Mary Casanave Sheridan

Q: I’ve enjoyed MDMA recreationally several times with friends – the euphoria and deep connection to music, environment, and community feels profound. However, I consistently experience blues and low energy in the days following. Can you help me understand why this happens and how to minimize it? I’m also curious about MDMA’s therapeutic potential – […]

Q: I used mushrooms, LSD, and ecstasy recreationally through my 20s and 30s for parties and deeper connections. After taking a break to focus on family, I’ve recently returned to mushrooms through guided journeys and microdosing; experiences that have been profoundly healing and nothing like my past use. I’m curious about reintroducing psychedelics into my […]

Q: I keep reading about psychedelics in terms of brain chemistry, serotonin receptors, neuroplasticity, default mode networks. While I appreciate the science, something feels missing when I try to understand my own experiences purely through this lens. During my journeys, I feel like I’m traveling somewhere real, encountering genuine intelligence, receiving teachings that seem to […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]