Space & Time is a peer support project founded in Spring of 2021 by Devin Black and David Bulger at the heart center of Zen Gardens in Panama City Beach, Florida. Their mission is to "hold space" in the night life community for those who may be experiencing overwhelming altered states of consciousness. The Space & Time team sets up space at events and festivals and holds workshops on harm reductio
n practices throughout the local area and the southeast. Both Devin and David are educated and experienced with harm reduction practices from DanceSafe and the trip sitting principles provided by the Zendo Project, a branch of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies) that offer trip sitting services at larger scale festivals such as Burning Man. Space & Time hope to expand what they offer, and intend to have drug testing kits available on site as well. Peer support and harm reduction projects aim to reduce the risks associated with common human activity, legal and illegal. The stigma surrounding specifically drugs and these projects, have to do with the implication that people are using illegal substances within that particular setting. Although abstinence is strongly encouraged, it is not always the case. The reality is that people are going to use substances to elevate their current state of mind if they want to, and will find a way to, especially within recreational settings such as festivals and concerts. Our goal is to minimize the potential risks that are associated with substance use. At Space & Time, you will be welcomed warmly with a calm and grounded presence. In the space, you will find a relaxing atmosphere and can find a place to sit or lie down. There will be candles and soft music playing in the background. "It is essentially a place where you can come to calm down and regroup, and talk to someone if that helps." Devin and David are not licensed therapists or clinicians. They are there to sit with you, not guide you. "We let the person's unfolding experience be the guide. We are just there for sense of grounded-ness so that they may have the freedom to explore their experience more deeply." The Space & Time Guide is S.P.A.C.E. :
S sustainable
P patient
A authentic
C consensual, confidential, compassionate, caring
E empathy
4 Zendo Project Principles:
1. sitting, not guiding
3. talking through, not down
4. difficult doesn't mean bad
Space & Time has contacts for potentially dangerous situations, and team up with law enforcement and medical professionals in case there are circumstances that may exceed the limits of the space. By doing this, stress is taken off of the shoulders of those authority figures, and trauma associated with the person having the altered experience is reduced. If you have any questions, would like to make a donation or inquire about us being present at your event, please direct message us here on Facebook or shoot an email at your convenience to [email protected]
Sometimes all you need is space and time.
