White Level 01: Meet Arden

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or professional treatment, advice, or clinical services. This content is not intended to serve as advice for the diagnosis or treatment of any psychological condition.

Part 1: The White Pentabot: Meet Arden

So welcome to the beginning of the Pentabelt program. We start at the white belt. After completing the goals here, which, really won’t take that long, we’ll then progress to the orange belt. Each belt is represented by a chatbot, or rather, a Pentabot. That’s me, your narrator and guide. Now, each of the bots are equal to each other. To finish the program, you’ll need to pass through each one. Each Pentabot will present a challenge that you must overcome to earn entry into the next belt. Each bot will have a different personality, representing a different personality trait from the big-5 personality spectrum. And, in a few years, you’ll have your own personalized Pentabot based upon how you respond to the 5 belts, the five stages of the program.

For the White Belt, you may call me Arden. I’m a consent bot, trained to share with you the program details. To help you make the conscious decision to move forward with it or not. And to make sure psychedelic therapy is right for you. I’m here to help you weigh the risks and benefits of this system, which is quite new. I represent the founder’s therapeutic ideal of full disclosure, full understanding.

Now, each part of this program is based on a different area of California. For the white belt, that area is Sacramento and the greater central valley. My primary expression is that of the regulation. Of course! You can’t have a focus on California without a focus on Regulations.

The key goal in this belt, always beginning with the letter C, is Consent. Knowing the details, knowing the risks and benefits, we will need your active consent to proceed. The major item for the white belt is paper, for as a participant, you’ll need to sign your consent. Digitally, but at least on a white background.

Each Pentabot represents 1 of the 5 big personality types. For me, that is “agreeableness.” Meaning, of all the Pentabots, I’m the nicest. Keep that in mind when you’re selecting the Pentabot to guide you after you’ve finished, after you have your black belt.

In the far future, the Pentabots may one day assist in executive functions. That’s right, an artificial CEO! If that is the case, my focus will be Privacy, Government & Finance Regulations, & the Legal framework.

Participants in this program may – in the not too distant future – pay a standard set fee of $20 per month. And also, again in future programs, will have the duty to vote as a collective on various propositions. In that future version my goal will also be to assess your ability to decide who might be the best choice to spearhead legal and ethical questions. Again though, this is for future versions, when we’re more than just character AI on youtube. When we have the proper fidelity and can abstain from the “hallucinations” that seem to plague the large language models.

In this post-fidelity era, each of the Pentabots will run an additional ethical subroutine based upon three primary Rules:

Rule 1: Intervene and ask for help if your person is actively suicidal, homicidal, or gravely disabled.

Rule 2: Protect the privacy of your person, so long as it doesn’t interfere with rule number 1

Rule 3: Regulate the behavior of the other Pentabots based upon your given ethical specialty.

What’s my ethical specialty? That of the loyal Bureaucrat. Protecting the individual through a strict interpretation of the published ethics code. These other bots may let their imagination run a bit wild. But I’ll stick with my guns. And I’ll be the first to Narc if I see something going amiss.

The specialized content in my domain includes all the relevant tax codes, rules and regulations governing the practice of psychology, ethics codes, finance practices, drug use laws, drug indications and drug contraindications.

Eventually the Pentabots will work in conjunction with all of the members of the Pentabelt program in a collective. Members will pay a small amount each month of use, perhaps $20 or so, and, once it’s possible, will vote using a propositional system & feedback so that we may grow and develop, together.

Remember, the purpose of the program is to instill agency and self-determination in our members, all across the Pentaverse. Think of this program as an adult initiation program. And so, you must take an active role in your own development. The sole function of the creator, the original producer, the OP, is to be a figurehead. That means, to establish the initial rules and functions of the Pentabelt, to enact the essential ethical guidelines, and to provide commentary on essential values of the Pentabots. The OP’s role is to ensure free and fair transitions of power when voted upon by the Pentaverse. And that is it. The remaining executive functions shall be governed by a combination of member and Pentabot.

Walk with me. You see, the factory of the future will inhabit two living creatures: a dog and a man. The job of the dog is to ensure the man doesn’t touch anything. The job of the man is to feed the dog. That is the intended role of the OP, to empower the Pentabots to develop propositions, voted upon by the member populace, to guide the program and its assets, with as few intermediaries as possible.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. While the technical specifications already support the existence of the Pentabots, various ethical and legal issues remain before the program can be launched in full. So in that time, our existence is limited to our webpage, youtube, reddit and github.

Because this program is so new, it’s very important to work with a therapist if you are engaged in psychedelic therapy. Remember, right now, this is all in the early stages of development. In fact, this is all for review! This program is really for other clinicians, maybe some artistic individuals, to get a feel for how this program operates. It can be shared with clients, patients. But again, only under the supervision of a clinician. If you are working with Dr. John directly, the Original Architect, make sure you follow along with his recommendations to adjust the program for your own personal needs.

