Joe Moore sits down with Erica Siegal, founder of Nest Harm Reduction and Shine Collective, for a deep conversation on psychedelic harm reduction, ethical facilitation, and the evolving psychedelic landscape. Erica shares her journey from the Grateful Dead lot scene to festival harm reduction, social work, and leading initiatives to support survivors of psychedelic-related harm.
The conversation covers:
Erica’s background in hospitality, social work, and psychedelic harm reduction
The mission of Nest Harm Reduction in offering psychedelic therapy, integration, and community education
The work of Shine Collective, a nonprofit supporting survivors of psychedelic harm and abuse
The challenges of ethical facilitation, power dynamics, and the importance of clear boundaries
How the psychedelic community can better address harm, accountability, and survivor support
The intersection of Jewish spiritual traditions and psychedelics through Shefa
This episode is a must-listen for those passionate about harm reduction, ethical psychedelic practice, and building a safer, more accountable psychedelic culture.
This livestream features David and Gina from Natural Medicine Alaska (NMA). They are part of a team running a project to work towards a psilocybin focused regulated access program in Alaska.
We’ll discuss the project’s aims and their path to get there for an hour and will have time to have some audience involvement.
Natural Medicine Alaska Inc. is dedicated to fostering charitable, educational, and social welfare initiatives that promote the safe and responsible use of natural medicines. As a 501(c)(4) organization, we work to advance policies, research, and community-driven programs that enhance education, understanding, and equitable access to the therapeutic potential of these medicines for all Alaskans.
Our Priorities:
Legalization and Regulation: We advocate for the decriminalization and regulated use of psilocybin mushrooms and other natural medicines for adults aged 21 and older.
Therapeutic Healing Centers: We aim to establish healing centers where licensed facilitators can administer psilocybin and other natural medicines in a controlled, therapeutic setting. These centers will offer alternative treatments for mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
Personal Use Empowerment: We support the right of individuals to grow and use these substances for personal development, within safe and legal boundaries.
Education and Safety: Our commitment includes providing comprehensive education on the safe use of natural medicines. We will develop public health guidelines and training programs for facilitators to ensure responsible and informed use.
Community Wellness: By addressing public health concerns and offering alternative therapeutic options, we strive to enhance the overall well-being of our community. Our approach prioritizes ethical practices and aims to prevent commercialization that could exploit or harm vulnerable populations.
It’s time we expand our understanding of the profound potential of psychoactive substances. Hear from researchers, healthcare professionals, and investors who are working to dissolve the stigma, reshaping how we view and consume psychedelics—experience how we are bringing these centuries-old drugs into the mainstream.
Our CEO, Joe Moore, will participate in a fireside chat with Alexandra Plesner from Psychedelic Design titled “Psychedelics, Design & Innovating for Regenerative Futures”.
It starts at 2:30p Central at the JW Marriott in Austin. H
Here is the description of their talk.
“Can psychedelics support sustainable design? This session explores how psychedelic experiences might revolutionize design by unlocking new modes of perception, offering fresh paradigms for addressing complex challenges. Discover the potential of psychedelics to enhance creativity and problem-solving skills, fostering meaningful change in cultures, systems, and technologies. This discussion connects psychedelic research with design innovation, providing insights on tackling pressing global issues and highlighting the transformative potential of psychedelics in shaping our future.”
Get ready for cutting-edge conversations on Indigenous reciprocity, psychedelic justice, sacred plant protection, and more at Psychedelic Culture 2025 in San Francisco’s Brava Theater!
📅 March 29-30, 2025 – Join us for unique panels, workshops, and immersive experiences with voices from around the globe!
Join Portal in celebrating psychedelic advancements as they take-over Meow Wolf Denver late night w/ LP Giobbi (Dead House), Reggie Watts, Duncan Trussell & so many more. Join PORTAL now for free entry and stay tuned for more announcements!
In this episode, Joe Moore sits down with Neal Markey, CEO of Beckley Retreats, to explore the transformative power of psychedelic retreats. Neal shares his personal journey from Army Ranger to consultant to leading one of the most respected psychedelic retreat organizations, detailing how meditation and psychedelic therapy helped him heal from trauma.
The conversation covers:
Neal’s military background and his path to psychedelics
The mission and structure of Beckley Retreats, an offshoot of the Beckley Foundation
How their retreats integrate meditation, preparation, and integration for long-lasting benefits
The legal landscape of psilocybin in Jamaica and the Netherlands
Challenges and lessons from running a psychedelic retreat business
The future of psychedelics, from global access to potential federal policy shifts
Whether you’re curious about immersive psychedelic retreats, the intersection of mental health and psychedelics, or the evolving legal landscape, this episode is packed with insight.
In this episode, Joe Moore of Psychedelics Today sits down with Paul Austin, founder of The Third Wave, to dive deep into the evolution of microdosing and its growing role in psychedelic culture. Paul shares how his journey with microdosing LSD led him to launch The Third Wave in 2015 to make psychedelics more accessible through education.
The conversation explores the latest research on microdosing, including clinical trials demonstrating its potential benefits for depression, mental clarity, and creativity. Paul and Joe discuss the nuances of different microdosing protocols, the role of psychedelics in performance optimization, and the impact of these substances on neuroplasticity. They also tackle key challenges, such as the lack of robust clinical research due to regulatory hurdles and the perceived risks associated with overuse.
Beyond microdosing, they touch on the broader psychedelic landscape—regulatory shifts, emerging coaching models, and the future of psychedelic-assisted transformation. The discussion even ventures into intriguing intersections between psychedelics, AI, and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence.
Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on where microdosing fits into the larger psychedelic resurgence.
In this episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore sits down with Louis Dorian, the visionary behind Psychedelist, a groundbreaking global platform designed to support the emerging psychedelic movement. Described as a “cyber city” for all things psychedelic, Psychedelist connects individuals with treatment providers, educators, facilitators, legal experts, and even vetted product vendors in an effort to enhance accessibility and safety in this evolving space.
Louis shares his journey into psychedelics, from early rave days to a transformative encounter with high-dose LSD and psilocybin that shaped his worldview. He opens up about the struggles of navigating trauma, loss, and the shortcomings of Western psychiatric care, leading him to develop his own trauma-processing techniques blending meditation, breathwork, and psychedelics.
The conversation also dives deep into the broader implications of drug prohibition, harm reduction, and the role of skill-building in responsible psychedelic use. Whether you’re a seeker, a skeptic, or a professional in the field, this episode offers a compelling exploration of the psychedelic landscape and the power of intentional community building.
Psychedelic research is growing rapidly, but how do we help regions in active conflict?
In this episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore is joined by Neeka Levy and Zach Skiles of Heal Ukraine Trauma, a nonprofit bringing psychedelic-assisted therapy to veterans and civilians affected by war. They discuss the organization’s origins, the impact of intergenerational trauma in Ukraine, and the evolving role of psychedelic treatments in a war-torn nation.
Nika, a first-generation Ukrainian-American and neuroscience-trained psychiatric nurse practitioner, and Zach, a Marine veteran turned psychologist, share their journey into this work, highlighting the importance of group ketamine therapy as a scalable, culturally aligned solution. They explore Ukraine’s complex regulatory landscape, the need for rigorous research, and the challenges of working in a war zone.
They also touch on the role of psychedelics in processing moral injury, the importance of including family members in healing, and how Ukraine’s collectivist culture influences therapeutic approaches. With insights on historical trauma, ethical considerations, and the potential future of MDMA and psilocybin therapy in Ukraine, this conversation sheds light on a vital, evolving effort.
Psychedelic research is growing rapidly, but how do we study something as subjective as a mystical experience?
In this episode, Joe interviews Josh Lipson, a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at Columbia University, whose research explores the relationship between psychedelics, mystical experiences, and mental health.
He discusses the complexities of studying psychedelics in real-world settings, the role of metaphysical perspectives in research, and why different individuals respond to psychedelics in such varied ways. Lipson shares his personal journey into psychedelic research, the challenges of interdepartmental collaboration, and the evolving landscape of modern psychedelic science.
He also talks about:
The importance of integration after psychedelic experiences
Why mystical experiences may not be the only path to healing
The balance between stability and the chaos psychedelics can introduce
The need for diverse perspectives and ways of knowing in psychedelic research
How psychedelics have shaped global consciousness and cultural perspectives
More and more people are looking to have psychedelic experiences every day, but what do you do if you don’t know who to go to – if you don’t have that in-the-know friend that so many of us had? How do you find the right facilitator?
In this episode, Joe interviews Nico and Susan Simon: Co-founders of JourneyŌM, a concierge service looking to address that missing piece.
Through a dedicated vetting process, JourneyŌM is adding a layer of risk reduction and accountability to this strange new world, by traveling the country and amassing a network of trusted facilitators who work with all types of medicines and modalities. By getting to know guides and seekers personally, they’re able to offer possible matches – and they usually agree on who would work best with each other.
They talk about:
Their process for building their network and finding the right facilitator for someone
Their concept of going “beyond the bio” and getting to the heart of what drove someone toward becoming a guide
Susan’s struggle with supporting Nico through his psychedelic healing, and the need for support options for spouses not sharing in the experience
The importance of community and the amazing work Nico has seen in men’s groups
The healing powers of movement and living as your authentic self
In this episode, Joe interviews renowned chemist, filmmaker, and journalist, Hamilton Morris.
After originally backing down from its first attempt in 2022, the DEA is once again looking to apply schedule I status to two lesser-known compounds: DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) and DOC (2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine). For decades, DOI and DOC have been incredible tools for researchers studying serotonin receptors, showing promise for chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and more.
Originally recorded as a livestream in November, we felt this discussion deserved more attention, as Morris was present during the hearing and saw first-hand the damage that can come from the combination of immense overreach and outdated beliefs.
He talks about:
The bureaucratic mess behind so much of what the DEA does
The safety profile and research capacity of DOI and DOC and complete lack of data showing recreational use
The DEA’s claim that advocates weren’t experts
The fight to protect the Sonoran Desert toad
and more!
While we wait for the conclusion of the hearing, head to Hamilton’s Patreon to hear his daily breakdowns.
As society becomes more virtual and disconnected, many of us are looking for new ways to touch, feel, and connect. What is Kama Flight, and how can it be used with psychedelics?
In this episode, Joe interviews Jeremy Falk: certified instructor and training program developer for Kama Flight; and Dr. David Rabin, MD, Ph.D.: board-certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist, co-founder & chief Medical Officer at Apollo Neuroscience, and advisor to the non-profit, Kama Flight Foundation.
Kama Flight is a wellness modality for partners, inspired by the movements of Watsu therapy, Thai massage, 5Rhythms, tango, improv dance, and Acroyoga. At the heart of it is the dynamic between the two people engaged in the dance (the ‘base’ and the ‘voyager’), which touches on collaboration, leadership, receptivity, strength, surrender, and most importantly, trust. The communication and instant feedback shared between the partners mixed with the healing energy of the somatic movements results in moving stuck energy out of their bodies while also making them more comfortable with touch, agency, and consent – which could be extremely beneficial toward preparing for a psychedelic experience.
They talk about:
The four principles behind Kama Flight: permission, presence, polarity, and play
The humility and humor in people trying (and failing) some of the movements, and how that is healing in itself
The huge benefit in people switching between the roles of base and voyager
What kind of growth they’ve seen in clients over extended periods of time
The importance of making time for pleasure in our lives
In this episode, Joe interviews Ariel Clark: Anishinaabe attorney and co-founder of the Psychedelic Bar Association, a national association of lawyers involved in the highly-regulated ecosystem of psychedelic law.
She talks about ethics: How do the different societal norms of each lineage we carry interact with each other? What is the cultural framing that informs those ways of knowing, and do we align with it? Is there a code of ethics we can all agree on? As the rush to legalize psychedelics increases, Clark finds herself at a crossroads of wondering if our actions are really of service to the greater good: Can the overculture legalize psychedelics effectively, while doing less harm to Indigenous culture and the medicines themselves?
She discusses:
The challenges of working in psychedelic law with all of the other factors at play: How do you ethically support a client?
The idea that these medicines can have agency – even the synthetic ones
Shifting from a Western mind state of “what are my rights?” to an Indigenous frame of: “What are my responsibilities?”
Her story of healing from debilitating back pain with psychedelics and spiritual alignment
The need for public education to be at the center of future legislation attempts
Diagnosed with the neurological disorder, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), Roullier tells the story of how cannabis replaced all her medications, which led to a personal journey and career centered on cannabis education. She talks about the challenges patients face in today’s rapidly evolving cannabis markets, misconceptions surrounding cannabis, the ignorance of many budtenders, and how not knowing enough can lead to an underwhelming high. She discusses how she educated people in shops and how her book was written to teach people how to ask the right questions to not only ensure a safe and effective experience, but to also give them the experience they’re looking for.
She talks about:
The early days of Michigan’s medical program and the state’s current attempt to essentially combine medical and recreational markets
Cannabis culture and an emerging “I can take more milligrams than you” bravado
Why understanding terpenes and the entourage effect can be game-changing toward finding a preferred strain
The rise of hemp-derived THC products, the regulatory loopholes they exploit, and their potential risks
Why home growers and caregivers are essential to the cannabis ecosystem
Vital FAQ Webinar Join us for a free webinar where we’ll dive into everything you need to know about the Vital, our 12-month psychedelic education program for medical specialists, mental health professionals, therapists, and wellness practitioners.
In this interactive session, we’ll cover:
The program structure and curriculum highlights
Application details and deadlines
The ethos of Vital and transformative education
How Vital can transform your personal and professional goals
Your questions, answered by our team
Whether you’re curious about program requirements or looking for guidance on how Vital fits your professional or personal goals, this webinar is the perfect opportunity to get your questions answered.
He talks about how much the psychedelic space focuses on healing and mental health, but doesn’t talk enough about the overall wellness that can come from a consistent practice: that the more you become aware of your body, emotions, and breath, the more robust your neural pathways will become – and that you can actually change your neurochemistry and build a more energetically powerful system. With these pathways being opened, fewer psychedelic experiences are necessary, and with practice, these mind states can be achieved simply through meditation or breathwork. The idea of surrender and entering a state of receivership is scary, but he believes the most important skill to begin that transformation is to learn how to truly let go.
He also talks about:
What the psychedelic scene is like in Nashville and the south
His work with the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and what happened with the bill to grant 42 million for ibogaine research
His most powerful 5-MeO-DMT experience and how it reconnected him with the divine
The science and practice of gratitude: how reframing painful experiences can actually rewire the brain
How cold exposure (notably ice baths) can prepare your system for a psychedelic experience
and more!
Happy New Year from all of us at Psychedelics Today. Let’s hope for big psychedelic wins in 2025!
In this episode, Joe interviews Melanie Curtis: world record professional skydiver, keynote speaker, coach, co-host of the Trust the Journey podcast, and author of How to Fly: Life Lessons From a Professional Skydiver.
Curtis shares her journey from taking her first transformative leap out of an airplane to becoming a leader in skydiving, public speaking, and now, the integration of psychedelics into personal growth. She discusses the parallels between skydiving and working with psychedelics – most notably in the idea of leaping into the unknown, trusting the universe, and in the potential that can be unlocked after you’ve come back down to earth. While relatively new to the psychedelic space, she stresses the importance of sharing your story and opening up dialogues, no matter how small you think your voice may be.
She talks about:
Her early psilocybin journeys and recent ayahuasca experiences
How she came out of the psychedelic closet to her Mother, and learning of the power of small steps and trusting the universe
Realizing how her Father’s behavior affected her, and how it has made her more connected to her femininity and other women
The power of confidence and how much better we’d all be if the fear of humiliation wasn’t so prominent in our lives
Psychedelics are going mainstream, but society’s views on addiction and recovery models are still behind. Is the recovery community ready for psychedelics?
In this episode, Joe interviews Dan Ronken: licensed professional counselor and addiction counselor with a private practice in Boulder, CO, called Inclusion Recovery, and lead trainer and facilitator for the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI).
He tells his story of going from a sponsored BMX racer to three stints in rehab before the age of 14, and what he’s learned from his experiences in recovery over the years: that there is a wide range of what ‘in recovery’ actually means, that abstinence-only and 12-step models don’t work for many, that connection and community – and consistency in both – are enormous parts of what actually leads to overcoming an addiction, and more. As recovery communities cautiously begin to talk about psychedelics, he highlights the importance of nuance in understanding addiction, the need for open-mindedness toward new therapeutic approaches, and the need for diverse support networks that welcome discussions around psychedelics.
He talks about:
Inducing alcohol cravings before an intramuscular ketamine shot as a way of using neuroplasticity to rewire the brain’s relationship with alcohol
How Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, benefitted greatly from LSD in the 50s, and how Ronken originally scoffed at such a concept
The growing visibility of psychedelics in popular media, as seen in shows like “Loudermilk” and “Ted Lasso”
The benefits of sober communities coming together for active and healthy activities
As the holiday season rolls around, the timeless tradition of giving takes on new meaning within the psychedelic community. Whether you’re searching for something thoughtful, practical, or just downright fun, this guide celebrates how we can honor our friends, loved ones, and even ourselves. From functional mushroom supplements and visionary art to curated retreats and educational tools, we’ve curated a list of gifts that align with the values and spirit of psychedelia. Dive in and discover something meaningful for this season of connection and gratitude.
-Joe Moore – CEO – Psychedelics Today
Some links below are affiliate links that help support our work at Psychedelics Today.
I recently visited with some of the team at Threyda in Denver and was very impressed with the gallery. They were showing art from mearone as a pre-party for the multi-night Tipper run. The art was jaw-dropping. I also picked up a button-down shirt I wore on stage at reMind and for the WHOLE following weekend. It was crazy comfy and had beautiful art . You or your friends may love one. Check out these two limited runs they made in partnership with Alex and Allyson Grey.
These folks make excellent functional mushroom soft gels, gummies and coffee. I got to meet the team two years ago and ate a ton of their gummies at Cannadelic. Check them out! I’m still happy with them and have eaten a ton this month.
This book is gorgeous. I met the author at Wonderland a few years back, and Rupert has since appeared on the show. You can listen here. Rupert is an OG in the English rave scene, and his book features impressive, highly detailed photography of ecstasy from the past and amazing stories from the glory days of British ravers.
These folks came into my life in a few ways. Most recently, I was able to spend a good 3-4 hours with the primary formulator for Allies. He has a fantastic Chinese medicine background, as well as acupuncture. We talked all about the use cases for these supplements. I think they are likely excellent aids for psychedelic journeys, and perhaps if you have too much coffee or need to wind down for a bit. Check them out. If you are a facilitator, I suggest you learn more about these supplements to help your clients land more easily after their sessions. These guys are part of our psychedelic community and are very worth supporting. They’ll be on the show soon to talk about botanical support for psychedelic sessions.
What if your next breakthrough wasn’t just a goal but a new way of seeing the world? Vital empowers leaders to shape the future of human potential through expanded consciousness and psychedelic wisdom. This isn’t just personal growth—it’s a transformative journey into creativity, bold decision-making, and purposeful impact. Whether you’re pioneering in mental health, designing innovative solutions, or leading for planetary regeneration, Vital equips you with the tools to create a legacy of meaningful change.
Don’t just adapt—lead the way. Join Vital today and be at the forefront of the next great human evolution.
If you are interested in 5-meo-DMT, as many of us are, you should check out the training that the FIVE team put together. These folks have been at it and operating legally in Mexico for many years. Learn from the experts on this particular and unique psychedelic substance. I’ve watched them closely, and I love how they operate and their great ethics. This is such a strange and fantastic substance that it deserves unique and specific training.
There is no better place to learn more about five than here.
A lot of psychedelic folks are interested in lucid dreaming. It can be difficult, but it is a lot easier with supplements. Check out their Mang Lucid Dream Supplement here. Ancestral Magi have been researching ancient Persian psychoactive plant usage and making interesting products based on their findings. I’ve known the team for a few years and respect their efforts and ability to stay close to their roots. Shauheen joined me for a podcast recently that will be released any day now, and here is a podcast from 2023 with the co-founders Shauheen and Jonathan. I think their products are, at the very least, worth understanding so you can understand where they may fit into your practices both personally and professionally.
Think acro-yoga and Thai yoga massage meets contact improv. I found this great quote on bluesky the other day:
It’s funny. It makes me think about all this discussion around critical period re-opening (child-like learning windows) and how play helps us create similar learning windows. I’ve also read similar statements in the work of Kottler and Wheal.
What if there was a novel, healthy, fun, and social way to learn new skills with friends or partners through movement practice?
You may love this, and I’m excited to try it. Putting play into practice seems like it for me.
I love these. This Boulder-based company makes very high-end, discreet, beautiful straws. This is important for two reasons. People often tend to share tools like this, which can be a vector for infection—think harm reduction and coming out of a weekend without COVID or a cold. It’s always a plus. They also feel cool to wear as a necklace and work incredibly well.
Maybe your loved ones are interested in a psilocybin retreat. It doesn’t get much better than Kiyumi. We’ve used them for a few of our retreats in the Netherlands and loved their work.
Here are their upcoming dates in 2025.
* March 18 – 23 * -* April 20 – 25 * – * May 12 – 17 *
As you browse this guide for the perfect gift, consider giving back to the roots of psychedelic traditions by donating to the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative (IPCI). IPCI is dedicated to protecting and preserving the sacred peyote plant and supporting Indigenous communities who have stewarded these practices for generations. Your donation helps safeguard vital ecosystems, uphold cultural heritage, and ensure these sacred medicines remain accessible to those who honor their spiritual significance. This holiday season amplifies the spirit of giving by contributing to a cause that nurtures the Earth and its wisdom keepers. Learn more and donate today.
The holiday season is a time to celebrate connection, gratitude, and generosity. As you explore the unique gifts in this guide, remember that giving is not just about material items—it’s about sharing values, supporting meaningful causes, and fostering a brighter future. Whether gifting art, supplements, or experiences or donating to impactful organizations like the IPCI, your choices can ripple far beyond the moment. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the psychedelic community’s creativity, resilience, and vision. Let’s honor the traditions, innovations, and connections that make this space vibrant—wishing you safety, joy, love, and abundance this season!
What can we learn from the mystical roots of psychedelics? And what can we learn from dreams?
In this episode, Joe interviews Shauheen Etminan, Ph.D.: co-founder of VCENNA, a drug discovery and development company, and Magi Ancestral Supplements, which sells nootropics inspired by ancient Eastern traditions.
He discusses his journey into the world of plant extraction, how he first discovered compounds like Haoma and Harmaline, and why he decided to bring Iranian tradition to the psychedelic renaissance. He explores the similarities between psychedelics and experiences found in mystical traditions, and how that historical context can inform modern psychedelic practice. He sees this exemplified most with dream recollection, attending to the emotions found within dreams, and the concept of wakeful dreaming, where one can access unconscious insights consciously, through the liminal (or hypnagogic) state between dreaming and wakefulness.
He discusses:
Zoroastrianism and how the teachings of Zarathustra on understanding morality have inspired him
Syrian Rue in Iranian culture, and how it compares to the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine: Is it actually stronger than ayahuasca?
Henry Corbin’s practice of embodied imagination and Jung’s concept of active imagination
Other less-discussed compounds he’s interested in, like Ephedra and Saffron
In this episode, Joe interviews Paul Grof: research psychiatrist, clinician, author, brother of Stanislav, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and director of the Ottawa Mood Disorders Center.
He talks about his extensive career in psychiatry, and how trying to understand the cause of mood disorders led him to focusing on the very nature of consciousness. He believes that consciousness is a collaborative creation between the brain, body, and external fields, and that the key to connecting with the mechanistic side of academia is through talking about the unexplainable – near death experiences, pre-cognition, remote viewing – and of course, them having positive non-ordinary experiences through psychedelics or other means. He talks about how much we’re connected, how much our bodies remember, and how much society could change for the better if enough people experience the transpersonal.
He also discusses:
His thoughts on legal frameworks, education, integration, and whether or not psychedelics will get stuck in psychiatry
The importance of new study designs in research, as double blinding doesn’t make sense for psychedelics
Concerns over spiritual emergence and emergencies: How much is the responsibility of the therapist or facilitator?
The global rise in depression and addiction, especially in the younger generation, and the need for techniques for people to help themselves
The work he’s doing with remote healing circles, using strong intention, positive emotions, and visualized healing
Whether you’re a drug user or not, society as a whole has been hurt tremendously by the War on Drugs. Can we win the battle with education and sensible policy?
In this episode, Joe interviews Kat Murti: executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the largest nationwide network of students fighting to replace the War on Drugs with policies rooted in evidence, compassion, and human rights.
She talks about how she became interested in drug policy, which not surprisingly aligns with the many problems of The War on Drugs: how it’s a war on people, personal liberty, and our communities; how laws are not effective in enforcing morality; and how getting in trouble with the law often incentivizes more illegal activity. We all know that our current system doesn’t work and that the drug war no longer appeals to most reasonable people, but how can we move towards sensible policy? She discusses previous successes (both at SSDP and before), and some of their current projects, from the work they’re doing with fentanyl strip training and distribution, to education work at festivals and their program, “Just Say Know.”
She talks about:
How drug policy isn’t going to look the same everywhere and shouldn’t: How do we effectively use different models in different places together for the benefit of everyone?
The dangers of forcing drug users through drug courts and treatment centers
The repealing of Oregon’s Measure 110 and how it’s unfair to blame its failure on problems that already existed in the state
Their new focus on how the War on Drugs specifically affects women and reproductive rights, inspired by Louisiana recently scheduling Mifepristone and Misoprostol
In this episode, Joe interviews Howard Kornfeld, MD: renowned pain medicine expert, addiction specialist, early pioneer in psychedelic medicine, and currently the director of recovery medicine at Recovery Without Walls.
As a leader in the utilization of buprenorphine, he talks about how it came about as a treatment for addiction and chronic pain, its similarities to MDMA, and how its fast-tracked FDA approval could give us clues on how to get MDMA approved. He also dives into the history of ketamine, its unique effects compared to other substances, its potential for abuse, and what can happen with overuse. And he talks a lot about the connection he sees between psychedelics and the prevention of nuclear war, inspired by Sasha Shulgin’s opinion that nothing changes minds faster than psychedelics. He points out that when there is darkness, there is light: Albert Hofmann’s famed bicycle trip on acid happened 3 months after the nuclear chain reaction was invented. Can the growing use of psychedelics inspire the kind of change we need to save the world?
He also discusses:
The need for new study designs as we come to terms with the fact that double-blind studies don’t really work with psychedelics
Criticisms of the FDA’s denial of MDMA: Was the process unfair?
His predictions that advocates will begin pushing to decriminalize MDMA at the state level
The books, Tripping on Utopia and Drugged
How he played a part in prisons ending the practice of killing prisoners with cyanide gas
In this episode, Joe interviews Veronica Lightning Horse Perez: therapist, speaker, author, activist, and co-chief proponent for the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 (Prop 122); and Sean McAllister: attorney specializing in the regulatory, health care, business, and religious freedom aspects of psychedelic medicines, and one of the drafters of Prop 122.
They dive into the details of Prop 122 and discuss why it’s the most freeing legislation we’ve seen, but also very complicated in the clash between an expensive regulated side and a risky and ambiguous decrim side. While the implementation process continues, they’ve learned that there is still a huge need for public education, and that one of the most important tasks now is to be hyper aware of how legislators will try to change what people already agreed on.
They discuss:
The Federal vs. state legality issues we still see even after such sweeping legislation
The huge gap in understanding why Indigenous communities are upset and why they need to be included in all discussions
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the complications of religion when many of us simply feel spiritual
The natural vs. synthetic fallacy and the future of churches offering a synthetic sacrament
The ontological shock many have after a big experience and why churches and community are needed to help guide people
In this episode, Joe interviews two members of the Heroic Hearts Project: Founder and President, Jesse Gould; and Director of Development and Head of Family Relations, Allison Wilson.
Gould gives a background of Heroic Hearts Project and discusses their current projects and future goals, and Wilson talks about her nonprofit, The Hope Project, and its recent merger with HHP to bring more of a focus to the other side of veteran healing: the families of veterans. While Heroic Hearts and other veteran-aligned organizations have been an answer to many vets unable to find help otherwise (and frustrated with the inconsistencies of the VA), they talk a lot about that missing piece – how crucial it is to have family involved in a veteran’s reintegration, and how that healing can impact future generations.
The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics: A Preparation and Integration Workbook was recently released, with all proceeds going to HHP, and they are hosting their first Gala event, “Operation: Freedom To Heal,” this week, December 5, in Los Angeles. The goal of the event is to fundraise, gather community, and recognize the supporters who have gotten Heroic Hearts to where it is today, and will feature live and silent auctions and a performance by Melissa Etheridge. Email Allison@heroicheartsproject.org if you’d like to attend.
Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, focusing on the spice melange as a symbol of spiritual transcendence and systemic control. This webinar examines the tension between personal faith and institutional tradition, the commodification of transcendent truth, and the dual role of psychedelics as tools for both liberation and oppression.
We’ll discuss Herbert’s insights on religion, politics, and self-cultivation, and their relevance to today’s psychedelic renaissance. Whether you’re a fan of Dune or curious about the intersection of mysticism and power, this session offers fresh perspectives on Herbert’s visionary universe.
This webinar will be broken into two abstracts: “Ayahuasca as Oil – Dune and the Spirituality Industry,” presented by Mark Juhan Schunemann, and “‘The Spice Must Flow’ – The Politics and Power of Psychedelics in Dune,” presented by Joseph Crickmore.
