Psychedelics Today

Download This talk was recorded live in Bolton, Vermont during a MAPS Psychedelic Dinner fundraising event in May 2016. Lenny Gibson presented a lecture during the event about the brief history of psychedelics in the Western world -- surveying the ancient Greek mysteries to the current contemporary psychedelic culture. "Blessed is he who, having seen these rites, undertakes the way beneath the Earth. He knows the end of life, as well as its divinely granted beginning." Pindar Creatures for a day! What is a man?What is he not? A dream of a shadow Is our mortal being. But when there comes to menA gleam of splendour given of heaven,Then rests on them a light of glory And blessed are their days. Pindar I suddenly became strangely inebriated. The external world became changed as in a dream. Objects appeared to gain in relief; they assumed unusual dimensions; and colours became more glowing. Even self-perception and the sense of time were changed. When the eyes were closed, coloured pictures flashed past in a quickly changing kaleidoscope. After a few hours, the not unpleasant inebriation, which had been experienced whilst I was fully conscious, disappeared. What had caused this condition? Dr. Albert Hofmann – Laboratory Notes (1943) To fathom hell or soar angelic, just take a pinch of psychedelic. Dr Humphry Osmond Show Notes & Links Greek Mysteries Pindar Albert Hofmann Humphrey Osmond Aldous Huxley [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckzfckwiyQ0] About Lenny Gibson Leonard Gibson, Ph.D., graduated from Williams College and earned doctorates from Claremont Graduate School in philosophy and The University of Texas at Austin in psychology. Lenny has 50 years of experience working with non–ordinary states of consciousness. He has taught at The University of Tulsa and Lesley College and served his clinical psychology internship at the Boston, MA V.A. Hospital. He also taught transpersonal psychology for 20 years at Burlington College. Lenny serves on the board of the Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region in Vermont. A survivor of throat cancer, he facilitates the head and neck cancer support group at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He is a past president of the Association of Holotropic Breathwork International. You can find out more about Lenny at these two links. Holotropic Breathwork - http://dreamshadow.com Papers and Discussions - http://www.lennygibson.com/

Download In this episode, Joe and Kyle discuss the difference contexts of psychedelic use: Therapeutic Recreational Psychospiritual & Self-Discovery Ceremonial & Shamanic While these categories can be flexible and sometimes merge into one another, we thought that it would be important to give context to the variety of experiences. As MAPS has just received "Breakthrough Therapy" status on the MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research, this is an exciting time for research and therapeutic use of a powerful medicine. However, there may be some confusion about how the therapeutic approach is different from some of these other contexts and ways of using psychedelics. While we believe that all contexts are valid or legitimate and each carry their own risk/benefit, we thought that it would be helpful and fun to talk about our views about this subject. Become a Patron!https://c6.patreon.com/becomePatronButton.bundle.js If you want to learn more about navigating the psychedelic experience or learn more about safety guidelines for these different contexts, check out our new online course, "Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care & Integration." Useful Texts & Resources Coyote Medicine: Lessons from Native American Healing Coyote Wisdom: The Power of Story in Healing LSD Psychotherapy LSD: Doorway to the Numinous The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries Psychedelic Explorers Guide Ayahuasca in My Blood: 25 Years of Medicine Dreaming Show Notes/Links Opium Wars Safe Injection Sites - Denver Greek / Eleusinian Mysteries

DMTx Download The summer has been busy for us at Psychedelics Today. We have been working hard on launching our new online course, "Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care & Integration." Beside lining interviews up for the podcast, we have been recording video interviews/master classes for the course. Since we just launched the course this week, we figured that would check in and just talk about what's been going on. This conversation takes off with Joe and Kyle discussing the recent DMTx event that took place last month in Boulder, Colorado. During this talk, we both speculate the risks and concerns of this research as well as the potential benefit. With the conversation revolving around DMT and extended-state DMT research, the discussion heads down the rabbit hole for a bit and we explore the global crisis, climate change, future uses of DMT, alien worlds and alternative dimensions, and more! We also highlight the recent death of Baylee Ybarra Gatlin, who passed away at the Lightening in a Bottle festival during Memorial Day Weekend. The autopsy report suggests that Gatlin passed due to "Acute LSD Toxicity." Many condolences to the Ms. Gatlin's family and friends. It is very unlikely that Gatlin died from "Acute LSD Toxicity," but rather most likely from ingesting another substance like 25i-NBOMe. Tragic situations, like these, really stress the importance of substance testing. It seems that with the rise of research chemicals, adulterations in substances, and drugs laced with fentanyl one can never be 100% certain of what they are actually ingesting. If you have the time to ingest, you have the time to test. Get a test kit today. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think of the show! Become a Patron! Show Notes/Links - DMTx DMTx - Extended-State DMT Research. Donate Today! What will Happen to Society When Psychedelics Become Used for Therapy? Quora Question Jiddu Krisnamurti - Wiki 'Holy Shit, We're in a Cult' - EnlighteNext Ken Wilber Integral Theory Did Baylee Gatlin Really Die Of An LSD Overdose? - DanceSafe article Your EDM article with a headline about an LSD overdose. (Joe - I personally think this headline is irresponsible for YourEDM to publish this way) Fentanyl-Laced Marijuana Eyed In Cape Cod Near-Death Inner Paths to Outer Space: Journeys to Alien Worlds through Psychedelics and Other Spiritual Technologies Psychedelic Shine with Andrew Galimore - Cyber DMT

