Chacruna

Workshop: Ecology, Spirituality and Psychedelics
2024-10-01 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Professional spiritual health practitioners hold expertise in psychology, spirituality, religion, metaphysics, theology, existential care, and meaning-making. They represent diverse religious, spiritual and humanist traditions. Ecologically-based spiritual care affirms a view of spirituality that includes reciprocity, planetary healing, adaptation to climate change, indigenous reciprocity, and ecological grief.
An ecologically-integrated approach to psychedelic therapies includes:
Support for climate anxiety and grief.
Earth-based rituals and ceremonies for life transitions.
Nature-based psychedelic care for PTSD, end-of-life anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
Crisis care for climate change disasters and support for eco-justice initiatives and indigenous communities.
Exploration of ecological identity as a core psychological factor in well-being.
Spiritual support that emphasizes nature connection.
Stewarding and caring for plants, animals, land, and every aspect of the eco-system as a network of relations rather than resources to be exploited.
This workshop is for professional spiritual health practitioners, eco-chaplains, psychedelic therapists, scholars and anyone interested in the intersection of spirituality, ecological consciousness, and psychedelic care

The Collapse of Soul Quest: What Happened?
2024-10-02 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm PST. $10
How did a well-known ayahuasca church, Soul Quest, unravel, and what does it say about the state of the psychedelic movement today? We will discuss the rise and fall of this church, what the DEA review process revealed, the dramatic recent developments, and how the events surrounding it can potentially impact the broader psychedelic movement in the U.S. Where does plant medicine fit in the spiritual landscape moving forward? What lessons can be learned from this story? We will feature personal reflections and expert insights from Ron McNutt, who is steward of the Litigation and Advocacy Committee of the Psychedelic Bar Association; Mattha Busby, who is a journalist specializing in drug policy and the history of drugs based in Vancouver, Canada; and Rob Heffernan, who and independent researcher in the ayahuasca field and part of the Sacred Plant Alliance’s board, and Martha J. Hartney, who is a private practice attorney in Colorado and member of Chacruna’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants. This forum will be a space for open conversation on balancing growth with responsibility in the evolving psychedelic ecosystem. Join us for this timely and critical discussion to inform and inspire action!

What Does Psychedelic Medicine Owe the Underground?
2024-11-06 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm PDT
With Joanna Kempner, Tehseen Noorani, and Nicolas Langlitz.
This upcoming forum will examine the compelling case of the Clusterbusters, a group of ordinary individuals debilitated by excruciating cluster headaches who developed their own treatment using home-grown psilocybin mushrooms. The forum will explore how such mutual-aid networks address the needs of patients overlooked by for-profit healthcare models and traditional drug development. It will also consider the role psychedelics play in alleviating the emotional and psychological suffering that often accompanies chronic pain. Speakers will discuss critical questions around how these decentralized, patient-led approaches to psychedelic therapy might serve as models for broader healthcare transformation. In addition, the forum will explore the ethics of “naturalistic research” or “cyberbotany” (where academics collect experiential data from online psychedelic communities), as well as the moral considerations of developing and distributing psychedelics within the underground, while resisting commodification in a capitalist system. The discussion will feature Joanna Kempner, author of “Psychedelic Outlaws” and an award-winning sociologist of science, medicine, and inequality; Tehseen Noorani, a critical social scientist with interests in the phenomenology, epistemology, and therapeutic potential of psychedelic and ‘psychotic’ experiences; and Nicolas Langlitz, a medical doctor by training, as well as an anthropologist and historian of science and medicine. Join us for this thought-provoking dialogue on what the aboveground might owe the underground?

Indigenous Shamanic Knowledge Systems, Art and Creative Processes
2024-11-27 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Wednesday, November 27th, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
In our next Community Forum we are diving into the entangled topics of art, literature, Amazonian shamanism, and Indigenous knowledge, cosmologies, and traditions. Pedro de Niemeyer Cesarino will lay out his unique trajectory as an anthropologist and writer, his research with Marubo Indigenous people from the Amazon, and his literary work. What are the relations between art and anthropology? What are the ties between ethnology and fiction literature? How did his literary production dialogue with his research on shamanism and Amazonian narratives? Among several books he has published “Oniska: Poética do Xamanismo na Amazônia” (Oniska: the Poetry of Shamanism in the Amazon), an ethnographic research project on cosmology, shamanism and poetics. Pedro has a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology (National Museum, UFRJ) and is currently a professor at the University of São Paulo. Our interviewer for this forum is Bia Labate, who has a Ph.D. in Anthropology (Unicamp) and is the Executive Director of Chacruna Institute.