We are taking donations for both speakers via our Paypal or Venmo accounts. 100% of contributions will be split among Mark and Joseph to thank them for their time.
Most cannabis enthusiasts have experienced the wide range of possible effects, from a subtle happy high to one that floors you. The question must be asked: Is cannabis a psychedelic? And how can we make it more so?
In this episode, Victoria interviews Max Montrose: Founder of the Trichome Institute, a company offering online courses and certifications on cannabis.
Montrose explores the scientific and sensory aspects of cannabis, diving into the role of the aromatic compound, indole, and how the fresher and more aromatic (usually pungent) the flower is, the higher chance for having a more psychedelic experience. He dives into ways to maximize the psychedelic nature of cannabis, largely through “interprening,” which is his method for learning about a plant’s effects from smelling buds, measuring your sense of sensation and where you feel the smell is hitting you. And he talks a lot about intention and how the power of a cannabis experience can be determined by the reverence you have for the plant and the intention you put behind each inhale: It is a “total reflection of how much you care.”
He also discusses:
The range of cannabis effects: how it can be just weed – something mindlessly smoked all day with a slight numbing effect – or an incredibly powerful, life-changing experience
The importance of skillset being added to the concept of set and setting: the skills you have (and can practice) for helping you create your own setting to get through a tough time
Issues with the legal cannabis industry about accuracy of strains, shelf life, and the ability to smell the product
The lack of money in cannabis research: Why is no one funding research into indole chemistry?
Why indica and sativa are not accurate terms, and how aroma is more of a factor than we realize
New ways of looking at non-ordinary experiences and integration are always being conceived. What is the 3-axis framework?
In this episode, Kyle interviews Pierre Bouchard, LPC, LM: therapist, minister, and former professional vinyl DJ specializing in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and ministry.
Bouchard introduces his 3-axis framework for psychedelic integration, which looks at the personal, the transpersonal, and, with time, seeing how the lessons learned from non-ordinary experiences and personal work are expressing to the world: How can we use what we’ve learned to show up better? How can we use our gifts to be of service to others? What is stopping us? He also talks about the importance of building a foundation for holding the experience of a psychedelic journey – that you have to first build an ego to later dissolve it – but recognizes the tricky balance of not strengthening an ego so much that it gets in the way.
He discusses:
The broad scope of what someone can mean when they say “psychedelic healing”
The importance of keeping the 3 axes in harmony – that you should always be attending to each
Why someone beginning a healing journey needs to be smart, curious, and desperate
The challenge of discerning between an entity or a projection: How do we know what to take from that experience?
Why practitioners and therapists need to find a balance between being confident and humble
Can erotic energy be as transformative as a psychedelic experience?
In this episode, Joe interviews Bria Tavakoli, LPCC, MA, MS: a therapist specializing in relational and sex therapy, with a focus on helping clients integrate psychedelic experiences.
She shares her personal journey with psychedelics and how they unlocked deep trauma, allowing her to develop a level of comfort with intimacy, love, and her sexuality. She talks about the parallels between psychedelic journeys and sexual experiences, and how both can be gateways to unexplored parts of ourselves, as well as catalysts for healing and transformation. She discusses society’s cultural shame surrounding our sexuality, why we need to view sexuality from a wellness-based model, and how psychedelics can help couples grow together, and at times, really challenge their relational structures. When asked how to combine sex and psychedelics, she answers, “very carefully.”
She also discusses:
The immense importance of creating a safe space for couples discussing their intimacy
How clients reporting sexual concerns is usually a cheat code to determining what their real issues are
Ethical and practical considerations for combining psychedelics and sex therapy, related to stories of concerning sexual behavior in the space
Why humor and lightness is so important in this work
The importance of honoring individual capacity and being true to yourself when exploring new experiences
While the psychedelic industry is facing intense growing pains, the ketamine industry has been allowed to grow, largely unchecked. How did we get here, and how does the ketamine space rebuild trust?
In this episode, Kyle interviews Juan Pablo Cappello: co-founder and former CEO of Nue Life Health, whose assets were subsequently acquired by Beckley Waves.
Cappello discusses the current challenges and controversies facing a ketamine industry that has moved much faster than anyone anticipated, and stresses the need to create industry-wide standards – especially for at-home ketamine – before the government imposes its own standards on us. Citing the Matthew Perry case and other bad behavior from providers, he talks about the risks of overpromising and underdelivering, the lack of integration in the majority of ketamine frameworks, and how profit-driven, subscription model motives have overshadowed patient care and ethical practices.
He also discusses:
The complications from personal perspectives and passions shifting after a psychedelic experience, and how that can change over time
The FDA’s recent rejection of MDMA: What would have happened to MDMA if it had been approved?
Hope for more Native American churches, and what they can learn from the DEA’s denial of Soul Quest
The story of a bump of cocaine ruining the hope for cannabis to be decriminalized under the Carter administration
Our current Wild West of gas station CBD, Delta-8, and barely-regulated vapes
It becomes more apparent every day how much isolation and focusing so much on the individual is hurting us. Can psychedelics – and specifically, group therapy – be the answer to our crisis of individualism?
In this episode, Kyle interviews Geoff Bathje, Ph.D.: licensed psychologist, researcher, former Full Professor, and co-founder of Sana Healing Collective, a Chicago-based non-profit focusing on ketamine-assisted therapy and psychedelic integration.
He talks about what he feels is one of the largest factors in our mental health crisis: the individualistic and neoliberal lens Western culture has placed on mental health and how it neglects the massive systemic and relational factors that are affecting us all. He digs into how we got so alienated and how psychedelics and non-ordinary states of consciousness can not only help us think critically and solve problems, but also move us out of this individualistic framework of healing and more into a collective one. How do we use psychedelics to fix our relationships and find our community?
He discusses:
The challenge of knowing when to work for relationships and when to just end them, especially in the afterglow of a big experience
Group ketamine experience vs. individual, how groups can help facilitators find patterns, and how ketamine works with somatic therapy
His paper, “Psychedelic integration: An analysis of the concept and its practice” and his visual model of integration showing the different domains of our personal experience
What he thinks will happen next in drug development: Will therapy be left out after Lykos’ failure with MDMA?
The importance of moving beyond aggressive criticism and moving into world building
The psychedelic world is evolving quickly, attracting individuals from healthcare, therapy, wellness, and beyond. In an era marked by global mental health crises, psychedelics are evolving from their experimental and ceremonial roots into a respected field, offering diverse entry points and opportunities. Despite recent challenges like regulatory barriers and public misconceptions, the field continues to mature, driven by passion, growing public interest, and a call for modernization of regulations and better standards of care.
We created the Psychedelics at Work Report: Mapping the Path of the Field to offer a realistic and predictive view of the field and where it’s heading, as told by 751 people actively working in it or preparing to get involved. Written in collaboration with experts across 13 diverse work areas, it’s a snapshot that reveals key insights into the workforce shaping the future of psychedelics. **Download your copy below**
Gain insights on the field of psychedelics in this 57-page special report. Download your complimentary copy below.
Why We Created Psychedelics At Work
To map the current landscape of the psychedelic field – including the underground – and provide an in-depth look at who is contributing to its growth and evolution.
To guide current and aspiring professionals with actionable insights into career opportunities, pathways, and necessary skills within psychedelics.
To highlight both the challenges and opportunities the field faces, helping readers make informed decisions.
To advocate for broader inclusion and diversity in the field, spotlighting areas for improvement.
To empower our community with a realistic and predictive understanding of where the psychedelic field is headed, based on the voices of those actively involved.
Sample Insights
A Maturing Sector: Over 50% of respondents joined the field in the past five years, signalling rapid growth and professionalization.
Emphasis on Education: 80% of respondents have completed formal psychedelic-specific training, reinforcing the value of dedicated learning for career advancement.
Diverse Pathways: 56% entered the field by starting their own practices or businesses, illustrating the field’s embrace of entrepreneurial and non-traditional backgrounds.
A Response to Urgency: 69% of respondents view traditional mental health systems as limited, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches and solutions that psychedelics may offer.
Call for Greater Inclusivity: 59% of respondents feel the industry needs to be more inclusive, highlighting a need to broaden diversity and equity efforts.
Who Is This Report For?
This report is ideal for those already engaged in psychedelics, media covering the field, healthcare professionals exploring new therapeutic tools, wellness practitioners considering integrating psychedelics in practice, and individuals intrigued by a career shift into this dynamic world. It provides valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding the landscape of the psychedelic workforce and its future potential.
Download Your Free Copy of Psychedelics at Work
In the Psychedelics at Work Report, you’ll find 57 pages of insights, data, and key findings that reveal who is working in psychedelics, how they are making a difference, and the opportunities that lie ahead. Simply enter your information below, and we’ll send it right to your inbox.
There is a delicate balance between risk and efficacy with any psychedelic intervention, but especially with ibogaine. Just how safe is ibogaine therapy?
In this episode, Joe interviews Thomas Feegel: co-founder of Beond Ibogaine, an ibogaine treatment and research facility in Cancún, Mexico.
When Feegel first heard of ibogaine 16 years ago, he found that people were having great success, but nobody could recommend where to go for treatment. So he worked to create what was needed: a combination of a hospital, mental health treatment facility, retreat center, and resort, with the proper infrastructure in place, employees with ICU experience, exhaustive HIPAA-compliant admission criteria, regular data collection, and a major focus on safety.
Addressing the recent Rolling Stone article about the tragic death of a patient at Beond in 2022 (interestingly, 2 days after his initial dose), he discusses what he feels was inaccurate, largely related to what could be perceived as a suggestion that there wasn’t enough screening or that corners were cut. With no official reason given for the patient’s death, it brings into question just how safe one can be, especially with people whose bodies and hearts have been through so much. How much hidden harm is created by the stress of PTSD and addiction?
He discusses:
The complexity of journalism and drawing conclusions from limited information
The limitations of conventional addiction treatments and the sad numbers around how many people stick with rehab
The importance of collecting as much data as possible about each patient, at regular intervals, prior to, during, and after the experience
The need for a regulating group to create standards around admission and administration procedures for ibogaine
There is more psychedelic research happening today than ever before, but is anyone collecting it all into one place? And can we find trends in all that data?
In this episode, David interviews Floris Wolswijk: senior project manager at Delphi; co-founder of FLO coaching; and founder of Blossom, an online informational hub collecting psychedelic courses, trials, companies, and over 2000 categorized research articles.
When Wolswijk began Blossom, he was barely able to fill a weekly newsletter, and now he’s adding a new study nearly every day, perfectly illustrating the exponential growth in psychedelic research. He talks about why so much research is happening (and why more isn’t), the trends he’s seen, the benefit in research changing people’s minds, and what he hopes for in the future. What can the research community learn from existing real world evidence, and how can retreat centers and underground communities contribute?
He also discusses:
What culture is like in the Netherlands, where psilocybin truffles are legal
Drug development and the possibilities of adjusting existing molecules
What we can learn from the Lykos and FDA situation
The economics of psychedelics and how insurance will likely be the next big conversation
His work with FLO coaching, and how coaching, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psilocybin can work together
As the mainstreaming of psychedelics continues, ketamine-assisted therapy at work (well, through one’s employer) is no longer a pipe dream. What does the future of employee benefits look like?
In this episode, Joe interviews Jessica Tracy: head of sales & partnerships at Enthea, a company that works with employers, unions, and employee assistance programs to be able to offer ketamine-assisted therapy (and psilocybin where it’s legal) to employees.
She talks about her path to psychedelics and how the shifts in her life led her to want to help others, finding Enthea and using her 15 years of experience in healthcare to make an immediate difference. She explains how the process works for an employee of a company Enthea works with, and the importance of evidence-based medical policy and rigorous screening to make sure people are getting the best intervention possible. One of Enthea’s largest clients is Dr. Bronner’s, who reported incredible improvements after employees used the benefit, with a 65% improvement in depression scores and an 86% improvement in PTSD.
She also discusses:
How psychedelics bring awareness to what we need to work on
Less-discussed treatment modalities, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and stellate ganglion block (SGB)
The inefficiency of traditional talk therapy: 50% of people only see really good benefits after 20 sessions
The importance of viewing mental health as individualized care: What else can we offer to people who haven’t been helped by traditional methods?
The research that she wants to see, like measures in how present or productive people are before and after experiences
In this episode, Joe and Kyle finally meet up again for the first episode of Psychedelics Lately: the updated version of the much-missed Psychedelics Weekly, where they’ll meet each month to talk about the most interesting stories in psychedelics.
The main story this month is the fate of Massachusetts’ Question 4: Regulated Access to Psychedelic Substances Initiative (The Natural Psychedelic Substances Act). They discuss what they like about the bill, its opposition, and its support, including actress Eliza Dushku Palandjian, who went from a diagnosis of PTSD and an in-the-psychedelic-closet underground experience to becoming a very public, soon-to-be certified psychedelic facilitator. If you live in Massachusetts, make sure to read about the bill and get out and vote this Tuesday (or now, if you’re registered for early voting).
They also discuss:
Joe’s recent east coast travels to Harvard and the PhilaDelic conference
Alfred North Whitehead and Process Philosophy
The Psychedelics and Pain Association, and Court Wing’s involvement in the first published case report of complex regional pain syndrome being treated with psilocybin
The scientific community needing to embrace more experientially-based approaches and practices
The challenge of making meaning out of the mystical
Cannabis is not typically regarded as a psychedelic, but scientific evidence tells us it should be.
Abundant anecdotal evidence of cannabis’ therapeutic applications, explored in Part One of this series, makes it hard to deny its potential as a powerful plant medicine, used similarly to psilocybin and MDMA in clinical and ceremonial settings.
But new science around the flavorant indole found in cannabis (and many other entheogens) may have significant implications for reclassifying the plant as, indeed, psychedelic.
It’s not just indole; there’s more psychedelic chemistry at play within cannabis regarding what defines a psychedelic substance. Is indole a missing key to classify cannabis as a psychedelic? Which drug class does cannabis belong to now? Do people hallucinate from cannabis, and are hallucinogens the same as psychedelics? What defines a psychedelic, and how would cannabis scientifically fit into that category?
Cannabis is not traditionally regarded as a psychedelic, although it can be a potent psychedelic when certain variables align. Factors like the individual’s set and setting, tolerance, and cannabis type can determine whether the experience is typical, or, indeed, psychedelic.
There are books, online courses, ceremonial practices, and legitimate research all dedicated to the psychedelic cannabis experience. I’ve had many psychedelic experiences with cannabis that range from subtle effects, to experiences comparable with DMT trips. I’ve also witnessed people experiencing cannabis as if it were ayahuasca. However, these psychedelic-like effects arising from cannabis use are rare, because cannabis in all its varieties (and the people who consume it) are wildly diverse.
However, extreme psychedelic experiences are not necessary to deem cannabis psychedelic. In fact, cannabis has more multifaceted psychedelic chemistry than one might think. Before diving into the chemistry, let’s evaluate how cannabis is classified right now.
The Current Classification of Cannabis
Cannabis is one of the most complex, widely consumed drugs due to its differentiated psychoactive chemistry, and classifying it is complicated. Although a drug class typically defines the type of drug it is, both NIDA and the WHO recently removed their authoritative online resources regarding the drug class cannabis falls within. Others, such as The Discovery Institute and IACP classify cannabis in its own drug class, which makes sense given its diversity.
All at once, cannabis bears depressant and sedative properties, along with stimulating attributes, and psychedelic or hallucinatory potential. Depending on the strain (of which there are thousands) and the tolerance and the unique biochemistry of the individual consuming it, the effects of the plant can vary wildly.
Understanding Psychedelics vs. Hallucinogens. Where Does Cannabis Fit?
To determine if cannabis is a psychedelic, it is essential to understand what a psychedelic is and how it may differ from a purely hallucinogenic experience.
Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances that primarily influence the brain by altering perception, mood, and cognitive processes. While they are known for inducing hallucinations, not all hallucinogens are classified as psychedelics. The specific characteristics that define a psychedelic drug include:
Mechanism of Action: Psychedelics primarily exert their effects by acting on serotonin receptors, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. This interaction is crucial for the psychedelic experience. Classic psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, and DMT fall into this category.
Subjective Effects or Altered Perceptions: Psychedelics can profoundly alter sensory perception, leading to vivid visual and auditory hallucinations, synesthesia (blending of senses), and intensified colors and patterns.
Cognitive and Emotional Effects: Users often report altered thought processes, enhanced introspection, and a sense of connectedness. There can be profound emotional changes, ranging from euphoria to introspective insight.
Mystical Experiences: Many users describe experiences of unity, transcendence, and a sense of encountering a greater reality or consciousness.
Non-Toxic and Low Addiction Potential: Classic psychedelics are generally non-toxic and do not lead to physical dependence or addiction. While they can cause psychological distress or trigger latent mental health issues in susceptible individuals, their physical safety margin is considered high compared to many other psychoactive substances.
Distinct Pharmacological and Neurobiological Effects: Ego dissolution, where the user’s sense of self is temporarily diminished or dissolved, is a defining characteristic of psychedelics. This is less common with other hallucinogens.
Other natural plant-based hallucinogens that are not psychedelic include dissociatives and deliriants. Substances like Salvia Divinorum, Datura, Brugmansia, and Mandrake produce hallucinations, but primarily, cause a sense of detachment from reality and one’s body rather than the profound sensory and emotional alterations typical of psychedelics. Experiences from these plants are often characterized by confusion, a lack of insight, and a greater risk of dangerous behaviors. They can also be so toxic that they can become lethal, unlike plant-based psychedelics, which are generally non-toxic.
Is Cannabis a Psychedelic or a Hallucinogen?
Simply, cannabis can be both (though it is typically neither). I’ve experienced both minor and major hallucinations from cannabis that were not inherently psychedelic, including hearing and feeling my phone ringing when it’s silent, seeing plants come alive, and movement from inanimate objects. Sounds and colors may be enhanced, and some visual distortions may occur, all of which are forms of hallucinations, but not necessarily psychedelic experiences.
As a researcher, educator, expert witness, and daily cannabis consumer for over 25 years, I’ve concluded that cannabis is also a psychedelic, not just a hallucinogen.
Factors Influencing the Psychedelic Experience of Cannabis
Achieving a true psychedelic state with cannabis depends on both experiential and scientific factors. Key elements include tolerance, the user’s intention, the specific strain of cannabis, its chemical composition, and how we categorize what makes a substance psychedelic. Each of these factors works together to shape the depth and nature of the experience, highlighting the complex interplay between personal mindset, biological response, and the characteristics of the cannabis used.
Tolerance: Cannabis tends to be more intense and psychedelic when you have a low tolerance to it. Many people report experiencing stronger, more hallucinatory effects when they first used cannabis. Taking a tolerance break can help recreate these experiences.
Intention: Structured intention plays a key role in enhancing cannabis’ psychedelic effects. Even with high tolerance, combining cannabis with meditation and ceremony can lead to intense experiences similar to other psychedelics. Mindfulness and a proper set and setting are crucial.
Introducing Indole: The Missing Psychedelic Cannabis Link
Indole is the core structural group of psychedelic tryptamines such as DMT, LSD, and psilocybin-bearing mushrooms, and surprise: it’s commonly found in cannabis, too.
Since indole is found in many cannabis strains, some might speculate whether it contributes to cannabis being psychedelic. Indole itself doesn’t cause psychedelic effects. It’s a foundational structure that forms part of many important compounds. It serves as a core structure for many biologically active compounds, including neurotransmitters like serotonin and several psychedelics.
However, indole serves as a scaffold that, when modified with specific functional groups, can interact with brain receptors to produce psychedelic effects. This is important because these receptors are linked to mood, perception, and classic psychedelic experiences.
This is where the complex chemistry of cannabis plays a role in defining what, indeed, constitutes a substance as psychedelic.
Indole is found in many naturally occurring psychedelics, such as 5-MeO-DMT and 5-HO-DMT, present in various plants and toad venoms. Ibogaine, which contains indole, is found in the root bark of the African plant Tabernanthe iboga. The psychedelic compounds harmine and harmaline, also containing indole, are found in the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, known as ayahuasca. With four psychedelic compounds containing indole within the brew of ayahuasca, it is evident that ayahuasca deserves to be listed among psychedelic indole-containing substances. Humans (including you) produce N,N-DMT, cannabinoids, and indole simultaneously.
Previous research has focused on indole, primarily, as an aromatic compound. However, further research is needed to fully understand the importance of indole beyond the aroma of cannabis alone.
“Indole is interesting for reasons far beyond the aroma. The indole structure is the core structure of many biologically important compounds within plants, humans, and animals alike. It is the key component of both tryptophan and melatonin, two important compounds found in the human body. It is also the main structural group of psychedelic tryptamines such as psilocybin, DMT, and LSD,” reports Abstrax Tech.
Research suggests the psychotropic potential of indoles is significant. Although phenethylamines primarily exert their effects through the activation of 5-HT2A receptors, indoleamines can have a significant behavioral component mediated by activation of similar 5-HT1A receptors.
While indole itself is not responsible for directly inducing psychedelic effects, its presence as a core chemical structure in both cannabis and traditional psychedelics hints at the deeper biochemical connections between these substances. The indole structure serves as a foundation for compounds that can influence serotonin receptors and other pathways linked to altered states of consciousness. As we continue to unravel the complex chemistry of cannabis, it’s possible that the full psychedelic potential of indole-containing compounds within the plant may reveal itself, bridging the gap between cannabis and classical psychedelics in ways we are only beginning to understand.
Where Does THC Fit In?
Recent studies suggest that THC, a non-selective cannabinoid receptor agonist, can upregulate 5-HT2A receptors, similar to classic psychedelics. High doses of THC, like those in concentrates like shatter or diamonds, can produce LSD-like effects, including hallucinations. Dr. Ethan Russo supports the idea that THC is hallucinogenic, while CBD counters these effects.
Where Does CBD Fit In?
CBD, unlike THC, binds to the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, which mediates psychedelic experiences like those from LSD or mescaline. Though THC does not bind directly to 5-HT2A, it activates CB1 receptors, which form complexes with 5-HT2A. This interplay may contribute to cannabis’s psychedelic effects.
Changing the Narrative Through Scientific Evidence
Cannabis is not currently regarded as a psychedelic in the mainstream or scientific sense – at least not yet. With substantial scientific and anecdotal evidence already present and more emerging, it wouldn’t be surprising to see cannabis officially classified as a psychedelic.
Barbra Bauer from Psychedelic Science Review states, “Although the psychedelic experience can be highly variable, cannabis and psychedelics, in general, have many effects in common. It’s important to remember that both cannabis and naturally occurring psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms contain a cocktail of compounds, many of which have not been characterized.”
Natural psychedelics like ayahuasca, mescaline cacti, ibogaine, and magic mushrooms contain multiple compounds working together to produce dynamic effects. Similarly, cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis interact with serotonin receptors, suggesting it has the potential to be classified as a psychedelic. With the right strain selection and a focused intention, cannabis can create profound sensory, cognitive, and emotional changes, making it potentially indistinguishable from a classic psychedelic experience.
Though Western science may not fully recognize humans as inherently psychedelic, practices like meditation and yoga often result in vivid, altered states without substances. Whether you agree or not, cannabis’s chemical profile and the psychedelic experiences it can induce hint that it may be more psychedelic than previously thought – and perhaps, so are we.
While the science of psychedelics is regularly discussed, the intersection of philosophy and psychedelics isn’t as much. Can an understanding of metaphysics bring more meaning to non-ordinary states?
He discusses how the work of William James and an early psilocybin experience led him to an interest in philosophy and psychedelics, and he dives deep into several philosophical concepts: panpsychism, pantheism, ethical pluralism, teleology, process theology, Whitehead’s fallacy of misplaced concreteness, and more. He believes that science has lost touch with metaphysics – the branch of philosophy that examines the basic structure of reality – and that studying metaphysics will lead to more beneficial experiences with the non-ordinary: If you can understand and frame the experience, you’ll have a much better chance of being able to integrate its lessons.
He discusses:
The complexity of ethics and the need to ask more philosophical questions
His book, Neo-Nihilism, which argued that there are no shared objective morals
The West’s’ obsession with scientism and believing only what can be reducible to matter: Is science honest if it ignores the ineffable?
The connections between philosophical frameworks and religion: Would studying comparative religion help us better understand each other?
The need for more experiential research
and more!
Sjöstedt-Hughes is the co-lead on Exeter’s 12-month postgraduate certificate course, “Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine, and Culture,” and is finalizing his next book, a manual on psychedelics and metaphysics.
Join us for an exclusive event exploring growing business opportunities in the emerging psychedelic industry. With the market projected to skyrocket in the coming years, now is the time to learn how psychedelics are transforming healthcare, mental wellness, and beyond.
From groundbreaking therapies to wellness innovations and investment prospects, psychedelics are creating new avenues for entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals ready to shape the future. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting movement and unlock the next wave of high-growth opportunities.
Event Highlights:
~Insights from leading experts and pioneers in psychedelics
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Seize the moment and be a part of the next frontier of innovation!
As the spectrum of interest in psychedelics broadens more every day, interdisciplinary connections become more important than ever. What is the Penn Psychedelics Collaborative?
In this episode, Joe interviews 4 members of the team: Co-Founder, Taylor Andrews Flatt, PMHNP; Associate Director, Victor Pablo Acero, Ph.D.; Professor in Fine Arts and Co-Director of the Weitzman School of Design, Jackie Tileston; and Executive Director and Director of the Penn Program for Mindfulness, Michael Baime, MD.
Recorded earlier this month at the PhilaDelic conference – one of the primary initiatives of the PPC – they discuss their paths to psychedelics and why this transdisciplinary collection of faculty, researchers, and clinicians at the University of Pennsylvania was so necessary. Viewing psychedelics from different perspectives (Flatt from nursing, Acero from bioengineering, Tileston from the art and mysticism side of things, and Baime from a more mindfulness point of view), their group is a case study in collaboration – a place where connections can be catalyzed and shared goals can be addressed from different angles. How far can we go when different groups start working together?
They discuss:
The concept of psychedelics not just being used to treat conditions, but to make us healthier
Psychedelic art and the idea of the art itself being psychoactive rather than just representations of trips
The work of David Glowacki and bringing about non-ordinary states of consciousness through VR
Research into salvia being used to alleviate stroke symptoms
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is poised to ban two psychedelic compounds, DOI and DOC, which could deliver a disastrous blow to psychedelic science and research if successful.
The United States is one of the most advanced societies because our visionaries have the freedom to innovate. That is, unless, we’re talking about drugs. The U.S. government has sweeping blinders on when it comes to researching and developing psychoactive compounds, especially hallucinogenic ones that target the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor.
Nearly every one of these classic psychedelics exists as a Schedule 1 illicit substance. And if the DEA has its way, the last remaining unregulated, DOI and DOC, will suffer the same fate.
A hearing this November, led by attorney Robert Rush Esq., will elucidate what comes next.
What are DOI and DOC, and Why Do They Matter?
DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) and DOC (2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine) are relatively obscure synthetic psychedelic compounds in the amphetamine class. They bind to and activate 5-HT2A receptors, just like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT, influencing everything from decision-making and pain-processing to gut function.
One property that makes DOI and DOC unique is their strength – only small dosages are reported to produce 20 to 36-hour trips.
Scientists are so fascinated by DOI and DOC’s mechanism of action that they’ve published nearly 1,000 papers on the substances. DOI, in particular, has been used to map 5-HT2A distribution in the brain and understand the receptor’s functions, including memory, learning, and sensory perception.
“It’s not a stretch to say that the results of my research could inform future therapies in humans,” Ramos told Psychedelics Today.
Ramos explained that scientists today can freely explore these substances for planned experiments or to test spontaneous ideas. However, a Schedule 1 Controlled Substances Act (CSA) designation will strip them of that liberty.
“It will stifle spontaneity and creativity. It will stifle progress,” said Ramos.
The DEA, however, takes a wildly different stance. In December 2023, the notoriously conservative organization initiated its second attempt to brand DOI and DOC as illegal, lacking any medical value and high abuse potential.
If the DEA’s legal effort succeeds, these compounds will be criminalized, and Dr. Ramos and other non-DEA registered scientists must immediately cease research. To restart, they’ll need to undergo a lengthy, cost-prohibitive process seeking institutional, federal, and state approvals, according to Ramos. Unfortunately, most unpublished work will never be see the light of day.
Inside the Fight to Keep DOI and DOC Research Alive
Fortunately, Ramos’ lawyer, Robert Rush, refused to let the DEA proceed without resistance.
“I was nervous that the scheduling would go through, so I connected with people who might be interested parties [in challenging the decision]. I filed the request for a hearing 30 minutes before the post office closed on the deadline. It came together at the last minute,” said Rush.
Rush filed a request on behalf of Ramos and two other academic researchers. Elijah Ullman, a molecular neuropharmacologist, filed a separate request for Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). David Heldreth, CEO of Panacea Plant Sciences (PPS), also filed a hearing request.
In a recent development, Administrative Law Judge Paul Soeffing denied the DEA’s request to block a number of witnesses, including experts from SSDP and Panacea Plant Sciences (PPS), from testifying at the upcoming hearing. While the judge granted some of the DEA’s motions to exclude specific evidence, this ruling represents a partial victory for the researchers and organizations challenging the ban. However, the judge noted that the relevance of the witnesses’ testimony would still be determined later during the hearing.
The hearing, which starts November 12, will draw prominent witnesses, including psychedelic researchers Dr. David Nutt and Dr. David Nichols, to present the case for DOI and DOC’s utility for developing new therapeutic drugs.
“I have many colleagues who work with these compounds who will testify in the upcoming hearing, and that is only a subset of the research community,” said Ullman, who has been interested in science policy since he was a teen.