Download We have an awesome time speaking with SSDP's Drug Education Manager, Dr. Vilmarie Narloch. Vilmarie is making a big difference with drug safety in the US and internationally with SSDP's education program 'Just Say Know.' During the show we discuss Vilmarie's work with policy around the Good Samaritan laws and other impressive and impactful harm reduction projects. We also discuss some of the pressure from various elements in the government regressing rules, like some law enforcement offices refusing to use Narcan\naloxone to help save the lives of people overdosing. This episode is a dose of compassion and gives perspective about the different impacts from the drug war and prohibition. If you are a student who wishes to get involved in drug policy work, please check out the work that SSDP is doing. If you do not have a chapter at your school or university, start one today! Vilmarie also joins us in our course Navigating Psychedelics for a master class featuring harm reduction strategies and more. Be sure to sign up today to learn more from Vilmarie and many others! About Students For Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is the only international network of students dedicated to ending the war on drugs. At its heart, SSDP is a grassroots organization, led by a student-run Board of Directors. We create change by bringing young people together and creating safe spaces for students of all political and ideological stripes to have honest conversations about drugs and drug policy. Founded in 1998, SSDP is comprised of thousands of members at hundreds of campuses in countries around the globe. About Just Say Know Just Say Know is a series of drug education modules aimed at promoting open and honest dialogue around commonly used substances. The program aims to equip young people with harm reduction tools and skills as it relates to the specific substance, but can be applied to substance use generally. Students for Sensible Drug Policy believes that students should be an overall part of any campus and community prevention and intervention strategy. Our SSDP Peer Education program seeks to empower students in our network to analyze the relationship between drug policy and drug use by providing evidence-based drug information, teaching students to recognize and address dangerous behaviors and unhealthy attitudes, and promoting prosocial and harm reduction oriented behaviors and attitudes. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Fcl6NZ1AFs] Show Notes/Links Students for Sensible Drug Policy Vilmarie Narloch - SSDP Staff Profile Fentanyl Test Strips Naloxone - The Fight for the Overdose Cure - The Atlantic SSDP's 911 Good Samaritan Policy Guide Drug Overdose Immunity and Good Samaritan Laws Ohio's police chief and refusal of Narcan Vilmarie Narloch PsyD. - Bio Vilmarie Narloch, PsyD., is the Drug Education Manager at Students for Sensible Drug Policy. In this role, Vilmarie oversees the development and implementation of the SSDP Peer Education program, which is a training program for SSDP Members to become certified to deliver our drug education program, Just Say Know, to their peers. Vilmarie is passionate about reforming drug education in the U.S. and abroad, and has dedicated years of study on the topic for her dissertation. Vilmarie has taken on this position because as an organization driven by students with exceptional knowledge on drug policy and other drug use related issues, SSDP is uniquely positioned and qualified to be developing a drug education program. Additionally, Vilmarie educates staff and the network on the current state of research and treatment issues with regard to substance use disorders and mental health. Vilmarie aims to aid in the connection of policy and practice by helping our network understand the impact of policy on access to treatment and care while utilizing the latest research. Vilmarie earned her M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services from Saint. Mary's University of Minnesota, and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. During her time at Roosevelt, she was a graduate research assistant with Roosevelt University's Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy. Her work at ICDP included research support, report co-authorship and event planning and coordination. Vilmarie's interests in drug education, access to treatment, and harm reduction policy and practice have led her to numerous projects, including the provision of counseling and harm reduction services to students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and DePaul University, serving as a member of the Chicago Consortium on College Alcohol Harm Reduction, a predoctoral internship in the Adult Behavioral Services department in a local public health department, and a postdoctoral fellowship in a small prviate agency, where she provided therapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups in addition to supervising interns. Additionally, Vilmarie has been an adjunct instructor teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology and substance use disorder treatment. She has dedicated her studies and clinical work to advance Harm Reduction as the standard of practice for substance use disorders. In doing so, she has sought opportunities to educate others in her field about harm reduction, including her students. Vilmarie's dissertation, titled, "What Youth Want: Developing a Drug Education Curriculum Based on Youth Guidance and Evidence-Based Principles," inspired her to continue to advocate for effective drug education on a professional level, which led to her current position at SSDP. Additionally, Vilmarie's next personal career goal is to become trained to deliver psychedelic psychotherapy, which she considers to be the future of psychological practice.