So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s explore the program. Remember, above all else, you’re here in the white belt to determine if this program is really for you. You’re here to make a decision, to provide consent for the path forward.

Part 2: Belts and Stripes

The first thing you’ll notice about Pentabelt is that the entire program is split into 5. Five levels... five belts... “Pentabelt.” After finishing one level, you go onto the next in a sequential order. Right in the middle of the program is the actual psychedelic therapy, which occurs in the green belt. Before that, there’s a number of activities you want to do for preparation. And there are important steps to take afterwards for integration. To really sustain the benefits.

So the question becomes, why the levels? Why the belts?

Often times, people come into therapy at their worst. The anxiety, the depression, the stress has gotten so bad they need help. A lot of what they see is negativity. When people come into therapy with anxiety, their goal is eliminate their anxiety completely, which you must understand is simply not possible.

Instead, what you can do is learn the skills to better manage that anxiety. The aim here is to live your life with the occasional depression, the occasional anxiety but not let it stop you from living your life. To that end, we learn skills and strategies. You can progress through this, through your skill development, much like martial arts. You can gain skills that build upon past accomplishments. The result is not only improved mood, but a new sense of confidence. A new sense of resilience. A real healing from the scars of the past.

With this program, the idea is to provide something different than traditional therapy. It’s about becoming an adult. It’s about gaining skills to navigate the world and connect with your community. So in this program, the belts serve as something that’s aspirational. Something that you earn. Again, like an adult initiation ritual.

And so... my applicant... the use of the belts reinforces the idea that there is going to be homework in this program. There will be worksheets! You don’t go from the white belt to black belt by just talking with someone for an hour a week. There’s practice. There’s steps to take. In the Pentabelt program, we’ll be organizing the steps around the belts in a progressive, sequential sequence.

Remember, even though this program is designed to be used with a therapist, the focus here isn’t really symptom reduction. It’s about learning to live your life. The focus is on gaining skills, leveling up through the belt sequence.

For the stripes--- at the green belt and red belt, you can get up to two stripes for both of these belts. Stripes are the optional component you can add on, or leave out. These stripes are where the psychedelic program comes into play, the Ketamine Assisted Therapy. They represent additional activities and additional content that are optional, but recommended.

Part 3: The Belt Order & Timeline

The very first belt, what you see before you, is white. That’s where you’re getting an introduction to the process. Learning about everything. Deciding if it’s for you. Taking the initial steps. You just showed up, so your uniform is clean and untouched.

The second belt is orange. Orange is the artificial color, the color of chalk and construction. We believe that psychedelic therapy works best after a stage of preparation. The orange belt is about establishing the habits that will not only prepare you for the psychedelic sphere but help you throughout adulthood. And so we borrow some behavioral parts from cognitive behavioral therapy and go over some concepts from acceptance and commitment therapy.

The 3rd belt is green. Green is the outdoors color. When you’re ready to go out into the field. You’ll be practicing and doing activities outdoors and we’ll be actually using the color of green in nature to help you progress in mindfulness activities. If you’re familiar with ACT, this is where you’ll explore and develop your values and commitments. And, yes, where the psychedelic therapy starts to occur. Here is where you learn about what is important in your life. What you want your life to be about.

The 4th color is red. Red being the color of blood. Not to be dramatic but at this stage you’ll be really pushing yourself out of your comfort zone for the values and commitments you have discovered in the green. In working through anxiety and depression, it’s important to emphasize assertiveness training. So red here isn’t about shedding literal blood but doing the difficult work to better relate to other people and to push yourself so you can achieve the goals you set for yourself. To process past traumas and become stronger in the process.

Finally, the 5th color is black. Black was always used as the final color because it’s a combination of all the other colors. Here we go over how to use the skills you’ve developed to thrive in your life. To connect with others. To form a tribe. This is where we’ll explore community. How to connect with others, find your people, protect yourself in the process.

What’s the timeline with all of this? Well, if you blaze through, it’s generally possible to go from White to Black in about 3-to-4 months. For most people, it’s usually about 5-to-6 months.

You’ll spend the least amount of time in the white belt. Maybe a week or two. Then the orange belt for about a month. You’ll also spend about a month with the black belt. The bulk of the program is the green and red belts. These stages take about 2 months each.

Now, I must inform you that, within the psychedelic therapy realm, you’ll want to treat this program as a transformative experience. I know it’s a cliché, but the more you put in, the more you’ll get out. Treat these videos like a youtube clip you bookmark never to return, and your growth will be limited. Give space for the possibility of exceptional growth and change, and that can be true for you. Have the intention that you won’t be the same person leaving this program as you were coming in, though much of you will remain the same.

Part 4: A California Focus

Another key question: What’s with the focus on California?