Ullman added, “The DEA alleges that DOI and DOC should be placed in Schedule 1 because of their high potential for abuse, but this does not align with over 40 years of data.”
To his point, not one DOI or DOC use report existed before 2005. After 2005, the DEA registered only 45 DOI seizures across local, state, and federal registries throughout a 13-year period. DOC confiscations were more common but mounted to a mere average of 60 annually nationwide. Most reports involved small-scale seizures in forms like blotter paper or powder that do not even register a mention in the DEA’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment.
Adverse events linked to DOI and DOC are also scarce. The DEA referenced just three case reports of serious reactions in its Schedule 1 recommendation, including one death related to DOC and caffeine in a 37-year-old with a history of methamphetamine abuse. DOI was not included in any of these reports.
The DEA’s push to classify these substances as Schedule I, despite the small number of incidents, limited evidence of recreational use, and their admission that physical dependence is not an issue, suggests an overreaction rooted in dogma rather than legitimate concern.
“I believe data integrity matters in policy decisions, and since the data does not align with the DEA’s viewpoint that it should be scheduled, it should not be,” said Ullman.
Rush adds that DOI and DOC’s day-long trips make the compounds highly undesirable for personal use.
“No one is seeking a 36-hour psychedelic experience,” said Rush. “There is no illicit drug trade. No one really wants [DOI and DOC], quite frankly.”
No one, except researchers, who assert that the compounds have transformed their understanding of brain function and disease. They’ve helped us learn that serotonin receptors are “much more than a ‘feel-good’ chemical,” according to Ullman.
“There’s incredibly cool data from Charles Nichols’ lab at Louisiana State University showing a reduction in airway inflammation in rodent asthma models with doses significantly less than that one that causes intoxication… A whole new class of anti-asthma medicines could arise because of DOI research, improving millions of lives worldwide.”
What Comes Next in the Legal Battle for DOI and DOC?
Rush and Phelps will present significant evidence during the 10-day hearing next month to counteract the DEA’s claims. Afterward, the judge will make his non-binding recommendation and send it to the administrator. Then, it’s up to the DEA to decide.
The recent ruling denying the DEA’s attempt to block key witnesses further bolsters the opposition’s case, adding momentum as they prepare to present evidence and testimony.
If the judge finds in the petitioners’ favor, the administrator could adopt the judge’s ruling
“There’s always a chance the DEA could do the right thing,” said Rush.
However, it could also ignore a favorable ruling and proceed with scheduling. If that happens, Rush said he will not give up. The next step will be to move forward with litigation, where he will challenge the organization’s rule-making authority in court.
“We have to check the DEA’s excessive power,” said Rush.
The Bottom Line
The DEA has been extraordinarily aggressive in scheduling psychoactive drugs since establishing the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and if history repeats, DOI and DOC will not be spared. We’ve seen that their attempts to control chemicals have exacerbated cartel violence, spurred countless unjust arrests, and stifled scientific progress, especially regarding psychedelics and mental health interventions. Let’s hope sensibility and freedom win this time.
Want to show your support for the cause? Considerdonating to SSDP to help them raise funds to bring the case’s witnesses, all university researchers, to the 10-day hearing.
With the passing of the Natural Psychedelic Substances Act (Question 4), Massachusetts could be the next state to follow in Colorado and Oregon’s footsteps and legalize and regulate natural psychedelics.
In this episode, Joe interviews two people on the frontlines of the campaign, Graham Moore and Community Engagement Director, Jamie Morey.
They discuss the specifics of the initiative, listed on the ballot as the “Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances,” including the removal of criminal penalties for limited personal use, and the establishment of a regulatory agency that will provide therapeutic access to any of five natural psychedelics (psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, mescaline, and ibogaine). They tell their stories of how they discovered the power of psychedelics, and discuss the work they’re doing, educating a fairly interested – but still very hesitant – public about the bill and the importance of it passing this November.
They talk about:
The significance of this happening in Massachusetts, especially with the amount of biomedical research happening in Boston
The story of a member of Baystaters creating a fraudulent persona in a veterans advocacy group to fight against legalization efforts
The challenge of getting people to publicly support initiatives that deal with illegal substances
The power of small steps in legislation: Before this bill, MA had the most local measures in the U.S.
How data collection should be handled at service centers
What is healing justice? And what does psychedelic education look like through the lens of healing justice and anti-oppression?
In this episode, Joe interviews Diana Quinn, ND: naturopathic doctor, healing justice practitioner, and director of clinical education at the Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies, where she directs their Psilocybin Facilitator Training certificate program.
She discusses her path from anthropology to naturopathy, and eventually to psychedelics and activism, finding a framework for psychedelic education grounded in healing justice, which recognizes the impact of collective trauma on all of us, seeks to reclaim lost or stolen models of healing, focuses on equity and accessibility, and brings an anti-oppression lens to training programs to give students a greater capacity for culturally responsive care. She encourages seeing things from an anti-capitalist viewpoint, and recognizes the huge clash between using such powerful and mystical medicines inside structures so embedded with problematic human qualities. How can you build inside of these Western systems without being affected by that capitalist energy?
She discusses:
The importance of respecting plants from other cultures – that no healing or consciousness expansion is justifiable when it threatens an entire species
The challenge of integrating the weirdest parts of non-ordinary states into education: How does a Western framework come to terms with the ineffable?
How colonialism and the culture born from it has hurt us all
The importance of finding your own lineage and what is sacred to you
The work of Rick Tarnas and the amazing patterns we can find in astrology
Psychedelic shadow work is central to the transformative potential of entheogens, helping us confront and integrate hidden parts of our psyche.
Psychedelic experiences, in and of themselves, do not create lasting change by chance or passively – they require active participation. Entheogens can open the doors to the unconscious and invite us to make meaning from its contents. Shadow work supports this soul-manifesting process by helping us embrace our hidden parts so that we may become fully actualized.
What is the Shadow?
Psychotherapist Carl G. Jung coined the term “shadow” to describe the instincts, drives, and emotions we consciously and unknowingly repress but whose malignant impacts we feel.
The shadow contains our darkest secrets, covert desires, and obscured emotions. It holds our greatest fears and our fullest potential; it is the source of intuition, wisdom, and individuation. And yet, most of us reject it because we fear the truth – that we are both good and evil, loving and hateful, angry and calm, devastated and joyful, masculine and feminine.
“The shadow is a living part of the personality and therefore, wants to live with it in some form. It cannot be argued out of existence or rationalized into harmlessness,” said Jung in Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious.
This process is necessary, according to the late psychedelic-assisted therapy pioneer Ann Shulgin. After all, we can’t enact our darkest fantasies of rear-ending every insufferable driver who cuts us off. We need executive control via the ego to quell such drives.
However, the issue arises when we overcorrect and deny our shadow’s existence.
When we hide from unflattering elements of ourselves, like aggression, guilt, power-hunger, and greed, we paradoxically give these traits more control over our lives. Unseen shadows show up unexpectedly, like when we lash out over minor frustrations, sabotage our career because of unacknowledged fears of success, or spout passive-aggressive remarks instead of confronting conflict directly. Unprocessed shame or guilt can manifest as perfectionism, and buried feelings of inadequacy may elicit a compulsive need to control.
“A man who is possessed by his shadow is always standing in his own light and falling into his own traps,” wrote Jung.
But just as we suppress unfavorable qualities, we also bury our brightest traits.
What is the Golden Shadow?
The “golden shadow” refers to these constructive qualities, such as confidence, creativity, compassion, leadership, and joy. We see these characteristics in others but sometimes fail to recognize them within ourselves because we feel unworthy, afraid of failure, or unfamiliar with how to embody them.
Kyle Buller, M.S., Psychedelics Today co-founder and psychedelic integration therapist, notes that many of us come from environments where positivity is unwelcomed.
“People may find it hard to experience joy because they associate it with guilt or shame, or they might feel that the therapeutic focus should be about the ‘darker emotions’ when it comes to shadow work. They may want to shut the good feelings down. This can be a great opportunity to work with the golden shadow,” said Buller.
Whether golden or dark, the shadow must emerge from hiding so we can reclaim our autonomy. But we must do the work to coax it out.
“We develop our ability to be aware and embody what we are conscious of,” Cohen told Psychedelics Today.
Psychedelics are one of the best ways to do this work because they “activate and amplify the psyche and our emotional, somatic and spiritual dimensions.” Dreams, hypnosis, and life transitions are also excellent catalysts.
Dreams Jung believed dreams offer a direct path to the unconscious through their symbols. He suggested that themes like falling could represent a fear of failure, being chased might signify an unresolved conflict, and dark figures could convey unaddressed desires. He advocated that processing and analyzing such symbols illuminates the shadow.
Hypnosis According to Ann Shulgin, Ericksonian hypnosis is another powerful shadow work method. This approach leads patients into a trance, where they descend a stairway deep into their inner world. When they reach the basement, they confront the shadow, which they see as a fierce animal. The hypnotist instructs them not to fear the beast but to enter its form and experience the world through its eyes. This merging allows them to harness the shadow as an ally rather than an enemy.
Transitions Major life transitions, such as losing a loved one or experiencing a midlife crisis, can also ignite shadow work, whether we choose it or not. Such events break down our defenses and ego structures, leaving us vulnerable to repressed emotions, drives, and conflicts that demand our attention in order to grow.
Psychedelics Psychedelic experiences are perhaps the most reliable path into the depths of our souls because they fundamentally change the way we think, feel, see, and perceive our inner and outer worlds. Entheogens teleport us directly beyond the ego’s veil into the unknown
“Psychedelics offer a unique opportunity to face our repressed parts head-on. They allow access in ways that regular psychotherapy may not,” said Buller.
How Can Shadow Work Arise During Psychedelic Journeys?
Psychedelics help us access the shadow by disrupting the way our neural networks communicate and perceive stimuli. This process reduces activity in the brain’s default mode network (DMN), which governs our sense of self and ego.
When the DMN quiets, boundaries between consciousness and unconsciousness blur. The resulting experience excavates stifled thoughts, memories, emotions, and visions while allowing us to interact with them from an open and receptive state.
Shadow work can happen naturally during these journeys. We might even transcend the unconscious labels of “good” vs. ” bad” while stepping outside our sticky parts to merge with something greater than ourselves. Such interconnected insights are transformative, but they are not necessarily the norm.
Psychedelics often reveal harrowing traumas and wounded parts that we may be unskilled to face. This confrontation can spark intense anger, grief, or shame. Our ego will resist the discomfort to protect us, but its efforts will paradoxically exacerbate it. We may become overwhelmed, overly identified with the pain, or completely detached from reality.
These very real risks are a crucial reason navigating the shadow with psychedelics often requires support, especially when we’re inexperienced with these substances.
The Importance of Support in Psychedelic Shadow Work
Psychedelic-assisted therapy, preparation and integration coaching, and group processing provide critical foundations to face and embrace unconscious aspects of the self.
Skilled practitioners know how to hold space for every part of us to emerge. If we’re experiencing unresolved rage, therapists or facilitators can help us feel and release it.
“Anger is a major emotion that people often struggle to express. We [as practitioners] might ask, ‘What would it look like to express this anger?’ It could mean yelling, shaking, or verbalizing. Clients may even direct anger toward the therapist in place of the person they’re really angry at,” said Buller, who added that projections are O.K. within the confines of the practitioner’s comfort and safety boundaries.
Psychedelic facilitators also invite us to stick with the feelings we may want to oppose.
“When clients experience discomfort, we might ask, ‘Can you find pleasure in this sensation?’ Sometimes, the edge of discomfort is where the real work begins,” said Buller.
Buller explains that from a holotropic breathwork perspective, amplifying emotional expression is the key to expunging it from our system.
However, the edge is sometimes too dangerous to approach, and effective practitioners know when to pull back the reins.
“We don’t push shadow work agendas on clients. If you go too quickly, the parts might rebel. Instead, we take a slow approach and partner with the client so they can eventually go deeper,” said Buller.
This alliance allows practitioners to determine when digging into the shadow’s contents is appropriate and when it could inflict harm.
Integrating Psychedelic Shadow Work
After confronting the shadow, we must begin the process of integration, where we interpret and act on our findings. Some of the most effective integration methods involve working with a therapist, coach, or support group.
“Ideally, we want to start with a safe process of slowly digesting our psychedelic insights. We can then form a relationship of curiosity, inquiry, and then change,” said Cohen.
The change piece can be the most challenging because it mandates that we rewire our lives to match the authentic selves we’ve been hiding for so long. We may need to quit a job, end a marriage, or restructure relationships with friends, family, and substances. Such radical shifts often require reliable help and compassionate accountability.
Therapists trained in psychedelic integration, especially those using frameworks like Jungian analysis or Internal Family Systems (IFS), are well-suited for effective shadow work because they provide a structured approach to processing unconscious material.
Jungian therapists can help interpret the symbolic messages of psychedelic visions, such as the tiger, whose archetype might signify repressed feminine essence, aggression, or independent spirit.
Analysts can also help us make sense of bodily sensations, postures, memories, and emotions.
“We then want to understand the shadow material within the larger context. How was it formed, what’s its use, and more. This will allow us to start weaving together a narrative, opening us to intergenerational and environmental influences and having more compassion with ourselves,” said Cohen.
In the context of IFS, therapists can help us integrate the shadow using parts language. They may guide us in understanding that the tiger is a protector part, fiercely defending our vulnerable exiled parts, such as our traumatized inner child from suffering. Such terminology prevents us from overidentifying with the stifled rage and allows for a more harmonious and balanced sense of self.
The Bottom Line
Psychedelic shadow work is transformative, especially in the context of powerful journeys and integration. It provides a framework for understanding the visions, sensations, and thoughts that arise during altered states of consciousness and invites us to engage further. In turn, psychedelics calm our ego and amplify our psyche so we may embrace our inner outcasts as missing puzzle pieces to the fullest expression of our humanity.
Are you interested in learning more about what the shadow can reveal? Join us forIlluminating the Hidden Self: Navigating the Jungian Shadow with Psychedelics. In this 8-week live-taught course, participants will learn how to work with the Shadow in a conscious and embodied way, how to harness the psychic potential of the Golden Shadow, and more. Seats are limited.
The psychedelic space was dealt a huge blow when the FDA decided not to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD under Lykos’ proposal. Was the FDA fair to Lykos? And what are the next steps for Lykos and MAPS?
Doblin tells his side of the story: that the FDA’s concerns with double blinding not working had been fully addressed ahead of time, that they had negotiated agreements that were no longer agreed to when new FDA employees came on board, that there was a lot of confusion from going back and forth with the FDA on how Phase 3 studies should be designed, and more. He believes that Lykos made a massive mistake in assuming that provable science was more important than public opinion, and that ignoring critics who were saying whatever they wanted caused them to lose control of the narrative – which clearly influenced the advisory committee. While Lykos figures out their next steps with the FDA, MAPS is focusing their attention on what they feel is most important in light of this ruling: better public education and drug policy.
He talks about:
How there’s a bias at the FDA to be harsh: Does automatically saying no just make it look like you’re being rigorous?
The work of the Dutch government in researching MDMA, and Lykos’ odd decision to not highlight any of it
Why federal agents at Burning Man work so hard to give tickets to attendees for smoking cannabis
Why sharing stories of your positive experiences with psychedelics is so important
and more!
MAPS has announced that 2025’s Psychedelic Science conference will be in Denver, June 16-20, and will have experiential opportunities before and after. If you’d like to donate to MAPS, please do so here.
While legislators in several states are crafting their own psychedelic legalization bills, are Indigenous communities being included?
In this episode, Kyle interviews Gabriela Galindo: program coordinator of FLOWS (Foundations for Leaders Organizing for Water and Sustainability), an organization working towards social and environmental justice, ecosystem restoration, community building, and the preservation and protection of Indigenous medicines.
She discusses her entry point to psychedelics and how she got involved with Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act (Prop 122) when she saw a complete absence of Indigenous representation in the legislature. The narrative that we all have a right to healing and that these medicines belong to everyone is pretty common today, but Galindo argues that this is not fair: that each plant has its own history, and that each is protected by its own culture. Shouldn’t the communities that have stewarded these medicines for centuries have a say in whether their medicine is going to be shared and legislated at the state level? Shouldn’t they have the ability to consent to these new proposals?
She talks about:
Why she likes using ‘movement’ instead of ‘renaissance’ when discussing our psychedelic culture
What we could learn from Indigenous people’s harmony with nature as we face an ongoing climate crisis
The balancing act of pleasing everyone: Would decriminalization be as supported if Indigenous communities wanted to keep some of these substances criminalized for the protection of their culture and their ecosystems?
How psychedelic communities should evolve to include community work into their routines: What do local communities need and how can you help?
The importance of knowing when to step aside and truly center a community voice
Have you ever hit a creative roadblock on a project or a problem you need to solve? Chances are, there might be a psychedelic for that.
Despite their recent focus on medical and mental health benefits, psychedelics have long been linked to creativity and insight. And in light of the FDA’s recent decision to withhold approval for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, it’s become more important than ever to cultivate a wider view around psychedelics and their potential to shape and influence our lives.
The exploration of psychedelics as tools for creative breakthroughs offers profound potential to expand our understanding of how these substances influence the human mind beyond their medical and therapeutic applications. In the Vital psychedelic training program, we incorporate these ideas, especially for those pursuing careers as coaches and wellness practitioners.
Throughout this article, we’ll examine how these substances have been used to help people boost creativity, gain insights, and enhance problem-solving abilities – and the science behind it.
Unlocking Creativity Through Psychedelics
Whether encountered through a sudden flash of insight in “Eureka!” moments, or through a lengthy process of deep ideation, creativity is a mysterious force that allows us to connect information in new and unexpected ways. Often, it can lead to new understandings that help us adapt to an ever-changing world.
Historically, psychedelics have long played a role in inspiring creative genius and fostering insight. From Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, whose iconic poem “Howl” was inspired by his psychedelic experiences, to Nobel laureate Francis Crick, who credited LSD with helping him discover the structure of DNA, these substances have shaped some of the most influential minds in history. Even Steve Jobs described LSD as “one of the most important things” he did in his life, underscoring the transformative role psychedelics have played in sparking innovation and artistic expression.
Biochemist Kary Mullis credits his use of LSD in playing a vital role in his discovery of how to automate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a pioneering breakthrough which earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993.
Although the discovery did not come about while directly under the influence of LSD, it helped him to “inhabit” DNA molecules from a new perspective.
“PCR’s another place where I was down there with the molecules when I discovered it and I wasn’t stoned on LSD, but my mind by then had learned how to get down there. I could sit on a DNA molecule and watch the polymerase go by,” Mullis said.
More recently, astrobiologist Bruce Damer came out of the psychedelic closet, sharing how psychedelics, in combination with other consciousness-expanding practices, helped him arrive at what is now a widely cited hypothesis on the origins of life.
“My own story is that an interweaving of endogenous preparation and meditation combined with a low dose of ayahuasca led to a breakthrough to the scientific question of how life could have begun on the Earth, four billion years ago. The telling of this story led to the formation of the Center for MINDS,” he explained.
A newly formed nonprofit, MINDS is dedicated to exploring how psychedelics and other consciousness-expanding practices can play a role in creative problem solving to help our species find innovative solutions to the polycrises of our time.
Unlike other psychedelic organizations, MINDS is focused on what they refer to as “psychedelic-assisted innovation” as an emergent practice that could serve to revitalize the public perception of the value of psychedelics and a yet to be explored path to regulatory approval.
Damer outlines what he perceives as the current pathways to psychedelic access and regulation, including Indigenous and cultural use; personal growth and expression; and therapeutic applications, calling for a so-called “fourth path” in psychedelic research and discourse, utilizing them as tools for creative breakthroughs in science and technology.
“We believe that a next step beyond the therapeutic applications of psychedelic practices is their use as elixirs of creativity. MINDS hopes to validate their effects through science and valorize their practice in our society through established protocols,” Damer told Psychedelics Today.
The Role of Altered States in Creative and Scientific Discoveries
Throughout the ages, mystical, non-ordinary states of consciousness such as dreaming and hypnagogia (the liminal state between wakefulness and sleep) have been linked to creative insight across cultures and disciplines. These states have played a major role in scientific breakthroughs, artistic expression, and technological innovation.
Chemist Friedrich August Kekulé was famously dozing off by his fireplace when he had a vivid vision of molecules transforming into snakes. In this vision, one of the snakes twisted into a circle, forming an ouroboros, a serpent devouring its own tail. This image inspired him to understand that the chemical structure of benzene was, in fact, a closed ring.
Such naturally occurring non-ordinary states of consciousness are similar to psychedelic states in that they allow for a heightened capacity for mental imagery and visualization, sharing more fluid, free-flowing, imagistic, and highly associative patterns of consciousness.
Referring to how individuals like Nikola Tesla envisioned the electric generator and Albert Einstein uncovered the basic principles of his special theory of relativity in non-ordinary states of consciousness, psychiatrist and founding father of transpersonal psychology Stanislav Grof explains, “It is a well-known fact that many important ideas and solutions to problems did not originate in the context of logical reasoning, but in various unusual states of mind – in dreams, while falling asleep or awakening, at times of extreme physical and mental fatigue, or during an illness with high fever.”
A 2022 paper on psychedelics as tools for creative insight examined the way in which dreaming and hypnagogic states overlap with the psychedelic experience, shedding light on shared neurophenomenological and cognitive processes. They suggest that one key feature of creativity is our capacity to have fluid and flexible cognitive processes, shifting between modes of thought such as divergent and convergent thinking. That is, our ability to come up with as many different solutions as possible to a loosely defined problem, versus coming up with a single solution to a well-defined problem.
The authors conclude that, “The psychedelic state may have its own characteristic features making it amenable to creativity enhancement, such as brain hyperconnectivity, meta-cognitive awareness, access to a more dependable and sustained altered state experience, and potential for eliciting sustained shifts in trait openness.”
Exploring the Research on Psychedelics and Creative Problem Solving
A group of 27 professionals, including engineers, architects, and mathematicians, were dosed with LSD or mescaline, then put into small, carefully curated working groups. In preparation for the experiment, each participant was instructed to choose one (or more) problems related to their work that required a creative solution.
Participants were able to find solutions to certain problems they had been working on for weeks – and in some cases months – reporting decreased feelings of inhibition, a greater ability to conceptualize the problem in a broader context, enhanced ideation, and heightened capacity for visual imagery.
“I worked at a pace I would not have thought I was capable of. My mind seemed much freer to roam around the problems, and it was these periods of roaming around which produced solutions… I dismissed the original idea entirely, and started to approach the graphic problem in a radically different way. That was when things began to happen. All kinds of different possibilities came to mind,” said one participant.
The first study of its kind, it is not considered as scientifically rigorous as today’s double-blind, placebo-controlled standards – participants were positively primed for the experience by being instructed that the substances would help enhance their creativity. Even so, it suggests that psychedelics do have the ability to enhance creative problem-solving (set, setting, and intentionality permitting).
A 2016 study explored ayahuasca’s effects on creativity, finding that the brew enhanced performance on tasks related to divergent thinking, while convergent thinking decreased. This impaired ability for convergent thinking is thought to be related to the large dosage of substance given and the strong, sometimes disorienting experiences it can produce.
Compared with practices like microdosing, it has been suggested that higher doses might limit cognitive processing abilities, being potentially too distracting to focus on specific problem-solving activities.
Another study measured psilocybin’s effect of convergent and divergent thinking, finding that even though participants reported feeling more creative, they performed worse on tasks measuring both types of creativity during the experience. However, a week later, when compared to the placebo group, those who ingested psilocybin scored higher on convergent creativity.
It is thought that this could be linked to the way in which psychedelics dampen the activity of the default mode network (DMN), an interconnected group of brain regions associated with introspective functions and internally directed thought, such as self-reflection, and self-criticism during the experience itself. After the acute phase of a psychedelic experience, the DMN connectivity is reconsolidated in a new way, producing neuroplastic changes in the brain, possibly leading to increases in creativity.
The practice of microdosing has also been celebrated for its perceived ability to enhance creativity, being widely used among Silicon Valley tech workers. However, up until recently, the link between microdosing and creativity remained anecdotal. A 2018 study by researchers at Leiden University, gave psilocybin-containing truffles to attendees at a microdosing event hosted by the Dutch Psychedelic Society, inviting participants to take part in two creative problem-solving tasks to measure their divergent and convergent thinking skills. Findings showed that participants scored significantly higher on both convergent and divergent thinking tests after ingesting a microdose.
Although the study didn’t directly set out to understand the connection between psychedelics and creativity, it found that psilocybin produced increases in trait “openness” which is linked to “new ideas and values, imagination, aesthetic appreciation, novelty-seeking, non-conformity, and creativity.” However, researchers suggested that such increases in openness might also be linked to psychedelic-assisted therapy specifically.
Another key feature of the psychedelic brain state is increased global connectivity – enhanced communication between brain regions and networks. This shift may underlie the fluid and unconstrained thinking associated with psychedelics, promoting novel perspectives and creative insights.
Psychedelics are also known to induce a state of higher brain entropy, marked by more dynamic and less predictable brain activity, which opens up a greater range of brain states. This “anarchic” state, described in the REBUS model (Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics), reduces reliance on prior beliefs and expectations, fostering a richer conscious experience that can enhance creative thinking. By loosening preconceptions – often barriers to creativity – psychedelics may help the mind break free from conventional thought patterns, although this can also diminish the ability to critically evaluate ideas.
The Shadow Side of Psychedelic Insight
One important question to factor when considering creative insights and solutions born from psychedelic reveries is: whether such downloads hold true and find congruence within larger bodies of knowledge, or not.
As with dreams, psychedelic experiences are often replete with symbols, imagery, and impressions that do not necessarily have a fixed or simple meaning. As with any other type of psychedelic journey, it is important to emphasize the period of integration in which mystical, ineffable insights are carefully distilled into real-world understanding and enduring change. In the case of using psychedelics for creative problem-solving, this process of integration would have to coalesce with larger scientific and industry protocols, continually revisiting, testing, and refining insights through processes of peer review.
In Vital, we stress the importance of discernment and integration when working with these substances. Our program trains participants to support clients in not only navigating the psychedelic experience itself but also in applying their newfound perspectives in a grounded, practical way.
In the past, psychedelics have been heralded as a “magic bullet” or “cure all” for mental health diagnoses as well as looked to as a way to resolve the climate crisis through their ability to shift our relationship with the natural world. In looking to psychedelics as tools for creative problem-solving to help us meet the multiple existential crises that we are facing as a species, it is critical that we tread with caution, not becoming overly zealous in our desire to exalt psychedelics as a simple solution to our collective problems. No doubt, when used with care, they can serve to help us along the path, but only represent one tool in a cadre of others.
Telling our stories of psychedelic healing is more important than ever, but sometimes, those stories aren’t so clear cut. Can applying the classic archetype of the Hero’s Journey to your narrative help you find your story?
She discusses her path to wanting to create the film: how she always felt like something was wrong with her but didn’t know exactly how to start her healing path, how seven ayahuasca trips didn’t give her the breakthrough experience she wanted, and how she realized over time that she didn’t have a hidden moment of trauma to overcome, but rather, lots of “little t” trauma – something that a lot of us have, without necessarily knowing it. She saw the true power of people sharing their stories of becoming healthier, and has found that aligning our stories to the classic framework of the Hero’s Journey and Carl Jung’s concept of individuation is the perfect formula for self-awareness, growth, and finding more meaning in life.
She talks about:
How the Hero’s Journey makes sense of the abyss, and how the abyss helps us to see how much we’ve been programmed
Her formula for a good story: who you were before the event, the event, and how it changed you
Her Sphinx project, where she aims to bring giant sphinxes (from “The NeverEnding Story”) to Burning Man, as a way for people to determine if they are “worthy”
Her “Talk Box” art installation, which involves strangers meeting in a confession booth to engage in meaningful conversations based on a wheel of questions
The power of group coherence and how much stronger a healing container can become over time
and more!
Stertz is passionate about creating a culture that celebrates healing, and believes the biggest thing we can all do is to share our stories. She’s offering a course on finding where the Hero’s Journey is in each of our lives: “Emerge: A Journey of Self-Authorship” begins on October 29. Click here for more info.
This online hybrid live course delves into the profound realms of the human psyche, drawing upon the pioneering work of Carl Jung, the transformative potential of psychedelics, and the intersection of the two worlds. Participants will embark on a journey to understand the concept of the “Shadow” – the hidden, unconscious aspects of the personal psyche and the collective – and explore how psychedelics can serve as tools to illuminate and integrate these often-neglected facets of our being.
Class meets on Wednesdays, for 8 weeks, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST / Noon -2:00 p.m. EST, beginning on Oct. 30, and continuing until Dec. 18.
By taking this course, you will learn:
The foundational concepts of Jungian psychology, with a focus on the shadow archetype
The history and cultural context of psychedelic use in therapeutic and spiritual settings
The potential of psychedelics in facilitating shadow work and self-integration
Reflective practices to identify and confront personal/collective shadow elements.
Does combining the knowledge from Indigenous traditions with more research-backed Western frameworks land us in the sweet spot where science meets spirit?
Stover discusses the inspiration for the book: the ancestral voices she started hearing after she had children, being featured on Heacock’s podcast and becoming fascinated with people’s healing stories, and her move to Mexico, where she learned the beauty of a less complicated and more connected life. She learned that the village you surround yourself with is really the medicine, and that existing in the mysteries of life can be much more beneficial than trying to solve everything. Combining her Western training with more Indigenous perspectives, she wondered: Where do science and spirit meet? And how can they dance together?
