Q: After 20+ years in traditional indigenous ceremonies with mushrooms, peyote, and ayahuasca in South and Central America, I’m watching local options emerge with both curiosity and apprehension. Most seem facilitated by mental health professionals or those with limited connection to indigenous roots. What’s the difference between these approaches and traditional circles? Are there benefits or […]
Mary Casanave Sheridan
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The Psychedelic Frontier: Week of Nov. 27
Spiritual or chemical reaction?
Q: “How do I know if my psychedelic experience was ‘real’ Spiritual insight or just neurochemical effects—and does it matter?” A: This question resonates deeply with me personally, touches on themes that have come up for my clients recently, and hits squarely at the heart of current psychedelic consciousness research. Emerging science suggests this question […]
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Finding Balance in Sacred Relationship
The difference between devotion and dependency
Q: Is it possible to develop too much of a relationship with psychedelics? How do I know if I’m using them as spiritual bypassing? A: This question touches something I feel deeply, both as someone who has walked this path for years and as a witness to countless others navigating these journeys. Your awareness in asking […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier: What are the Risks?
A list of risks associated with psychedelics
Q: “I have been hearing a lot about psychedelic therapy lately and its benefits, and I’ve watched a couple of documentaries on the topic and everything seems so positive or at worst mildly disappointing. But from anecdotal evidence and what seems to be common knowledge, there are risks and downsides to the experience and its […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier
The Healing Advocacy Fund
Q: The Healing Advocacy Fund has been leading the way in access to psychedelic services in Oregon, and recently released a study with findings from their work. It would be great if you would mention it in your column. A: Certainly! The Healing Advocacy Fund (HAF) has been at the forefront of expanding access to psilocybin […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier
Preparing for the Journey
Q: “I have my first intentional mushroom session coming up and I have found conflicting information in my research into hope to properly prepare for such an experience. What can someone best prepare for the most effective experience?” A: Preparing for an intentional, deep psychedelic experience is an intimate act of self-care, expansion and connection. […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier
Psychedelic Use in End-of-Life Care
Q: “I am a successful, stable, satisfied man in his late 70s who has just been given a terminal diagnosis from an aggressive brain cancer. I am reasonably disappointed with the situation but also feel satisfied with what I have accomplished in my life and accepting that it may be my time to go. I […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier
A Conversation with Sabrina Hadeed PhD
In an age where reality often feels closer to science fiction, Dr. Sabrina Hadeed’s “How to Survive a Cultpocalypse: A Psychonaut’s Guide to the Spiritual Galaxy” emerges as a beacon of awareness. With humor as her vessel and wisdom as her compass, Dr. Hadeed navigates the reader through the tumultuous waters of spiritual communities and […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier:A Basic Overview of Substances
From magic mushrooms to LSD and MDMA to ayahuasca and more
Q: I appreciate your articles and the information and resources they contain. I am not entirely clear on understanding what all the various psychedelic substances are and their uses and effects. Can you please help me? A: The use of entheogens and empathogens can lead to some of the most expansive and eye-opening moments in […]
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The Psychedelic Frontier: Exploring Intentional Psychedelic Use in the Modern World
The Importance of Community
Q: Aside from the substances themselves, what do you find to be the single biggest factor or determinant in lasting, healing change or growth in the people you work with? Thank you for the opportunity to answer this important question. In sitting with hundreds of people navigating psychedelic realms, I’ve learned that the synthesis of […]