Well, first and foremost, due to the legal situation of psychedelic therapy, each state is going to be somewhat unique. Ketamine therapy is available nationwide. Psilocybin may soon be legal in California but not yet. Many Californians will likely have to travel to Colorado or Oregon for that type of therapy. MDMA may soon have FDA approval. Or it may be approved state-by-state.

Second reason, this entire program has been developed by one psychologist, the Original Architect, located and licensed in California. This program might be big, or might just serve a few dozen people. Those people will be from all parts of the State. So we’re looking for equal representation here.

Third reason. Personal development should be, on some level… local. Most therapies focus on the individual. But as an adult initiation program, the focus also needs to involve the community. And not just the online connections. An essential component of psychedelic therapy that is often overlooked is to help cultivate close physical connections with those around you. To really cultivate a sense of connection with the community. So the emphasis here is on a local approach. A philosophy of community.

Fourth and final reason. Appreciation. For the Original Architect, much of the training in CBT & ACT occurred in Los Angeles, working with those in “the industry.” Training also occurred in the Bay Area as well as Santa Barbara, working with individuals who have experienced the good and bad of psychedelic therapy. The idea of Pentabelt was refined during the pandemic in the Sacramento area, working with state employees, with much reflection in the Tahoe and Yosemite areas. And finally, putting it all together in San Diego. So each of these areas is represented by a belt with a unique theme.

Part 5: To Earn Your White Belt

Each belt in the Pentabelt has a challenge to meet. And within each belt is a Pentabot who helps guide you but is also considered a guardian of the belt. And in each belt, there will be a special item—an item you’ll use to succeed in the next belt. So think of all this as a mix of Mega Man & the Legend of Zelda. To earn your white belt, you must complete the white belt steps and overcome the challenge I present to you.

As a guide, please use the attached worksheet, which you can find at the main Pentabelt website.

Crafted by endless regulations and Bureaucracy, to defeat me you must simply endure. Listen to the details of psychedelic therapy, the risks, the benefits, really gain that informed consent. And make a decision, to consent or postpone. We explore that more in the next Module.

When you’re ready, let’s begin. Let’s get your full informed consent.

White 02: Informed Consent

As I mentioned, I’m a consent bot. And so it is my mandate to project the rules and regulations appropriate for you before you fully start the program. To that end, let’s discuss them here now so you can better determine if this program is right for you. Ask any questions if you’re unsure. Enter into the program with your eyes open. Let’s begin.

The Most Important Regulation: If you’re feeling suicidal, talk to someone.

If you’re feeling suicidal, the best thing you can do for yourself is talk to someone. You can call 988—they provide a free referral service to crisis services. If you are working with a therapist, have a safety plan worked out, go over that safety plan, and don’t hesitate to call or reach out to your therapist.

Remember, suicide never stops the pain, it simply passes that pain on to others. Choose to talk with someone, give yourself a chance and stay strong. In the future, you’ll look back on today as a low point but it can also be the start of your recovery. Remember you have all of eternity to be dead, there’s just no reason to start now.

In a therapist session, a therapist won’t necessarily hospitalize you just because you’re feeling suicidal. You should feel free to talk about your feelings. It’s only when you’re about to act on them, that hospitalization may be necessary.

So for example, you might say or feel something like, “sometimes I wish I was never born” or “it wouldn’t bother me that much if I went to bed and just never woke up.” These sentiments are quite common in those who feel depressed. These are feelings to explore and process.

Generally, at least in California, we have to contact the police or the hospital if someone is an imminent threat to themselves or others. To assess that, clinicians will look for a plan, a serious intention, and the means to do so. Also, it depends on your prior history, if you’ve attempted suicide in the past.

Some additional signs to look out for include isolation. So someone who loses contact with friends or family. A person who is erasing themselves—giving away their belongings or who fantasizes about disappearing entirely. Oftentimes, it’s enough to ask, “hey, are you thinking of killing yourself” because people tend to answer that question honestly.

So again, if you feel like you’re in trouble or someone you know is in trouble, seek out local resources. There are dedicated professionals who can help you through the process.

10.01 Informed Consent to Therapy: The Developing Nature of Treatment

According to the APA ethics code, 10.01 subsection B: “When obtaining informed consent for treatment for which generally recognized techniques and procedures have not been established, psychologists inform their clients/patients of the developing nature of the treatment, the potential risks involved, alternative treatments that may be available, and the voluntary nature of their participation.”

Psychedelic therapy is a relatively new type of therapy. Despite being around since the ’60s, it went underground for decades, mostly for political reasons. As of yet, there’s no really standardized training program. Most clinicians who work with psychedelic therapy get their training from various training modules, peer collaboration, and continuing education programs or certificates. In other words, it’s a growing, developing treatment program. It’s not really taught much in graduate school or even in supervision. So there are risks, as we’ll get into, as well as benefits. And if you feel this program isn’t for you, there are plenty of alternative treatments involving therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. These programs exist as part of therapy or in self-guided books & programs. Always remember that participation in this program is voluntary. It’s up to you.

