Join us for a conversation, designed for therapists, healthcare providers, and practitioners in the field of psychedelics. In this space, we view self-care as a vital foundation for sustainable practice. Together, we will explore how to recognize early warning signs – distinguishing between secondary trauma and compassion fatigue – and share strategies for building resilience through community support, clinical supervision, and the rejuvenating spirit of play.

Join us for a conversation on the ancestral wisdom of Amazonian plant medicine, guided by Shipibo Onaya healer Maestro Jose Lopez and long-time student and facilitator Anne-Laure Vincke. Together, they will share insights into the sacred practice of healing with icaros – spiritual songs channeled from plant allies – as well as the transformative journeys made possible through traditional dietas. We’ll explore the deep relational ethics at the heart of Shipibo healing, including themes of spiritual alignment, collective care, and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge. With humility and reverence, this conversation invites us to consider how we show up in healing spaces, how we give back, and how we can walk in deeper harmony with the Earth and each other.

In this conversation we will explore the relationship between psychedelics and the Latinx community. This gathering will focus on the specific needs of Latinx individuals in their psychedelic journeys, personal narratives of how psychedelics reinforce cultural identity, and the importance of amplifying Latinx voices within the psychedelic movement. We will discuss regional perspectives on psychedelics in Latin America, the role of sacred plant medicines in family and community life, and the deep-rooted traditions in plant medicine, from Indigenous practices to healing systems. This conversation provides a platform for rich discussions, cross-cultural learning, and the strengthening of inclusion and awareness in the psychedelic space. 

Join us for this conversation dedicated to storytelling and co-education on the intersection of chronic pain and plant medicine use. This space offers an opportunity to share personal testimonies on how psychedelics have helped manage chronic pain conditions, fostering support and solidarity among those with lived experience. Together, we will explore how plant medicines influence chronic pain and, in turn, how chronic pain shapes the psychedelic experience. Additionally, we will discuss ways to provide thoughtful, specialized care for chronic pain patients within the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This is a place for meaningful dialogue, shared learning, and community connection.

Chacruna’s Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative (IRI) attempts to address the profound gap between the promises of psychedelics as defined by the mainstream and the needs of Indigenous and local communities. What does “reciprocity” mean in response to the colonial structures of increasingly globalized plant medicine spaces? How can relational ontologies inform a different way of building community autonomy to challenge systems of exploitation and alienation? How do we properly give back, integrate, and act? What are the promises and limitations of “access and benefit sharing”? We hope to explore different strategies for working towards a process of reciprocity in the corporate, non-profit, therapeutic and ceremonial contexts. Join us in this conversation!

Join us for this conversation, where Bia Labate, Chacruna’s founder will share her personal history and the trajectory that led her to work at the intersection of education, psychedelic justice, and the protection of sacred plants and cultural traditions. She will discuss the unique challenges faced in running a non-profit organization dedicated to these causes, particularly in fostering reciprocity and justice within a rapidly evolving space. Drawing from real-world experience, she will explore how to create mindful organizations that embody a psychedelic ethos, and offer practical insights on navigating the complexities of working with psychedelics in professional settings. This includes managing dynamics across generations, balancing relationships, and leadership roles, and rethinking organizational hierarchies. The talk will also address the current funding landscape in the psychedelic ecosystem and provide strategies for securing support in this challenging environment. Bia will share exciting insights into the internship and volunteer opportunities available at Chacruna, offering a unique chance to get involved and make an impact. Finally, she will reflect on the joys and challenges of traveling together as a team, strengthening bonds, and creating shared experiences that contribute to collective growth and mission alignment.

Join us for a conversation on navigating ayahuasca’s transformative potential, while also confronting the complexities and risks that come with it. We will explore ethical engagement with sacred medicines, integration challenges, and the intersection of psychedelics with identity, culture, and healing. Together, we’ll address the potential dangers of unsafe practices, spiritual bypassing, and the emotional and psychological risks involved in deep healing work. Participants will share insights in a safe, supportive space, reflecting on personal journeys and broader questions of reciprocity in plant medicine communities. Regarding “when things go wrong.” Whether you’re new to ayahuasca or deeply experienced, this meet-up invites reflection, connection, and collective learning on both the power and responsibility of working with these medicines.