Download Ashley Booth This week we talk with Ashley Booth, co-founder of InnerSpace Integration and founder of the Aware Project: Rethinking Psychedelics. Ashley shares with us how she went from being an oceanographer to starting a psychedelic community in the Los Angeles area and also pursuing psychedelic research. We talk about how the formation and history of both the Aware Project and InnerSpace Integration, and the importance of building a psychedelic community. We also talk about Ashley's background in somatic practices such as Hakomi and how Hakomi can be used for integration as well as in the psychedelic space. Body psychotherapy seems to be a tool of the future for many psychotherapists who are interested in psychedelics and psychedelic research as normal talk therapy does not always address some of the underlying issues that are stored within the body. Other Show Topics Non-visual experiences with Aya Not getting caught up in the story. Burning Man Integration groups/networks Tips on getting involved in the field [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsTxzEB-XA0] Ashley Booth Show Notes/Links Innerspace Integration Facebook Aware Project YouTube Facebook Hakomi Method Somatic Experiencing Sensorimotor Holotropic Breathwork 5-MeO-DMT [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aq_cOMsyik] About Ashley Booth, M.S. Ashley Booth, M.S. is a scientist, philosopher, and psychedelic ambassador. After years of working in environmental science, she experienced a radical paradigm shift through the use of psychedelics which ignited a passion for the awakening of human consciousness. Ashley uses her scientific background to break through the "war-on-drugs" rhetoric and have an intelligent and scientifically-based conversation about the safety and use of psychedelic substances. Ashley is the founder of the Aware Project: Rethinking Psychedelics (awareproject.org), which hosts educational and community-building events in Los Angeles and San Diego, California. She is also a co-founder of the InnerSpace Integration (innerspaceintegration.com), a psychedelic integration support service and harm reduction organization in Southern California. For a year and a half, she worked as a psycho-spiritual coach at Crossroads Treatment Center, supporting people through ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT experiences. She is a certified Kundalini yoga teacher and is currently training in a somatic psychotherapy approach known as the Hakomi Method. www.AshleyBooth.net Header Photo: https://www.instagram.com/scarlet.barnett/ Check out our upcoming course, "Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care & Integration." Sign up Today!