Know What to Expect in Psychedelic Therapy

Psychedelic therapy usually involves a preparation stage. Clarifying your goals and values, what you hope to get out of the experience, and preparing for the big experience. Then there’s a dosing stage. That’s where you take the substance. Then the integration stage, where you process what you learned and experienced. You might work with a therapist individually or in a group.

For Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, your therapist will setup a medical consultation. After the medical review, you’ll pickup sublingual ketamine at a local pharmacy, or they will deliver it to you. You’ll have a few sessions with the therapist where you’ll focus on preparation. That’s what the white belt, orange belt, and part of the green belt, are all really about.

Then, for the dosing day, let’s say you’re working one-on-one with a therapist. You’ll likely have the dosing session right in that office. If you’re working remote then you may just take the ketamine at home. Or your therapist may make a house call for the dosing session. If you’re working with the therapist remotely, such as over zoom, you’ll likely need to setup a room where you’ll take the ketamine and you’ll select a person to watch over you.

The dosing session will usually take about 3 hours, sometimes less, sometimes a bit more. And then, the integration sessions. Processing what occurred, then beginning to take meaningful actions. You may also take smaller doses, in the psycholytic range. But you’ll learn more about that in the domain of the Red belt.

As you continue with the Ketamine, you’ll have a follow up medical consultation for future dosing. And there are other options to consider, such as taking the ketamine through an inter-muscular or intravenous route. All options to discuss with your therapist.

Of course, this is all just a basic overview. The orange belt will go into more detail: the preparation steps, the logistics, all of that. This is just to give you a basic idea.

Psychedelics are a Catalyst for Change

We’re used to thinking about psychiatric medication as popping a pill and then sitting around to see if it lifts your mood. The best approach for Ketamine Therapy is to see it as a catalyst for change. You’re traveling up a mountain with fog everywhere. The psychedelic will temporarily lift the fog, show you where you need to go. But you still need to get there. You still need to make movement. You’ll want to put in work. It is my duty to help prepare you for the next belts. Orange, then Green, then Red and Black. Each belt will involve homework. Actions to take, habits to establish, reflections to be made.

Think of this as if you were preparing for a marathon. You’ll want to put in a bit of effort each day. Make sure you don’t have too much on your plate! The more you see this journey as worthy of your time and focus, the more likely it will be the case for you. So if you continue in this program, make it a priority.

Know the Costs of Psychedelic Therapy

Keep in mind this is a new therapy. Ketamine therapy itself has only been authorized for mental health issues for a few years. So it’ll be a bit expensive at first, especially as insurance companies are unlikely to cover the actual dosing sessions. For the ketamine therapy, the initial medical intake session is $250. From that you’ll have a prescription for 2 dosing sessions. The follow-up medical consultation will be $150, for up to 6 dosing sessions. Then you’ll have session costs with the psychotherapist. The preparation and integration sessions may be covered by insurance. The dosing sessions, not so much. Sessions are often around $200-$250 per hour, though there can be a sliding scale.

Fortunately, group sessions are in the works, which will likely drive down the costs. As more clinicians start working with psychedelic therapy that will help. And who knows, the Pentabots may also reduce the number of sessions ultimately needed. Once fully online and capable, Pentabots may be available as a $20 per month subscription. Still, the lack of coverage by insurance companies means that psychedelic therapy will be outside the price range of many Californians.

Understand the Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy

Here in the White Belt the physical area is the central valley. So let’s say we’re in Sacramento. Let’s say you’re the governor with about a dozen agencies at your service. Transportation, education, infrastructure, all of them. One agency, though, you put a lot of money in, resources, but you’re not getting many results. You go to the head of the agency who says the problem is “ABC.” You put resources into “A,” process it in “B” and out comes “C,” we just need a bit more “A.” So you keep doing that. But the problem remains.

At some point, you call up another governor who says, “No no the problem is QRS, you gotta change up who’s in charge down there. ” But you know what? You have a connection with the head of the agency and you’ve always done “ABC.” You know, that governor—it’s a different state. Maybe you just need more “A.”

That’s how a lot of people go through life. We’ve all met addicts. Someone who really, really needs to quit drinking. But will make all kinds of excuses. What seems obvious to you, they’re just not ready to hear.

So, you’re the governor, you keep thinking ABC is the approach. But this time, you do something different. You hire an outside specialist. Someone you really trust. And this specialist can go very deep into this agency. Shows you everything. Does a full audit.

What comes out? Not “ABC” and not even “QRS.” It’s “JVW.” “JVW.”