They discuss:
Stover’s early days of offering medicine journeys in Mexico, and how much leaning on elders from all backgrounds matters
The importance of discernment in non-ordinary states: Is spiritual bypassing just the absence of discernment?
How finding a village can be just connecting to the earth: How much of our trauma is from a “nature deficit disorder”?
The power of transference and the relationship between therapists/facilitators and clients
The idea that modern psychology has fallen short because we’ve sterilized love out of the room, and the challenge of bringing love back as part of a safe container
and more!
The book, which is laid out somewhat like a workbook (and which Heacock wrote the foreward to) comes out on November 4 and is available for pre-order now.
Join the Psychedelics Today team for a live podcast taping at the Plant Magic Cafe in Denver, CO.
Co-Founder Joe Moore will host a discussion with Veronica Lightning Horse Perez and Attorney, Sean T. McAllister, exploring community-use models in Colorado, harm reduction, and the need for education beyond practitioner programs.
This event is perfect for anyone interested in open discussions and expanding their knowledge. Don’t miss this chance to connect with a vibrant psychedelic community and learn about our Vital program.
Program overview:
6:00pm: Doors Open
6:30pm: Program begins
7:30-8:30pm: Gather and network
**Food and Refreshments from Plant Magic Cafe will be available for purchase after the program/during the networking portion.
Australia’s relationship with psychedelics has taken a dramatic turn in recent years – but beneath the surface, an enduring underground movement has quietly shaped the country’s evolving psychedelic landscape.
In 2023, the country’s Therapeutic Goods Administration made a groundbreaking decision to reclassify psilocybin and MDMA under Schedule 8 (Controlled Drug) for specific therapeutic uses. This decision reflects a global shift towards recognizing the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly in treating mental health conditions like treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.
While this movement is largely focused on clinical settings, there is another, less visible layer to Australia’s psychedelic landscape: the underground.
The story of psychedelics in Australia isn’t just about modern medical breakthroughs; it’s about a rich, covert history where underground practitioners, researchers, and communities have kept the flame burning throughout decades of prohibition.
In this article, we explore the Western influence of psychedelic interest, information dissemination, and the key underground movements that have shaped Australia’s unique relationship with these substances, from the early days of prohibition to the present psychedelic resurgence.
The Underground Origins of Psychedelic Science in Australia
The global story of psychedelic prohibition is well-known, beginning in the late 1960s when substances like LSD and psilocybin were criminalized. Though geographically distant from the epicenter of the War on Drugs, Australia was significantly impacted by this shift. Formal psychedelic research ended in Australia, as the U.S. declared psychedelics a societal scourge.
From then, the culture of psychedelic science in Australia went underground. During the ’70s, ’80s, and then into the psychedelic renaissance of the ’90s, research around entheogens continued in an active and vibrant counterculture.
Australia’s underground science has been multidisciplinary, with chemistry, botany, mycology, anthropology, and archaeology all contributing to our understanding of these compounds. While these substances were typically used recreationally, there was an appreciation for how they could be used therapeutically; it is this therapeutic aspect that is currently driving contemporary interest.
As we move forward into a period of time where psychedelic therapy carries a sense of legitimacy and hope, it is important not to dismiss the wealth of knowledge maintained by generations of psychedelic scientists, harm reduction educators, and underground facilitators who have passionately continued their work with these substances regardless of the legal implications.
There exist many communities of people who actively help support each other to understand themselves and how to “do the work,” not just underground practitioners but also groups of young men and women who are growing plants and mushrooms, sharing them with their friends in a community of shared knowledge, and supporting each other’s work through traumatic experiences.
Psychedelic Science Becomes Citizen Science
The psychedelic surge of the ’60s catalyzed a generation whose interest in psychoactive compounds could not be quashed by prohibition. Events and publications on psychedelic plants and fungi were essential to spreading awareness and cultivating a movement of citizen science in Australia and around the globe.
Anyone who had a copy of the famous article from Life Magazine written by Gordon Wasson had access to the beautiful and taxonomically accurate illustrations by French Mycologist Roger Heim. It was from these illustrations that many first learned how to identify the Psilocybe mushroom species in the wild.
The landmark 1967 San Francisco conference, Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs, was the first conference dedicated to conversations about psychoactive plants and fungi. The conference also published a book with numerous articles discussing many entheogens. This conference and book were seen as significant at the time and were revisited 50 years later, with another conference and second volume of the book.
The late ’60s saw the beginnings of a ‘literature underground’ that communicated a lot of the information people wanted about psychedelics. In 1969, Robert E. Brown and associates published The Psychedelic Guide to the Preparation of the Eucharist in a Few of Its Many Guises, a publication that set the bar for a sophisticated level of knowledge that circulated in underground texts for decades. The book described the cultivation of a number of entheogenic plants and the extraction and synthesis of the associated alkaloids.
Though formal research ground to a halt around the world following prohibition, the non-clinical use of psychedelics kept going. And while underground chemists such as Bear Stanley and Nick Sand were producing large quantities of LSD, those in the movement were also investigating alternatives, particularly psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
In the following decades of underground research, two fields of study in particular significantly contributed to psychedelic science: ethnobotany and mycology.
Ethnobotany in Australia: The Planting of Many Seeds
The landmark Life Magazine story, Seeking the Magic Mushroom, sparked an interest in the traditional use of many fungi and plants. When LSD was criminalized, many began looking for alternatives.
There had been a fascination for psychoactive plants within the scientific community for hundreds of years, with the publication of many Materia Medica discussing the use of poisons and narcotics for medicinal applications.
Many of these books referred to older herbal books or medieval manuscripts. Considerable psychedelic-referencing literature was written during the early 1900s, with books and papers discussing peyote, morning glory, ergot, and, of course, fungi.
The publication of Carlos Castenada’s The Teachings of Don Juan in 1970 sparked a wider cultural fascination with psychoactive plants in Australia. A growing curiosity led many people to source some of the plants discussed, often not ethically.
Peyote especially suffered from overharvesting, making it harder for Indigenous groups to access the plants necessary for their traditional pilgrimages. Some plants, such as Datura and Brugmansia, became problematic, with people not appreciating the dangers inherent in such powerful entheogens.
Finding Fungi: Mycological Exploration in Australia
Mycology has long been a key aspect of citizen psychedelic science in Australia. Mushrooms had the benefit of being free but also came with the thrill of foraging. Foragers will happily tell you how rewarding finding a large haul of mushrooms can be. While many plants take time and patience, magic mushrooms could be readily foraged or cultivated in a matter of months, but also discreetly.
The culture around the cultivation of Psilocybe cubensis “Gold Tops” or “Golden Teachers” and Psilocybe tampenensis “magic truffles” or “philosophers stones,” has been one of the significant undercurrents in psychedelic science in Australia.
In 1991, Alexander and Ann Shulgin published the legendary book PiHKaL, followed by TiHKaL in 1997. These two books were published based on the citizen science principles of keeping the science open, to use by those who are interested in diving in.
In 1997, the website, The Shroomery, launched and quickly became a significant resource for all things psilocybe and mushroom cultivation in general. Other sites that helped communicate information about psychedelics included Lyceum, EROWID, and the forums Bluelight, Mycotopia, and DMT-Nexus.
In Australia, The Corroboree (the world’s longest-running ethnobotanical online forum) and Ethnobotany-Australia were crucial sites for locals exploring psychedelics.
The Psychedelic Underground in Australia Flourishes
While the United States and Europe were the epicenters of this cultural change, Australia was not immune to their influence. Music, clothing, fashion, and lifestyle choices were a little behind their contemporaries, but a fascination with psychedelics was a big part of this dynamic.
“Some species of toadstool give rise to a kind of intoxication. A former colleague of mine told me how ‘my parents ate once a dish of mushrooms, and as the meal progressed, they gradually became more and more hilarious, the most simple remark giving rise to peals of laughter.’”
It is thought the mushrooms were Psilocybe cubensis, picked while foraging for field mushrooms.
In 1958, mycologists Aberdeen and Jones published a paper entitled A Hallucinogenic Toadstool in the Australian Journal of Science. They were investigating Panaeolus ovatus, thought to be responsible for several accidental intoxications in Australia, but the pair concluded it was more likely P. cubensis. Aberdeen is remembered for being particularly interested in this hallucinogenic species.
“For some time, young drug users had been aware of the existence of a ‘legendary mushroom,’ but information regarding habitat, identification, and effects was lacking. It seems that the necessary information was supplied by a visiting surfer from New Zealand or the U.S.A.,” wrote J.P. McCarthy in 1971.
Locals in the small town of Nimbin in Northern New South Wales would disagree, saying: “We knew about them long before that.”
Australia is home to some particularly beautiful cactus collections, with many Trichocereus species imported during the ’50s and ’60s and allowed to grow to impressive stands. Members of cactus communities often met and swapped seeds and cuttings of various species, including peyote.
In time, many of the larger cactus collections were opened to the public. With the resurgence of interest in hallucinogenic cacti, a new generation began growing and setting up small nurseries. One of these, Urban Tribes, regarded as one of the better cacti collections in Australia, was created by Mark Camo in 1994, who was also possibly responsible for the first cutting of Banisteriopsis caapi in Australia.
Connecting the Psychedelic Dots Across the Continent
Australia is a large, mostly empty country. Psychedelics, being a fairly niche, and legally tricky interest, meant a lot of people interested in underground psychedelic science were often isolated from each other.
The Australian psychedelic underground has required a certain level of self-sufficiency, and networking, but with the introduction of electronic communication in the early ’90s, things rapidly changed.
The publication in 1994 of Cyberia: Life in the Trenches of Hyperspace introduced many to this rapidly evolving network of technically minded psychonauts. The emergence of various websites and forums within the digital landscape of the late ’90s allowed a much broader and more immediate form of interaction, education, and harm reduction around the fungi, plants, and compounds being used in Australia.
It was not unusual during the ’90s and early ’00s for small crowds of individuals to gather in the forest for ‘bush doofs’ (or raves). These gatherings became psychedelic meeting points, allowing people of like minds to connect and share knowledge. As the ’90s progressed, there was a revival of countercultural ideas, with a fascination for the Beat movement of the ’50s, alternative lifestyles, and particularly, psychedelics.
A growing interest in ethnobotany led many university students to access scientific literature and distribute knowledge on the internet. Information about the presence of DMT in Australia’s native Acacia, Acacia maidenii, was discovered in scientific literature by a student at the University of Sydney, who went on to publish extraction techniques and subsequent experiments.
Terence McKenna visited Australia in 1997 for a speaking engagement at Beyond the Brain Club in Byron Bay. Rumor has it McKenna left a B.caapi vine cutting behind. DMT and ayahuasca were rapidly gaining popularity at the time, and McKenna’s visit led to an increased curiosity and, in time, the popularity of ayahuasca circles in Australia.
The first of many Ethnobotanica conferences was held at Wandjina Gardens in Northern New South Wales in 2001. These small gatherings inspired the formation of Entheogenesis Australis (EGA), which held its first conference in Belgrave, Victoria, in 2004.
These events allowed a multidisciplinary community of both underground and aboveground researchers, scientists, writers and more, to come together, share knowledge, educate, and support others entering the space, in ways that had never happened before in Australia.
In 2010, MAPS founder Rick Doblin was invited to speak at that year’s EGA Symposium. A workshop held after the event led to the formation of Psychedelic Research in Science & Medicine (PRISM), which is now Australia’s leading psychedelic research charity. The EGA conferences are now recognized as one of the longest-running psychedelic conferences.
Honoring the History of the Australian Psychedelic Underground
The option to use psychedelics within a therapeutic context in Australia is promising, though many professionals entering this space may be unaware of the importance of the underground work, which laid the foundation to understanding effects, how to use psychedelics safely, the problems around consent, and also how to integrate the psychedelic experience.
As the space around psychedelics change, there is a need for reflection on how far our understanding of these substances have come by virtue of underground researchers. While building on the work of traditional practices, and prior research, there is, perhaps, also a need to consider a contemporary approach, reflecting on underground practices in an attempt to create a modern approach to psychedelics without appropriating traditional practices.
Is the globalization of ayahuasca hurting tradition and taking ayahuasca further away from its Indigenous roots? Or is it spreading its culture to the people who need it most?
In this episode, David interviews Glauber Assis, Ph.D.: research associate at the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies, director of the Psychedelic Parenthood community, Vital instructor, and leader of Jornadas de Kura, a plant medicine center in Brazil.
He talks about growing up in Brazil in the shadows of colonialism, and how he felt his early experiences with ayahuasca and the Santo Daime church decolonized his mind, changing his relationship with himself and his family, and eventually leading him to start his own church: Céu da Divina Estrela. He believes that to truly know ourselves, we need to experience other cultures, and to truly see the commonalities between each other, we need to recognize just how different we all are. He feels that true growth is not found in the substance or experience, but in the relationships we have with others, and our ability to change.
He discusses:
How ayahuasca becoming a global phenomenon is revitalizing traditions that may have otherwise been lost
His first travels to the U.S. and why we need to stop romanticizing other cultures
The power of live music in a ceremonial group setting
The birth of his third child in a car, and what psychedelic parenthood really means
The importance of understanding multiple different frameworks and being able to use them together
and more!
Bonus: This episode features the first live performance in PT podcast history – a song Assis wrote in the Santo Daime tradition.
Researching the true history of substances deemed illegal can lead to surprising results. In the case of LSD, does its history include a connection between Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the roots of MKUltra?
In this episode, Joe interviews award-winning novelist and screenwriter, Norman Ohler.
Following in the footsteps of Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich, his newest book, Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age, tells the story of how the Nazi’s passion for methamphetamine turned into a curiosity about LSD, and how their experiments with trying to harness LSD as a truth drug eventually led to the CIA continuing their research under their MKUltra program. The book came about from trying to understand why LSD never became medicine – a question posed by his father, when discussing how LSD could help with his wife’s progressing Alzheimer’s symptoms.
He discusses:
His path to becoming a “gonzo historian” and how his early psychedelic research was inspired by a friend’s discovery of methamphetamine tablets from the 40s
Henry Beecher’s LSD experiments with students at Harvard, and how researchers often didn’t know they were contributing to MKUltra
His recent appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience and Jesse Watters Primetime
His mother’s experience with microdosing LSD and why police showed up at his father’s door with a warrant
Why he believes psychedelics will be legalized in the U.S. in the next 10 years
In the communities of the Shipibo people in the Peruvian Amazon, there are healers known as onayas and witches known as yubés. During ayahuasca ceremonies, onayas will attempt to alleviate the suffering of participants who have been cursed by yubés, through cleansing rituals and songs. In doing so, the onayas risk their lives, according to Alonso del Rio, the founder of retreat center Ayahuasca Ayllu.
An energetic battle between the onaya and the yubé soon ensues, he says. The onaya may not sleep for an entire week, under constant attack from the yubé in another plane of consciousness.
“There have been many high-level healers who have died from confrontations with these so-called witches,” del Rio claims, saying that such skirmishes take place in the metaphysical realms between most Amazonian communities. This possibility was previously noted in the 1998 book, The Cosmic Serpent, among other texts.
Del Rio – who was born in the Peruvian capital Lima and studied for 13 years in the Shipibo tradition to become a psychedelic facilitator – accepts that this is a controversial topic, which is unlikely to be taken seriously by many educated people. But he says that a serious, lengthy illness and the destruction of his house some years ago is evidence of this sinister reality. Only when del Rio began to understand the nature of a curse placed upon him in 2005 by a disgruntled sorcerer, was he able to learn how to cure himself and prevent his likely demise.
The Risk and Responsibility of Preserving Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge
As part of this ongoing quest, del Rio – a self-described “consciousness activist” who holds ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru and across the world, where it is permitted – has collaborated with Psychedelics Today to develop a course titled “Ancestral Teachings for the Psychedelic Renaissance” to help psychonauts and practitioners deepen their understanding of the nebulous nature of shamanism. He refers to ayahuasca, peyote, huachuma and other plant-based psychedelics as “power plants.”
“Because power is something neutral,” del Rio says. “It depends on who uses it and what for.” The consumption of plants like ayahuasca, or lab-based psychedelics like LSD, he adds, does not automatically improve people. Contrary to the belief held by many who work in the field, he believes they should not be called “medicine,” because psychedelics are not inherently medicinal.
The course illustrates how complex and testing a life dedicated to sharing psychedelic plants ceremonially is.
“I believe that the deeper one goes into this path, the more you realize how infinite it is, and the care and responsibility you have to take to preserve your life and the lives of the people attending a ceremony,” he says.
Beyond Science: How Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge Offers a Deeper Understanding of Healing
Del Rio – who studied under a Shipibo onaya named Benito Arevalo who encouraged him to share the teachings more widely – feels the best path to responsible administration of power plants is achieved by undergoing a comprehensive apprenticeship with an elder.
“I believe that there are many people who put many people at risk because of their poor training,” he says. “This is not something you really learn, not even in ten years, [but] it is a lifelong path in which we are being formed and each time we understand more how to serve better.”
Stripping psychedelic medicine of its 10,000-year-old Indigenous history and framework of use in order to make it fit within a Western allopathic healthcare system is short-sighted, he contends. It seems that being dispensed psilocybin in a medical setting in the U.S. could be safer than risking being cursed by a yubé in Peru during an ayahuasca ceremony, but del Rio says that the psychedelics cannot only be understood within a scientific paradigm.
“The same amount of substance will work differently for different people,” he maintains. “The substances are not actually what heals, within our tradition, the energy of the healer contributes as much as the substance itself.”
Integration of Ancestral Psychedelic Knowledge into Modern Psychedelic Practices
Little by little, there is an increasing appreciation that Western medicine can learn from the ancient history of psychedelics. In September, an article published by the BBC reported on how it is essential for Western society to develop an understanding of how Indigenous communities have “very different belief systems for interacting with and interpreting the world around them.”
The bulk of clinical psychedelic research thus far has been focused on the individual, as opposed to the group. Any possible interaction with the natural or spirit worlds is completely overlooked. Del Rio urges modern-day researchers to integrate traditional knowledge, “so we don’t repeat mistake after mistake, which, above all, would put many people at risk.”
The Role of Nature and Community in Preserving the Ancestral
Indigenous peoples in the Americas “have maps, guides, a deep familiarity with altered states of consciousness,” Jules Evans, a psychedelics researcher at Queen Mary University of London, who directs the non-profit Challenging Psychedelic Experiences, told the BBC. “Secular people, on the whole, do not. As a result, people can be bewildered by the experience and confused as to how to integrate it into a materialistic worldview. This existential confusion can last months or years, and the person who comes out on the other side may be very different to the person before.”
Central to the process of integration of ancestral psychedelic knowledge is a sense of community, but participants in psychedelic retreats can be left wanting when they return to the urban silos and experience isolation even after transcendent, healing experiences. Even more important is a connection with nature, according to Francisco Rivarola, who worked with del Rio to produce the course.
“The daughter of a Shipibo chief told me that she believes … that what is really sickening society is the disconnection that they have from nature and the source of the divine,” he says.
“The psychedelic [experience] is a portal through which maybe, if you’re lucky and you do this the right way, you can touch upon that connection.”
A failure to make secure that enduring connection – in tandem with the sense of community experienced within ceremony – explains why many people persist in regularly taking high doses of psychedelics in group rituals without reporting long-term improvements in their health, Rivarola adds.
“Working with sacred plants within a ceremonial space allows you to understand something that the West does not understand,” says del Rio, “which is the intelligence of plants and how they can act selectively.”
The folly of Western science – and the psychedelics researchers who do not investigate plants and drugs outside of a “reductionist scientific paradigm that only sees matter without its interaction with other energy levels” – will soon become clear, he claims. “In ten or twenty years we will laugh at this model.”
Are you eager to increase your ancestral knowledge? In Ancestral Teachings for the Psychedelic Renaissance, you’ll experience an introduction to the depth of training that a traditional Peruvian curandero goes through and a roadmap for the life-long practices that anyone relating to psychedelic medicine and practices can benefit from. Over 20 hours of recorded classes, three live group calls,and two complimentary e-books are included. Secure your space today – seats are limited!
With so much attention being placed on the psychedelic experience itself, too many people are getting stuck in patterns of chasing the experience without making space for integration.
She talks about her early days of rave culture and MDMA, to exploring other substances, to where she is today: finding joy in the simple things in life, embracing recreational psychedelics, and continuously working on herself while understanding that psychedelic experiences are not the be-all, end-all medicine, and that taking space to integrate learned lessons is where the true potential lies. She recognizes that many of us set out to heal trauma or work on something specific, but often get caught in a “healing trap,” where a victim energy ends up holding us back – and keeps us coming back. When is the healing done? When do these experiences become a habit or escape? What are we not integrating?
She discusses:
The “7 levels of energy” framework she uses with clients
How she works with clients who return to unhealthy patterns after a big experience
The judgment of the psychedelic space, both for people who stop using psychedelics and for people who return to the well perhaps too often
Her relationship with her mother and how her mother’s cancer treatment inspired her to create Kanna Wellness
How much of a factor acceptance is in finding joy in the mundane
and more!
Serving Canada (for now), Kannawellness.com just launched, and features kanna extract eight times more potent than what is on the market today. If you’re curious, use code PT10 at checkout for 10% off your order!
After years of work, MAPS/Lykos was finally able to present MDMA to the FDA as a possible tool in the fight against PTSD, only to be denied in devastating fashion. Just why did the FDA reject MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD?
In this episode, Joe interviews Ingmar Gorman, Ph.D.: clinical psychologist and co-founder and CEO of Fluence, a psychedelic education company.
Gorman served as a co-principal investigator and study therapist on MAPS’ Phase II and III clinical trials for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, and works with drug sponsors: training, developing the components for clinical trials, and designing therapy manuals. With his insider’s perspective, he discusses the reasons why he believes the FDA rejected MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: from ICER’s 2.1 section of the report giving legitimacy to allegations they don’t have the authority to research, to Lykos not being able to defend some accusations due to confidentiality, to the damage caused over time (which likely influenced the decision) from attacks against Lykos from dissenters.
He discusses:
How, despite abuse claims, the main allegations in the report were actually about the mishandling of data or influence of investigators on participants
The complications of needing to follow study frameworks: Should your adverse experience be in the report if it happened outside the study window?
How easily opposition can attack and demonize a faceless company, while forgetting the humanity of the people behind it
Inner healing intelligence and the proposition that people have been indoctrinated into this concept by MAPS
The need for journalists to research more and not just jump on a narrative
Doctors across the country are beginning to look beyond their prescription pads to explore new treatments for chronic pain management: psychedelics.
As clinical research mounts, patient stories become more frequent, and a desperate call for new solutions to help people find relief for chronic pain becomes louder, substances like psilocybin and MDMA are entering medical education as promising new treatments.
Healthcare professionals are listening and learning how psychedelics could become part of their practices, offering new hope to patients for whom traditional methods – like opioids and nerve blocks – often fall short.
Psychedelics Take Center Stage at Medical Conferences
Recently at the annual PAINWeek conference, more than 1,400 pain management professionals gathered to learn about advances in the field. Psychedelics took center stage: the 2024 event marked the first time psychedelic medicines had a dedicated track on the agenda.
Presentations in the psychedelic track were delivered by patients, healthcare professionals, including Dr. Eugene Vortsman, licensed clinical social worker Erica Siegal, and attorney Deborah Linden Saly, who are each engaged in research, advocacy, or clinical practice with substances like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and DMT.
A growing body of evidence shows people living with conditions including chronic low back pain, migraine, cluster headaches, fibromyalgia, traumatic brain injuries, and phantom limb pain often find that existing treatments are either ineffective or come with troubling or dangerous side effects.
The presence and fervor around psychedelics at the conference is the latest example of a growing focus by the medical community on psychedelics as a new and promising treatment for a wide range of chronic pain and physical conditions.
How Psychedelics Work to Combat Chronic Pain Conditions: Examining the Stories and Research
The complexity of pain is well-matched by the multiple ways that psychedelic substances impact human physiology and perception. Key pain prevention qualities of psychedelics include their ability to interfere with the ascending cascade of pain signals and their powerful anti-inflammatory effects.
New mechanisms of action for how psychedelics improve pain are continually being discovered and proposed. Broadly, it seems to be a complex confluence of biological, psychological and social factors that are all altered by psychedelics. It is premature to state that there is one key or overarching mechanism at work. The field continues to deepen knowledge about which substances and at what doses, are right for which conditions and individual patients.
Another exciting area of exploration is how psychedelics can be combined with a wide array of adjunctive therapies like neuromodulation, physical therapy, massage, mirror box exercises, posture therapy, and more to enhance the efficacy and enduring effect on chronic pain.
“I had been evaluated for musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction that I had acquired through a host of injuries over the years of my performance career, and in fact, had just been in the doctor’s office a few months earlier trying to determine if I had arthritis or something worse,” Wing said. “But right there in the (psilocybin) session room, I started having a neurological revision, with my muscles and nerves in my right inner thigh firing in an effort to recalibrate the sensory and motor inputs and outputs in that part of my kinetic chain.”
Personal stories combined with evidence from clinical studies suggest the positive experiences of people in pain who try psychedelic treatments are not lucky aberrations.
Navigating Legal Considerations of Psychedelics for Pain Management
Despite a rise in queries, concerns about discussing illegal substances keeps many in healthcare from speaking to their patients about psychedelics for chronic pain.
“Increasing numbers of patients ask me about the potential health benefits of psychedelic agents, both for my area of particular interest – cluster headache, as well as for other headache conditions and for general mental health,” Dr. Brian E. McGeeney, a neurologist and headache specialist in Boston said.
Attorney Deborah Linden Saly cautions healthcare providers: regardless of how state-level laws may change, psychedelics mostly remain illegal Schedule I substances at the federal level. But, she adds, medical professionals can employ strategies to mitigate liability when their clients ask them about psychedelics.
Broadly, healthcare providers can and should be able to answer questions about known efficacy (as documented in the scientific literature), psychedelic-prescription drug interactions, and be able to point to quality sources of information where the patients can learn more. Healthcare providers should be wary of recommending or encouraging psychedelic use until the legal status of these substances changes, but this does not negate providing clients, especially those who have exhausted all typical treatment methods, with resources and education – and encouraging them to seek more on their own.
Psychedelics Entering the Professional Education Arena
In the past two years, many professional medical meetings have included discussion of psychedelics to treat pain. Earlier this year, Dr. Emmanuelle Schindler spoke at the American Headache Society’s (AHS) Annual Scientific Conference about her positive and significant research on psilocybin for cluster headache and migraine.
This fall, AHS will also host a pre-course titled Psychedelics and Headache Advanced Course at their Scottsdale Symposium. Presenters for this course include the founder and executive director of Clusterbusters, Bob Wold; sociologist and author of Psychedelic Outlaws: The Movement Revolutionizing Modern Medicine, Joanna Kempner, PhD; and Dr. Emmanuelle Schindler and other physicians. By the end of 2024, Schindler will have spoken on this topic at 16 medical and research events in the past two years.
The patient advocacy group Clusterbusters recently held its 19th annual U.S. conference, and due to growing interest from healthcare providers, they introduced a Continuing Medical Education (CME) course for the first time. This addition led to a fourfold increase in the number of attending medical professionals, who came to learn from the cluster headache patient community about effective treatments, including the potential use of psychedelics.
“What a privilege it was to get a better understanding of this community and the disease they tragically share. But it’s for that shared agony that they can make their lives better, along with the lives of countless others. Not to mention all the lives they’ve saved. Now they can count my enlightenment among their triumphs,” said Dr. Stephanie Nahas, a Philadelphia-based headache specialist.
The Future of Chronic Pain Care: With or Without Psychedelics
One in five Americans currently suffers with chronic pain. Pain management professionals know better than anyone else (except maybe individuals living with poorly treated pain) that the medicines and therapies currently available are insufficient to deal with the epidemic that is growing in our aging society. Psychedelics won’t soon be a first-line pain treatment or an effective solution for all the people living with pain, but patients are increasingly using and reporting remarkable effects with psychedelics. And their physicians have taken notice.
Within the coming years, pain management professionals will likely begin to be able to integrate psychedelic medicines into their clinical practices. The time to educate them is now.
Registration for the annual Psychedelics & Pain Symposium hosted by the Psychedelics & Pain Association (PPA) and REMAP Therapeutics on Sept. 28 – 29 is now open. This online conference dives deep with researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates leading the field of psychedelics for pain and physical conditions. Day One will explore in-depth the foundations of this topic and is free for all registrants. Day Two will focus on advanced topics including preliminary results from ongoing trials, exploration of complex mechanisms of action, and the clinical potential of psychedelics for physical conditions. Secure your seat now.
Psychedelic experiences can be a key drivers toward finding your soul’s purpose. But how can the insights learned lead to professional growth or a completely new career?
In this episode, Kyle interviews Beth Weinstein: spiritual business coach, host of the “Medicine For These Times” podcast, and founder of the Psychedelics, Sacred Medicines, Soul’s Purpose & Business summit.
She talks about a pattern she noticed of people working with psychedelics and seeing progress on what they set out to heal, but with a short-lived afterglow, as they remained in unfulfilling jobs without making any changes. She wondered: What if they applied the lessons they learned during their experience to their careers? What small steps could they start taking to either improve their current job, or find their true soul’s purpose and carve out a new path? Weinstein’s path has led her to combine practical business action plans with more spiritual and traditionally psychedelic modalities to help people grow in their careers and become their most authentic selves – especially if they’re trying to enter into the psychedelic space.