This conversation explores the essential principles of safety, ethics, and standards of care in psychedelic therapy, healing, and ceremony. We will emphasize the importance of creating a secure and ethical environment where individuals receive proper preparation, support, and integration. Key considerations include informed consent, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care, ensuring that facilitators uphold responsibility and accountability in their practice. Additionally, the conversation calls for a commitment to high standards of care, emphasizing personal integrity, community accountability, and ongoing education to ensure that psychedelic healing remains both effective and ethically sound.

This queer-centered conversation will explore the unique intersections of psychedelics and LGBTQ+ experiences. This meet-up offers a space for open dialogue, testimony sharing, and collective learning about how plant medicines can support identity, healing, and personal transformation. Together, we’ll discuss the role of psychedelics in navigating queerness, mental health, community building, and self-discovery. We’ll also explore joy and play as crucial parts of survival, with dance and radical self-expression as acts of resistance. Honoring Indigenous perspectives on gender expansiveness and non-duality, we recognize that the gender binary is a colonial construct. Additionally, we’ll discuss how oppressors are cracking down and targeting us not because we are weak, but because of our power. This is a space for connection, support, and exploring the ways in which psychedelic experiences can empower and affirm queer lives.

What role do psychedelics play in expanding our imagination for social and political change? Transformation begins with the ability to imagine alternatives. This conversation delves into the relationship between psychedelics, creativity, and social change, considering how altered states of consciousness can unlock new perspectives, disrupt conventional thinking, and inspire radical visions for the future. Drawing from the ancestral tradition of storytelling – gathering around the fire to share ideas, myths, and dreams – we will explore how art and psychedelics help us reconnect with our collective capacity to envision and manifest change.

This conversation will explore how psychedelic churches and communities can foster health, and accountability in their practices. We will reflect on the lessons that religious and spiritual psychedelic communities offer to the broader movement, including the advantages of group use and the collective responsibility of care. Drawing from lived experiences and legal insights, the discussion will cover practical tools for self-regulation, ceremonial practice, and leadership structures that resist power abuse. We will examine the importance of mutual accountability, the role of legal professionals, and examples of how communities navigate challenges in ethical and effective ways. Attention will be given to gender dynamics in leadership, and how to identify healthy versus harmful group dynamics. This gathering offers an opportunity to share concrete strategies, learn from real-world examples, and strengthen the foundations of psychedelic community work.

As the psychedelic field expands, so do the opportunities for emerging professionals to shape its future. This conversation explores the diverse pathways into the field, from nonprofit work and research to journalism, advocacy, and art. What are the challenges and opportunities of working in a mission-driven organization like Chacruna? How do internships provide a bridge between education and real-world impact? And how can young leaders navigate the balance between activism, career development, and burnout prevention in a high-stakes field? Beyond career-building, this conversation will also explore the intergenerational dynamics shaping the psychedelic space. With witnesses who lived through the first wave of psychedelic research in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, and younger professionals raised in the age of social media and digital activism, how can we bridge generational gaps in knowledge, values, and approaches to social change? What lessons can be exchanged between those who champion tradition and those driving innovation? By sharing insights from community-based initiatives, decolonial education, and nonprofit operations, the speakers will highlight how emerging professionals can foster equity, creativity, and systemic change, while also learning from those who came before them.

This conversation will explore the emerging movement to advance natural medicine legislation in Alaska, building on the momentum of successful campaigns in Oregon and Colorado. We will examine what sets Alaska apart – geographically, culturally, and politically – and how these unique dynamics shape the path forward. This effort, rooted in Indigenous leadership and guided by expert support, centers on creating thoughtful, community-oriented policy that reflects both ancestral knowledge and contemporary needs. Together, we’ll discuss the challenges, opportunities, and collaborative strategies that can help Alaska become a model for ethical and inclusive psychedelic policy.

Join us for this conversation where we will explore the intricate relationship between psychedelics and the Brazilian community. This unique gathering addresses key themes, such as the specific resources needed to support Brazilian individuals in their psychedelic journeys, personal stories of how psychedelics strengthen cultural identity, the importance of amplifying Brazilian voices in the psychedelic movement, regional variations in psychedelic perceptions, the impact of plant medicines on family values, and the historic Brazilian tradition of using diverse plant medicines. This space offers a platform for enriching dialogues and promoting inclusivity, awareness, amplifying Brazilian voices and fostering cultural understanding in the world of psychedelics.