A Mindful Approach to Dementia & Psychedelics: Our Shared Journey Series - San Miguel de Allende - Embracing Dementia, Psychedelics, and Mindfulness
San Miguel de Allende is one of the most charming cultural patrimonies in Latin America. People flock here, mostly from North America but really from all over the world. It is no wonder San Miguel, or SMA for short, has been chosen as the “Best Small City” in the world by Condé Nast and other global influencers year after year.
Yesterday we drove through one of the neighborhoods close to the very center of town. The clear blue sky against cobblestone streets with brilliant colorful displays in century-old buildings felt stunning. Stunning, too, was the feeling that it was a town overrun by North American geriatrics! For in this section of town, the sidewalks were filled with so many ex-pat retirees that it took a moment to realize I was in Mexico! Yet SMA has a very long history (or shall I say of this last century, as I will not get into the sadness I oftentimes feel walking in the Centro and reading street names like Indio Triste—that beckon to the Spanish Conquistadors and the inhumanity that reigned), a legacy of not just ex-pats from abroad but also creatives from the Distrito Federal, Mexico City.
So in SMA, there is a fairly convivial coexistence with this long-standing mixture of its residents. SMA boasts a vibrant culture where you can listen to world-class music thanks to ProMusica, attend art exhibits, or even see originals of a Picasso or Monet at the fabulous Fábrica La Aurora. Plays, lectures, and even annual writers conference and literary festival with Pulitzer Prize winners are all accessible. Of course, pickleball has come, as has padel, the more Latin American version. Golf, tennis, riding… bridge, mahjong, book clubs galore—you can find anything you want in SMA.
It truly is no wonder people move here and to other locales throughout Mexico in their Golden Years. The Golden Years are built up in the American psyche as years to live out your dream. There is a subtle cultural message that we work our whole lives so that we can enjoy this time, that we deserve this time, and that it is ours for the taking. How sad when the dreams crash down due to illness, as is often the case.
From a mindfulness approach to life, just the opposite is true for me: every moment counts and nothing is guaranteed. Everything, by its very nature, is impermanent. Not clinging to attachments is part of the day-to-day practice—or at the very least, I attempt to bring awareness to what I cling to. From that place of observation and awareness, a transformative alchemy of being grounded in a deep sense of connection emerges. Cultivating this ground of well-being shines an inner light brighter than gold.
We loved staying in the Centro a few years back, seriously considering living where all the action is, with the ability to walk everywhere. But when your spouse has Alzheimer’s, as is my case now, there are other considerations. Even two years back, my husband got disoriented before reaching the end of the street. The uneven cobblestone sidewalks were hard to navigate as his balance was already compromised. The constant honking of cars, dogs barking throughout the night, festivals and posadas that are announced by firecrackers before dawn, the traffic, and constant movement… all of these factors exacerbate someone with dementia.
We had actually decided against SMA because it was evident it was not a place Henry could age in peace. That was until some friends recommended we try a community about 25 minutes away by car. And now we find ourselves here for three months (and away from the cold in Vermont!). It is a community that not only includes different levels of care but also has an extensive natural environment where you can feel one with nature.
As for me, SMA holds special magic. It was here I first saw the artwork on colonial houses done by Mariana Suarez, or MJ, as she is better known locally. I am honored that she agreed to team up with me to illustrate Mindful Microdosing: A Guidebook and Journal. Returning here for the first time since the book’s publication feels like a special homecoming.
During my previous stay, I learned that microdosing was not publicly advertised but accessible. Two years later, I learned that the demand keeps growing and is considerable. I was also happy to hear that Mexican psychologists are available to help with the process. There are also high-dose psilocybin retreats around SMA that are internationally advertised and legally protected as traditional spiritual practices or ceremonies.
Since our last stay, microdosing has become a part of Henry’s life. Some benefits he notes are a sharper memory, greater focus, more physical strength and endurance, reading for longer periods of time, better sleep, and, as he reports, “feeling more like himself.” As natural aging occurs, with or without dementia, these benefits seem well suited for the aging population here in San Miguel de Allende.
Honestly, I never thought I would be writing about dementia, psychedelics, and mindfulness! Yet here I am, where possibilities abound! Has San Miguel de Allende called me back, where my present worlds of mindfulness, psychedelics, a husband with dementia, and me as a caregiver are embraced? Where these worlds are finding words through this blog to connect to others? If so, San Miguel has called me back, and I feel humbled.
- Lauren Alderfer, PhD.