Daniel Pinchbeck, author of the new book, How Soon is Now? joins us this week to talk about the global ecological crisis, climate change, and how psychedelics may play a role in transforming human culture. If you do believe that we are in a time of great ecological crisis, what are you doing about it? Taking action is the most important step to creating change, but are we willing to take the sacrifices and action to create change? Daniel shares his insights about how to take action to implement change. While some of these changes may be challenging, i.e., stop traveling as much, it may be necessary to help cut carbon emissions and to slow down the global warming cycle. Or is it too late to even take action? A recent journal article, "Lifetime experience with (classic) psychedelics predicts pro-environmental behavior through an increase in nature relatedness" states: Our model controlled for experiences with other classes of psychoactive substances (cannabis, dissociatives, empathogens, popular legal drugs) as well as common personality traits that usually predict drug consumption and/or nature relatedness (openness to experience, conscientiousness, conservatism). Although correlational in nature, results suggest that lifetime experience with psychedelics in particular may indeed contribute to people's pro-environmental behavior by changing their self-construal in terms of an incorporation of the natural world, regardless of core personality traits or general propensity to consume mind-altering substances. Thereby, the present research adds to the contemporary literature on the beneficial effects of psychedelic substance use on mental wellbeing, hinting at a novel area for future research investigating their potentially positive effects on a societal level. About How Soon is Now? Description of his book from Amazon.com We are on the brink of an ecological mega-crisis, threatening the future of life on earth, and our actions over the next few years may well determine the destiny of our descendants. Between a manifesto and a tactical plan of action, How Soon is Now? by radical futurist and philosopher Daniel Pinchbeck, outlines a vision for a mass social movement that will address this crisis. Drawing on extensive research, Daniel Pinchbeck presents a compelling argument for the need for change on a global basis. The central thesis is that humanity has unconsciously self-willed ecological catastrophe to bring about a transcendence of our current condition. We are facing an initiatory ordeal on a planetary scale. We can understand that this initiation is necessary for us to evolve from one state of being – our current level of consciousness – to the next. Overcoming outmoded ideologies, we will realize ourselves as one unified being, a planetary super-organism in a symbiotic relationship with the Earth's ecology and the entire web of life. Covering everything from energy and agriculture, to culture, politics, media and ideology, How Soon Is Now? is ultimately about the nature of the human soul and the future of our current world. Pinchbeck calls for an intentional redesign of our current systems, transforming unjust and elitist structures into participatory, democratic, and inclusive ones. His viewpoint integrates indigenous design principles and Eastern metaphysics with social ecology and radical political thought in a new synthesis. Show Notes/Links Daniel's Website Daniel's Writing & Projects Evolver Reality Sandwich Age of Aquarius Burning Man Bobby Klein - Breathwork in Tulum, MX Daniel's Books [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="105"] How Soon is Now?[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="104"] Breaking Open The Head[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="107"] 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl[/caption] Check out more of Daniel's writing: Here About Daniel Pinchbeck From Daniel Pinchbeck's Website I am the author of Breaking Open the Head (Broadway Books, 2002), 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl (Tarcher/Penguin, 2006), Notes from the Edge Times(Tarcher/Penguin, 2010), and How Soon Is Now (Watkins, 2017). I co-founded the web magazine, Reality Sandwich, and Evolver.net, and edited the publishing imprint, Evolver Editions, with North Atlantic Books. I was featured in the 2010 documentary, 2012: Time for Change, directed by Joao Amorim and produced by Mangusta Films. I founded the think tank, Center for Planetary Culture, which produced the Regenerative Society Wiki. I hosted the talk show Mindshift on GaiamTV. My essays and articles have been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Rolling Stone, ArtForum, The New York Times Book Review, The Village Voice, Dazed & Confused, and many other publications. Check out our upcoming course, Navigating Psychedelics Learn about harm reduction practices, self-care, and ways to integration your experience

Download Sara Gael joins us on this week's episode. Sara is the Director of Harm Reduction at the Zendo Project. We get into some great stuff including some of Zendo's biggest wins, how Zendo works, how to discuss harm reduction with festival organizers, and how to manage difficult experiences that arise in the Zendo. Something interesting that we learned during this talk was how law enforcement at Burning Man has really been interested in learning more about Zendo and their services, and requested Zendo to help train their staff. Sara also shares her experience and insights working on the MAPS Phase 2 MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD trials and how she got involved in psychedelic research. We also explore how transpersonal psychology can serve as an important framework for working with psychedelic experiences. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvzq63xWCeI] We hope you enjoy this episode. Be sure to leave us a comment below and share this episode! The Zendo Project The Zendo Project is sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Zendo provides harm reduction services to the community and to festivals. Zendo strives to: Reduce the number of psychiatric hospitalizations and arrests. Create an environment where volunteers can work alongside one another to improve their harm reduction skills and receive training and feedback. Demonstrates that safe, productive psychedelic experiences are possible without the need for law enforcement-based prohibitionist policies. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tox15j1jzc] Show Notes/Link Naropa University - Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Psychology Transpersonal Psychology Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care & Integration Zendo Project Volunteer Burning Man Working with Trauma MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD Sara Gael, M.A., Director of Harm Reduction, Zendo Project Sara received her Master's degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at Naropa University. She began working with MAPS in 2012, coordinating psychedelic harm reduction services at festivals and events worldwide with the Zendo Project. Sara was an Intern Therapist for the recently completed MAPS Phase 2 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in Boulder, CO. She maintains a private practice as a psychotherapist specializing in trauma and non-ordinary states of consciousness. Sara believes that developing a comprehensive understanding of psychedelic medicines through research and education is essential for the health and well being of individuals, communities, and the planet. Community is an important part of integration. One of the most difficult aspects of integration is returning to a society that doesn't understand or support psychedelic exploration. In fact, re-entering society can feel like a stark contrast between the interconnected, transpersonal state of the psychedelic experience. Therefore, one of most important tools for successful integration is a supportive, understanding community. We encourage our Guests to connect with and build supportive communities around themselves when they return home from the event. We support them in seeking professional help if necessary. -Sara Gael, Zendo Project Coordinator source Sara Gael - Links Sara's Professional Practice site - Re-membering Sara's Profile on Psychology Today Mikedelic Podcast - October 5, 2016 Understanding and Working with Difficult Psychedelic Experiences - MAPS Bulletin Entheogen Show - Psychedelic First Aid Be sure to check out our upcoming course: Navigating Psychedelics

