There’s something really grounded in how you’re holding this- no rush to celebrate, no need to reject it either.
Because both things can be true: increased access through medical systems will help a lot of people… and what happens in a ceremonial space like the one you described isn’t easily replicated or reduced to a protocol.
I especially like what you said about release. We live in a culture that builds pressure but offers very few places to actually discharge it, especially in community. So of course those spaces matter.
It makes me wonder if the real question isn’t clinical vs. ceremonial, but how we keep the depth of the work intact as it becomes more mainstream.
Thanks April for that thoughtful comment! And I agree that a dichotomy of clinical vs ceremonial is not necessarily helpful. Let's see how this whole process unfolds...
I'm struck by the either/or - "yes and"-ness of medicine and ceremony. And agree that our western capitalist culture will optimize for "cures" and profit - i.e., take a pill - over ceremony, spirituality, and connected community / shared experience. You raise exactly the right questions as to whether we can find the right balance and optimize for both. Or better, optimize for ceremony and community.
In other news, congrats on the definitive dates for the book launch - see you in NYC in July!!
Thank you for adding to the thoughtful conversations following the executive order.
The day before that came out – as the president held a rally in a mega church down the road in Phoenix – I was monitoring an FDA phase one study using whole mushrooms with a group of eight veterans. The word Therapy and anything related to spirituality was intentionally absent in the research protocol, so as not to complicate things with the FDA. But even in a dosing room carved out of a warehouse and with requirements for medical monitoring, there was a sense of ritual and lsacred space. The preparation and integration elements were minimal, but by the end the veterans had bonded and made plans to continue to support each other.
Although this study was designed to measure the effect of mushrooms, the group connection might be a more important factor.
Spirit and community will continue to find their place in this work no matter what the government says. In the interest of true healing, the law should support this rather than interfere. After living through more than half a century of drug war, I still believe this is possible.
My guess is that it will work out on capitalist lines with big Pharma promoting a low-cost SSRI approach and proper psychedelic assisted psychotherapy with three macrodoses and integration continuing to cost $5000 or more...ie unaffordable. The key thing for us in Europe is decriminalisation... for the rest of the world whatever the FDA does is often irrelevant especially now with Trump.
Thanks Abbie..a thought provoking article. Its a big (but perhaps rapidly diminishing) question as to where psychedelics as therapy is going. The business model may be too tantalizing for it to be left to serendipity and the roadmap is rapidly evolving. I also write in this space so its good to see these questions being brought out into the open. There is a community out there of like minded people so maybe we can have an impact on how things will roll out - at least we can hope.
Given the selection of men in the room at the signing of this executive order, I feel that psychedelics other than ibogaine will be largely ignored. Rick Perry, Bryan Hubbard, Joe Rogan, and RFK Jr however will be poised to capitalize on legislation, regulation, and licensing of how this ultimately goes down. Add to that the narrative of healing veterans and the open checkbook that will be available for their healing at five figures per treatment. These are not men of authentic commitments to the betterment of mankind. Despite their elegant and well crafted pleas before a POTUS so compromised as to make a used car salesman blush. Like you said, the future is still bright for the ceremonial space and the communities that make them so effective. But I suppose this may help in shifting the narrative for some portion of the public.
There’s something really grounded in how you’re holding this- no rush to celebrate, no need to reject it either.
Because both things can be true: increased access through medical systems will help a lot of people… and what happens in a ceremonial space like the one you described isn’t easily replicated or reduced to a protocol.
I especially like what you said about release. We live in a culture that builds pressure but offers very few places to actually discharge it, especially in community. So of course those spaces matter.
It makes me wonder if the real question isn’t clinical vs. ceremonial, but how we keep the depth of the work intact as it becomes more mainstream.
Thanks April for that thoughtful comment! And I agree that a dichotomy of clinical vs ceremonial is not necessarily helpful. Let's see how this whole process unfolds...
You’re so welcome! We shall see 😅
(Dan Berg here)
I'm struck by the either/or - "yes and"-ness of medicine and ceremony. And agree that our western capitalist culture will optimize for "cures" and profit - i.e., take a pill - over ceremony, spirituality, and connected community / shared experience. You raise exactly the right questions as to whether we can find the right balance and optimize for both. Or better, optimize for ceremony and community.
In other news, congrats on the definitive dates for the book launch - see you in NYC in July!!
Can't wait to see you!
Thank you for adding to the thoughtful conversations following the executive order.
The day before that came out – as the president held a rally in a mega church down the road in Phoenix – I was monitoring an FDA phase one study using whole mushrooms with a group of eight veterans. The word Therapy and anything related to spirituality was intentionally absent in the research protocol, so as not to complicate things with the FDA. But even in a dosing room carved out of a warehouse and with requirements for medical monitoring, there was a sense of ritual and lsacred space. The preparation and integration elements were minimal, but by the end the veterans had bonded and made plans to continue to support each other.
Although this study was designed to measure the effect of mushrooms, the group connection might be a more important factor.
Spirit and community will continue to find their place in this work no matter what the government says. In the interest of true healing, the law should support this rather than interfere. After living through more than half a century of drug war, I still believe this is possible.
So interesting! Even when the protocol doesn't include ceremony, we humans gravitate to it like a flower turns to the sun
My guess is that it will work out on capitalist lines with big Pharma promoting a low-cost SSRI approach and proper psychedelic assisted psychotherapy with three macrodoses and integration continuing to cost $5000 or more...ie unaffordable. The key thing for us in Europe is decriminalisation... for the rest of the world whatever the FDA does is often irrelevant especially now with Trump.
You're probably right. Thanks for sharing the European perspective!
Thanks Abbie..a thought provoking article. Its a big (but perhaps rapidly diminishing) question as to where psychedelics as therapy is going. The business model may be too tantalizing for it to be left to serendipity and the roadmap is rapidly evolving. I also write in this space so its good to see these questions being brought out into the open. There is a community out there of like minded people so maybe we can have an impact on how things will roll out - at least we can hope.
Given the selection of men in the room at the signing of this executive order, I feel that psychedelics other than ibogaine will be largely ignored. Rick Perry, Bryan Hubbard, Joe Rogan, and RFK Jr however will be poised to capitalize on legislation, regulation, and licensing of how this ultimately goes down. Add to that the narrative of healing veterans and the open checkbook that will be available for their healing at five figures per treatment. These are not men of authentic commitments to the betterment of mankind. Despite their elegant and well crafted pleas before a POTUS so compromised as to make a used car salesman blush. Like you said, the future is still bright for the ceremonial space and the communities that make them so effective. But I suppose this may help in shifting the narrative for some portion of the public.
Thanks for sharing. As usual, I learn so much from your posts. Be well on your journey.
Thanks! So great to hear from you. I look forward to meeting you this summer!