The Fight to Advance Psilocybin Therapy for Life-Threatening Conditions
2024-12-04 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Mexico_City)
Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm PST

Join our discussion on the groundbreaking efforts to establish federal safe harbor forChacruna Institutepsilocybin-assisted therapy for individuals with life-threatening conditions. We’ll explore the current legal status of psilocybin as a Schedule I substance, the challenges this poses for access to therapy, and potential pathways for change, including the Right to Try Act and rescheduling efforts. We’ll also delve into the significant litigation, AIMS et al v. DEA, and its impact on inspiring federal bills like the Right to Try Clarification Act and the Breakthrough Therapies Act. This is a critical conversation about expanding treatment options and improving access to innovative therapies. This community forum will feature Sunil Kumar, integrative palliative care and rehabilitation medicine physician, co-founder and co-director of AIMS Institute in Seattle; Shane Pennington, a former law clerk to federal judges that counsels clients facing complex regulatory issues; and Britt Rollins, co-founder of the National Psychedelics Association and a seasoned communications strategist in healthcare.

Lessons from the Massachusetts Ballot Campaign: What Happened and What’s Next?
2024-12-18 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Mexico_City)
Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
We invite you to join us for an in-depth exploration of the recent Massachusetts ballot campaign and its implications for drug policy reform. This Community Forum will dive into the recent Massachusetts ballot campaign as we unpack its outcomes and explore the future of drug policy reform. This forum will highlight key insights from post-election voter surveys, lessons learned from the campaign, and a forward-looking perspective on what’s next for Massachusetts, the nation, and other states pursuing similar initiatives. You’ll hear from our speakers, Stefanie Jones who is a seasoned drug policy reform advocate supporting progressive harm reduction, drug education, and drug policy initiatives. She recently co-founded Open Circle Alliance. Jared Moffat has been leading coalitions to reform harmful and punitive drug policies for 12 years. He has been part of 15 campaigns to pass statewide legislation and currently helps lead New Approach Advocacy Fund’s policy efforts across several states. Ismail Ali is the Director of Policy & Advocacy for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Alchemy Community Therapy Center.

Psychedelics Legality and Ethics in Colorado: Where We Are vs. Where We Want to Be
2025-01-15 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
We are delighted to invite you to Chacruna’s first Community Forum of 2025, which will explore the evolving landscape of religious and spiritual uses of natural medicines in Colorado. This discussion will examine the complexities surrounding state regulation of psychedelics, alongside diverse ethical and self-regulatory challenges within the psychedelic community. How can the sincerity of self-proclaimed ceremonial leaders be assessed? How can we safely integrate psychedelic care without jeopardizing sincere ceremonial practices under federal law? And how should the state track adverse events in underground psychedelic contexts without putting people at legal risk at the federal level? Should state agencies in Colorado be more intentional in defining what qualifies as a ceremony? Join us as we hear from an esteemed panel of speakers: Jamie Beachy, a professional chaplain, spiritual care educator, and ethics consultant with expertise in palliative care, hospice, and trauma care; Matthew Brockmeier, an attorney specializing in controlled substances within healthcare and wellness contexts, as well as drug policy reform; Taylor West, the executive director of the Healing Advocacy Fund and a leading figure in the emerging fields of psychedelic and cannabis policy reform; and Karina Bashir, an accomplished attorney and thought leader focusing on the intersection of law, business ethics, and psychedelics.

Racism, implicit bias and microaggressions in psychedelics: A call to action
2025-01-22 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Wednesday, January 22th, 2025 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
Join us for a critical conversation addressing the pressing issues of racism, implicit bias, and microaggressions within the psychedelic field. This forum brings together thought leaders, researchers, and practitioners to explore the intersection of systemic inequities and psychedelic-assisted therapies, aiming to identify actionable strategies for creating a more inclusive, equitable, and culturally competent psychedelic ecosystem. Ignoring issues of racism and bias stagnates progress and limits the transformative potential of psychedelic therapies; this forum calls on the psychedelic community to take collective action to ensure the field evolves with equity, inclusion, and safety at its core. Speakers include Monnica Williams, a clinical psychologist, disparities researcher, diversity instructor, and university educator who is Chacruna’s Racial Equity and Access Advisor, and NiCole T. Buchanan, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University, Clinical Director of Alliance Psychological Associates and part of the Advisory Board of the Chacruna Institute. The discussion will be moderated by Sonya Faber, who holds a Master’s in Neurobiology from Brown University and is member of the Board Directors of the Chacruna Institute.