Download It is the week of the 4th of July. That means the United States is celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, breaking free from the British Empire, and becoming an independent nation. With the holiday underway, it seems like a great time to reflect on the concept of freedom (including cognitive liberty) and what it means to each and every one of us. In honor of Independence Day and the Declaration of Independence, here is a quote by Terence McKenna: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="660"] Photo from: http://www.cannalawblog.com/they-said-it-on-marijuana-quotable-saturday-part-cxxvi/[/caption] In this episode, Joe and Kyle reflect on the concept of personal freedom, cognitive liberty, and the impact that the War on Drugs has on the American people. It seems to be the consensus that the War on Drugs is failing. The policy has huge negative consequences on people across the globe, and significantly marginalizes minority groups and people of color. Cognitive Liberty As psychedelic research continues to progress in the academic and scientific realm, many people are still subjected to arrest and imprisonment because of this failed policy. Kyle and Joe share their thoughts about the pursuit for cognitive liberty and personal freedom. The unexamined life is not worth living - Socrates Do you think that exploring one's own consciousness, whether through plants or other drugs, be illegal? Why should a person have to "ask permission" to have an experience with their own body, mind, and spirit? Let us know your thoughts about this topic. Joe and Kyle also talk about their new upcoming course, Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care & Integration. Be sure to check out this course and sign up TODAY! We are giving away a SPECIAL offer just for the 4th of July! Receive 10% off our Earl-Bird special with the coupon code "freedom" when you check out. You do not want to miss this offer! Show Links Cacao Ceremonies Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics Kids for Cash The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries The Big Chew Podcast - Psychedelics, Healing, and Transformation Confessions of an Economic Hitman United Nations and World Health Organisation call for drugs to be decriminalised Tennessee man, woman charged after getting lost while high on magic mushrooms, calling 911 Ohio 3-Strike Penalty Proposal Burning Man Drug Testing Gabor Maté M.D.- The Body Says No Bessel van der Kolk M.D. - The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma Carl Hart - High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society (P.S.) New York's "Stop & Frisk" Policy Flakka PVP (''flakka''): a new synthetic cathinone invades the drug arena Psychedelic Experience Geoffery Schwartz presents: Cognitive Liberty and Entheogenic Freedom for ERIE [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fobjqBbSiQ]

Download Shane LeMaster joins us again to talk about his work with veterans, enhancing human performance and traditional use of peyote. If you haven't listened to part one, check that out first here. Show Topics Warriorship and Shambhala Micro-dosing as it would apply to sports performance research Flow states Eckhart Tolle Microdosing at JuJitsu competitions High or standard dose psychedelic use at NASA The difference between microdosing and normal dosages Shane's own practice JuJitsu for healing trauma Vets only JuJitsu class Where is trauma stored Insights on Peyote Integration Show Links Shane's Site - Mind OPS Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World About Shane LeMaster, B.A., M.A., LAC, CC-AASP Bio from Mind-OPS Shane earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, completed extensive coursework towards a Master of Arts Degree in Sport & Performance Psychology at the University of Denver, and earned his Master of Arts Degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Argosy University. Shane is nationally certified as a Sport Psychology Consultant and a licensed mental health clinician in the state of Colorado. Having worked in community non-profit mental health since 2008, Shane has gained experience working with the entire spectrum of mental disorders and with all populations and age groups. Shane plans on attending a Ph.D program in Counseling Psychology where his interest in Resiliency, Mental Toughness, and Mindfulness Training Program Development can be explored and further developed. He is a life-long athlete having competed at various levels in more than a dozen different sports. Because of his passion for warrior cultures of past and present, Shane has been ardently developing his own "Warriorship," training in various forms of Martial Arts for 25 years. Shane feels that the self-discipline, the philosophy of non-violence, the innumerable mental and physical benefits, and the enjoyment that he gains from the Martial Arts is what helped drive his passion in the field of Psychology. His personal interest in Eastern Philosophy stems from his adoption of a Buddhist lifestyle and blends well with his training in Western Psychological Science. Clients describe Shane as an out-of-the-box clinician that is easy to get along with, knowledgeable on a variety of topics, credible with lived experience, and as having the ability to make therapy fun and interesting. Interested in learning more about psychedelic self-care and integration? Check out and sign up for our new online course!