She discusses:
The importance of making time to talk things out with a coach, integration circle, or friends – especially in a culture that only gets more distracting and chaotic every day
The challenge of differentiating between guidance: Is it your soul’s true purpose, or a trick of your ego?
The weirdly taboo topic of money in psychedelics, and the delicate balance of aligning with charitable values while making a living
The mystical aspects to how life can change with new energy: Maybe that layoff happened at the perfect time?
The power of positivity and small steps toward change, and how working on something outside of work can transform how you show up at work
and more!
Weinstein’s newest course begins early next year: The True Path Entrepreneur Group Business Coaching Mastermind Program, which is a 12-month live coaching course designed to reprogram limiting patterns and beliefs and help move people into alignment with their true path. Click here for more info and to apply.
As more people have experiences with non-ordinary states, integration becomes more important than ever. But if there isn’t one in your area, how can you create your own psychedelic integration circle?
In this episode, David interviews Daniel Shankin: psychedelic integration coach, Vital instructor, and founder and director of Tam Integration.
He talks about the underrated importance of integration circles, how he created Tam Integration out of a personal need for them, how simple it can be for people to create their own groups, and how open-ended newly formed groups can be. He also discusses his “fractal inquiry” coaching method, and how the best coaching involves simply asking questions that lead clients to their own realizations and wisdom. He is offering courses that teach both of these skills: a course called Creating Community Psychedelic Integration Circles, and the newly-launched, year-long Mt. Tam Psychedelic Integration Coaching Program, beginning in October.
He discusses:
The importance of learning how to focus on your breath, especially during a tough experience
Hugging the Hindu spiritual leader, Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), and the special energy that some people have
The benefits of knowing when a mind path isn’t worth exploring
The difference between judgment and curiosity
The weirdness of psychonauts, and how maybe getting a little weirder is what’s needed for your healing
Despite the dose, the substance, or a carefully tuned set and setting, seemingly, psychedelics don’t always work for everyone. This frustrating phenomenon known as the “nada effect” sometimes shows up, and leaves individuals without the psychedelic trip they expected.
But why does this happen? Could the ego be the key to understanding this no-high zone, or are biological factors, medications, or deeper psychological and spiritual reasons to blame?
When Psychedelics Don’t Always Work: A Historical Account
When Richard Alpert, the former Harvard psychologist who later took the name Ram Dass, met his spiritual guru Maharajji in 1967 he was asked if he had “any of that yogi medicine.” Meaning, of course, LSD.
Alpert duly handed over a 300-milligram capsule of LSD, already a considerable dose, but Maharajji asked for two more pills.
“I was thinking this is going to be pretty interesting, and nothing happens at all,” Ram Dass later recounted. “I was impressed.”
Three years later in India, Maharajji requested an even larger dose of 1,200 milligrams.
“At one point he went under his blanket and then he came back down looking absolutely mad, and I thought ‘What have I done to this poor old man?’ He doesn’t understand the power of our medicine, and he probably did throw it over his shoulder last time.”
Once Ram Dass was “totally paranoid” and regretting giving such a potent dose of LSD to a man who had no experience with psychedelics, Maharajji “laughed in glee” and demonstrated that he had, in fact, not been tripping. The ultimate purpose of the exercise, it seemed, was to show Ram Dass the relative impermeability of the spiritually enlightened – so long as the mind is firmly fixed on God – to psychedelic substances.
‘The Psychedelic Space is Filled With Some of the Biggest Egos’
Today, scientists give the notion that psychedelics don’t work for the “enlightened” little regard, even despite contemporary tales of master meditators experiencing little effect from large doses.
“For a field that is all about ego dissolution, the psychedelic space is filled with some of the biggest egos that say the most outlandish stuff,” says Zeus Tipado, a neuroscientist and PhD candidate at the University of Maastricht. “A person claiming they can’t trip because they’re ‘more spiritually evolved’ is the highest of ego trips. They’re fabricating a level of superiority that is unnecessary and unscientific.”
Naturally, as the use of psychedelics increases and mainstream culture adopts some trippy elements, some may claim to be more spiritually evolved and psychedelically experienced than others.
“This creates a division – ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ thinking – and that thinking doesn’t really do much for humanity except create separation,” Tipado adds.
(Unsurprisingly) Studies Show People Have Stronger Experiences at Higher Doses
Although Maharajji took a huge dose of LSD, explanations for some who claim to have no discernible visionary or felt experience – the so-called “nada effect” could be related to the amount of substance taken.
Manoj Doss, PhD, a cognitive neuropsychopharmacologist at the University of Texas in Austin, largely rejects the idea that those who may have spiritually transcended are less likely to experience intense trips, but he acknowledges that people – monks, for instance – who are not caught up with the “chaos” of the mind and worrying about what they have to do the next day may find the psychedelic experience more tolerable.
“Some people definitely don’t get effects,” he says. “Some people don’t get visuals, but they get the weird mind space. Some people get visuals and less of the weird mind space. I do imagine if they cranked up the dose, then they would probably start to go into some weird places in their head.”
Why Psychedelics Don’t Work for Everyone: Prior Beliefs, Aphantasia, or Medication History
According to psychopharmacologist Robin Carhart-Harris’ relaxed beliefs under psychedelics (REBUS) theory, the relaxation of top-down expectations encoded within the default mode network of the brain is crucial.
Whether one’s top-down expectations relax or not “may be the defining characteristic of psychedelic brain dynamics and subjective experience,” reports neuroscientist Marco Aqil.
This process allows an increased flow of bottom-up information which is “unsuppressed” by existing beliefs.
Others are more prone to “absorption” than their peers.
“Maybe the only personality trait that is reliably known to be related to the intensity of the experience is absorption,” says Dr. Leor Roseman, a psychedelic researcher at Exeter University.
Some people get more absorbed easily in their external or internal worlds, he explains. For instance, some are more absorbed in the experience of watching a sunset than their peers.
“People who are higher on the absorption scale are also more sensitive to psychedelics,” adds Roseman. “People who are low on absorption need higher doses.”
Tipado, meanwhile, offers an alternative possible explanation that the condition aphantasia, which makes it impossible for people to visually imagine things, may impinge on the ability of people to have psychedelic visions.
“We don’t necessarily know why aphantasia happens and some people with this condition also have an inability to imagine hearing something – so it may be a wider sensory condition,” Tipado says. “Varying spectrums of aphantasia could explain why some people don’t have a perceptual trip when they do psychedelics.”
Those who do not experience intense effects may effectively have less serotonin 2-A receptors available for the psychedelic to upregulate, Doss adds. This could be down to having recently taken antipsychotic medication, though one paper proposes that genetics could be the reason. Early research and anecdotal reports also suggest that people who have taken antidepressants for some time are more likely to report reduced effects, because the drug is effectively using some of the serotonin receptors for its own purposes.
“I’ve heard of retreats in Jamaica and Mexico where they won’t wean people off SSRIs but start them at a regular dose but then double the dose if it doesn’t do anything,” Doss says. Other facilitators might then offer a cannabis joint to activate the effects of psilocybin, for instance.
‘For Some People, it’s Just So Hard to Trust’
But Dr. Rosalind Watts, the former clinical lead for Imperial College London’s psilocybin for depression trial, says that it would be wiser to guide people who have experienced serious traumas and exhibit signs of interpersonal distancing – characteristics, she says, of people who do not “break through” during psychedelic trials – through breathwork sessions and smaller doses over weeks prior to a bigger dose to build trust and safety.
“For some people, it is just so, so hard to trust,” Watts told the Adventures Through the Mind podcast. “There is this holding on, because it just doesn’t feel safe… [and they] would probably need a lot more support in order to let go.”
When somebody’s system is overwhelmed with a feeling of unsafety, there can be “a shutting down,” she adds. “On a neurobiological level I’m sure there are processes that kick in that might put the brakes on, if something feels so dangerous to the organism, then the organism shuts down.”
During the podcast, Watts responded to how psychiatrist Stan Grof spoke of how some hyper-vigilant patients exhibit a compulsive holding in the psyche that only a dose of 1,500 milligrams of LSD could penetrate, after which a regular dose of the psychedelic would have a felt an effect.
Those more interested in shamanistic explanations than clinical definitions may simply say, the person receives what they are ready for when it is the right time.
“There is a homeostatic balancing system and if your system doesn’t need a big jolt then you’re not going to get a big jolt,” says Watts. “My sense would be that dose would certainly come into it. And that for these people, if we’d have given them a much larger dose, then maybe there would have been this breakthrough and they wouldn’t have been able to hold on.”
It is not uncommon for at least one person in a group of people taking ayahuasca in a ceremony to report having experienced very little, or nothing, she adds.
“It would be very interesting to interview all those people and try and work out if there was some – maybe unconscious – sense of unsafety, in the environment because of how they were feeling that day, or just not feeling safe enough to let go.”
Roseman says that participants in certain ayahuasca ceremonies may justifiably not feel safe enough to have a transcendent experience
“There’s a lot of research about how trust predicts spiritual experiences, breakthroughs and positive therapeutic experiences,” he says. “Some people do not trust easily, but it can be that the facilitators are genuinely untrustworthy. Not all resistance is a bad thing.”
So, why did Maharajji not breakthrough with 1,200 milligrams of LSD?
“I don’t know, I don’t believe that so much,” says Roseman. “I don’t buy it.”
Cluster headaches are considered to be the most severe pain a person can experience. With scarce research and no funding, citizen-led science has taken over, and sufferers may have discovered the answer: psychedelics.
The book profiles the history and groundbreaking work of ClusterBusters, a nonprofit researching and spreading awareness about what someone named Flash discovered decades ago: that for some people, psilocybin and LSD could stop cluster headaches from coming on. Through early internet message board posts and email exchanges between Bob Wold, Rick Doblin, and others, Kempner pieced together their story. And through attending ClusterBusters meetings, she discovered that a lot of the true healing lies in the bonds formed and the hope people find when seeing something new work for a pain for which science has no answer.
She discusses:
The lack of political will behind something so debilitating: Why is there no funding for this?
The importance of patient advocacy and the role of the internet in sharing novel information
The difficulty in studying a disease so unpredictable: How do you run a randomized trial when you don’t know when a cluster is going to happen?
Why the headache community clashes with psychology
Concerns over how to ethically combine underground and Indigenous knowledge with above-ground University research
In an age where technology has made it easier than ever to reach each other, humanity faces a glaring paradox: people are more disconnected than ever before, and the need for togetherness has never been greater.
Disconnection isn’t just a social or personal issue – it’s a driving force behind the multiple, interconnected crises we’re facing today. This “polycrisis” is a term that speaks to a complex web of global challenges like climate change, social inequality, and political instability, which are deeply intertwined with the alienation we feel from each other, our environment, and even ourselves. We find ourselves caught in a vicious cycle that erodes our ability to innovate, collaborate, and maintain the relationships necessary to solve enormous problems.
But there is hope in psychedelics. As powerful tools that can heal fractures, psychedelics can restore our sense of belonging and connection with ourselves, each other, and the planet. By addressing the roots of alienation, psychedelics can offer a solution to not only individual and collective repair, but also a way to tackle the global polycrisis threatening our future.
Understanding Modern Alienation: Fuel for Fragmentation
Around the world, people are feeling a profound sense of disconnection – socially, culturally, environmentally, and from themselves. Over 60% of adults are chronically lonely, and this number continues to rise. Modern alienation has led to widespread isolation, division, and perhaps most disturbingly, a loss in the meaning in life for many people. It isn’t just harmful for individuals; it also fuels the larger polycrisis we face by undermining our ability to collaborate, innovate, and sustain a healthy relationship with our world.
Here are some of the most prevalent forms of modern alienation:
Social Alienation
Many people feel increasingly disconnected from the social groups that used to give them a sense of belonging. While social media seems to connect us, it actually deepens these divides, creating echo chambers where different perspectives aren’t usually celebrated. This divide makes it hard – if not impossible – to create the collective will that’s required to solve global problems. The ripple effect of failing to solve one issue, like social isolation, intensifies parallel issues, like political unrest or “othering.”
Cultural Alienation
As the world becomes more globalized, many people feel estranged from their cultural roots, especially if they live in environments where their culture is underrepresented or misunderstood. Losing your cultural identity can cause people to feel confused and like they don’t belong, weakening the social fabric that’s crucial to building cultural identity worth preserving. The erosion of cultural identity doesn’t just impact people, but it weakens our ability to draw on each other’s perspectives, which is crucial to navigate complex global problems.
Environmental Alienation
Urbanization and modern living have distanced us from the natural world, contributing to a growing environmental crisis. Many people feel disconnected from nature, leading to a lack of appreciation for the environment and a sense of being out of place in the world. This is a particularly deadly example of alienation: when people don’t feel connected to the earth, they’re less likely to try to protect it. We’re now caught in a vicious cycle, in which environmental destruction is perpetuating social and economic instability, and obliterating quality of life for many.
Personal Alienation
On a more intimate level, many people feel disconnected from themselves, and are living lives that don’t align with their values, wants, or actual needs. We can see it all around us, in each other, and ourselves, manifesting as depression, anxiety, and a deep sense of unfulfillment. When we’re disconnected from our inner selves, we’re less likely to engage in our world, weakening our capacity for empathy, creativity, and resiliency in the face of glaring global problems that need solving now.
Psychedelics as a Solution: Reconnecting to Combat a Global Polycrisis
Psychedelics offer a powerful solution. These compounds have shown remarkable potential in healing the mind and restoring crucial lost connections: socially, culturally, environmentally, and personally. By repairing these connections, we begin to lay the groundwork for solving some of the most destructive problems plaguing our planet today.
Repairing Social Connections: Building Resilient Communities and Relationships
Psychedelics can break down the barriers that fragment our communities. In communal settings, such as retreats or group ceremonies, psychedelics foster a sense of unity and shared experience.
Psychedelics can play a major role in mending fractured relationships: in families, between romantic partners, or even between nations. In romantic relationships, MDMA-assisted therapy has been shown to help couples reconnect and deepen their understanding of each other. On a larger scale, psychedelics could be used to overcome entrenched national dogmas, fostering mutual understanding and peace between nations. The historic Soviet-American science conference at Esalen is a prime example, when new age practices led to a vision of peace during the Cold War.
By rebuilding social connections, psychedelics can strengthen the communal ties necessary to address global challenges together.
Reviving Cultural Identity: Protecting Diversity in a Polycrisis World
Culturally, psychedelics are helping people all around the world reconnect with their roots and heritage.
Indigenous communities have used psychedelics like peyote and ayahuasca in ritualistic and medicinal contexts for centuries. And today, they’re being used to help ensure that Native American youth do not lose the connection to their heritage. Peyote remains a central sacrament to the Native American Church, and has been used successfully to reconnect Native Americans to their language through song and chanting (and reliable religious experiences). In addition to reconnecting many Indigenous people with their spirituality, ceremony is reconnecting them with their language, which is really important because it was lost for so many people as a result of colonization.
Reconnecting to your cultural identity doesn’t just help heal personal alienation, but also improves the diversity of perspectives and solutions needed to navigate the complexities of a globalized world facing multiple crises.
Psychedelics can foster a deep reconnection with the natural world. When people adopt a deep love of nature, it is, in theory, possible to solve colossal environmental problems.
Many who take psychedelics outdoors report a heightened awareness of their connection to the earth. It can inspire people to live more sustainably and commit to protecting the planet. By rekindling our connection to nature, psychedelics can help reverse the environmental destruction that fuels global polycrisis, promoting behaviors and policies that prioritize ecological balance, sustainability, and even regeneration.
A famed 2019 study by researchers Sam Gandy, Robin Carhart-Harris and others known as the Nature Relatedness Study. The findings suggest that psychedelic experiences can lead to significant and lasting changes in personality, particularly in terms of increased openness and nature relatedness. These changes may also be linked to shifts in political views, promoting more liberal and pro-environmental attitudes. This underscores the potential of psychedelics not only for individual growth but for broader societal impacts.
A 1966 study, Psychedelic Agents in Creative Problem-Solving, demonstrated how psychedelics helped scientists solve complex problems, leading to significant technological advancements. Imagine the potential if psychedelic-inspired innovation were applied to environmental sustainability or the development of new, greener technologies. By unlocking new ways of thinking, psychedelics can help us develop solutions that address the root causes of environmental crises, rather than just treating the symptoms.
Personal Reconnection: Empowering People For the Good of the Planet
On a personal level, psychedelics offer a powerful tool for self-reconnection, particularly in therapeutic settings. They can help individuals explore their shadow, confront unresolved trauma, and rediscover their true selves. This process of self-discovery and deep healing isn’t just transformative for the person, but has ripple effects that improve our capacity to address global challenges. When we’re more connected to ourselves, we’re more likely to engage meaningfully with the world around us.
Take the opioid crisis, for example. Psychedelics offer a promising alternative or addition to traditional pain management, and may drastically reduce chronic pain without the need for opioids. This could lead to a significant reduction in opioid use and addiction, alleviating the strain on healthcare systems and helping to reinvigorate families and communities.
We see the ripple effect of personal reconnection and doing deep inner work all over the psychedelic field; using the principles of Stan Grof, Carl Jung, and Internal Family Systems to help individuals participate in this adventure of self-discovery.
In fact, we’re offering our Vital students the chance to specialize in Somatics, Jung and Depth Psychology as part of their certification for the upcoming September cohort. We’re the first education program to offer this kind of specialization, which we think will be really crucial to helping people heal themselves and others.
The Transformative Global Potential of Psychedelics
The potential of psychedelics to heal and reconnect us, both personally and collectively, is immense. But we can only do it if we approach these substances with responsibility, respect, and a deep understanding of their power.
Philosopher Buckminster Fuller once said, “You do not belong to you. You belong to the universe.” Our role is to use our experiences to help others, and psychedelics provide us with the tools to do it.
Psychedelics can indeed reconnect us, inspire innovation and creativity, and help us solve complex polycrisis problems we face as a society. But most importantly, psychedelics remind us of our interconnectedness: that we are all part of a larger whole, and that our actions have ripple effects that extend far beyond ourselves.
Breathwork can be a powerful tool for addressing trauma and supporting growth, but the community formed around it seems to prove where the true magic lies: the healing power of connection.
In this episode, Kyle interviews Mustapha Khan: Emmy Award-winning director with over 100 film and television credits, who has worked with clients such as Coca-Cola and Honda, and celebrities ranging from Maya Angelou to Snoop Dogg.
Khan is finalizing a film about Lenny and Elizabeth Gibson and their ongoing work at Dreamshadow – the people and community responsible for Joe and Kyle meeting and the creation of Psychedelics Today. He talks about meeting the Gibsons, being welcomed into their community (instead of his proposed “fly on the wall” role), how centered and happy he felt after his first breathwork session, and what he has learned through the process: that breathwork can be an incredibly healing modality, but the magic he has found has been more in the community surrounding it, and the responsibility (and honor) of being a sitter for someone else.
He discusses:
The first time his breathwork went psychedelic, and speaking with his recently deceased Mother
How he got into filmmaking and why he wants to tell stories about people like the Gibsons
The beauty of breathwork not having a dogma or doctrine attached to it
The power in holding space for someone else, even if it’s just being present
The importance of taking action that aligns with psychedelic ethos: What can you do to contribute to your community?
and more!
Khan is planning to release the documentary, “Life and Breath,” in October. In addition to a screening at Dreamshadow, PT will likely do a virtual one as well, so stay tuned for updates!
While the concept is often unfairly reduced to replacing one drug with another, many people struggling with addictions are proving that there’s a positive link between the use of psychedelics and addiction recovery. Can microdosing be a factor?
As a recovering addict, Nova discusses how working with psychedelics helped her find her way to recovery, and how she’s spreading that knowledge to others through her Psychedelic Recovery program, which focuses more on ‘targeted abstinence,’ instead of the total abstinence model of Psychedelics In Recovery (which works alongside AA’s 12-step program). She believes that it’s extremely important to reframe addiction as a life process or temporary state of consciousness (rather than a life sentence you can’t escape), and that beating addiction is not about constantly being afraid of a relapse, but about evolving to a state of empowerment: that you can overcome it, and that actually, a horrific addiction may have saved you and brought you to where you’re supposed to be.
She discusses:
The complications of Western medicine and the impact of conflicting medications that are nearly impossible to stop taking
How self-regulation of tough emotions with outside stimuli (be it drugs, pornography, or even video games) trains people to rely on external forces rather than themselves
How addicts end up programing themselves with ‘addict consciousness,’ and the power of changing one’s mind state to view suffering as the fuel for a new purpose
How, over time, we will likely start viewing microdosing as a regular dose, and the large doses we’re used to will be seen as overdosing
and more!
She has co-created Microdosing Facilitator Training with Adam Bramlage of Flow State Micro: a first-of-its-kind 4-month program teaching clinicians, facilitators, and coaches about microdosing and how to safely guide others through the practice. The next cohort launches in January 2025.
Lykos’ psychedelic-assisted therapy model was meant to reinvent mental healthcare as we know it. Its PTSD protocol, which included preparation support, three guided MDMA therapy sessions, and integration counseling, took a bold step toward merging pharmacology with psychotherapy. But the FDA’s decision to reject it may force the psychedelic industry to pivot from resource-intensive and holistic to streamlined and pharma-friendly.
How We Got Here: Understanding the FDA’s Rejection
On Aug. 9, Lykos announced that the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected its new drug application (NDA) for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. The company’s press release was so matter-of-fact and measured that I had to read it twice to grasp the meaning.
Eventually, my eyes refocused on two sentences: “The FDA communicated that it had completed its review of the NDA and determined that it could not be approved based on data submitted to date. The FDA has requested that Lykos conduct an additional Phase 3 trial to further study the safety and efficacy of midomafetamine (MDMA).”
I’ve investigated the infamous MDMA hearing in prior articles, so I’ll spare the exhaustive details here. But to briefly recap, PDAC members who lacked psychedelic expertise said that Lykos’ statistically significant clinical data was unreliable. It determined the trials contained inherent design flaws and feared that alleged misconduct, although unsubstantiated, could have skewed the data. Nine of eleven panelists said the NDA was not ready for approval.
PDAC’s vote confused many advocates, who noted that Lykos followed the FDA’s draft psychedelic therapy FDA approval guidance. Others pointed out that MAPS and the FDA co-created the trial design through a Special Protocol Assessment in 2017.
In the FDA’s words, “We have completed our review and, based on the information submitted, agree that the design and planned analysis of your study adequately address the objectives necessary to support a regulatory submission.”
Dr. Scott Shannon, Principal Investigator in MAPS Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, added that the FDA thoroughly investigated MAPS’s research sites during the trials to ensure proper data acquisition.
However, the advisory committee ignored these facts. Instead, they lamented over Lykos’ drug plus psychotherapy protocol, consistently questioning its validity and whether emotional support was even necessary alongside MDMA to alleviate PTSD. Worse, despite blatant contrary evidence, they asserted that MAPS’ FDA-aligned MDMA therapy protocol could do patients more harm than good.
Facing the Fallout: Lykos’ Next Steps
Lykos must now conduct a third Phase 3 clinical trial to overcome issues it thought were ironed out. The new trial will take at least two years and cost millions of dollars the team may not have.
In preparation, Lykos laid off 75% of its workforce, discontinued funding MDMA therapy research in Europe, and radically shifted its leadership team.
Rick Doblin, PhD, founder of Lykos’ non-profit parent company MAPS, resigned from the board shortly after the MDMA therapy FDA rejection.Doblin, a beloved psychedelic trailblazer and somewhat controversial figure, said his activist nature interfered with Lykos’ regulatory path. He will now pursue MAPS’ broader research, education, and policy reform goals.
Upon Doblin’s departure, Lykos hired a seasoned pharmaceutical executive, Dr. David Hough, to oversee the NDA’s next steps. In a recent press release, Lykos Chairman Jeff George said, “Dr. Hough is a consummate industry professional and exactly the right person to lead the crucial work of engaging with the FDA for our resubmission.”
Hough’s resume includes bringing Spravato (esketamine nasal spray) to market at Johnson & Johnson, where he led compound development and the medical, scientific, and regulatory processes.
Spravato is a ketamine-analog medication with dissociative psychedelic properties prescribed for major depressive disorder. The FDA approved Spravato’s NDA in 2019 with a protocol requiring patients first to prove that traditional antidepressants failed before becoming eligible for coverage.
Glaringly, Spravato’s application did not include therapeutic intervention, begging the question, could Hough have similar plans for MDMA?
A New Path for Psychedelic Therapy?
The future of psychedelic-assisted therapyremains uncertain. Doblin, among others, believes that Lykos will eventually bring MDMA therapy to the masses, but following the FDA rejection, he has grave concerns about the direction the industry might take.
On a recent Modern Enlightenment podcast by Ceremonia, he expressed fears that the FDA’s decision could have a chilling effect on future psychedelic NDAs, setting a hands-off precedent he deems immoral.
Doblin told Ceremonia, “We (MAPS) had suggestions that it might be interesting to do a study just giving people MDMA without any support, but Michael Mithoefer, our lead psychiatrist, myself, and others thought it would be unethical to do that.”
“…stuff comes up [on MDMA], and if you’re not capable of processing it, you can end up worse off,” he added.
Doblin also articulated why he believes MDMA alone is insufficient to extinguish PTSD.
He explained that 40% of Lykos’ clinical trial participants had previously tried MDMA recreationally before joining the study. If the drug alone were all they needed, these patients would’ve been cured of PTSD. But they weren’t. Many had suffered for years without relief. And it was the combination of MDMA plus psychotherapy that finally helped them achieve remission.
Doblin explained, “It’s not about the drug. It’s about how you process. And it also is not just about the drug experience. It’s about integration. It’s also about preparation. All of that is what contributes to the outcomes.”
In other words, the idea that a psychedelic experience alone can cure mental health issues ignores the complexities of trauma and the human psyche.
Nevertheless, the FDA skepticism about MDMA therapy means psychedelic NDAs may start to look like Spravato’s, or they may follow the “psychological support” approach that pharmaceutical companies Compass Pathways (Compass) and Mind Medicine (MindMed) are promoting.
“Profit-oriented companies like Compass are minimizing any psychotherapeutic angle. They just want [psychedelic medicine] to fit into the psycho-pharm model that people understand,” said Shannon.
He added, “I have to tell you that 95% of the people that I know in the psychedelic realm don’t believe in that {approach},” he added.
According to Shannon, “psychological support” means licensed therapists are on-site during drug administration. But instead of providing counseling intervention, they serve in more passive roles, stepping in only to prevent psychological harm when necessary.
“[This approach comes from] people stuck in the old ways. People who want something comfortable and not challenging. This is what fading, failing paradigms do. They try to prevent new ideas from coming in,” said Shannon.
Will Lykos Carry MDMA Therapy to the FDA Finish Line?
Lykos has vowed to bring this novel psychedelic medicine to the current regulatory framework. However, industry insiders think its new Phase 3 trial will introduce different study design elements that could render the original protocol unrecognizable.
At the very least, Lykos may need to shift from integrative, holistic therapies, like Internal Family Systems, Hakomi, and Holotropic Breathwork, to accepted “evidence-based approaches” like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that fit neatly into the traditional medical structure. CBT can be effective for PTSD, but today’s mental health crisis proves it is remarkably substandard.
Amid the tug-of-war between innovation and convention, I fear psychedelic-assisted therapy, as we now know it, may be headed toward extinction. But I won’t mourn its passing. Instead, I’ll see this phase as a metamorphosis—where the old form dissolves, making way for a model that adapts to today’s framework while (hopefully) preserving the transformative essence of psychedelic healing.
Modern Western culture has conditioned us to suppress our feelings and bury negativity, exacerbating any existing trauma and often creating more. With the rise in popularity of psychedelic-assisted therapy, just how important is it for practitioners to be trauma-informed?
In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Deanna Rogers: Registered Clinical Counselor and Vital instructor.
She discusses how trauma grows in our bodies, and the importance of practitioners and facilitators becoming trauma-informed before working with clients. She stresses the need to create the right conditions for clients to be able to work with trauma – to bring compassion to the different parts of their self and build a relationship with the uncomfortable ones, to interrupt negative narratives, and to learn how to exist in a place where they can embrace their window of tolerance and explore discomfort in a safe way. What is the specific container and pace each client needs? How flexible is their nervous system to be able to work with these states? What can be done to bring out the empathetic witness in themselves? And most importantly, how can their sense of agency be improved so that they feel like they’re fully in control of how deep things go?
She discusses:
Her early ayahuasca experiences, and her path toward working with others, including working with Gabor Maté and Peter Levine
How psychedelics allow us to access our irrational, animal parts, and how this work is often a combination of sacred and messy
The need for facilitators to have a basic understanding of the nervous system and fight or flight reactions
Moving away from the idea of: “There’s something wrong with me.” What do these chronic narratives do to our bodies?
Working with clients to build out the capacity of their nervous system first, before working with any trauma
and more!
Rogers is one of our Vital instructors, featured in one of Vital 4’s new Specializations: Somatics & Trauma. This cohort begins on September 17, and the application deadline is next week, September 3, so apply today before it’s too late!
While Oregon and Colorado make all the headlines around establishing legal frameworks for psychedelic use, much is happening behind the scenes in other states. One state is Illinois and what they hope to accomplish with the Illinois CURE Act.
In this episode, Joe interviews Jean Lacy: Executive Director of the Illinois Psychedelic Society; and La Shawn K. Ford: 17-year member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 8th District.