Cultivating Integrity in Plant Medicine (Free Community Forum)
2025-02-26 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
We are thrilled to invite you to an inspiring conversation on ethical plant medicine facilitation, justice-informed practices, and integrity in the psychedelic field.

Join us for this powerful conversation with an esteemed panel of speakers: Bia Labate, Jamie Beachy, Henrique Antunes, Nidia Olvera, Bruno Gomes, Stephanie Stewart, and Alejandra Barajas.

Hollers & Horizons: Psychedelics in Appalachia
2025-03-05 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
Join us for a critical conversation about Appalachia’s place in the psychedelic movement. This mountain region, crossing 13 states in the Eastern U.S, has long been subjected to extractive industry, marginalization, appropriation, and misunderstanding by the outside world. Within the ancient mountains, however, a diversity of traditions connect people to one another – and to the landscape – through rich placekeeping and storytelling practices and resilient, innovative micro-cultures. Similarly, psychedelics, and the communities that use them traditionally, have their own place-connected histories, which have repeatedly been misinterpreted, marginalized, or erased. This Community Forum will highlight parallels in the two regions, as well as Appalachia’s unique, currently untapped potential within the psychedelic movement. Appalachia’s diversity, which includes Indigenous wisdom, Affrilachian expression, the veins of Scots-Irish storytelling, ballad-swapping, Appalachian Trail stories, and hunting and land stewarding practices, supports a cultural ecosystem characterized by hyperlocal community activation, connection, and resilience. You’ll hear from Justin Moore, scholar, mental health therapist-in-training, and CEO of Appalachian Psychedelic Society (APS); Dr. Ali McGhee, a scholar, psychedelic journalist, and CCO of APS; and Dr. Raymond Turpin, Clinical Director for The Pearl Institute (in Waynesville, North Carolina) and President of the Board of Directors, and Co-Principal Investigator of The Pearl MDMA Project, as we discuss how to unlock the potential of Appalachia to ensure the success and longevity of the psychedelic movement.

Course: Certificate in Ceremony, Ethics & Reciprocity
2025-03-20 10:30 - 2025-10-02 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
REGISTER HERE
Price $950
This certificate is a 6-month, 80-hour journey designed for those already facilitating or assisting in ceremonies, aiming to create a safer, more equitable, and informed space for plant medicine practices. It focuses on reducing risks, strengthening community accountability, and cultivating skills for ethical ceremonial leadership outside traditional Indigenous contexts.

Course: Ayahuasca Healing, Science and Indigenous Knowledge
2025-04-14 10:30 - 2025-07-21 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
REGISTER HERE
Price $950
This course will be taught by leading experts in the field of ayahuasca research and renowned Indigenous leaders. The goal of the course is to address the current challenges and new perspectives on the use of ayahuasca in a global context, not only from an academic standpoint but also drawing from Indigenous voices and their experience with ayahuasca. Students will be introduced to current issues on the internationalization of ayahuasca and its impacts. The course will address Amazonian traditional healing modalities; ayahuasca and Western psychotherapy, the commodification of ayahuasca;​​therapeutic and clinical research; conservation, environmental legislation and the legal framework of ayahuasca worldwide. This course will also be dedicated to honor the voices and experiences of Brazilian Indigenous leaders, addressing issues that are most dear to Indigenous communities that consecrate ayahuasca. Our Indigenous professors will explore the dilemmas posed by western civilization, such as exploitative extractivism, cultural appropriation, and the discredit of ancestral knowledge. They will also talk about ayahuasca shamanism and its role for the political, spiritual and cultural resistance of Indigenous Peoples. This innovative course will bridge the gap between academic and traditional knowledge, connecting the ceremonial use of sacred plants and psychedelic science. Following Chacruna’s tradition, this course will unite a community of kindred people to get together and exchange notes around the most complete and up-to-date debates on ayahuasca and its challenges in current times.

