Psychedelic group sessions: Truffle ceremony and retreats

A psilocybin ceremony is a guided session in which you take psilocybin from magic truffles to make an inner journey in a safe, quiet setting. At Triptherapie we also call this a truffle ceremony, because we work with legal psilocybin truffles instead of mushrooms. The ceremony is focused on personal development, healing and the processing of emotions, and is always guided by two experienced therapists or tripsitters.

There is no difference: they are two names for the same experience. A truffle ceremony and a psilocybin ceremony both refer to a session involving psilocybin-containing truffles. The term “psilocybin ceremony” emphasises the active substance, whilst “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 mean more insight. Sometimes more subtle experiences are actually better to integrate. It's about the right balance between intensity and your process.

In an open-group truffle ceremony, you experience the psilocybin ceremony together with other participants. The group creates a safe environment and a sense of connection: because everyone is working towards a shared goal, you can let go of control more easily and surrender to the experience. The group dynamic provides extra support and confidence, and many participants find contact with like-minded people to be valuable. If you prefer to do 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 100% legal in the Netherlands, unlike mushrooms. The substance is not addictive by nature. 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, paying 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 personally tailored preparation plan based on an intake assessment

• The full psilocybin ceremony with legal psychedelics

• Guidance by two experienced therapists or tripsitters

• Aromatherapy, music and other immersive techniques

• A healthy meal after the ceremony

• Overnight stay on site, with comfortable beds or mattresses

• Breakfast the following morning

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

Before making a reservation, you first fill out an online intake form. This form serves as a screening to determine whether participation is safe for you and which ceremony suits you best. Answer the questions honestly and accurately, as this information helps us choose the most appropriate approach for your situation. After review, we will let you know whether we can accept the reservation. Then choose a date in the diary to register definitively. Once you have completed the deposit after this, your spot is reserved.

The main difference lies in the structure. You can choose from a two-day truffle ceremony or a multi-day psychedelic retreat. The multi-day retreat offers more support from the therapists, with additional group preparation and a full extra day designed for therapeutic integration. Are you unsure which format suits 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, and these include participants from Belgium, Germany, France, the UK and the US. For individuals from abroad, we recommend renting a hotel or Airbnb the day before the ceremony and the day after in order to have more time before and after the ceremony. 

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

Physical safety is the most important aspect, followed in second place by the results that emerge from the psychedelic ceremonies. Thirdly, we want everyone to have a wonderful experience, where you also feel heard if necessary. Increasing your chances of a valuable experience requires attention and preparation. Below is a summary of what we find important and how we work:

• SafetyAlthough truffles are the safest drugs/plant medicine we know, dangerous combinations are possible with a number of medications. Certain conditions also do not mix well with psychedelics. We screen our participants via an intake to prevent unsafe interactions.
• Bless youWe also use the initial assessment to see where there is still room to live more healthily. We draw up a personal recommendation to promote physical health.
• NeurochemistryThe neurotransmitters in the brain determine mood, as well as how well a psychedelic trip goes. Our personal advice also includes tips to get neurochemistry into balance.
• PreparationLastly, based on the intake, we give you some homework such as reading books or watching films. The information you store consciously or unconsciously may surface during the ceremony and grow into a new insight or solution.
• Ceremony themeWe give each open psychedelic ceremony a general theme that you can apply in your own way. The theme of the ceremony also provides space for conversation with one another during the meeting phase and introductory talk on the day of the ceremony.
• Group sizeWe consider it important that the group is neither too large nor too small. We achieve the best results with groups of 3–8 participants because there is then a sense of community present, yet it is not so large that you start seeing yourself as just one of the crowd.
• Personal spaceAt the locations where we organise the psychedelic ceremonies, we always have a shared space for the group, but we also set it up so that if you feel the need for your own space, you can retreat to a room of your own.
• GuidanceExperienced guidance brings peace of mind and confidence. We always ensure that there is always at least one supervisor with a minimum of two years' experience. We also maintain the rule that there must be at least one supervisor per 4 participants. This way, everyone can receive the right amount of attention.
• DosageBecause the result is important, we always want to create an experience that you benefit from. During our truffle and psiloflora ceremonies, we therefore offer an extra dose during the first hour if we think it is necessary. This way we ensure that the effects are neither too strong nor too mild.