Together, they are working on the CURE (Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens) Act, which aims to decriminalize plant medicines and bring a state-regulated model for psychedelic use to Illinois. Similar to Oregon’s model – but with hopefully a more cohesive ecosystem – it would include service centers, different license types, the removal of psilocybin and psilocin from the controlled substances list, and a percentage of taxes allocated to the education of first responders and law enforcement. Guided by the mistakes of cannabis legalization, they’re putting a lot of focus on accessibility – not just for consumers, but for people trying to get licenses and open businesses. What does equity and inclusion look like in a psychedelic service model?
They discuss:
The need to educate lawmakers about psychedelics and shine a light on the myths and lies of the Drug War
The importance of understanding the process when working with lawmakers: When it’s done right, democracy can actually happen
Why conversations about accessibility and certain provisions need to happen up front, as bills are being written
The impact of bipartisan support, and how bipartisan psychedelics are starting to become
The overwhelming support for the CURE Act that Rep. Ford has seen, from people of all walks of life
and more!
If you want to help, please sign their petition and/or make a donation. And if you want to help on a larger scale, get out there and have those conversations: Tell your story, and tell it to lawmakers. Your voice can make a bigger difference than you realize.
It’s no secret that psychedelic experiences can make people think differently, resulting in more open-mindedness and connection. How can that concept be applied to corporate culture to create more connected leadership?
In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Rachelle Sampson, Ph.D.: researcher and founder of Blue Prism Coaching; and Bennet Zelner, Ph.D.: researcher, speaker, and creator of the Pollination Approach. They are both Vital instructors and Associate Professors at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland.
Based on a passion for regenerative economics (how we might be able to apply patterns of nature to socioeconomic systems), they are co-leading the Connected Leadership Study, a research project tracking how psychedelic experiences can facilitate change in people in leadership positions. They believe that a shift from a mechanistic attunement to a more synergistic recognition of our interconnectedness should lead to new ways of thinking, resulting in more creative leaders with better decision-making and team-building skills, and corporate culture caring more about values, regenerative models, equity, and sustainability – all while still being successful. They wonder: Can psychedelic experiences create better leaders? Can capitalism become more conscious?
They discuss:
The structure of the study, what they learned in the first cohort, and why they track participants for a year
How change happens over time, and why they believe it to needs to happen from the bottom up
The concept of emergence and emergent change illustrated by the shifts in movement of a flock of birds
How synergistic attunement can be traced back to the cellular level
The challenge of balancing the therapeutic aspect of psychedelics with the more corporate strategy/professional side
and more!
The study’s next cohort begins in October, so if you’re a business leader interested in being a participant, head to Leaders.study for more info. And if you’d like to learn more about these concepts, the new Regenerative Business and Leadership specialization path in this year’s cohort of Vital digs deep into this world. And we’ve just extended the applications to Sept. 2, so you still have time to apply!
If you told a person 20 years ago that you were looking to make a career in psychedelics, they would typically look back at you nonsensically. Today, however, there is a burgeoning legal psychedelic industry and people are doing just that. The sector took a kick recently, with MDMA-assisted therapy denied approval and biotech Lykos Therapeutics subsequently cutting 75% of its staff following the decision. But optimism is still high – it’s never been a better time to work in psychedelics and many people are carving out careers in the field.
“The psychedelic field is attracting a really diverse range of professionals,” said AnnaRae Grabstein, the CEO of consultancy firm Wolf Meyer. “There are not just the traditional pathways to providing support and integration for people that want to experience psychedelics, but there’s all of the wraparound businesses that support the psychedelic space. By integrating psychedelic knowledge into existing careers, businesses are broadening their practices.”
Here are some of the leading psychedelic jobs in 2024:
1. Private Practice Facilitators
Need a tripsitter or a private ceremony? There’s probably someone in your area for that. In the recent Psychedelics Today report on the emerging psychedelic workforce surveying students and graduates of the Vital program, more than 80% said they were already involved, or planned to be, in private practice.
“This is indicative of the growing number of therapists and practitioners who see the value in offering psychedelic-assisted therapy or related services in a more personalized setting,” the report said.
Naturally, it is only kosher in places in the U.S. which have effectively decriminalized the possession and use of certain psychedelics.
“I wanted to train in psychedelic facilitation because of my background in counseling,” said Lianna Tullis-Robinson, a recent graduate of the Vital program. “It seems as though the overall field of psychology is venturing into this integration of psychedelics for treatment. As a Black, female psychologist, I wanted to make sure I was involved.”
2. Psychedelic Event Organizer
In places where psychedelics are effectively decriminalized, an ecosystem of psychedelic-focused events is popping up and beginning to thrive. In Vancouver, with an organization called The Flying Sage, there are regular events such as ganja yoga classes, 4-AcO-DMT and huachuma breathwork sessions, integrations circles, ecstatic dances, and much more.
“I feel like the Flying Sage is uniquely contributing to the psychedelic ecosystem as a whole because we’re offering an alternative method of access to psychedelics,” said founder Michael Oliver, on a recent Instagram video. “We’re really demonstrating what community-powered psychedelics looks like.”
3. Psychedelic Biotech Company Employee
Think of it like a regular pharmaceutical company, just a bit smaller, and with psychedelics instead of opiates and benzodiazepines. Naturally, there are all manner of jobs available in organizations like Atai and Compass – such as administrative staff, lab technicians, managerial roles, and much more – though they, like Lykos, recently consolidated their businesses and laid off staff.
“After I completed the 12-month Vital program, I went on to build a biotech company in the psychedelic space,” said Kaitlin Roberson, the founder of Cacti Therapeutics. “We’re focused on addressing the root causes of people’s chronic pain and inflammation.”
4. Psychedelic Scientist
Biotechs also hire scientists to help them develop novel psychedelic drugs and to design and run clinical trials. Psychedelic scientists also work as educators, giving talks and seminars. Almost a quarter of survey respondents said they were working in research-oriented settings, reflecting how a key segment of professionals in the psychedelic space are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of our knowledge about psychedelics and their therapeutic potential.
“Being a psychedelic neuroscientist is truly a fascinating journey into a cutting edge frontier,” wrote Manesh Girn, who works at UC San Francisco and is chief research officer at Entheotech, on Instagram recently. “Beyond grateful to be living the dream!”
5. Mushroom Cultivator
A few companies have sprung up manufacturing psychedelics. Some grow the mushrooms, rather than producing psilocybin from scratch, saying that the fruiting bodies are the most efficacious version of the fungi. Scott Marshall, head of mycology at Optimi Health, is one of few ex-legacy mushroom growers to now be a licensed psilocybe cultivator.
“It’s going to have a super therapeutic effect on the world,” he told Vice.
His colleague Dr. Preston Chase is in charge of creating MDMA for the company. “I’ve definitely had some ‘Walter White’ moments holding up the flask and filtering off white powder containing hundreds of MDMA doses, but this is medicine,” he said.
6. Psychedelic Reform Advocate
Organizations like MAPS, Heroic Hearts, Reason to Hope, VETS, and others, continue to lobby policymakers in D.C. and elsewhere to ease the laws controlling the research and use of psychedelics. These organizations have staff who effectively work as lobbyists, helping prepare bills, and having meetings with politicians.
“I feel like if we can really put our heads down and add to the body of research so that we can advocate for these therapies to be available inside the borders of the country that these veterans chose to defend, then we can not only help them in a more meaningful way, we can end the veteran suicide epidemic, and hopefully these therapies will be available to all Americans in due time, because they really are saving lives,” Amber told Psychedelics Today.
7. Retreat Center Manager
A psychedelic retreat is the new wellness getaway. Americans are heading to Costa Rica, Mexico, Jamaica and elsewhere in droves to spend several days in paradise (and ceremony) for intensive psychedelic or holistic experiences. Retreat centers, which are now dotted around those countries and sometimes better resemble medical clinics, do not only need managers who make sure everything is running on schedule and that the property is maintained. They need nurses, cooks, cleaners, facilitators, supporting staff, therapists and many other attendants to assist guests. Almost 70% of people surveyed said they were interested in working at retreat centers. A gray market has also developed in the U.S., while several churches also have the right to use certain psychedelics as sacraments.
After finishing her professional training in 2023, Jessika Lagarde began working for the Microdosing Institute in the Netherlands as a co-facilitator.
“I expanded not just my direct work with people, but also in education. I’m really bringing all the sides of me to this work,” she said.
8. Psychedelic Media, Marketing, and Content
New media companies such as DoubleBlind, Lucid News, psychedelics.com, Reality Sandwich (and Psychedelics Today!) employ full-time staff working in editorial and production. These organizations are embedded in the psychedelic space and create content including videos, podcasts and articles that may often be considered too niche for the mainstream media, but are of great interest to psychonauts and the psychedelic curious. There are also publicists working exclusively within the psychedelic space, tasked with getting certain stories into the media.
Have you been noticing polished psychedelic branding, captivating social content, and slick-looking mushroom packaging floating around recently? Boutique marketing firms and freelancers have sprung up all over the world, many talented creative pros moving over from big marketing agencies, consumer packaged goods companies, and regulated industries like cannabis and pharma to focus on psychedelics. Some offer social strategy, while others focus on target market profiling, email marketing, or branding.
9. Integration Specialist
Retreat centers and clinics are hiring integration specialists to work with them full-time, as they have steady streams of new clients, who often receive several hours of one-on-one or group integration support following their intensive experiences. The psychedelic community as a whole is yet to agree on a single protocol for integration – and perhaps never will – and it can often take different forms depending on the person. Many people already trained in other forms of therapy and counseling are taking psychedelic integration courses with organizations like Psychedelics Today and Being True To You and are now offering their services.
“Integration is an ongoing process,” said Kyle Buller, Co-Founder of Psychedelics Today. “Typically, people like to think about psychedelic integration as working with the experience post-session, but I also like to view it as the process to work with any material that’s coming up pre-session. The process begins when you pay attention to what is showing up.”
10. Psychedelic Lawyer
As psychedelic churches and dispensaries pop up, mostly working in legal gray areas, the need for lawyers specializing in drug law has perhaps never been greater. Organizations such as nonprofits Sacred Plant Alliance, Ayahuasca Defense Fund, and others, work to help defend the right to the religious use of psychedelic sacraments, while many churches and individuals employ their own legal support teams.
“The way I came to this was working with a psychedelic church and realizing there should be more information out there for churches to clearly understand what it means to have to defend yourself with respect to what your religious beliefs are under the law,” said Allison Hoots, the head counself for the New York Psilocybin Action Committee, in an Instagram video.
Interested in pursuing a psychedelic career? Consider starting with Vital, a professional 12-month training program that can help you pursue your psychedelic path in unique speciality areas, including Spiritual Emergence, Somatics & Trauma, Regenerative Business and Leadership, Microdosing, and Depth Psychology. Applications for the September cohort are open now. Limited seats remain.
As the psychedelic renaissance continues to spread throughout the West, we learn more about these substances and experiences every day. But are we losing the important ancestral teachings and Indigenous knowledge that got us here?
Together with translator, Francisco Rivarola, they have developed a course called “Ancestral Teachings for the Psychedelic Renaissance,” which aims to be both an honoring of knowledge that has safeguarded these traditions, and a bridge between that wisdom and our Western frameworks, teaching ancestral traditions (largely Shipibo and Incan-Peruvian), the roles and function of dietas, the less talked-about dangers of brujeria (witchcraft), holistic frameworks for dealing with mystical experiences, and the connection between spirituality and responsibility towards nature. The course features 20 hours of Del Río’s teachings (with subtitles) and is the first time they’ve been made available to the general public.
He talks about:
The importance of following guidelines when working with ayahuasca, and how Westerners often don’t respect the rigor required to do it right
The different types of healers in the Shipibo tradition, from good and bad to the “Ascended Master,” who transcends physical limits and is incapable of causing harm
The potential for ayahuasca to be weaponized, how often this happens, and the risks for Westerners who aren’t aware
How the consciousness level of a person can be related to the emotions that that person allows themselves to have
How the expansion of consciousness is healing in itself
and more!
Ancestral Teachings for the Psychedelic Renaissance is a self-paced course that can be taken at any time, so if you’re interested, take advantage of early bird pricing and check it out in the Psychedelic Education Center now!
How do psychedelic experiences, community, and education inspire career trajectories and change?
This webinar features two Vital graduates who will share their transformative experiences with psychedelics, their journey through our Vital course, and how they turned personal growth into thriving solo ventures.
Emefa Boamah is a spiritual guide, intuitive embodiment facilitator, and somatic business mentor, and Bill Anthes is a licensed psychotherapist who co-runs Between the Ears, a fitness and mindset company that combines nutrition and high performance cultures to support physical, mental, and emotional growth.
Discover what led them to join Vital and the key takeaways that shaped their different paths. Learn how psychedelics have influenced both their personal healing and professional development, and gain valuable insights into building a business and taking responsibility for defining success – and how Vital can help.
Emefa Boamah blends ancient wisdom with modern leadership, embodying her role as a medicine woman through transformative coaching for female leaders and entrepreneurs. As a graduate of the Vital program and a collaborator on Vital retreats, she integrates her deep knowledge of psychedelics, somatics, embodiment, rites of passage, and microdosing into her healing work. Rooted in the rich traditions of the Ewe Tribe of Ghana, being trauma-informed and certified in Transformational Embodiment Coaching, breathwork, EFT, and NLP Facilitation, Emefa’s approach is holistic and deeply personal. Her journey from high-pressure hospitality management to leadership in somatic coaching underscores her commitment to social good and women’s empowerment.
Bill Anthes is a licensed psychotherapist and Special Forces Veteran who serves clients from a trauma-focused perspective and is trained in multiple evidence-based clinical modalities to include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) and IFS (Internal Family Systems). Bill is also trained in MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD through MAPS and holds a certificate in psychedelic therapies and integration through our Vital program. Bill and his wife, Karianne, own and operate Between the Ears, a fitness and mindset company that combines their vast knowledge and experience in fitness, nutrition, and high performance cultures to support client’s physical, mental, and emotional growth.
There are many different aspects to consider when integrating a psychedelic experience, and many tools to help, like engaging in shadow work, practicing meditation, and even applying teachings from Buddhist philosophy.
In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Vital instructor, Diego Pinzon hosts his first podcast, interviewing Vital graduate and clinically-trained psychologist, “The Kinki Buddhist”: Kate Amy.
As Amy’s interest in psychedelics grew, she began to see a clear intersection between psychedelic states and the non-ordinary states she’d reached through years of meditation practice, as well as lessons from Buddhism that could help in better understanding psychedelic journeys. She talks about the importance of really understanding what it is one is seeking when looking to have a psychedelic experience, and the significance of integration – no matter how long it takes. While she has tips that have worked for clients, she feels that the psychedelic space has a long way to go in establishing best practices for the most effective integration.
She discusses:
Why she uses the name, “The Kinki Buddhist”
How she frames the psychedelic experience as taking an evolutionary substance (and/or receiving a software upgrade)
The necessity of having a positive relationship with your Self before a big trip
The continuous process of patients and facilitators both engaging in shadow work, and ways of discovering our different hidden parts
The rigidity many of us prescribe to certain healing frameworks, and how beneficial it can be to view strict rules as guidelines for exploration instead
In July 2022, a story sent shockwaves through the psychedelic community: an Indiana nurse and mother of five was about to be sentenced to 10 years in prison for growing mushrooms after she’d learned that microdosing psilocybin might improve her 20-year struggle with treatment-resistant depression.
Jessica Thornton (who now goes by Jessica Fitzmaurice) was charged with two felonies: dealing a scheduled substance and child endangerment. After an intervention from Tarin Hale, an Ohio lawyer who eventually became her legal advisor and helped her hire new counsel, she was given a suspended prison sentence and placed on 18 months’ probation with 180 days of house arrest. Eventually, her charges were reduced to a misdemeanor—something she refers to today as “a triumph.”
Two years later, the case is a shining representation of the jarring legal dichotomy in the United States when it comes to psychedelics; one in which a patchwork of county and state laws is in stark contrast with federal regulations that continue to classify psilocybin and other psychedelics as Schedule I substances (this means they possess “a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision”).
From within the psychedelic echo chamber, it might feel like psychedelics are widely accepted, but the fact is, psychedelics are illegal in far more jurisdictions than they are not.
Shortly after the story was broken in Psychedelic Spotlight, readers shared their thoughts on Twitter (now known as X), describing the case as “shameful” and “pure insanity.” On a Reddit post in the subreddit r/Indiana, her actions were dubbed a “victimless crime.” Many had choice words for elected officials in Indiana, where psychedelic drug laws have not yet caught up to the sweeping changes that have occurred in other jurisdictions. In neighboring state Michigan, for example, criminal enforcement of the possession and use of psychedelics has been deprioritized in five cities, including Detroit and Ann Arbor.
During her probationary period, Fitzmaurice was unable to speak with the media about her case. For the first time since July 2022, she is breaking her silence. In an exclusive interview, she told Psychedelics Todayjust how profoundly the case has impacted her life—and how she’s moving forward.
Living with Treatment-Resistant Depression
A neonatal nurse and mother of five, Fitzmaurice did not take the decision to start microdosing psilocybin lightly. After decades of being on a series of antidepressants, in 2022, she says she hit rock bottom.
“I felt like I had gone down every avenue of conventional mental health options. I was on pill after pill with combinations of medications,” Fitzmaurice said. “I was working hard as a travel nurse to support my children. I felt empty, I felt nothingness, and I felt numb. I started having suicidal thoughts and could not accept that there was nothing else out there to help.”
On traditional antidepressants, her feelings and emotions were suppressed, and the side effects that came with them were unbearable.
“I experienced anxiety, trembling, hyperhidrosis, inability to orgasm, numbness of the soul, and diminished creativity and connection with no true love for life. The list goes on,” she explained.
Along with contemplating suicide, Fitzmaurice was regularly having panic attacks and would often break out in hives. Her debilitating struggle with depression deeply impacted her role as a mother.
“I felt as if what I could give wasn’t enough,” she said. “I was not confident in myself. I felt I was out of reach emotionally to my children at times.”
When a friend told her about the success they experienced with microdosing, Fitzmaurice became intrigued. She dove into available research, explored the psilocybin studies being published at Johns Hopkins University, and listened to different podcasts discussing psychedelics.
Several studies indicate psilocybin may very well have antidepressant effects. One 2022 study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology on the efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder found that two doses of psilocybin alongside supportive therapy produced “large and stable antidepressant effects” among participants for at least one year following treatment—well beyond the established duration of antidepressant effects reported with ketamine (about two to three weeks).
When it comes to microdosing psilocybin (a practice that involves taking small, sub-perceptual doses of the classic psychedelic regularly to enhance mood or creativity), although there is much hype, the science is largely considered inconclusive as most studies rely on self-reported data. One 2022 study published in Nature compared a group of microdosers to non-microdosers and found, “small to medium-sized improvements in mood and mental health that were generally consistent across gender, age, and presence of mental health concerns.”
Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms: A (Risky) Last Resort
What Fitzmaurice learned was enough to convince her to give microdosing a try. She opted to grow her own mushrooms, assuming the process would be safer than trying to find psilocybin on the street.
“I was so desperate to feel better and the research was so positive that I gave very little thought about the legal implications of growing psilocybin mushrooms for microdosing,” she admitted. “I was only focused on the potential benefits. I believed in the sincerity of what I was doing to save my life.”
After Fitzmaurice started microdosing psilocybin, she began to feel different: for the first time in years, she felt content and confident in her life and body. She felt the emotional weight of work, raising children, and societal standards begin to lift from her shoulders.
“I was able to mentally move on from what had previously held me back. I felt less pressured, less anxious, and actually curious about the possibilities that lie ahead,” she said. “I started doing the things I loved to do.”
She began spending more time with her children, and even became involved in a local mountain biking team, planning trips and adventures with her family. With no intention of stopping, she gave up caffeine and eventually ceased taking her attention deficit disorder medication. Although she didn’t tell them about the microdosing psilocybin until after she was arrested, close family members told Fitzmaurice that they noticed she seemed happier.
Fitzmaurice said she’s embarrassed she wasn’t more aware of the potential legal ramifications of growing psilocybin mushrooms.
“Although I understood that certain mushrooms were illegal, I had no idea that growing mushrooms to treat depression would be seen as a level two felony with a potential prison sentence of 10 to 30 years,” she said.
Courtney Barnes is a partner at Feldman Legal Advisors, where she provides a variety of services to the psychedelic ecosystem, including support with regulatory compliance and risk management. She told Psychedelics Today that Fitzmaurice’s case highlights the ongoing tension between the growing recognition of psychedelics’ potential therapeutic benefits and their strict and outdated classification in the legal system. That blatant conflict continues to put people like Fitzmaurice in a tough spot.
“The varying legal statuses across states lead to confusion, unequal treatment of individuals based on geography, and challenges in creating consistent public health policy,” said Barnes.
“This case underscores the legal risks faced by individuals who, in the absence of legal medical alternatives, turn to psychedelics for self-treatment. It also reflects societal ambivalence, where some see her actions as criminal, while others view them as a necessary and reasonable response to mental health challenges.”
Fitzmaurice said when police came crashing through the front door of her Indiana home to arrest her, her entire world came down along with it. She felt betrayed, violated, hopeless, and misunderstood upon learning she faced prison time and potentially the loss of the custody of her children.
“The most difficult part of facing potential prison time was the fact that I was going to miss out on watching my children grow up,” she said.
How Jessica Built a New Case
Fitzmaurice’s first lawyer failed to help her build a case, and after requesting several delays in court proceedings, he advised that she plead guilty to the felonies. Feeling she had no other option, she took his advice.
Hale caught wind of her story just two weeks before Fitzmaurice was set to be sentenced. A lawyer with a deep personal connection to and understanding of psychedelics, he was appalled by the case and eager to help. Out of desperation, he reached her through the organizer of a GoFundMe campaign, launched to help cover Fitzmaurice’s legal fees.
“It was basically a done deal, but I had to reach out,” Hale said. “Here’s a woman who is 40 years old, with 20 years of documented anxiety and depression untreated by pharmaceuticals, thrown into this situation and she was scared, so she took the deal.”
When they finally spoke by phone, Fitzmaurice had already given up hope and was preparing to spend the next 10 years of her life in prison. After several conversations and with Hale’s help, she fired her lawyer and hired a new attorney, Andrew Maternowski.
Hale said he knew that whoever represented Fitzmaurice would have to provide the prosecutor with some education on the safety and efficacy of microdosing psilocybin, and a better understanding of why she was growing mushrooms.
“When they arrested her, they came in wearing hazmat suits to avoid breathing the spores, which they thought would intoxicate them, so it was like starting from scratch,” he said.
Since her previous lawyer had failed to explain why Fitzmaurice was growing mushrooms, “the prosecutor thought she was this major drug dealer poisoning kids,” something they would have to change his mind on.
Together, Maternowski and Hale built a new case with letters of support from several experts, including researcher and author Jim Fadiman, psychologist and professor Dr. Alan Davis, psychiatric nurse practitioner Andrew Penn, and author and psychiatric nurse practitioner CJ Spotswood. The letters helped convince the prosecutor that Fitzmaurice was not a drug dealer, and Maternowski negotiated a plea agreement that would reduce the charge from trafficking to possession; from 10 years in prison to three months of house arrest and 18 months of probation. The judge later reduced the charge to a misdemeanor.
Legal Implications and Potential Reforms: Education is ‘Paramount’
Fitzmaurice’s case could have a nuanced influence on future prosecutions and defenses related to the use of Schedule I substances for personal medicinal use in the United States, according to Barnes.
“The fact that the prosecutor reduced the charges after reviewing her case and expert testimony indicates a recognition of the complexities involved in cases where individuals use Schedule I substances like psilocybin for self-treatment,” she said, adding that this outcome might encourage defense attorneys in future cases to present similar arguments.
Barnes also said the reduction in charges and comparatively lenient sentence could serve as a signal to both prosecutors and judges that, under certain circumstances, harsher penalties might not be warranted.
Several different approaches to drug policy reform could help prevent cases like this one from happening again, according to Barnes, who suggested that decriminalization of possession, production, and use of psychedelics could reduce the burden on the criminal justice system and allow more resources to be allocated toward public health approaches. Pairing decriminalization with legal access pathways, such as Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act, “is also a wise approach,” said Barnes.
At the federal level, she suggested that the reclassification of psilocybin and other psychedelics from Schedule I to a less restrictive schedule, “would more appropriately reflect [their] medical use in treatment in the U.S. and could reduce the severity of criminal penalties for use and possession.”
As more people turn to psychedelics and practices like microdosing psilocybin for their mental health, Barnes noted that although it is sparsely reported, there has been an increase in law enforcement seizures of psilocybin mushrooms.
“The growing public awareness about the potential benefits of psychedelics has resulted in a surge of people seeking out these substances,” said Barnes. “There have been a handful of reports indicating that arrests for psilocybin have increased over the past several years, likely, at least in part, resulting from an increase in demand for it.”
Barnes has also noticed an increase in regulatory confusion, especially in states like California, where an unregulated psychedelic market is currently thriving. She said the number of times she’s heard people confidently state psilocybin is legal there is “alarming.”
“There are harsh penalties for psilocybin possession in California, even if the law is sporadically enforced,” said Barnes. “As more localities and states adopt policy reform in a patchwork, the more likely it is for people to misunderstand the laws that apply to them. Public education is paramount here.”
How Jessica—and the State of Indiana—are Moving Forward
Despite the immense loss she has experienced, Fitzmaurice looks forward with a sense of hope. “I lost so many important aspects of my life: my children, my job, my career, and even my community, my hometown. Now’s the time to start rebuilding all of that.”
Now living in Arkansas, Fitzmaurice is committed to sharing her story with others and conveying the need for drug policy reform, especially in states like Indiana. As a recipient of a Psychedelics Today Vital psychedelic training program scholarship, she is eager to put her knowledge of and experience with psychedelics to use as a nurse. She intends to go back to school to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner so she can work with psychedelics in a legal manner. She is currently assisting at a ketamine-assisted therapy clinic and plays an active role in Decriminalize Nature Northwest Arkansas.
To help treat her depression, Fitzmaurice underwent ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and said with preparation, integration, and community support, she now has many tools that help her work through her trauma, “with a positive mindset.”
“The contemporary mental health treatment model may work for some people, and that’s fantastic. It doesn’t work for everyone, including me,” said Fitzmaurice. “I didn’t realize how badly we, as a global unit, were in a mental health crisis. Psychedelics opened my eyes to this and now, the nurse in me just wants to help.”
Since Fitzmaurice’s case made headlines in 2022, the legal status of psilocybin in Indiana remains unchanged—but that doesn’t mean Indiana lawmakers are ignoring it.
In March 2024, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed a psilocybin research funding bill with a focus on veterans and first responders. Fitzmaurice called it “a great introduction” and said she’s hopeful psychedelics might soon be destigmatized in her home state, but said it’s unlikely the law will change in Indiana unless psilocybin is rescheduled at the federal level.
“People shouldn’t have to risk losing their life to prison for trying to care for their own mental health,” said Fitzmaurice. “These medicines need to be decriminalized or rescheduled at the very least. Humanity should not be punished for prioritizing mental health.”
Rumination, or repetitive self-focused thought that’s typically critical and/or negative, is at the heart of many psychiatric disorders. Could psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy help?
In this episode, Chris Koddermann interviews two members of the Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics at Mass General Hospital: founding director, author, and co-founder of three drug development companies, Dr. Jerry Rosenbaum; and psychiatrist and associate director and director of cognitive neuroscience, Sharmin Ghaznavi, MD, Ph.D.
Rosenbaum and Ghaznavi bonded over an interest in rumination, and wondered: How could the plasticity-inducing effects of psychedelics change these negative loops people find themselves in? How important is the ability to break out of those loops – and learn new patterns – when our concept of self is so central to who we are? Ghaznavi is studying the effects of psilocybin on rumination and scanning patients at multiple times throughout the process to track data we still don’t really have: how psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity changes over time, and why.
They discuss:
How much of a role the default mode network takes in the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics: Is it overblown?
Hyperscanning, which involves scanning two individuals at the same time, looking for potential concordance in signal and/or an increased alliance between the therapist and patient
The Schultes Legacy Project and the work of Stephen Haggarty to explore the potential of largely unstudied psychoactive plants
Critiques of the recent ruling on Lykos and MDMA-assisted therapy and the clash between the FDA and the advisory committee: Were they really on the same page?
The false dichotomy of neuroscience vs. patient experience: Does the subjective experience actually increase plasticity and other measurable benefits?
A recent report estimated that four million people in the U.S. started microdosing in the last year, with many microdosing at work to improve their leadership skills. But most people start their practice alone, which leads to the question: How much do preparation and peer support change the microdosing experience?
In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Tiffany Hurd: microdosing coach, speaker, business leadership advisor, and student in our current cohort of Vital.
After 15 years in the corporate healthcare industry and several years on antidepressants, she started microdosing psilocybin and saw an immediate change in her life, tapering off antidepressants within a few months. She realized that she could blend her background in business development and strategy with microdosing, helping companies (and specifically company leadership) become more vulnerable, heart-centered, and innovative. She has found that the changes in people have (not surprisingly) led to improved employee mental health, better team relationships, and more open-mindedness and authenticity, and likely, a large reason for that is not the microdosing itself, but the increased attention to preparation and integration – two huge factors often not discussed with microdosing.
She talks about:
Why mentorship/coaching has not been seen as an integral part of a microdosing practice, and why it should be
Her drive to normalize the use of low-dose psychedelics, especially in our Western ‘go all in’ culture
The benefits of pairing microdosing with other healing modalities, and how microdosing can help you embrace more of them
Why she signed up for vital and how she feels about the course half way through
How she deals with the illegality of substances in the corporate world
and more!