When the Feds Come A-Knocking: Psychedelic Churches and the Law
2025-04-16 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Mexico_City) | Virtual
Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
Join us for an insightful discussion on the intersection of psychedelic churches and U.S. law, focusing on religious protections for ayahuasca and other plant medicines. We’ll explore whether these churches should apply for DEA exemption permits or operate without approval, the high costs of litigating against the government, and what the future holds for ayahuasca churches in the U.S. Our conversation will also address who decides what qualifies as a “sufficiently religious” practice for legal protection, the balance between practitioners’ rights and responsibilities, and how governmental interests in enforcing the Controlled Substances Act affect these religious practices. We will examine whether using multiple sacred substances in ceremonies could hinder religious exemptions and what the Jensen v. Utah County case means for religious freedom. This forum will offer valuable perspectives on how religious freedom and plant medicine practices could evolve within the current legal framework. You’ll hear from our speakers, including Martha J. Hartney, a private practice attorney and drug policy reform advocate. She is Chacruna’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants Advisor and the first steward of the Religious Use Subcommittee of the Psychedelic Bar Association. Allison Hoots, an attorney advising churches on the religious use of sacraments, Chacruna’s Law and Drug Policy Reform Advisor and the lead author of Chacruna’s Guide to RFRA and Best Practices for Psychedelic Plant Medicine Churches. Lastly, William Barzee, a criminal defense attorney with extensive ayahuasca-related case experience, has secured religious freedom-based dismissals of federal charges and advocated for ayahuasca use during federal probation.

Course: The Science of Psychedelic Healing
2025-04-22 10:30 - 2025-06-24 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
REGISTER HERE
Price $700 USD
This course will teach students the science of psychedelic healing. Psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials have shown promise for treating a variety of behavioral health indications, and the topics covered in this course will describe some of the potential mechanisms of action for these psychedelic benefits. We will focus on specific psychoactive substances such as 5-MeO-DMT, cannabis, MDMA, psilocybin, and others. Within this realm of psychedelics, we will discuss topics such as critical periods, acute subjective effects, altered states of consciousness, characteristics of psychedelics, nervous system resilience, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug-drug interactions, post treatment integration, historical usage of these psychedelics and potential therapeutic applications. Evidence from psychedelic neuroscience, epidemiology and pharmacology will be presented to help students gain a greater appreciation for how psychedelics may impact health and wellness in clinical care. We will analyze different scientific research studies and data that have been presented within these realms in order to discuss therapeutic efficacy. We will ultimately strive to bridge the gap between the use of these psychedelics within western medical practice to recreational and Indigenous use.

Psychedelics and Attachment: Fundamentals, Implications, and New Frontiers
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Join us for this dialogue that delves into the exciting intersections between psychedelics and attachment theory, exploring both the foundational aspects and the novel implications of their convergence. Our speakers will unpack the fundamental concepts of attachment theory and its key terminology, laying the grounds for a deeper dive into the forum’s topic. They will also pivot into attachment-and-psychedelic research up to date (its promise and implications), as well as present ongoing innovative theoretical and empirical research projects pertinent to the topic at hand. This forum is designed for both seasoned researchers and newcomers to the field, providing a comprehensive overview of where psychedelic-and-attachment research stands today and where it might head in the future. You’ll hear from Esenia Cassidy, an interdisciplinary psychedelic researcher who is a co-founder of The Psychedelic Humanities Lab; and Chris Stauffer, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University and co-founder of the Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus.

Jornadas de Diálogo: Imaginarios Culturales, Políticas y Prácticas en Torno a las Plantas Psicoactivas en Latinoamérica
2025-05-28 | Palacio de Medicina, Mexico City, Mexico
Conference in Spanish
La concepción de las drogas ha variado mucho a lo largo del tiempo, y la distinción entre «drogas ilegales» y «medicamentos legales» sigue siendo objeto de controversia (Courtwright 2001). Cada vez son más los científicos que afirman que es necesario desmitificar las drogas y revisar su percepción como una amenaza para la sociedad. América Latina desempeña un papel fundamental en este debate, ya que las sustancias psicoactivas forman parte de sus recursos naturales y de la historia cultural de sus pueblos indígenas. Las Jornadas de Diálogo “Imaginarios Culturales, Políticas y Prácticas en Torno a las Plantas Psicoactivas en Latinoamérica” tendrán lugar los días 28, 29 y 30 de mayo en el Palacio de Medicina de la Ciudad de México y abordarán la evolución de la percepción de las «drogas» en América Latina desde la independencia del continente hasta la actualidad (1820-2020).

The Psychedelic Press: Navigating Censorship, Ethics, and the Market
2025-05-28 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
This community forum will explore the evolving ecosystem of psychedelic publishing and the critical role media plays in shaping public discourse, ethical frameworks, and cultural narratives around psychedelics. As interest in psychedelics rapidly expands, the need for thoughtful, responsible, and financially sustainable platforms – across books, journalism, and academic journals – has never been more urgent. Together, our speakers will reflect on the challenges of peer review, the ethics of mainstreaming, and the tensions between credibility, accessibility, and market pressures. We will explore questions such as: How has the publishing landscape responded to the resurgence of psychedelics after decades of prohibition? What are the ongoing challenges with censorship on social media? How do we balance financial sustainability with editorial integrity? What is still missing in the psychedelic publishing space, and who remains underserved? Join us in conversation with Deborah Parrish Snyder, co-owner and publisher of Synergetic Press, and publishing partner of MAPS; Attila Szabo, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychedelic Studies and Research Fellow at the University of Oslo; and Shelby Hartman, Co-Founder and CEO of DoubleBlind, whose work sits at the intersection of investigative journalism, psychedelics, and cultural critique. Please join us!