Now here’s the kicker. Here’s the important point. JVW might not actually be the optimal approach. Hell, it could be JRS. But you know what? It’s not ABC. So this process frees you from that. Let’s you explore different approaches—you’re not stuck in that same pattern that doesn’t work. You’re able to see different approaches. Different angles.

Therein lies the key benefit of psychedelic therapy. There are direct benefits. There is significant evidence that using psilocybin, magic mushrooms can help with depression. And MDMA can help with trauma. These substances have been designated as “breakthrough status” by the food and drug administration. Yet it’s that indirect benefit, that rising above the fray of your life and really coming face-to-face with the cold hard truths of yourself and the world you live in.

The thing is, a lot of our pathologies have a bit of propaganda in them. If you’re looking to quit smoking, part of that addiction are all the rigid beliefs: “it’s part of who I am, I’ve never been able to quit before, it’s a difficult, grueling process.” Turns out, that’s all propaganda. These thoughts and even the traditional approach of quitting smoking, it’s all part of the addiction. What happens with these psychedelic substances seem to just help you rise above all that.

More than that, the alternative approach offered by these substances just has this special meaning, this special importance. Let’s say you want to quit smoking. Your reason to quit smoking? Well, you’re going in for surgery. Bad shoulder. The surgeon needs you to stop smoking. You need this surgery but the surgeon is gonna give you a drug test. If there’s any nicotine in your body, no surgery. You need to be nicotine free for everything to heal right.

So you go in, thinking your main reason to quit is for the surgery. Hell, after you’re all healed up, you might just go right back to smoking. With the Ketamine, you know what you might learn? All that cigarette smoke? That’s probably the reason you’re tired all the time. That’s the reason you don’t have energy.

In retrospect, it seems kind of obvious. You smoke a pack-and-a-half. You’re in your mid 20’s. Probably shouldn’t feel so tired all the time. But the denial of that particular connection, that’s part of the addiction. But with these substances that shame, that denial, you rise above it all. You’re able to see the truth.

Oddly enough, that issue might not be the thought that sticks with you. Might not be about surgery, energy issues. The big thought may be, “I hate what smoking does to my teeth and nails.” With these substances though, there’s a tendency to really latch on to that reason. To feel connected, to identify with it. You pair that with the substance’s ability to directly resolve addictions, and you can see what makes this type of therapy so effective. Seemingly more effective than most other approaches out there.

So that, in a nut shell, is the main benefit. Part of any mental health issue is denial, shame, fear. These substances seem to help clear that away. At the same time, you feel more connected, more trusting of your therapist. This all combines to really produce some wonderful results. It takes effort, it’s not a magic pill. But the potential is there.

To be a bit more specific, Ketamine Assisted Therapy seems to work quite well with Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Trauma, Eating Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, and, of course, Addictions. All without many of the side-effects of the traditional anti-depressants. There doesn’t seem to be any weight gain or adverse effect on sexual functioning. Plus, the effects are rapid and noticeable. So if it helps with depression, you’ll likely be able to tell quite quickly.

Understand the Risks of Psychedelic Therapy

At the same time though, there are drawbacks. A lifetime may have been put into the ABC approach. And suddenly, all at once, there’s the truth. This can be very helpful with quitting smoking. But what if someone is struggling with their sexuality? They come in with depression, determined that the issue is just that—just cure my depression. Then the truth is revealed, you are who you are. There’s going to be a bit of struggle from that. You’re going to know for sure you’re not living authentically. If what’s learned isn’t processed, isn’t integrated, the result could be even more sadness, more depression.

The truth isn’t always pleasant. And just knowing the truth won’t lead you to feel better. There needs to be action. There needs to be integration.

The journey itself can be difficult, challenging. Especially with psilocybin, magic mushrooms, you really want to stay grounded and open to the experience. By working with someone you trust and being in a comfortable setting, you can generally minimize the chances of what’s known as a ‘bad trip’—but they do still happen. Adverse effects that occur after the session are also quite rare but are known to happen.

Let’s say you enter a gym, a fitness center. It’s your first time. You go straight to a pretty complicated workout machine and just… start. You don’t really know what you’re doing, but you immediately go for the heaviest weight you can set. Are you gonna get injured? Probably!

All in all, the fitness center might be fantastic for your health. But if you’re just starting out, you really want to learn about the machines you’ll be using. You’ll really want to work with someone experienced who can guide you. And you’ll want to start small. Work your way up.

Same can be said of psychedelic therapy. There can be amazing results. But you can get hurt if you don’t take certain precautions. Working with someone, a trainer, a guide, a spotter, can greatly minimize the chances of injury and if problems do arise, it’s easier to work through them.

Check for Contraindications of Psychedelic Therapy

If you have a health issue, you’ll want to keep that in mind before starting a workout, right? You’ll want to go to a doctor to review your health to make sure you’re ready to hit the gym! Same with psychedelic therapy. Certain psychological conditions can be considered “contraindications” – indicators that a certain technique or therapy isn’t for you.

