

• A healthy meal after the ceremony

• Overnight stay on location, with comfortable beds or mattresses

• Breakfast the next morning

• A telephone integration call a few days or weeks after the session

Before you make a booking, please fill in an intake form online. This form serves as a screening to determine if participation is safe for you and which ceremony best suits you. Please answer the questions honestly and accurately, as this information helps us to choose the most suitable approach for your situation. After review, we will let you know if we can accept the booking. Then, please select an appointment in the diary to definitively register. After completing the deposit, your place will be reserved.

The main difference lies in the structure. You can choose between a two-day truffle ceremony or a multi-day psychedelic retreat. The multi-day retreat offers more support from therapists, with additional group preparation and a full extra day dedicated to therapeutic integration. Unsure which option is right for you? Check the separate pages with explanations or ask your question during the intake.

Yes. Many of our participants travel from abroad to the Netherlands, including participants from Belgium, Germany, France, the UK, and the USA. For those travelling from abroad, we recommend booking a hotel or Airbnb the day before the ceremony and the day after to allow more time before and after the ceremony. 

For our group ceremonies, we adapt the language based on the group. In most cases, the joint interactions are spoken in Dutch and English, and the facilitators also speak German and French depending on the ceremony. Please check the agenda for each ceremony to see which languages are spoken. For example, see here the Psilocybin ceremonies with German-speaking guidance.

Physical safety is paramount, followed by the results of the psychedelic ceremonies. Third, we want everyone to have a wonderful experience, where you feel heard when needed. Increasing your chances of a valuable experience requires attention and preparation. Here's a summary of what we consider important and how we work:

• SafetyAlthough truffles are the safest known drug/plant medicine, dangerous interactions with some medications are possible. Some conditions are also incompatible with psychedelics. We screen our participants through an intake to prevent unsafe interactions.
• HealthWe also use the intake to identify areas for healthier living. We develop personalized recommendations to boost physical health.
• NeurochemistryThe neurotransmitters in the brain determine your mood and how well a psychedelic trip goes. Our personalized advice also includes tips for balancing your neurochemistry.
• PreparationFinally, based on the intake, we'll give you some homework, such as reading books or watching movies. The information you consciously or unconsciously store can come to life during the ceremony and develop into a new insight or solution.
• Theme ceremonyWe assign a general theme to each open psychedelic ceremony, which you can use in your own way. The ceremony theme also provides space for conversation during the meeting phase and introductory talk on the day of the ceremony.
• Group sizeWe believe it's important that the group isn't too large or too small. We achieve the best results with groups of 3-8 participants because this creates a sense of community, but it's not too large to feel like one of many.
• Personal spaceAt the locations where we organize the psychedelic ceremonies, we always have a shared space for the group, but we also arrange it in such a way that if you need your own space, you can retreat to your own space.
• AccompanimentExperienced guidance provides peace of mind and trust. We always ensure there is at least one guide with at least two years of experience. We also enforce the rule that there must be at least one guide for every four participants. This ensures everyone receives the appropriate attention.
• DosageBecause the result is important, we always want to create a meaningful experience. During our truffle and psiloflora ceremonies, we offer an extra dose during the first hour if we deem it necessary. This ensures that the effects are neither too strong nor too mild.