State Programs Happy Hour: CO x OR x NM
2025-06-19 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Woods Boss Brewing Company, 2210 California Street, Denver, CO 80205 US, Denver, CO, 80205, United States
Chacruna is Co-hosting The State Programs Happy Hour alongside the Healing Advocacy Fund on June 19, during Psychedelic Science 2025. Join fellow licenseholders, advocates, policymakers and community members in the state-legal psychedelic programs to connect, share learning, and deepen ties. Our goal for this event is to create an opportunity for connection across the states, with the belief that these bridges can help us build a stronger foundation for psychedelic healing. All involved in the state programs in Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico as well as efforts underway in other states are welcome to join. This happy hour will take place within walking distance of the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference and refreshments will be provided.

What Does Mindful Consumption of Cannabis Look Like?
2025-07-02 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
We are delighted to invite you to Chacruna’s upcoming Community Forum, which will explore the evolving landscape of cannabis use in today’s society. This discussion will challenge outdated models of cannabis prohibition and treatment, and instead foster nuanced, safety-based conversations about mindful and moderate consumption. How can we approach cannabis more like exercise – acknowledging both its benefits and its risks? In what ways has prohibition-driven “all or nothing” thinking prevented realistic dialogues about cannabis use? With a growing array of products and easier access than ever before, how can American adults find balance and moderation amidst the marketing and normalization of consumption? Furthermore, how do new product forms like edibles and vape pens, and the increasing prevalence of multiple daily use, shape our relationships with cannabis? We will also discuss how traditional substance use treatment models often fall short for cannabis users, and why new approaches – rooted in harm reduction and the recognition that cannabis can have real benefits – are essential for addressing Cannabis Use Disorder without erasing the positive aspects of cannabis use. Join us as we hear from Amanda Reiman, a longtime researcher, educator – holding a PhD in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley – and founder of Personal Plants, an educational platform dedicated to cultivating healthy, balanced relationships with cannabis. Also joining us is Owen Wheeler, a Master’s student in Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation at UW Madison and Chacruna’s Education Program Intern. Let’s come together to rethink the story of cannabis and uncover paths to mindful, moderate use.

Course: Roots of Psychedelic Therapy - Shamanism, Ritual and Traditional Uses of Sacred Plants - Live/Online
2025-07-08 10:30 - 2025-10-21 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
REGISTER HERE
Price: $1,100
This course will be composed of a series of independent lectures taught by the Chacruna Institute’s team and affiliates. It will lay out the foundation of the use of sacred plants through historical, cultural, indigenous, ‘traditional’ and contemporary lenses. We will explore topics such as shamanism in Amazonia, peyote use among the Wixárika, psilocybin use among the Mazatec, iboga in Africa, and many other cultural practices amongst other groups. We will discuss and analyze critical social issues such as globalization, tourism, cultural appropriation, commodification, patents, reciprocity, conservation, legality, ethics, sexual abuse, practitioner’s training and more. The course will create bridges between the worlds of ceremonies and psychedelic therapies. Students will learn how to incorporate this knowledge into their professional practices – either clinical or social science research, work clients or ceremonial circles – as well as their personal lives. Through multiple perspectives and the rich histories and cultures of psychedelic plant medicines, students will be able to deepen their understanding of the expanding future of psychedelic plant medicines in ways that are equitable, safe, and just, and ways we can give back to and honor the cultures from which these practices stem. The course will be taught from an anthropological viewpoint that considers different cultures and peoples worthy of respect and considers their own perspective and values.

