There is a lot of language in this space. Some of it is precise. Some of it is borrowed. Some of it is marketing. And a lot of it is used by people who have never explained what they actually mean.

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We built the Tandava Psychedelic Glossary because we kept meeting people who deserved better than the internet was giving them. People considering this work for the first time and unsure what half the words meant. People sitting with their own integration and wanting to understand what had happened to them. Researchers, therapists, and journalists trying to make sense of a field that is expanding faster than its shared vocabulary can keep up with.

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This is our attempt to offer something clearer. Sixty terms defined honestly, organized into five sections, and available as a free downloadable PDF for anyone in the space.

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Download the Free Psychedelic Glossary

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Why we built it

Three reasons, honestly.

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The first: we kept having the same conversations. Someone would ask, on a discovery call, what the difference is between DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. Someone else would want to understand what "integration" actually meant beyond the marketing use of the word. Someone else would ask why we say "synthetic" and not "toad." These are good questions, and they deserve better answers than most of the internet is providing.

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The second: language shapes reality. The words we use for this work carry weight. Some words honor traditions. Some obscure them. Some words describe real dynamics. Some hide them. Where a term in our glossary has been used to whitewash, appropriate, or mislead, we say so — gently, but clearly. That is part of the education, and part of what we think a responsible reference in this space should do.

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The third: because a glossary is a small thing that quietly builds trust. When someone downloads it, reads it, and finds it genuinely useful, they know a little more about how we think, how we write, and how we approach this work. That matters more to us than any marketing funnel.

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Who this glossary is for

This resource is designed for anyone trying to make sense of the psychedelic space, whether that is because you are considering this work personally, supporting someone who is, working in an adjacent field, or simply trying to understand what everyone is suddenly talking about.

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We built it especially with these readers in mind:

People considering a psychedelic experience for the first time, who want to understand the vocabulary before making decisions. If you have been reading about ceremonies, medicines, or retreats and finding half the language unclear, start here.

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Alumni of any retreat or ceremony, looking to understand what they experienced and how to integrate it. Some of the deepest insight comes from being able to name what happened.

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Therapists, coaches, and integration practitioners who work with clients exploring or returning from psychedelic experiences. The glossary is a working reference and a shared vocabulary.

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Journalists, researchers, and writers covering this space who want to use accurate, current language and understand the tensions in the field.

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Anyone tired of vague spiritual marketing who wants a resource that names things directly.

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How to read it

The glossary can be read cover to cover in about half an hour, or used as a reference. It is organized by section but also has a full alphabetical index at the back, so a specific term can be found in seconds.

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It is not medical advice. It is not legal advice. It is an educational reference, and it is offered as a starting point for further conversation, not the last word on any of it.

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We will keep updating it. The field is changing quickly, and the language is changing with it. If you notice a term we should add, revise, or reconsider, we would genuinely like to hear from you.

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Download the Free Psychedelic Glossary

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The full 17-page glossary is available as a free PDF. It is offered without charge to anyone in the space, whether or not you have ever worked with us, and there is no commitment attached.

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The Tandava Psychedelic Glossary is a free resource from Tandava, a retreat center in Tepoztlán, Mexico specializing in supported, trauma-informed work with 5-MeO-DMT. If you are considering this work personally and want a private conversation about whether it might be right for you, you can book a discovery call.

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