The Psychedelic Journey of Motherhood

Motherhood has always been a nuanced issue for me. 

As the daughter of a woman who passed away when I was 7 years old, I see moms as beings who go above and beyond pushing a child into this world. Mothers cannot only be mothers of other human beings, but also mothers of companies, mothers of industries, and mothers of communities.

Motherhood is very much a set of actions or a responsibility.

I was recently illuminated in a conversation with a good girlfriend, neither of us biological mothers by definition, that motherhood is also more scrutinized than fatherhood. There are so many pressures on mothers to be perfect and to add one more hefty role onto the painstakingly romanticized world of womanhood. And if we ever complain, there’s always someone there to tell us how lucky we have it or how grateful we should be. Wouldn’t it be nice to just be in our frustrations and to be given the space?

My mother once had that. In her own experience of psilocybin with my father when she lived, she was able to be in her self-expression. She was safe and enjoyed a rumination-free afternoon. Rescued from her depression, even if only for a few hours, left her with one of the few spiritual experiences in her life, which is not uncommon in most people’s psychedelic journeys.

I was parentalized (parenting myself) at a young age. I became the woman of the house and mothered myself in many ways, especially when I was isolated. This was given a reprieve when I received a Big Sister, confided in aunts and grandmothers, developed healthy female friendships, etc.

My three requests for this Mother’s Day:

1. Give your mother a call. Alternatively, call those who are stand-in mothers for you. They will not forget it.
2. Write a letter to your mother if you have a complicated relationship or a distant mother. Closure may be something you need to give yourself if you intend to maintain boundaries with your biological mother. 
3. Reach out to your mom’s friends! Better yet, take initiative on something they would appreciate. Do they need a girl’s night out? A babysitter? A good laugh?

Motherhood is a loving and imperfect journey. That is truly a psychedelic realization.

Article courtesy of  Mia Cara Cosco.