Cultural Heritage and Pharmacology of the Eleusinian Mysteries
2025-07-23 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
REGISTER HERE
Join us for a deep dive into the cultural, spiritual, and scientific legacy of the Eleusinian Mysteries, one of the most enduring ritual traditions of the ancient world. This Community Forum will explore the intersection of mythology, entheogenic pharmacology, and Greek cultural heritage, asking how modern research into the kykeon – the sacred psychoactive brew at the heart of the Mysteries – can inform contemporary understandings of altered states, healing, and epistemic justice. Together, we’ll explore key questions such as: What can the Eleusinian Mysteries teach us about initiation, secrecy, and transformation? Can ancient psychospiritual frameworks help shape today’s psychedelic science and therapeutic practices? What are the ethical implications of reviving sacred rites in a modern Greek and global context? Speakers include Eleana Baskouta, cultural strategist and Co-Founder of Elkeen, the Hellenic Center for Entheogenic Research; Dr. Evangelos Dadiotis, pharmacologist and researcher of ancient psychedelics; Nikos Katsaounis, storyteller and systems thinker exploring myth and altered states; and Romanos Antonopoulos, natural product chemist bridging ethnobotany and pharmacognosy.

Students of Spiritual Science Symposium 3.0: The New Earth
2025-07-26 11:30 (Europe/London)
This event is a piece of sacred activism. The community of humans gathering will showcase how to restore balance within ourselves and society by celebrating work that challenges dominant, extractive, individualistic, and hierarchical systems and fosters more holistic, interconnected ways of being.

Course: Queering Psychedelics - Intersectionality, Healing, Spirituality and Liberation - Live/Online
2025-07-28 10:30 - 2025-10-06 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
REGISTER HERE
Price: $700
Psychedelics have encompassed a colorful history of the enchanted, wayward, and weird; this history also includes concrete ways queer folk have fundamentally shaped the substance, style, and spirituality of the psychedelic movement. At the same time, some queer people have been harmed by psychedelic culture’s heteronormative assumptions. As the psychedelic renaissance reaches a pivotal moment of mainstream interest and regulatory legitimacy, this course aims to foster accessibility and diversity in psychedelic science, practice, and discourses by addressing and dismantling sexist, heteronormative, transphobic, and homophobic forms of oppression in the psychedelic movement. This course will cover topics such as the cruel effects of patriarchy, practicing self-acceptance, the dark sides of psychedelic research such as conversion therapy, the move towards LGBTQ+ affirmative psychedelic-assisted therapies, transpersonal queer spirituality, sex positivity, trans and BIPOC issues, Indigenous perspectives in queer psychedelia, and pleasure. The course also grapples with how modern psychedelic research might address the unique needs and traumas of sexual and gender minorities—populations that can suffer from challenging mental health conditions brought on by social exclusion, pathologization, criminalization, and stigmatization. It is vital that queer spaces be established for exploring the unique needs, gifts, and strengths that LGBTQ+ communities bring to psychedelic medicine, and how psychedelic medicine can help queer folks move towards healing and liberation.

Black Psychedelics: A Weapon for the Revolution
2025-07-30 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
We invite you to join us for an inspiring conversation at the intersection of psychedelics, Black liberation, and collective transformation. This Community Forum will explore how entheogens can support movements for racial justice, community healing, and radical imagination. Grounded in both lived experience and historical insight, our speakers will examine how psychedelics might move beyond personal wellness to become tools of collective empowerment and spiritual revolution. Together, we’ll explore urgent questions such as: How can the “Psychedelic Renaissance” serve the needs of Black and BIPOC communities? What obstacles stand in the way of mass participation and healing? Can entheogenic practices help us reclaim power beyond the political realm, and even beyond the self? What models from history can guide us today? And what does liberation actually look like, within and without? Speakers include Dr. Nicholas Powers, author of Black Psychedelic Revolution and a longtime commentator on race, politics, and psychoanalysis; Sia Henry, lawyer, abolitionist, and senior policy associate at MAPS working at the intersection of criminal justice reform and psychedelic equity; and Soi Kene Witan, Shipibo-trained plant medicine practitioner and educator, exploring Black identity and healing through Indigenous Amazonian traditions.