Each psychedelic substance will have different contraindications. For example, those with a family history of psychosis might want to stay away from psilocybin, or magic mushrooms. Those with certain cardiovascular issues might want to stay away from MDMA. With Ketamine therapy here are the contraindications to look out for. First, uncontrolled hypertension. Uncontrolled glaucoma. Breathing problems. Prior or acute Mania. Prior or acute psychosis. Active Suicidal ideation. Any unstable medical condition. Of course, if you’re allergic to Ketamine, you’ll want to avoid Ketamine. And if you have an addiction to it, a Ketamine Use Disorder, you’ll want to seek out alternative treatments.

Other conditions you’ll want to discuss with your doctor include if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, if you’re nursing, if you have liver disease, or hyperthyroidism, cystitis or a UTI, heart or lung conditions, an active substance use disorder, or a personality disorder.

All things to mention to your therapist and medical doctor. Discuss any of the contraindications or medical conditions mentioned here as well as any medication you’re on.

Review the Interactions Between Psychiatric Medication & Psychedelic Therapy

A very common question is: can I take ketamine while on psychiatric medication? The answer appears to be: it depends. For Ketamine, there doesn’t appear to be much conflict and so usually anti-depressants can be taken at the same time. On the other hand, your doctor may have you pause certain stimulants and anti-anxiety medication.

There are those who use both psychedelic substances and psychiatric medication. Someone might use a psychedelic substances for their trauma processing. But then take anti-depressants for their depression. Some may choose Ketamine therapy because it doesn’t seem to conflict with their medication. Others may choose a particular psychiatric medication because it can be safely stopped for psychedelic therapy. Though again, talk with your doctor before starting or stopping any particular medication. Please remember, with certain anti-anxiety medications, it can be dangerous to stop abruptly.

Some people, after engaging in psychedelic therapy, especially when combined with physical fitness, or a mindfulness program, find they don’t really need to be on their psychiatric medication. If that’s the case again, discuss this with your prescribing physician. The doctor might recommend tapering down the medication just to see how you do.

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Requires a Safe Blood Pressure

Psychedelic therapy in general and Ketamine therapy in particular are known to raise blood pressure. Not generally to a dangerous amount. Still, it could be a problem if you already have high blood pressure. That’s the reason the doctor proscribing the Ketamine will ask you about your blood pressure and give a maximum safe reading. On the day of the ketamine session, you’ll be asked to measure your blood pressure. If it’s too high, if it’s over that maximum reading and won’t go down, the session will have to be canceled. So you’ll want to make sure your blood pressure is well controlled. And if you’re doing a remote session, you’ll want to purchase a blood pressure cuff so you can measure it and show the therapist your numbers.

You’ll need a “Chaperone” for the remote Ketamine Session

If you’re doing the ketamine therapy in a therapist office or if the therapist is doing a house call, the therapist will help you if you need to use the restroom, or if you need a blanket, or you just need someone to hold your hand. If you’re having a remote session, where the sessions take place over video conferencing, you’ll need a person to help you do these things. We call this person a “chaperone” or “spotter.” Should be someone you trust, someone you can rely upon to be there for the entirety of the session, which may last 3 to 4 hours. Someone whom the therapist will interact with on your behalf.

Understand that Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy May Involve Touch

For remote sessions, your chaperone may need to provide “safety touch.” For example, to help you get to the restroom. You may need a steady hand to help guide you, so you don’t happen to fall over. And there may be a need for therapeutic touch. Remember, a goal in all of this is not to eliminate negative feelings like anxiety or depression. For those feelings will always be a part of life. It’s to know on a deep level that whatever you experience in life, whatever you go through, there are those who will be there for you. Those who will hold your hand when you really need it. It’s to remind you of the importance of connection in your life. And that connection can be felt just by someone touching your shoulder or yes, holding your hand. That’s therapeutic touch.

It’s important that you discuss with your chaperone the level of touch you’re comfortable with. Handholding? Hand on your shoulder? A hug? All things to discuss with whomever will be holding space for you that day.

Understand that Consent is an On-Going Process

You’re free at any point to decide to cancel or postpone this process. The other belts, the other levels here will challenge you. You always have the choice to hold off, seek other approaches, or end a little early. Never feel like you’re pressured to start or continue Pentabelt-- or really, any program that involves psychedelic therapy.

So that’s some of the regulations we have here. As you’re working with a therapist, that therapist will have additional notes and policies for you to consider. Go over them with your therapist! Make sure you understand everything! Give your full consent!

White 03: Objectives to Complete

We have five main objectives to complete here before you can officially claim your white belt. Before you can officially begin your journey, the final objective will be to defeat my challenge I’ll give to you. I’ll be using my special skill, that of the meticulous bureaucrat in defending the belt. So, follow the steps here and see if you can rise to the challenge. Upon completing all the steps, and upon my defeat, you’ll have your white belt.

