The Qualia Research Institute is organizing an extended research stay in Tepoztlán, Mexico for May and June 2026 (tentatively, may shift to April and May).
This two-month intensive brings together researchers, meditators, and explorers for a unique combination of deep consciousness research, meditation practice, and collaborative exploration.
8-Week Program Structure
Week 1: Health and Biorhythm Tuning
Establishing fixed schedules for food and sleep for all participants. Focused on tuning to the environment and the natural rhythms of the day. This foundational week ensures everyone is aligned and ready for the intensive work ahead.
Week 2: Work Sprint
Putting out ideas from the backlog and wrapping up ongoing projects. A focused period of productivity and completion before diving into the deeper retreat phases.
Week 3: Preparing for the Jhana Retreat
Development of research instruments: biofeedback systems, reservoir computing setups, specialized gadgets, and algorithms. This week is dedicated to building the tools we’ll use to map and understand the Jhana states.
Week 4: Formless Jhana Retreat
A focused meditation retreat assisted by Wystan, featuring strict schedules and minimal talking. The environment is friendly and supportive, with phenomenology mapping sessions and discussions, plus listening to and digesting lectures together. This is a drug-free exploration of advanced meditative states.
Week 5: Modeling the Jhanas
Following the Jhana retreat, this week is dedicated to modeling and understanding the states we’ve explored. Researchers work together to develop frameworks, mathematical models, and computational representations of the Jhana experiences.
Week 6: 5-MeO-DMT Research Week
A focused week dedicated to exploring the profound states of consciousness accessible through 5-MeO-DMT, with careful phenomenological documentation and analysis. Building on the Jhana work, we investigate how these states relate to and differ from meditative attainments.
Week 7: Modeling Awakening
Synthesizing insights from both the Jhana retreat and 5-MeO-DMT experiences to develop models of awakening states. This week brings together the phenomenological data, mathematical frameworks, and theoretical insights from the previous weeks.
Week 8: Festival & Showcase
The final week transitions into a festival-like environment where we showcase and experiment with the tools, findings, and insights developed during the research periods. This is a time for synthesis, collaboration, and creative expression of what we’ve discovered together.
Location
Tepoztlán, Mexico – A magical town nestled in the mountains, known for its spiritual energy, beautiful natural surroundings, and rich cultural heritage. The location provides an ideal setting for deep work, reflection, and community.
Who This Is For
This retreat is designed for: - Researchers interested in consciousness, phenomenology, and psychedelic science - Meditators with experience in advanced practices, particularly Jhana work - Artists & Creators exploring consciousness through visual and experiential mediums - Scientists & Mathematicians curious about the mathematical structures underlying experience - Explorers ready to contribute to cutting-edge research while deepening their own practice
Selection Criteria & Health Protocols
Jhana Retreat (Week 4)
The Jhana retreat has strict selection criteria. We’re looking for people who are likely to reach these states drug-free, with very calm, non-neurotic energy. The goal is for approximately 50% of attendees to genuinely attain these states. This requires a carefully curated group with the right temperament and preparation.
5-MeO-DMT Week (Week 6)
The 5-MeO-DMT week can accommodate a wider range of participants, though we still maintain careful consideration of group dynamics and energy levels.
Health & Safety Protocols
To protect the integrity of the research, especially during the Jhana and 5-MeO-DMT weeks, we have strict health protocols:
- Quarantine Process: People arriving near the Jhana/5-MeO-DMT weeks will undergo a quarantine period in a separate location
- Testing Requirements: Two consecutive days of negative COVID tests (and screening for other illnesses) are required before joining the intensive retreat weeks
- Rationale: Illness during these critical weeks could significantly derail the phenomenology work. Even common colds can interfere with the delicate states we’re exploring
These protocols ensure that the research environment remains optimal for the deep work we’re undertaking.
Research Focus
Building on our previous retreats in Brazil (2023) and Canada (2023), this extended stay allows for:
- Deeper investigation into the mechanisms of consciousness at extreme states
- Extended collaboration between researchers with complementary expertise
- Tool development for phenomenological research and replication
- Cross-pollination of ideas from meditation, psychedelics, physics, and mathematics
Previous Work
This builds on our previous Tepoztlán workshop and the ongoing work of the QRI HEART team, which has been exploring consciousness through structured retreats combining meditation, psychedelics, and rigorous scientific inquiry.
Interested?
This is an invite-only retreat with careful selection criteria, especially for the Jhana retreat week. We’re looking for exceptional people who can contribute meaningfully to our research and who have the right combination of:
- Advanced meditation experience (for the Jhana retreat)
- Research or technical skills relevant to consciousness studies
- Calm, stable energy that supports deep contemplative work
- Ability to work collaboratively in an intensive research environment
If you’re interested in learning more or think you might be a good fit, please reach out to hello@qri.org or mention your interest at one of our events.
More details will be shared as planning progresses. Stay tuned for updates.