2025 SALSA XV Biennial Conference
2025-08-04 - 2025-08-06 | The University of Helsinki, Finland
The conferences of the Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America (SALSA) strive to provide an environment conducive to extensive discussion and exchange of ideas and information among scholars specializing in all fields of lowland South American anthropology and related disciplines.
SALSA held twelve sesquiannual (every one and a half years) conferences since the Society was organized in 2001 until 2017. Since the XII conference in Vienna in 2019, SALSA conferences have continued to be organized biennially. Ideally (contingent on local host sponsorship), the site of our conference rotates among Europe, South America, and North America. To date, SALSA conferences have included thematic panels and workshops, as well as research posters, film screenings, discussion forums, publication exchanges, museum receptions, and other events.
Reciprocidad indígena: Reflexiones y controversias
El debate sobre la reciprocidad indígena está rodeado de retos y controversias. El genocidio histórico de los pueblos indígenas y otras tácticas coloniales, como la supresión de sus lenguas, prácticas y tradiciones, han creado un legado de opresión que no puede borrarse ni superarse mediante ninguna forma de reparación. No obstante, estamos asistiendo a un aumento de iniciativas dedicadas a promover la reciprocidad hacia los pueblos indígenas. Aunque a menudo se critica a estos proyectos como nuevas formas de colonialismo, se han realizado serios intentos por establecer parámetros y definiciones actualizados para la noción de reciprocidad indígena, reconociendo las tradiciones indígenas y su autonomía para estipular sus propios objetivos y prioridades en la ejecución de proyectos y el uso de fondos. A raíz del creciente interés mundial por las plantas medicinales, los rituales y las tradiciones indígenas, estas iniciativas están ganando protagonismo en el Renacimiento Psicodélico. Teniendo en cuenta estas cuestiones, el presente panel aborda temas apremiantes, tales como: ¿Puede considerarse la «reciprocidad indígena» como el resultado de un diálogo entre las cosmologías indígenas y las teorías occidentales de los derechos humanos, la reparación histórica y la decolonialidad? ¿De qué manera siguen influyendo los legados coloniales en los esfuerzos por establecer relaciones recíprocas? ¿Qué propone el movimiento psicodélico mundial para construir relaciones de reciprocidad con el Sur Global? ¿Cómo afectan las propuestas de reciprocidad de los indígenas a sus estructuras comunitarias? ¿Cómo pueden actores con visiones del mundo diferentes y desigualmente posicionados en términos políticos y económicos establecer una relación recíproca que vaya más allá de los intercambios puramente mercantiles y promueva nuevas formas de justicia social?

State Psilocybin Programs: Therapy and Legislation in the Southwest
2025-08-06 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Mexico_City) | Virtual
REGISTER HERE
Join us for a timely and nuanced conversation at the intersection of psychedelic policy, therapy, and social equity in the U.S. Southwest. This Community Forum will explore how Latino curanderos, Indigenous communities, healthcare providers, and policy advocates are shaping emerging psilocybin programs in New Mexico and Colorado. Together, we’ll examine the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when traditional healing practices meet legislative frameworks and biomedical protocols. Key questions include: What does equitable access look like in rural and under-resourced areas like much of New Mexico? What purpose and mission guide today’s psychedelic legislation — and how can we future-proof it for a shifting federal landscape? As Colorado and New Mexico develop differing approaches — natural mushrooms vs. synthetic psilocybin — what are the implications for safety, efficacy, and cultural relevance? We’ll also explore how decriminalization and medicalization can coexist, the legal standing of psychedelic churches, and what ethical policy looks like when grounded in reciprocity, reparations, and right relationship with traditional medicine holders. You’ll hear from Joaquin Orozco, board member of several psychedelic boards, including the New Mexico Psychedelic Science Society, Decriminalize Psychedelics New Mexico and the Rhizome Collective; Amy Wong Hope, founder and director of the Psychedelic Studies Certificate Program at Southwestern College in Santa Fe; Josh Kappel is a founding partner of Vicente Sederberg and a founding member of the Council for Responsible Cannabis Regulation; Jaz Cadoch, co-steward of the Global Psychedelic Society and the Community and Public Manager for the Psychedelic Health Equity Initiative; and Tamar Todd, an attorney with expertise in policy advocacy, legislative drafting, statewide political campaign strategy, regulatory implementation, and non-profit management.

Arctic Visions Psychedelic Conference 2025
2025-08-15 - 2025-08-16 | University of Alaska Anchorage fine arts building, 3700 Alumni Drive, Anchorage, AK, United States
Chacruna is thrilled to return to Arctic Visions 2025 with a delegation of 5 members of our team, after an incredible experience at last year’s sold-out Arctic Visions 2024! With over 30 speakers, this psychedelic conference brings together Indigenous wisdom, scientific research, and visionary artistry.
We will host a Chacruna table, and our founders Dr. Bia Labate and Dr. Clancy Cavnar will join Jo Wunderly for the panel “Building a Fair and Just Psychedelic Movement” on August 15, 2025, from 12:05 to 12:40 PM. Lorien is also listed as a speaker.
Beyond the conference, our delegation will spend additional time in Alaska for team building, strategizing, and socializing, as well as recording content for end-of-year and social media campaigns.
Know more about the conference: https://arctic-visions.com/
Team Representing: Bia Labate, Clancy Cavnar, Horacio Guevara, Lorien Chavez, Marta Camagna