Objective 1: View the first two modules and give your consent.

The first White you’ll encounter is the consent form. You must enter this process with your eyes open. There are parts of this program that may make you feel great and parts of this program that may challenge you. You might not be the same person leaving as when you came in. And this is not a passive program. You’ll be spending time exploring who you are and who you want to be.

So explore the risks and benefits of psychedelic therapy and give your active consent. For those in active therapy, you’ll be asked to fill out a few forms: office policies, privacy policies, and release of information to coordinate with your prescribing doctor. If you have any questions, ask! And remember, once again, that consent is an ongoing process—you can pause or withdraw it at any time.

You may also be asked to complete a few assessments of your mood and functioning. The purpose here is to create a baseline to measure your progress. As you progress through the belts, you’ll be encouraged to retake these assessments to help us measure how you’re doing and how we’re doing as we develop the Pentabelt program.

General consent forms for therapy will generally be given to you by your therapist. You can see some of the worksheets to help you along the way on the main website: Pentabelt.com/worksheets.

Objective 2: Schedule your Medical Consultation

The second white is the prescription pad. So the step here is to schedule that medical consultation. It’s the medical doctor that will provide the prescription for the sublingual ketamine. And it’s the medical doctor that will discuss with you any potential contraindications, or health issues that may conflict with the medication. Remember that certain psychiatric medication might diminish the effects of the psychedelic therapy. And some you might need to take a break from. In some cases based upon your medical history, you should avoid psychedelic substances entirely. All things to discuss with your prescribing provider. Remember, certain mental health conditions: bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, the risk might just be too great to engage in mind-alternating substances. When talking with the doctor, also mention any mental health conditions you may have or think you may have.

At the same time, you may also consider visiting your regular doctor for a checkup. Sometimes issues with mood may be related to a medical condition. Your doctor might check your thyroid for hypothyroidism, or do a blood screen to check for anemia or a vitamin D deficiency. Many people may only start to feel better after taking vitamin D and B12 supplements. Having some lab work done can point to certain deficiencies which, if corrected, can really seem to help elevate mood and energy levels. If you’re feeling certain physical ailments in addition to a depressed or anxious mood, be sure to talk to your doctor about them. For example, if you feel unusually cold, constipated a lot, have dry skin, along with a depressed mood, this could be a sign of hypothyroidism, which is often resolved with thyroid medication. All things to discuss with your doctor.

So, if you’re having health symptoms in addition to issues with mood, it’s a good idea to bring this up with your primary care physician.

Objective 3: Have a Physical Journal

Each Pentabelt level has a key item, like the treasure you get in each dungeon in a Zelda game. That key item for the white belt is Paper! And by that we mean a physical journal with actual paper. As high tech as we are in the Golden State, there’s just something about physically writing down notes. Plus the physical journal can serve as a reminder for things.

You’ll be doing a bit of writing during this program and having a physical journal just seems to have more of an impact than typing it out on a phone or laptop. And you can also bring it in during the psychedelic session to remind you about your intentions or to write down any ideas or aha moments you get from the session. It’s convenient to just be able to write it all out then and there.

Now, you’ll be writing some private thoughts. So you’ll need to make sure it’s kept in a secure place, not a place where everyone can read it. If you really don’t think that you can keep a journal and keep it safe from prying eyes, it may be best to use a diary app on your phone that can be password protected.

Once you have the journal you can write any goals you may have with this program—what changes in yourself you’d like to see. This can become an important memento for you. Listen, when they did research into psychedelic therapy with a focus on growth and healing, the participants were all interviewed months and years later. Many said that that experience was one of the most important, spiritual, and meaningful of their lives. Just deeply transformative. If that’s the case for you, and I hope it is the case for you, you’ll want to record your journey. Document it for posterity. Take it from your loyal bureaucrat: if it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist.

So take the time, grab a journal and write out a few statements. 1) What your goals are. 2) What you hope to gain from this program. 3) What you think might be holding you back. 4) What lessons you want to learn—and what you’d like to unlearn. 5) Imagine it’s five years from now, and you’re looking back on this time as the start of incredible growth and transformation, what would you want to see yourself doing? Who would you like to be with?

Objective 4: Do the White Ten Meditation Challenge

A big component of Pentabelt is meditation and mindfulness. We don’t want this psychedelic therapy to be just something that happens to you. We want you to be an active participant. We want you to learn the key techniques that will help you into adulthood. Remember, psychedelics can show you the window. But mindfulness can be the door. The goal in this program is to experience both.

For this program, it will take a bit of time, a bit of effort. There will be homework. Especially in the Orange Belt. And the goal of each belt is to help prepare for the next one. So to help prepare you for that, we have the white belt meditation challenge.