Microdosing is one of the new specialization tracks featured in our next cohort of Vital, beginning September 16. If you want to know more, send us an email or attend one of the next Vital Q+As!
Somatic therapy and psychedelics are proving to be mutually beneficial as the psychedelic revival evolves. Somatic therapy can unlock deeper levels of healing and trauma release inaccessible by psychedelics alone. And at the same time, somatic therapy can set the table for someone who is not quite ready for a psychedelic journey.
Whether they’re new to the psychedelic field or not, most people have a basic understanding of what psychedelics are and what they do. However, many people are unfamiliar with somatic therapy. Thus, even fewer understand the intersection between somatic therapy and psychedelics. Before exploring the interplay further, let’s address the obvious question first.
What is Somatic Therapy?
According to Harvard Health somatic therapy is “… a treatment focusing on the body and how emotions appear within the body. Somatic therapies posit that our body holds and expresses experiences and emotions, and traumatic events or unresolved emotional issues can become ‘trapped’ inside.”
Somatic therapy, or just simply ‘somatics,’ is a topic that covers significant breadth and depth. Somatics is not one thing, but many different training programs teach it, and unique practitioners practice it with distinct approaches.
Two notable therapists, Peter Levine and Bessel van der Kolk, specialize in trauma and psychedelics under the somatic umbrella.
“It is the result of the multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, Indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics,” Levine says.
Dutch psychiatrist, researcher and author Bessel van der Kolk has made significant contributions to the somatic therapy field as well. His book The Body Keeps the Score describes how a group of therapists and scientists struggled to integrate recent advances in brain science, attachment research, and body awareness into treatments that “can free trauma survivors from the tyranny of the past.” Van der Kolk’s work has brought much-needed attention to how trauma gets trapped or “stuck” in the body, and is often referenced in the psychedelic field.
Besides somatic experiencing, a variety of methods exist to address trapped trauma in the body. Some of them include body awareness, pendulation, titration and resourcing among others. So who might benefit from somatics?
Who Benefits From Somatic Therapy?
People suffering from anxiety, complicated grief, depression, PTSD, self-esteem problems and other challenges can find healing benefits from somatic therapy.
Often these unsettling feelings manifest in the body in crippling ways. These unwelcome feelings, anxiety and stress may lead to lack of concentration, sleep complications, muscle tension, stiffness, etc. Over a long period of time, these physical maladies put tremendous wear and tear on the body, and can lead to the manifestation of chronic pain and illness.
As van der Kolk says, “the body doesn’t lie.” These debilitating physical conditions are symptomatic of the underlying stuck or blocked psychic energy. So anyone with entrenched experiences, feelings or traumas causing corporal pain can benefit from somatic therapy. Somatic therapy works to disempower these emotions. But how do these unwanted emotions become unwelcome guests in the body?
How Animals Have an Advantage Over Humans
Levine made one of the biggest advancements in somatics by studying animals. By observing animals, Levine came to the conclusion that animals have an ability to discard or brush off psychic distress. Think of a dog shaking off water. Animals seem to have an innate ability to neutralize trauma after escaping a predator. Not possessing this ability would compromise their survival instincts and threaten an existential crisis. However, humans don’t appear to have the same set of skills.
Somatic therapy focuses on the nervous system as its foundation. The human nervous system does not respond like the nervous system of animals.
“Animals complete the whole threat cycle. They go through the whole thing. They discharge that energy,” Kara Tremain, ACC explains.
Bonnijane Monson, DPT concurs, and explains further. “You’re looking for saber-toothed tigers around you. You have to be aware of all the saber-toothed tigers in the area, because the saber-toothed tigers can potentially harm you. But if you’re looking for external saber-toothed tigers, you don’t care if you’re hungry. You don’t care if you’re sleepy. You don’t care about the signals happening in your body that are trying to tell you what you need because your biggest concern at that moment is safety. So we lose interoception which is the internal knowing and sensing of what we need and want. So what we teach in somatics is to increase interoception.”
In a way, somatic therapy teaches us to regain our animal instincts and reclaim our bodies again. We have to teach our bodies that we are no longer in threat. However, if a person is stuck in deep trauma, in a flight, fight, or freeze response for example, they may not benefit from other therapy types.
Where Somatic Therapy and Psychedelics Intersect
For some people with deep, embodied trauma, somatic therapy may be the skeleton key that unlocks it.
For example, a person may not be getting results from traditional psychotherapy. In a case like this, the body transforms into a psychic sentinel and does not allow passage to the origin of the pain.
“You can talk about it all day long, but your body is still going through the experience,” Monson says.
The nervous system is the ideal starting point for somatics, Tremain says.
“… You really can’t do the bigger, deeper work if you’re stuck in a trauma pattern.”
In this case psychedelics may not be the ideal solution – yet.
Undergoing somatic therapy may be a necessary pre-game step, leading up to a psychedelic experience. The need for somatic therapy shows up in psychedelic settings in slightly different ways.
Somatic Therapy as a Psychedelic Precursor
Because most people are unfamiliar with somatic therapy, chances are a therapist will recommend it to them for the first time. Perhaps a traditional psychotherapist has encountered a blockage in someone that talk therapy can’t resolve. In this case, a psychedelically informed therapist might also deduce that the timing for a psychedelic journey is not right either.
“Unless there is a real orientation to the body, you can spend the whole psychedelic session in your mind, just processing things from a mind perspective. An orientation with the body changes things,” Tremain says.
Sometimes severe trauma can reduce the benefits of psychedelic medicine, despite the medicine’s potency. In this case, somatic therapy prior to a psychedelic session may help someone prepare for a journey. Tremain emphasizes that her goal is to get people to do somatic work before they engage in a psychedelic session.
Somatic Therapy in Underground Psychedelic Settings
Many people attending underground psychedelic retreats and ceremonies may not know about somatic therapy. However, people with severe, nervous system-based traumas may still seek them out, and may not be aware that their body is keeping the score. Thus underground retreat leaders, practitioners, and guides, need to prepare for these scenarios and seek expert-level training to help support those who may come to the circle with unresolved somatic trauma.
Monson points out the risk stating, “With different memories or experiences are going to come sensations from the body. And if somebody is not prepared to experience the intensity of what is happening in their body, it can feel really scary and a lot of fighting and struggle can happen as a result of what’s showing up in a psychedelic experience.” Some may interpret this as a “bad trip” when in reality a tough experience may be an indication that a person needs somatic therapy. It boils down to a matter of comfort.
“If somebody feels more comfortable being present and can stay there a longer period of time, the amount of struggle is less and the integration afterward is much easier because they already know how to process that through a somatic approach,” Monson explains.
How Somatic Therapy and Psychedelics Complement Each Other
Somatic therapy and psychedelics can be like a training ground to the playing field of the psyche. As an individual undertakes a journey of deep, personal work, layers of the psyche peel back. This reveals more profound levels of psychic projects underneath. However, sometimes a person’s body isn’t quite ready for the psychedelic playing field.
“Somatics prepares someone to stay in their body and work through, or be with, whatever shows up,” Munson says.
Whether it’s emotional or physical pain, or different memories and experiences, somatics prepares a person to take on these challenging moments. The glamorization of psychedelics can mislead people to believe that challenging experiences are throwaways. In fact, these difficult experiences may provide the richest rewards.
A quick dip into a psychedelic-adjacent field reveals “the bad” often seeds and nourishes personal development. German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche proposed the idea of “post-traumatic growth.” He was way ahead of his time in 1888. He also aided the progress of psychology with his idea. Through the lens of post-traumatic growth, somatic therapy opens, sets and tends the psychedelic playing field.
“A big part of this work is learning to be with uncomfortable sensations and to be with discomfort. It’s about learning to be with discomfort so you can process it. The more you can be with it, the easier it is to process. The more you’re not over-responsive to something, the more settled your body is, you can actually see things and process things that come up in a psychedelic space,” Tremain explains.
In this way, somatic therapy gives a person the tools to graduate to the psychedelic big leagues, and artfully manage challenging experiences.
Somatics and Psychedelics: Unlocking the Treasure Within
The psychospiritual healing process often plays out like a locked treasure chest containing more locked treasure chests. Everyone has unique treasure chests, sizes, shapes, and locks requiring distinct keys to open. Somatic therapy provides another key to opening the next chest. Anyone with psychedelic experience knows how journeys can elicit profound visceral reactions. Without a body-centered approach to psychedelic journeys, a person may short-circuit their healing process and shortchange their full healing potential.
In this webinar, you’ll be introduced to the Enneagram: a powerful tool that helps us understand the motivations, core beliefs, and unconscious patterns driving our behavior. More than a personality typing system, hosts Alice Dommert and Jarrod Matteson believe the Enneagram can be a framework for self-discovery.
They’ll explore:
The deep wisdom and potential of the Enneagram as a dynamic framework for self-awareness to rediscover our core human essence
Exploring the interplay of Enneagram Triads for a deeper dive into discerning Enneagram Types
Using the Enneagram in inner work for preparation and integration on the path of personal and spiritual growth
and more!
Alice Dommert, founder of Prasada, a corporate wellness company since 2009, integrates her background in architecture, storytelling, human resources, positive psychology, yoga, mindfulness, and breathwork into wholebeing and leadership programs. As a certified breathwork facilitator, she specializes in the group process within a 7 Elements Wholebeing Framework. In 2023, she graduated from our Vital program, and since, has designed and facilitated over 15 retreats in partnership with Psychedelics Today. In 2023, she co-founded The Infinite Center to expand retreat offerings, fostering self-discovery and community connection within the group process.
Jarrod Matteson is a dedicated preparation and integration coach known for his enthusiasm in utilizing the Enneagram for focused inner work and self-discovery. He is also a certified YOGABODY Breathing Coach, a member of the International Enneagram Association, and has received specialized training in intuitive energy work with the Energy Matters Academy. With a rich educational background in mathematics and law, Jarrod’s approach is rooted in a thoughtful and patient methodology, bringing a calm presence to allow individuals to explore their inner world in a safe and confident manner.
The path of the psychedelic renaissance has largely touched on the aspects of therapy, personal growth, and initiation rites, but now, the relationship between psychedelics and creativity is being studied more and more. Can psychedelics really increase intellect, novelty, and problem solving?
In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Bruce Damer: astrobiologist with a long history of work at NASA, and now the president and co-founder of the Center for MINDS, a new nonprofit researching the best ways to improve creativity and problem solving.
He talks about how we’re losing our best creative minds to hyper-specialization, and while there is lots of research pointing to psychedelics as creativity-enhancers, we need to develop frameworks and protocols to be able to measure exactly how that works, and the best ways to encourage better results. The Center for MINDS is sponsoring research while running its own three year project studying creativity in a naturalistic setting, and aims to answer: How do we unlock more genius? What’s the main driver for novel thinking?
He discusses:
His path to psychedelics, including his time with ‘endo-tripping’: training his mind to trip without any external substances
The importance of adding ‘set up’ to set and setting, representing one’s intentions and preparatory work up until that point
The tale of his extraordinary ayahuasca experience where he journeyed together with Mama Ayahuasca all the way to the beginning of life on earth
His theory on the real origin of life, and why the ‘survival of the fittest’ framework shouldn’t be our North Star
The absolute necessity of mentorship from elders
and more!
The steps the Center for MINDS will take in studying psychedelics and creativity will largely be steered by people’s personal stories, so please share yours with them by filling out their survey. What has worked for you? What is your personal protocol?
Presented by Kate Cotter, executive director of the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines, this webinar will look at the passage of Nevada’s Senate Bill 242, which established a Psychedelic Medicines Working Group. “The Mushroom” bill initially only had three legislators supporting it, but by the end of the session, it had 9 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle and a landslide victory on both the Senate and Assembly floors.
With lawmakers in the state currently looking to introduce two separate bills for the 2025 legislative session – one focused on reduced penalties and one for legalized access to psychedelic therapy – what can Nevada learn from Oregon and Colorado?
This webinar will focus on:
The importance of implementing state and local initiatives
Understanding the nuances between decriminalization vs. legalization
The current status of psychedelic policy reform in the United States
What the future could hold for Nevada and other states who follow similar paths
Kate Cotter is the co-founder and executive director of the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines, a 501(c)4 nonprofit dedicated to education, advocacy, and policy reform around psychedelics. She has been researching psychedelic medicines for nearly two decades and is passionate about their healing potential for treating conditions such as PTSD, addiction, depression, and anxiety, in addition to offering profound opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Kate believes that revising drug policy on the issue of psychedelics is a crucial step in bringing much needed healing to our communities, as well as a critical matter of criminal justice reform.
She also serves as the executive director of Sierra Psychedelic Society, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to providing education, building community, and promoting risk management around psychedelic medicines. Kate’s passion for psychedelic therapy dovetails with her studies in depth psychology, Jungian theory, neuroscience, mindfulness, and meditation. She is a semi-retired professional singer/songwriter, certified yoga instructor, trained flow state coach, Vital graduate, and she holds degrees in Religion and French.
Jungian psychology takes a fascinating look at the relationship between the conscious and unconscious parts of our minds. How is this framework brought more to the forefront through psychedelics and an understanding of our many parts?
They talk about the experiences that helped them first understand the concept of multiple different parts making up their being, and dive into what it is about psychedelics that allows us to discover and work with these different parts: how the protector parts of our psyche work overtime to keep parts away from us, and how psychedelics can dissolve them, leading to a better understanding of ourselves. How much of our persona is based on who we feel we’re supposed to be? What shadow parts are stopping us from being our true selves? And what amazing parts of ourselves have yet to be discovered?
They discuss:
The idea of self as a unified entity: Does this concept make sense anymore?
Risks in understanding how different parts work together, from justifying behaviors to inflating defensive structures
The need to move away from solution-based to more process-focused frameworks, and the power in treating healing and growth as an ongoing process
The rejection of the shadow and the archetypal (and impossible) wish to extinguish all suffering
The large discrepancy between what people think being a psychedelic facilitator is vs. the reality
and more!
If you really want to dig into Jungian ideas, Jungian psychology is one of the new specialization tracks featured in the next cohort of Vital, beginning September 16. If you want to know more, send us an email or attend one of the next Vital Q+As.
What is spiritual emergence? As the psychedelic resurgence continues to gain momentum and the term is gaining more visibility, many are asking this question. The phenomenon of spiritual emergence isn’t new, however – it predates contemporary awareness by millenia.
The term first appeared in Grof’s 1989 book Spiritual Emergency: When a Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis. Defined by Grof, it is “the movement of an individual to a more expanded way of being that involves enhanced emotional and psychosomatic health, greater freedom of personal choices, and a sense of deeper connection with other people, nature, and the cosmos.” The current psychedelic moment makes the concept more apropos than ever.
It’s also important to note the distinct, yet subtle difference between spiritual emergence, and ‘spiritual emergency’(both terms will be referenced throughout this article). Intentionally constructed as a play on words, the term ‘emergency’ indicates crisis, all the while containing within it the term ‘emergence,’ pertaining to the process by which something becomes known or visible, implying that both – crisis and opportunity – can arise.
When Does Spiritual Emergence Occur?
Spiritual emergence is a spontaneous phenomenon, so predicting it with precision is impossible. Yet, moments do exist in which spiritual emergence may be more probable, either on a collective or individual basis.
A collective moment is occurring right now, says Michelle Anne Hobart, MA, SEC, AMFT, who believes this is a “time of great revealing.” As the world’s uncertainty and confusion ramp up, it’s hard to deny this.
“If we delude ourselves into thinking that we’re not all on the cusp of spiritual emergency then we’re not understanding the zeitgeist of our times; meaning that this is a really evolutionarily big, nodal point. So I think there’s a lot working on us all right under the surface,” Hobart says.
As the world changes around us, sometimes to a discomforting extent, we’re obligated to adapt in a psychospiritual manner. But spiritual emergence doesn’t require a collective nudge to occur.
“There’s a psychospiritual crisis that is unfolding and it’s also an opportunity to emerge, possibly like a new state of consciousness,” says Kyle Buller, Psychedelics Today Co-Founder and Vice President of Education and Training.
What is Spiritual Emergence from an Individual Perspective?
If the zeitgeist doesn’t promote spiritual emergence, an individual may also experience an acute event. Spontaneous spiritual emergence may be induced by a variety of methods, including but not limited to: meditation, yoga, breathwork, float therapy, psychedelic compounds, etc. Other atypical events may provoke a spiritual awakening or crisis that may be less predictable, and not the result of a spiritual practice.
“People can have these spiritual emergencies through substances, kundalini awakenings, unitive experiences, paranormal and UFO experiences. Some of these are spontaneous experiences and other times they’re induced by substances,” says Buller, who understands the phenomenon from first-hand experience. He endured a near-death experience as a teenager, which kick-started his exploration of consciousness and non-ordinary experiences.
Spiritual emergence can be seen in a variety of situations, including:
Near-death experiences or rebirth sequences
Mythological and archetypal phenomena (deity or “angel” experiences)
Past life sequences
Psychic opening (incidences of synchronicity or ESP)
Intense energetic phenomena (Kundalini or Kriyas)
Shamanic opening
Possession states (channeling or mediumship)
UFO encounters
As you can see (and depending on what you believe in), many of these circumstances can’t be brought about with intention. However, psychedelic compounds are the obvious exception (in that, an individual has control over when they consume a substance). So what is spiritual emergence in a psychedelic context?
What is Spiritual Emergence From a Psychedelic Perspective?
“(Psychedelics are) deep and powerful spiritual technologies. The intention of these medicines is to open us, is to create transformational opportunities, like catalysts. Psychedelics are like ‘buy the ticket, take the ride.’ Sometimes we don’t know what exactly is going to get lit up. We don’t know what’s going to get activated, in terms of the complexes, in terms of the archetypes,” Hobart explains.
It’s important to understand that when engaging with psychedelic compounds we’re performing a type of ‘soul surgery’ that can open us to infinite outcomes, and, potentially, get weird fast. Not all individuals possess the same capacity for psychic resilience that results in handling potentially destabilizing effects gracefully. The critical awareness of your own resilience can’t be overstated, whether in above ground or underground settings.
Anyone, whether they feel they’re on the cusp of a spiritual emergence or not, can have a spiritual awakening during or following a psychedelic journey. Anyone, whether they feel they’re mentally healthy or not, can have a spiritual emergency during a psychedelic journey or afterwards. This makes it imperative to provide a healthy system and a proper integration framework to handle such events. Psychedelic service providers need to be ready and prepared for these outliers.
“Sometimes we use the term ‘ontological shock’ – what happens when somebody’s belief system is just shaken to the core and they come back and have to rebuild what they believe about their reality and their truth,” says Buller.
For this reason, psychedelic integration is a profound and delicate time period, while a person’s psyche remains open and vulnerable to all possibilities. Think of this impressionable psyche like a dial from healthy integration, to spiritual emergence, to spiritual emergency.
What is Spiritual Emergency?
Spiritual emergency indicates that the process of spiritual growth (emergence) is reaching an unmanageable and overwhelming crisis state that inhibits a person’s ability to function in day-to-day life. As Grof notes, “In many cases, new realms of mystical and spiritual experience enter their lives suddenly and dramatically, resulting in fear and confusion. They may feel tremendous anxiety, have difficulty coping with their daily lives, jobs, and relationships, and may even fear for their own sanity.”
Through the Grofian lens a spiritual emergency may or may not indicate a serious mental health episode. Transpersonal psychology endeavors to bridge the gap between Indigenous shamanism and the Western mental health paradigm. This approach doesn’t relegate all spiritual crises to the mental health disorder category.
Rather, transpersonal psychology strives to understand and allow for subtlety. Where psychiatry may resort to immediate mental health care, medication, and even institutionalization, spiritual emergency entertains the possibility of enhanced consciousness. This can be tricky business indeed. The differentiation between psilocybin induced psychosis which requires traditional Western medical care and a shamanic opening can be hard to identify. However, this conundrum isn’t anything new, and perhaps we’re just going back to the future.
The Thin Mental Health Line
The transpersonal approach to spiritual emergency may be the West’s best attempt yet to integrate the mythology and traditions of Indigenous shamanism. This continues in the footsteps of Terrence McKenna who once said, “The shaman is not merely a sick man, or a madman; he is a sick man who has healed himself.” Because shamanism isn’t part of traditional Western culture, the practice has long provoked misunderstanding, and disbelief among outsiders.
The relationship between spirituality, madness, and healing embraces complexity. Thanks to Indigenous, ancestral wisdom gleaned over millennia, ancient cultures established the shaman as a key position in society, making them a central and indispensable figure.
Shamans live in a liminal space, with one foot in the Earthly realm, and the other foot in the spiritual realm as conduits between dimensions and realms of consciousness. This is no easy task, but it is in this exact space where the magic happens. American academic Joseph Campbell summed it up best by saying, “The psychotic drowns in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight.
So if we choose to swim in these treacherous waters, what are the benefits?
The Benefits of Spiritual Emergence
Learning to swim in psychic tides can lead to positive outcomes. The experience can result in emotional and psychosomatic healing, creative problem-solving, personality transformation, and consciousness evolution.
“This fact is reflected in the term ‘spiritual emergency,’ which suggests a crisis, but also suggests the potential for rising to a higher state of being,” according to Grof.
When spiritual seekers and psychonauts have access to well-supported, ethical, and quality integrative settings and spaces, the spiritual crisis allows access to profound awareness. Clarity, sense of purpose, decision making, and intuition may also be improved. On its deepest level, spiritual emergence may even nurture connection to the divine. Divine resonance may stimulate tremendous creative outbursts.
A brief review of the history of literature and art over the centuries shows that many creative geniuses created seminal works after going on a psychedelic journey or experiencing a non-ordinary state. Aldous Huxley, Ken Kesey, The Beatles, Android Jones, Alex and Allyson Grey are a few contemporary examples.
The 3 Key Takeaways of What is Spiritual Emergence?
Be prepared: Are you prepared and willing to hear tortured sounds from your neighbor during an underground plant medicine ceremony? Or, even, to be the one making them? Or to emerge from a psychedelic experience that was intended to be fun and casual, but with your entire worldview turned upside down? In the throes and aftermath of taking powerful substances, anything can happen.
Think continuum: The boundaries and borders between mental health disorder, spiritual emergence, and spiritual emergency can be tough to define. They ebb and flow, as the experience rejects labels and entertains nuance and subtlety.
Ensure support is available: Since spiritual awakenings and crises are unique in nature and exist on a spectrum, aftercare must be adaptable and available, from loving support and a cozy environment, to professional medical intervention.
Do you feel called to explore what spiritual emergence is on a deeper level? Consider joining us for our fourth cohort of Vital, where students can specialize in spiritual emergence (the first specialization of its kind in any professional psychedelic training program). Applications are open now with limited seats available.
As many mushroom enthusiasts will attest: the more you learn about the fungal kingdom, the more you see how important mushrooms are to every ecosystem they’re a part of – and how life-changing a relationship with them can be.
In this episode, Joe interviews Jasper Degenaars: mycologist, educator, and the Hyphae Headmaster at Fungi Academy, offering retreats, communal living, and online courses to teach people how to grow mushrooms and form a deeper connection with them.
Degenaars tells of his path to Guatemala and the Fungi Academy, from foraging to cultivation, to the impact psychedelic experiences have had on his life. He believes that mushrooms show up where people like to live; that they are integral to ecosystems, and that they are the masters of death and life – and of ego death and rebirth. The Fungi Academy has several several in-person events for which they just opened up registration, self-paced courses you can enroll in now, and their next Sacred Mycology Summit takes place Feb. 23 – 25, 2025.
He discusses:
The importance in studying the entire organism rather than just specific compounds
The stoned ape theory and possible new evidence
Why he prefers the term ‘magic mushrooms’ to the reductionist way of only talking about psilocybin
The clash between clinical Western approaches and Indigenous tradition
The Iron law of prohibition and how MDMA has gotten stronger and stronger
His desire to move more into permaculture, including courses teaching it alongside the fundamentals of psychedelics: How can they work in tandem?
Psychedelics in palliative care has become an exciting new framework for people looking to ease anxiety and embrace spirituality, but the concept is not as simple as just providing a substance.
In this episode, Joe interviews Livi Joy: Director of Health and Safety, Existential Palliative Ministry Lead Facilitator, and more at Sacred Garden Community (SGC).
As she screens applicants for SGC (and Beckley Retreats), she talks a lot about the process and the safety measures that are absolutely necessary when using psychedelics in palliative care – especially under the framework of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Does the patient have at least one strong support person? Do they need to start or increase therapy? Does their home need to be rearranged due to possible fall risks? How will certain medications muffle their experience? Are they truly physically healthy enough to be able to handle a powerful journey? And also, is the sacrament always necessary?
She discusses:
How preparation questions for a journey are often in line with preparation for death
Why it’s important to provide these experiences for people far from the dying process itself
What Sacred Garden’s core tenant of faith that everyone can have a direct experience of the divine in this lifetime means to her
Atheism and the complications that arise when discussing spirituality and consciousness: Who’s really in charge?
How psychedelics can help with understanding and preparing for death, but our culture is too death-phobic too embrace it
MAPS/Lykos’ MDMA trials for PTSD delivered overwhelmingly positive results. I thought that mattered until I sat through a nine-hour deliberation among the FDA’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee on June 4, including two hours of public comments that skewed anti-Lykos.
After a long day of groupthink, the panel advised the FDA that MDMA therapy was neither safe nor effective for patients with PTSD. And while their vote is nonbinding, their opinion significantly impacts the FDA’s final decision on Lykos’ new drug application.
So, how did the committee come to be? Were they up to the task of reviewing this historical application? And were their votes intellectually honest, given the failing mental healthcare system in the United States?
Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee: Who Are They?
The Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC) consists of experts who provide independent advice to the FDA on the safety and efficacy of investigational drug products for psychiatric disorders. It consists of nine core voting members, including psychiatrists, neuropsychiatrists, consumer representatives, patient representatives, and one non-voting member, typically an industry representative.
Anyone can nominate themselves or others to PDAC. However, the FDA ultimately identifies and appoints candidates based on what they perceive as relevant expertise. Members serve one to four-year terms and attend several drug review hearings throughout the year.
The FDA also invites temporary voting members to certain meetings, bringing specialized expertise to address knowledge gaps in the core group. For the MDMA review, the FDA appointed six temporary members. But curiously, not one of them had specialized knowledge of psychedelic research or medicine.
Only one permanent PDAC voting member, Dr. Walter Dunn, holds a relevant background in psychedelic research. Dr. Dunn was also the only person to dissent from popular opinion, voting yes on both final questions:
Do the available data show that the drug is effective in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder?
Do the benefits of midomafetamine (MDMA) with FDA’s proposed risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) outweigh its risks for the treatment of patients with PTSD?
I don’t think the FDA purposely stacked the group against Lykos. But the committee’s lack of psychedelic expertise was grossly negligent, given the FDA’s goal of selecting experienced field experts. This novice lineup set the stage for a lopsided debate dominated by well-meaning status quo advocates who weren’t ready to unleash a transformative medicine they didn’t understand.
Kim O. Witczak, PDAC consumer representative, put it this way:
“Once you let the genie out of the bottle, you can’t put it back in.”
The Unprecedented Nature of the MDMA Review
To be fair, the committee faced an incredibly challenging task of reviewing the FDA’s first-ever new drug application (NDA) for a psychedelic compound.
Members received a data packet with MAPS clinical trials findings and the FDA’s concerns prior to the meeting. They may have also reviewed the critical ICER report and citizen petition that prompted the hearing. Together, these documents feasibly served as their first foray into psychedelic medicine before casting incredibly consequential votes affecting 13 million Americans with PTSD.
Additionally, it was the first NDA that merged a medicine, MDMA, with psychotherapy. The FDA does not regulate psychotherapy, so the committee had never seen such a proposal before. Until the MAPS MDMA trials for PTSD, they had only ever reviewed standalone prescription drugs.
This dual application caused distress and confusion as panelists struggled to reconcile their mandate with their desire to oversee the therapeutic aspect outside their jurisdiction. Admittedly, they were out of their wheelhouse, operating under a framework that didn’t adequately address the task at hand.
“Maybe it’s time to say we have to look at the current way that we’ve always approved and reviewed drugs differently,” Witczak said.
Resistance to the Therapeutic Component
With confusion looming, Lykos’ patient-directed therapy model was central to the panel’s skepticism throughout the hearing. They consistently questioned its validity and whether psychotherapy was even necessary alongside MDMA to alleviate PTSD.
In my discussion with Witczak, she reiterated the concerns that Lykos’ protocol wasn’t tested against “recognized therapies” or no therapy at all, leading to doubts about its credibility.
She’s right that Lykos didn’t compare its MDMA-AT model to status quo approaches, like Prolonged Exposure. They also didn’t study an MDMA-only group.
In hindsight, they should have, given the panel’s doubt about alternative therapies amplified by public accusations that Lykos is a therapy cult imposing spirituality onto patients. But hindsight won’t help now. At the time of the trial, the FDA had approved the inner healer method. Also, though Lykos didn’t explicitly test mainstream therapies, scientific data give us a clear picture of their effectiveness, according to Dr. Scott Shannon, Principal Investigator in MAPS Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Spoiler alert: mainstream therapies are not performing great.
According to Dr. Shannon, about 50% of people in PTSD psychotherapy trials drop out immediately, and of the 50% that pursue it, only half get better.
“Our medications are even worse,” he said, adding that PTSD medicine hasn’t had a significant innovation in the last 23 years, and up to 17 veterans are taking their lives daily as a result.
Still, PDAC insisted that Lykos’ therapy was a significant X factor that might not be effective or safe.