Workshop: Psychedelic Churches: From Legal Protections, to Ethics and Reciprocity (2025)
2025-10-01 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
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As the use of psychedelic plant medicines becomes increasingly visible within spiritual communities, this workshop offers a critical and timely exploration of both legal protections and ethical responsibilities for churches and communities that incorporate plant medicines into their ceremonial practices. It will help participants better understand the rights, limitations, and legal pathways available to psychedelic churches. Participants will gain insight into foundational legal concepts, such as “sincere religious belief,” sacramental protections, religious exemptions under RFRA, and key legal precedents including the UDV, Santo Daime, and the more recent cases, such as the Church of the Eagle and the Condor, the Church of the Celestial Heart, and the Church of Gaia.
Going beyond legal frameworks, this workshop emphasizes the ethical and relational dimensions of practicing with sacred plants. Through a critical analysis of the power imbalances and extractive dynamics within the global psychedelic landscape, it invites participants to consider what meaningful reciprocity, cultural respect, and community accountability might look like in practice. Grounded in over three decades of experience with ayahuasca, mushrooms, and fieldwork across Latin America, this session will challenge attendees to seriously engage with Indigenous claims to plant medicines, and to reimagine their roles as allies rather than consumers.
Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the implications of the psychedelic renaissance for Indigenous communities, explore how to build ethical relationships rooted in humility and horizontal exchange, and examine the true potential of intercultural dialogue and decolonization within the psychedelic ecosystem. This workshop is an invitation to integrate legality with integrity and to align spiritual practice with justice, reciprocity, and respect for the traditions that have long held these medicines sacred.

Caring and Consciousness: The Role of Nurses in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
2025-10-01 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Wednesday, October, 1st, 2025 12:00 PM PST

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Do you wish you got into this event for free? Become a Chacruna member and receive free or discounted access to all Community Forums, Courses, Workshops, and more! Also get full access to our entire archive of past forum recordings and join our global network of psychedelic professionals and activists to dive deeper into discussion and discovery.

Join us for a conversation on the role of nurses in psychedelic-assisted therapy. As psychedelics find their place in healthcare, nurses bring a unique perspective, combining clinical knowledge, ethics, and compassionate care. This Community Forum will explore how nursing training and ethics prepare practitioners for this work, what barriers exist, and what skills or competencies should be prioritized for nurses entering the field. We’ll dive into questions like: How can nurses treat all drug use as valid and support those who use substances? Who are we not reaching, and why does that matter? How do systemic inequities shape the leadership and culture of psychedelic organizations, and how can nurses help increase access to psychedelic therapies? Speakers include Andrew Penn, psychiatric nurse practitioner and researcher at UCSF; Dr. Ronica Mukerjee, family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and health justice advocate; Caroline Dorsen, nurse scholar and program director for the University Psychedelic Education Program; and Dr. Megan Miller, nurse researcher specializing in palliative care and psilocybin-assisted therapy. Together, we’ll discuss how nurses can help make psychedelic therapy more accessible, ethical, and rooted in care and justice.

Workshop: Embrace Pleasure: How Psychedelics Can Heal Our Sexuality
2025-10-03 09:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
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The past two decades have seen a proliferation of research on psychedelic medicines for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions. Slowly but surely, researchers are also beginning to look at how psychedelics medicines can support sexual flourishing, enhance sexual satisfaction, and support greater sexual self-acceptance. This workshop will explore not only the current research on psychedelics and sexuality, but go far beyond that to ask questions about how prohibiting pleasure has molded our current drug laws, why pleasure is omitted from the narrative about psychedelic healing, and how psychedelics can help us to embrace our erotic power for optimal sexual experiences and sexual self-actualization.
This interactive workshop is based on the book, Embrace Pleasure: How Psychedelics Can Heal Our Sexuality. The workshop will aim to foster dialogue about psychedelics and sexuality, explore a “psychedelic” philosophy of sex and pleasure, and provide concrete strategies for psychedelic preparation and integration practices helpful to sexual trauma survivors, couples, and individuals interested in exploring and enhancing their sexuality. Power, desire, ethics, and the dangers and pitfalls that can occur in mixing sex and psychedelics will also be discussed. Undergirding our exploration will be a critique of the neo-liberal and capitalist structures that exist in our society and in psychedelic science that prevent us from embracing pleasure, creating community, and engaging in meaningful erotic connection while centering on the uplifting message that pleasure (and psychedelics medicines) have the power to heal us.
This workshop is suitable for therapists, psychedelic facilitators and guides, sex educators and coaches, as well as those interested in how psychedelics can enhance and heal our sexuality.