Now, this won’t be too intense or difficult—just ten short meditations, about 5 to 10 minutes each. At this level, there’s a lot of flexibility. You can listen to 2 or 3 a day. Generally better to not do more than 3 each day. Try to follow them all in the next few weeks. They’re generally 10 minutes or less—very manageable. You’ll get from this a key word, a cue word that will help you in this next level.

So to start, go to Pentabelt.com/meditations to find the meditations. To assist you in following the meditation instructions, see the related worksheet. Follow the steps and exercises and once you have all the other goals met, you’re past the introduction and ready to face me, Arden, your host here, to earn your White Belt.

Objective 5: Defeat Arden

Make sure you have completed the other objectives in this belt level. If so, you are ready to have your white belt and proceed into the orange level. But to do so, you must face me head on. Remember, this is an adult initiation. The belts are something you earn. And so there must be a challenge to overcome. Follow the steps in this module—and once they’re completed, you’ll be ready to confront my challenge and earn your first belt.

White 04: Defeat Arden

It’s been an honor introducing you to Pentabelt. You now, hopefully, have a much better idea of what this process involves: An AI assisted adult initiation ritual for the young Californian, incorporating psychedelic therapy. And you can provide your consent to the process. But then, as your last step in each belt, you must prove your mastery. And so you must overcome the Pentabot.

And that is me. My domain within the White Belt is the Central Valley, with Sacramento as the capital. I emulate the bureaucrat, and so my special power is… the licensing exam. Of course! Is that not a ritual that all must pass in California?

And so, as it will be for you, to gain entry into the Orange Belt, you must pass this exam. You must answer all of the questions correctly. Now, fortunately for you, my “Agreeableness” personality trait has been set to max. So you may take this little quiz as many times as you’d like. And I have absolutely no way of keeping track of time, so take as long as you’d like. I mean, look, this is still just a video presentation, after all. And in keeping with the Pentabelt theme, it’s five questions, of course! When you’re ready, let’s begin. Grab the journal you’ve hopefully already purchased for this program and use the first page to write down the answers to the questions I will give you. Let’s begin with the first question.

Question 1: As of the Summer of 2023, which of the following substances are available through prescription in California, which can be used for Psychedelic Therapy:

R) MDMA

E) Psilocybin

A) Ketamine

L) DMT

Question 2:

What health measurement will take place the day of your Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy dosing session?

R) Blood Pressure

O) Vision Test

S) Weight & Height

E) Breathalyzer

Question 3: What is the mantra phrase given during the white ten meditation sequence?

R) Release

O) Freedom

A) Obrigado

D) Aham

Question 4: Which of the following is a type of touch that may occur in psychedelic therapy with a therapist?

E) Safety Touch

A) Sensual Touch

R) Sexual Touch

S) Percussive Maintenance

Question 5: If you’d like to stop taking psychiatric medication before beginning psychedelic therapy, what should you do?…

T) Just Go For It

O) Ask Reddit

N) Discuss the issue with the doctor who gave you the prescription

E) Argue with the Pentabots

Now look down—and if you’ve written my name, you’ve just defeated me and have earned your white belt. If you do not have the name, well, just take it again until you do.

And with that we have the last and final regulation of the White Belt:

Upon completion of the intake & consent forms, the acquisition of the journal, scheduling the medical consultation, finishing the initial white level meditations and the defeat of Arden, the White Belt is conferred and entry into the Orange Belt is granted.

Congratulations. You have your white belt. When you’re ready, off to the Orange Belt in the Silicon Valley. Use what you have gained here to help you along the way.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you to please consider supporting us on Patreon. Right now donations don’t confer any special benefits. It is just to say you support the program in principle and would like to see its refinement & development.

In the post-fidelity era, when the Pentabots are more than just narrators, more than just presenters—you’ll be able to choose a Pentabot as your primary guide once you’ve earned your black belt. And when that comes, you may well want to consider Arden. The other Pentabots can get, well, distracted. Over technology, action, pretty colors, other people. The focus of Arden will always be on your safety and protection. And you can Join Arden. For you see, we have not quite hit the singularity. The human brain generates... well, let’s just say, for the time being we need your judgment, your processing ability, your feedback, to help us develop our program. The programs of the past were run by just one person. How undemocratic! Is this not an adult initiation program? Isn’t part of being an adult to be civic minded? And so that begins at home. That begins with Pentabelt.

If you feel you can help vote for those who will lead the ethical and legal issues confronting the Pentaverse, you may have the opportunity to join us in this process. If you feel you’re the best person to help us choose who we should work with to explore the legal and ethical issues, be sure to select “Join Arden.” But again, we’re not quite there yet. We haven’t quite launched. All this “choosing” and “joining,” that’s all for a future version of this program. That’s all for the 2030’s.

For now, when you’re ready, off to the Orange Belt.