Therapeutic Safety
A confirmed case of therapist misconduct within MAPS clinical trials exacerbated the panelists’ pushback. The case involved Meaghan Buisson, a participant in the phase-two trial, who filed a lawsuit against two MAPS therapists, Richard Yensen and Donna Dryer, alleging sexual assault and professional negligence. Buisson’s claims included video evidence showing the therapists physically restraining and spooning her during a session. Buisson moved near the therapists after the trial, where she alleges the abuse continued.
I’m not here to defend the therapists’ actions. I watched the MDMA session clip and was not ok with what I saw. I’m also uninterested in conjecture about what occurred between Buisson and Yensen after the clinical trial ended. No matter the details, this situation is a stain on the program, and the public needs to know about it so we can hold people accountable and prevent future harm.
At the same time, this inexcusable case does not erase MDMA-AT’s profound impact. For instance, Lykos’ second Phase III trial found that 71.2% of the MDMA cohort no longer held a diagnosis, compared to 47.6% in the placebo group. Additionally, its MDMA trials for PTSD had some of the lowest dropout rates in history.
We need to be able to hold two truths at once.
1. Psychotherapist misconduct is unacceptable. We must continue raising ethical standards, recording therapy sessions, and holding offenders accountable for their actions.
2. At the same time, about 7% of conventional male therapists admit to having sex with at least one patient, and no one is suggesting we ban talk therapy as a result. Lykos’ misconduct case represents a lower risk profile than the status quo, and people with PTSD deserve a treatment that works.
And not to beat a dead horse, but Dr. Shannon reminded me that the FDA has no mandate or interest in regulating psychotherapy. State licensing boards, professional associations, and the legal system assume that role.
Ultimately, the panel and public debated an issue that the FDA likely won’t factor into their final decision.
Broader Issues of Mistrust in the MAPS Clinical Trial
The FDA cares about drug safety and efficacy data. But the panel’s broad dialogue extended well beyond the numbers into downright mistrust.
“I was surprised because usually [a drug] is approved more quickly, or [the panel] doesn’t raise many concerns. But this meeting had much more discussion,“ said Witczak, who added that it was “good conversation.”
Another committee member said, “It felt strange to vote no when the p-value started with three zeros.”
A low p-value, typically below 0.05, suggests that the results did not occur by random chance. So, a P < 0.0001 value – which was present in the MAPS clinical trial – is extraordinarily statistically significant.
Members cited functional unblinding (inadvertent awareness of group assignments) and expectation bias (preconceived notions about MDMA) as reasons why they didn’t believe the results. Additionally, they floated rumors from the citizen petition that the trial’s principal investigators and therapists engaged in data manipulation.
I’ll be honest. I wondered whether their points held weight, given the fact that most people in the MDMA group knew they were on MDMA.
Dr. Shannon explained that despite functional unblinding, the trial exhibited a significant effect size of 0.9. Effect size quantifies the magnitude of the treatment’s impact compared to placebo. Moderate effect sizes range from 0.4 to 0.6, according to Dr. Shannon, who explained that the best we for current SSRIs is a dismal 0.23.
“Even if our (MDMA-AT) effect size only turned out to be half of what we measured, it’s still much better than [the current treatments],” said Dr. Shannon.
But what about the potential fraud in MDMA trials for PTSD?
“I know several sites, and I know they did nothing untoward, nothing malicious, nothing underhanded. We knew we had to perform at the highest level of ethical and scientific investigation, and that’s what we did.”
Dr. Shannon added that FDA investigators were at his site for a week and had visited most sites throughout the clinical trial.
“We have been scrutinized to a high degree and stand by our data.”
Dr. Shannon could be wrong about the integrity of other actors in the trial. Some shenanigans may have occurred, and if they did, we need to question every single outcome.
However, such accusations are grave and rely on the FDA to investigate and determine their validity. The advisory panel meeting was not the format to litigate, yet the panel members clearly factored these stories into their votes.
Trying to Keep the Genie in the Bottle
MDMA-assisted therapy will revolutionize mental health treatment and society as we know it. I see that as broadly beneficial and necessary. But what do I know? I’m just one anecdote.
The data matter more than my opinion or that of any naysayer. But almost no committee member could speak to it with authority or provide any context on decades of historical MDMA therapy use. Without such a person, I witnessed the panel circle the drain in unison until they concluded they weren’t ready to let the genie out of the bottle.
I believe most members voted no out of genuine concern, like Watzeck, who said she entered the meeting with hope and optimism before the pervasive criticism impacted her vote. But others may have arrived with a pre-packaged vote.
“I would say some probably had biases. They may never agree to [MDMA therapy],” said Watzeck.
And that right there encapsulates why a committee hearing stacked with psychedelic novices could not come to an intellectually honest decision despite what may have been an utterly genuine effort.
Why the Political and Social Reality Might Supercede the Rejection
Fortunately, the FDA’s decision is not made in a vacuum.
Witczak thinks the FDA may still approve MDMA-AT despite the panel’s concerns because of pressure from veterans groups and Congress to deliver effective PTSD therapies.
Dr. Shannon also thinks that the FDA will consider MDMA because of the dire need for innovation in mental health treatment. He believes the FDA will likely impose safety restrictions, like a limited rollout, enhanced data collection, and a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. Still, he thinks the organization will ultimately say yes.
The FDA decision whether to approve or deny MDMA therapy is expected to be announced by Aug. 11.
“We’re in a paradigm shift from either a psychotherapy or a pharmacology model, which have grave limitations, into a new model that combines them both,” Dr. Shannon said.
I’d like to agree, but I suspect the FDA is filled with well-meaning experts who fear unleashing the unknown.
Join us for this free webinar with Blossom Founder, Floris Wolswijk, to gain an insider’s overview on the current landscape and future directions of psychedelic research.
Where does microdosing and psychedelic-assisted therapy stand today across medical, underground, and religious pathways?
What developments are we expecting in integration coaching?
What’s on the horizon for legalization efforts?
What are the biggest concerns around scaling psychedelics?
Floris Wolswijk is the founder of Blossom, which serves as an informational hub for psychedelic insights, documenting psychedelics from research to the implementation of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Floris has also co-founded FLO coaching with his wife Lotte. They provide psychedelic-assisted coaching with a focus on adequate preparation and integration. Finally, Floris is a core team member of Delphi, a US-based consultancy that advises both organizations in the psychedelic ecosystem and the incumbent system, focussing on the medical introduction of these medicines.
Floris studied Psychology at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam and graduated with a master’s degree in 2014. Through his decade of personal experiences with psychedelics and subsequent engagement with scientific literature, he fell in love with the psychedelics field. He is helping make psychedelics more widely available and hopes they can be widely used both as therapeutics and for self-development. Floris is also a local leader in the Effective Altruism movement, where he encourages people to do the most good they can. He donated his kidney to a stranger and gives away 10% of his income to effective charities like StrongMinds, which helps people battle depression and anxiety. Floris lives in the Dutch countryside with his wife, Lotte, their two dogs, and six chickens.
What are bad trips, or adverse, negative, or challenging experiences? Can a definition truly define the power they have to create intense distress and sometimes life-defining moments? Why do they happen, and how do you deal with them?
In this episode, Joe interviews Erica Rex, MA: award-winning journalist, past guest, thought leader on psychedelic medicine, and participant in one of the first clinical trials using psilocybin to treat cancer-related depression.
She tells the story of her recent harrowing experience, brought on by 6 times the amount of Syrian rue that was recommended: from entities threatening her, to a sense of terror she was going to die, to finding her way out of it with time, and most importantly, context to process and a strong support system. She and Joe emphasize the reality that bad trips can happen at any time, with any dose, for any reason, and that – if you can make your way through the experience without being traumatized – you can learn a lot about yourself during those states.
Her book, “The Heroine’s Journey: a woman’s quest for sanity in the psychedelic age” will be published by She Writes Press in the spring of 2026.
She discusses:
Methods to help others having a bad experience
Her skepticism about psychedelic therapy being in a medical context at all
Her thoughts on the recent ICER recommendation against approving MDMA and the multiple topics not addressed
Possible complications from MDMA use nobody talks about, from cytotoxic effects to even sudden-onset psychosis
The pathologizing of anything outside the ordinary, to the point that we’re trying to suppress natural human emotions and reactions
In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Johanna interviews Monica Nieto: Vital graduate, psychedelic facilitator and integration coach, and founder of Holistic TherapeutiX, a retreat center offering cannabis and breathwork retreats; and Jordana Ma: past Vital instructor and psychological counselor who runs retreats in Peru following the Asháninkan tradition of traditional Amazonian medicine.
They discuss their similar paths to psychedelics and healing, the power of plant dietas and fully immersing yourself into nature, and learning to hear your true teacher: the inner healer. They highlight how we’ve lost the connection to the ecological consciousness within our bodies, and how the plants – perhaps in a self-serving way – have become allies, trying to teach us to heal the web we’re a part of and reconnect to nature and ourselves.
They discuss:
The importance of combining traditional perspectives and Western psychotherapy into a spiritual practice
The similarities between yoga and traditional Amazonian medicine
Singing as a somatic (and breathwork) practice
How things are meant to work in synergy, and the problem with science trying to extract compounds rather than respecting the power of the whole plant
Their role models who have inspired them and informed their work
In the current psychedelic resurgence, traditional medical paradigms are being called into question, and many are asking whether the profit-driven medicine model is really the best way to help people heal.
Forward-thinking, conscious psychedelic leaders and organizations are answering, and introducing new models of doing business. Moving beyond worthwhile concerns of sustainability, regenerative business goes a step further, shifting the focus from simply reducing negative effects to creating business models that actively replenish and regenerate.
This holistic, systems-based approach seems to be a natural fit for the field of psychedelics, a sector already deeply connected with more integrated views of the world.
This article explores the principles of regenerative business, its application in psychedelics, and the frameworks guiding those hoping to make a truly sustainable impact.
What is Regenerative Business?
Regenerative business models go beyond traditional efforts at sustainability. Instead of just mitigating negative impacts business can have on people and the planet, regenerative models aim to restore and enhance the systems and communities they interact with.
Regenerative economics involves resource circulation that restores and strengthens economic, social, and natural systems. Imagine natural ecosystems, like forests or mycelium networks, that thrive through nutrient and information exchange. They share and re-circulate resources, creating dynamically positive feedback loops that allow all parties to excel.
This type of collaborative system of doing business stands in stark contrast to an extractive model, which extracts resources, often at the expense of overall the well-being of the community or environment. Extractive economic models have led to an unsustainable disequilibrium, the results of which can be found in rising financial inequality, climate change, and ecosystem degradation. Personal well-being also suffers, with increased rates of mental health issues correlating with these economic and systemic imbalances.
Regenerative patterns aim to offer an antidote by promoting balance. In a regenerative economic system, interconnected webs of people and organizations support local feedback loops and other important exchanges like community capital circulation. This approach is being embraced in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and energy, where supply chain practices play a crucial role in environmental stewardship and sustainability.
“Regenerative economics is about creating businesses that are foundationally centered on systems that restore, renew, and revitalize the people and the environment. Every aspect of the business from production and operations through company culture, monetization, and community engagement will have thoughtful holistic strategies that rejuvenate rather than deplete,” explains AnnaRae Grabstein, business strategist in emerging spaces. “This means not just minimizing harm but actively contributing to the betterment of all stakeholders. It’s about long-term thinking and innovative approaches that challenge the status quo.”
Regenerative Business and Psychedelics
A regenerative approach is particularly relevant to psychedelics and the future of psychedelic therapy and support. The traditional pharmaceutical approach to mental health, which focuses on biological symptoms with little regard for psychosocial factors, has not adequately addressed the mental health crisis. This model is also often based on a “chronic” treatment system where patients might be expected to take daily medication for longer terms or for the rest of their lives. Yet despite high sales of antidepressants and other SSRIs, rates of mental health problems have only increased.
“Using regenerative philosophy in the creation of psychedelic medicine businesses presents an opportunity to think beyond profit creation and integrate a strategy for generating positive impact,” says Grabstein, who will teach Growing Your Psychedelic Leadership and Business in the upcoming Vital 12-month program. “While businesses need to make money to exist and thrive, regenerative business principles unlock the potential to drive revenue through impactful and ethical practices. By prioritizing sustainability, social equity, and holistic well-being, regenerative business models can be a part of building a psychedelic wellness industry that benefits not only the bottom line but also the communities, ecosystems, and individuals it serves.”
A regenerative approach to psychedelics aims to create well-being by treating mind, body, and spirit holistically. Psychedelic experiences foster connection, helping individuals reconnect with themselves, their communities, and the natural world. This is achieved through group therapy, communal activities, and integration practices that leverage the openness fostered by psychedelics.
“Much of the mental distress that psychedelics may alleviate traces to the extractive pattern of our existing economic system – a pattern in which resources are extracted to benefit a single group – at the expense of overall well-being. It would be counterproductive to deliver psychedelic experiences using practices that embody the same extractive patterning making people unwell in the first place. A regenerative approach to delivering such experiences flips the pharmaceutical-centered approach on its head: rather than focusing on symptom management in an unwell patient, it aims to create well-being.”
Implementing Regenerative Practices in Psychedelics
Trying to operate in this more traditionally capitalist world can make transitioning to a regenerative business model seem daunting. But with the right frameworks and a commitment to systemic change, psychedelic companies can successfully move their work in a more regenerative direction.
Articulate Your Vision for Systemic Change: Clearly understand and communicate your purpose, impact, and influence. Define how you can reshape economies and contribute positively to the environment and society.
Map Systems and Identify Leverage Points: Analyze your internal systems, operations, value chain, and the broader market. Identify areas where you can strategically allocate resources to restore social and natural systems.
Set a Regenerative Strategy: Define how you will deliver value through regenerative outcomes. Identify key areas of impact and plan how to deliver the greatest stakeholder value.
Review Business Models: Assess your products and services. Explore how you can deliver value through regenerative practices, such as shifting models that focus on stakeholder value rather than profit or quantity of goods sold.
Define and Deliver Value: Recognize that regenerative approaches can drive financial value creation. Develop more holistic methods to understand value creation across your entire enterprise ecosystem (rather than a narrow view of short-term profit seeking).
Remaining in outdated models in an industry like psychedelics carries risks. For the psychedelic medicine space, which is closely tied to natural resources and community well-being, these risks are particularly significant. Inadequate adoption of regenerative principles can harm ecosystems, undermine the social fabric of communities, and damage the industry or company’s reputation, ultimately affecting long-term viability and growth.
While it may be tempting, and sometimes necessary, to focus on the immediate bottom line, a broader view of success can help long term viability.
Foster a Regenerative Culture: Cultivate a culture that prioritizes regeneration through action-oriented leadership and stakeholder engagement. This involves educating employees, partners, and consumers about the benefits of regenerative practices.
Pilot Projects: Start with pilot projects to test regenerative models. This approach allows companies to manage risks and evaluate opportunities before scaling up.
Collaborate and Share Knowledge: Engage in peer-to-peer and community mentorship to share insights, challenges, and successes. Collaboration can accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices across the industry.
Grabstein believes that implementing these models is a natural fit for psychedelics.
“The healing potential of psychedelics aligns naturally with the principles of regeneration – restoring mental, emotional and physical health to people, environments and communities. By integrating regenerative practices (like regenerative agriculture, circular economy principles and social equity), the companies and organizations who employ these methodologies can work towards the sustainable cultivation of natural psychedelic sources, ethical treatment of indigenous knowledge holders, and equitable access to therapies. This holistic approach can help build a resilient and responsible psychedelic medicine industry.”
The integration of regenerative business principles in the psychedelic industry offers a potentially transformative path forward. By adopting holistic, systems-based approaches, psychedelic companies can ensure sustainable sourcing, promote social equity, and build resilient economies. This commitment to regenerative practices has the potential to not only enhance therapeutic outcomes but also contribute to broader environmental and social well-being, paving the way for a truly sustainable future in psychedelics.
Are you a psychedelic professional interested in building an ethical business or practice that gives more than it takes? Consider joining our September cohort of Vital, where students can choose to specialize in Regenerative Business and Leadership (the first-ever offering of its kind).
In this episode, Joe interviews Jon Reiss: critically acclaimed filmmaker, author, and host of the Plantscendence podcast, which tells people’s psychedelic stories and is beginning its second season soon.
He talks about his early days of directing Nine Inch Nails and Type O Negative videos, and how Plantscendence was born after he realized that the conversations he was having with people about their most transformative experiences were perfect for a podcast. He discusses his first psychedelic experience with ayahuasca, how microdosing is helping him today, and his realization that people can get to these big experiences in many different ways.
He discusses:
The two episodes of Plantscendence that stand out the most to him
Using the term, ‘plant medicine’
His 30 years of meditation practice and how it likely helped him to integrate his first psychedelic experiences
The concept of plant intelligence and how plants can stop you from being a “consciousness tourist”
Kabbalah, Kashmir Shaivism, non-duality, and his Shaktipat experience
In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Sara Reed: Vital instructor, lecturer, and lead psychedelic research therapist at Imperial College London; and Alex H. Robinson: Vital student, integration coach and psilocybin facilitator for Heroic Hearts Project, and distinguished Army SOF combat Veteran with a decade of active duty service.
Reed has worked with MAPS to make clinical trial populations more diverse and is creating culturally sensitive Clinical Research Forms for future research trials, and Robinson spearheaded her unit’s Cultural Support Team program and contributed to policy changes to help place women into traditionally male-centric Special Operations roles. Representing marginalized groups themselves, they’re both passionate about making psychedelic therapy more inclusive and representative of the general population, and getting more practitioners up to speed to be able to deliver culturally competent care.
They discuss:
The importance of having difficult conversations and calling out bad behavior
The fallacy of zero-sum thinking: Doing something special for a smaller community doesn’t take away from the main goal; it adds to it
The benefit of being able to self-reflect and personalize content when most psychedelic education consists of one-sided lectures
The challenge of getting people who don’t feel represented to enroll in clinical trials, and how personal stories go a long way
Although the late psychologist and mystic Carl Jung died in the 1960s, his ‘inner self’ legacy is enjoying an organic revival, synchronizing with the resurgence of psychedelics.
Jung’s work provides a reliable road map for a psychedelic trip through the unconscious, and contemporary psychedelic explorers are hungry to learn more about his profound teachings.
Why Jung Appeals to a Broad Psychedelic Audience
Jung’s enduring transpersonal principles can help us interpret and understand complex non-ordinary experiences, whether they’re brought on by psychedelic compounds or other endogenous methods.
Thus, his insights resonate with a broad audience: licensed therapists, reiki practitioners, guides, yogis, integration coaches, breath workers, and others.
“We’re in need of tools that help us to articulate what’s going on at that level of depth,” says Jungian analyst-in-training and clinical psychology doctoral student MacKenzie Amara. “…we don’t have [many tools] to articulate what’s happening when we get into the messy place of extreme emotional catharsis and symbolic representation through the form of visions and communication with ancestors who have been long dead.”
Understanding Archetypes on Jung’s Terms
In order to comprehend Jung’s psychospiritual philosophies, it’s crucial to first understand some basic Jungian concepts and terms. Jung believed that the psyche (mind, body, soul) is composed of three parts: the ego (or personal conscious), the personal unconscious (unique, containing suppressed memories), and the collective unconscious.
The collective unconscious is a domain of primordial images and symbols that evoke meaning and connection across races, cultures, and nationalities. According to Jung, these symbols contain ‘ancestral memory’, which is inherited. Our ancestral roots and dreams provide insights into the collective unconscious, which shapes our perceptions, knowledge, and experiences.
Within this realm, four main archetypes reflect our beliefs, values, motivations, and morals. The four main Jungian archetypes are:
The Self: The Self emerges when the ego integrates with both the conscious and unconscious aspects of our minds. It represents the culmination of an individual’s spiritual journey, known as individuation. Through individuation, each person realizes their unique, cosmic identity.
The Persona: The Persona refers to the various social masks we wear. We present different aspects of ourselves depending on the social context, such as at work, with family, or with friends. The development of the persona is influenced by upbringing, culture, and environment.
The Shadow: The Shadow contains the parts of our personality that we repress, discard, and hide. These can include traits we are unaware of or do not appreciate. While prejudices and biases originate from the shadow, it is not entirely negative; it also holds potential strengths and hidden talents.
The Anima or the Animus: These archetypes represent the ideal feminine (anima) and masculine (animus) aspects within us. The animus embodies masculinity in a woman’s psyche, while the anima embodies femininity in a man’s psyche. Society often discourages the expression of these opposite-gender traits. Integrating the anima or animus is a crucial step in the process of individuation.
Due to intense engagement with archetypes during psychedelic experiences, individuals risk having their personal worldviews disassembled in the process.
“Jungian theory lends itself to people that have had spiritual, transgressive, or transpersonal experiences more than those that are kind of stuck in a rational materialistic worldview,” Amara explains.
These transpersonal experiences make the Self the focal point of the journey of individuation.
Carl Jung’s Inner Self Explained
The Self is central to Jung’s worldview, merging consciousness and unconsciousness to represent the whole psyche. We are born with a sense of unity, but as we grow and focus on the outer world—school, work, relationships—we form an ego and lose this unity, neglecting our inner world.
Jung identified two life stages: the outer world and the inner world. As adults, we often experience tension between our conscious and unconscious minds, leading to a midlife crisis. This signals the need to nurture our inner life.
Life’s challenges can bring a “dark night of the soul,” where societal values fail us. This prompts a quest to reconnect with our soul, though many avoid this confrontation. Embracing our suffering can lead to psychic growth, uniting our conscious and unconscious realms.
Through this process, known as individuation, we integrate the ignored parts of our unconscious, regaining wholeness and inner harmony.
Carl Jung’s Process of Individuation
As we turn inward, we encounter individuation, a central theme in Jung’s work. Individuation integrates our unconscious with the conscious, restoring the wholeness of the Self. This process, akin to self-actualization, involves breaking free from societal and cultural norms to become a unique individual. Successful individuation provides deep-rooted stability, like an ancient oak tree, supporting us through life’s storms.
Individuation heals the split between the conscious and unconscious, allowing our true Self to emerge. This journey creates turbulence as we realize our conventional world and unconscious world often conflict. The conventional world shapes our beliefs and behaviors, creating a structured reality. In contrast, the unconscious is chaotic and tumultuous, divided into the personal and collective unconscious. The personal unconscious contains everything outside our conscious awareness.
From birth, we operate largely on autopilot, influenced by external conditioning. This conditioning shapes our ego and self-perception, leading to a split and psychic imbalance. Psychedelics can help repair this split, aligning our conscious and unconscious minds.
Jung, Psychedelics, and “Ego Death”
Carl Jung coined an often used term in psychedelic vernacular: ego death. Ego death refers to a compromised sense of self, and it’s a state that’s coveted by many psychonauts. While some consider it an end goal of psychedelic work, it’s really the first step towards a return to wholeness. So, why is this idea prevalent in the psychedelic community?
“Psychedelics are what we call psycho-pumps for individuation. Meaning psychedelics are connectors to personal and collective unconscious; what gives you more of the unconscious material to then work with,” Dr. Ido Cohen explains.
This idea results in the common sentiment that psychedelics are “ten years of therapy in one day.”
While Cohen doesn’t think it’s necessarily accurate, he believes people are trying to say, “Wow, psychedelics can really open up the barrier to the personal and collective unconscious which then a flood of information comes in.”
This shedding of a one-sided self-identity holds true in above ground and underground psychedelic settings, as people jump-start their individuation. Insights can follow that may lead a person to explore what has been relegated to the basement of their psyche, or the “shadow.” When we learn to dance with the shadow, we empathize and relate with all of mankind on a profound level, Cohen says.
Learning to Dance with the Shadow
As a midlife crisis arises, or we enter a dark night of the soul, and the process of individuation begins and we come face to face with our shadow. This daunting task is referred to as doing “shadow work,” (another Jungian term gaining popularity in licensed and underground settings alike).
At first glance, we may see our shadow and assume it is evil or an enemy. But our shadow is part of us, and can’t be abandoned or avoided. As we familiarize ourselves with the shadow, we learn that it is not to be feared, as it is only dark or hostile when it is ignored or misunderstood. Thus, it’s critical to understand what the shadow really is.
What is the Shadow?
The shadow encompasses all the psychic elements we reject and hope to discard by casting them into the depths. It includes the traits we’ve ignored, disowned, or removed from ourselves, forming our personality in the process. The shadow is the unknown dark side of our personality, representing everything we desire not to be.
The shadow includes negative and primitive human emotions and impulses: selfishness, rage, greed, pride, and lust. Anything we reject in ourselves as evil, intolerable, or less than ideal forms the shadow. It’s a repository of both negative and positive qualities we no longer claim. Within this mix, we find the shadow’s hidden treasures.
Cohen notes, “There is also the golden shadow, which includes beautiful aspects we repressed due to our upbringing or environment.”
This could mean rediscovering playfulness or sexuality. Or it could reveal latent talents, like a lawyer discovering a talent for writing or an athlete becoming a chef. It often emerges in psychedelic settings, inspiring life changes like new careers, divorces, or relocations. However, it’s crucial to provide quality integration and a solid container to help individuals make sound decisions and avoid regret.
The shadow compensates for what we lack. For instance, if a person is aggressive, the shadow reflects empathy and tenderness. If they’re shy, it reflects confidence and assertiveness. Honoring and accepting the shadow is an intense spiritual exercise, revealing our potential and the ideal self we strive to become.
Carl Jung’s Psychedelic Guidance is Here to Stay
For the Western mind, unaccustomed to Indigenous worldviews that embrace plant spirits and entities, Jung’s concept of the inner self offers all psychedelic practitioners an invaluable tool to navigate the mind-manifesting unknown. Think of Carl Jung as a trustworthy psychic sherpa: he guides us through the peaks and valleys of the timeless and boundless realms of human consciousness (and unconsciousness), helping us reconnect with our soul.
Do you feel called to learn more about Jung’s teachings? Consider joining us for our fourth cohort of Vital, where students can specialize in Depth and Jungian Perspectives. Applications are open now with limited seats available.
Are you interested in integrating psychedelics into your professional and personal life?
Vital is a comprehensive psychedelic training for practitioners and professionals, and the next cohort begins in September.
Check out the course overview and FAQ here, and if you have questions and want to speak to one of the members of the Vital team, register for this Vital 4 Q+A webinar, hosted by Diego. Those who attend will receive an exclusive gift at the end of the session. Does this date and time not work for you? Check out our other Vital Q+As!
Are you interested in integrating psychedelics into your professional and personal life?
Vital is a comprehensive psychedelic training for practitioners and professionals, and the next cohort begins in September.
Check out the course overview and FAQ here, and if you have questions and want to speak to one of the members of the Vital team, register for this Vital 4 Q+A webinar, hosted by Kyle. Those who attend will receive an exclusive gift at the end of the session. Does this day and time not work for you? Check out our other Q+As.
Join us for a thoughtful exploration on how ayahuasca traditions became a global phenomenon.
The global spread of ayahuasca practices creates profound cultural, environmental, and spiritual dilemmas, as well as opportunities to evolve humanity towards a more spiritually aware and interconnected whole.
Using the Santo Daime movement as the main example of how an Amazonian religion became a diffused global diaspora, this webinar will analyze the conflicts and tensions within this kind of internationalization, from the global South towards the North, covering both the backlashes in the original Amazonian traditional communities from which it came, and the different foreign locations to which it has migrated.
Dr. Glauber Loures de Assis is a researcher of sacred plants and their traditions and a psychedelic dad. He has a Ph.D in sociology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and is Research Associate at the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP) in Brazil. He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters, and the co-editor of the book, Women and Psychedelics: Uncovering Invisible Voices (Synergetic Press). Glauber is the founder and president of Céu da Divina Estrela, a legal and tax-exempt ayahuasca church in Brazil. He has 15 years of experience with ayahuasca and other sacred plants and has led more than 500 ceremonies in Brazil, Europe and the United States. He has built this practice in dialogue with his local Brazilian ayahuasca community and with the blessings of Indigenous elders and activists in Brazil. He is also the leader of Jornadas de Kura, a plant medicine center in Brazil that promotes a bridge between the ceremonial use of sacred plants, public education on plant medicine and psychedelic science. He is an Indigenous rights activist and the Director of the Psychedelic Parenthood Community. He is father to 3 children and lives with his wife Jacqueline Rodrigues in Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
In this episode, Joe and REMAP Therapeutics Founder, Court Wing, host Lynn Watkins: medically retired USAF JAG & Ops Resource Mgmt Specialist; and C.J. Spotswood, PMHNP: principle psychiatric clinician at REMAP Therapeutics, and author of The Microdosing Guidebook: A Step-by-Step Manual to Improve Your Physical and Mental Health through Psychedelic Medicine.
Watkins tells her story of 20+ years of chronic pain: from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome brought on by a severed nerve to multiple foot surgeries, chest pains, cognitive issues, the inability to move her toes, burning mouth syndrome, and more, which unsurprisingly resulted in depression, anxiety, and being unable to work. Wing and Spotswood talk about their initial assessment, how they figured out how to work with her and her multitude of medications, and the incredible success they saw when combining practiced techniques, neuromodulation, and regular assessments with neuroplastic windows brought on by psilocybin.
They discuss:
How much preparation was done before introducing psychedelics, and the importance of realizing that they were dealing with PTSD
How often a history of chronic pain is related to a history of trauma, whether the patient realizes it or not
Consequences and complications of medications, specifically Clonazepam in Watkins’ case
The cascade of ailments and side effects that can happen from just one injury
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