Pascal sits down with Troy Valencia to explore the world of Iboga and the Bwiti tradition.

Troy shares his own journey of initiation and healing with Iboga, offering insights into how ancient practices and modern science can come together in respectful and effective ways. He emphasizes the importance of community, sustainability, and ethics in the use of this sacred plant medicine.

We also dive into the science of Iboga and Ibogaine, their therapeutic potential, and the risks and safety considerations that must be understood.

This is a conversation about healing as both a personal and collective process—where science, spirit, and community all play a role.

🌿 Who this is for

👉 Journeyers curious about Iboga as a healing path, and what makes it distinct from other medicines

👉 Seekers who want to engage responsibly with the Bwiti lineage and support ethical, sustainable practices

👉 Anyone interested in the intersection of traditional knowledge, conservation, and modern therapeutic science

✨ Key themes

• Iboga as a powerful plant medicine with deep cultural roots
• The Bwiti lineage: community, lineage, and spiritual growth
• Sustainability and conservation: protecting Iboga’s future
• Iboga vs. Ibogaine: whole plant and single alkaloid approaches
• The role of intention, safety, and preparation in the Iboga experience
• Integration and community as the foundation of lasting transformation
• Ethical sourcing and questions to ask providers before choosing to work with them

🗣️ Notable quotes

• “The only way to really understand what the Bwiti is, is to sit in ceremony yourself. Words can’t capture the beauty and depth—it’s a way of life, a collective heartbeat.”
• “Life doesn’t just happen to you—it happens for you, with you, and eventually as you. Iboga taught me that.”
• “Community isn’t optional—it’s the soil where healing takes root and blossoms.”
• “Iboga is the rainbow. Ibogaine is just the color red.”
• “The medicine is powerful, but it’s what you do with your life afterwards that matters most.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Iboga and the Bwiti Tradition

03:07 – Troy’s Journey and Connection to Iboga

06:08 – Understanding the Bwiti Tradition

08:47 – Living a Bwiti Life in the Modern World

11:52 – The Earthy Connection of Iboga

14:55 – Sustainability and Conservation of Iboga

17:47 – Finding Ethical Iboga Providers

20:35 – The Science Behind Iboga and Ibogaine

29:33 – Understanding Ibogaine and Its Medical Context

31:29 – Risks and Considerations for Iboga and Ibogaine

34:08 – Navigating the Experience: Control and Intention

36:39 – The Importance of Environment and Support

39:16 – The Healing Journey: More Than Just a Quick Fix

40:12 – Psycho-Spiritual Journeys: Deep Healing Through Iboga

48:16 – Empowerment and Community in Healing

51:19 – Preparing for an Iboga Retreat

55:01 – Integration: The Key to Lasting Change

58:31 – The Role of Community in Healing

Mee Ok shares her powerful personal story of healing from chronic illness through Ayahuasca and her deep relationships with Shipibo teachers in the Amazon. As a queer, transracial adoptee and survivor, her lens is uniquely attuned to the intersections of identity, power, and healing, and how those dynamics show up, often unconsciously, in psychedelic spaces.

Together, they unpack the uncomfortable but necessary themes of spiritual superiority, cultural appropriation, unconscious harm, and the ongoing impact of colonial mindsets—especially in Western facilitation of sacred plant medicines.

This episode is for:
- Facilitators and space-holders who are willing to reflect on how harm, even with good intentions, can still be present in healing spaces—and what humility, feedback, and reparations might look like in practice.

- Journeyers and medicine seekers who want to engage more responsibly with the traditions they benefit from, make conscious choices about who they sit with, and understand their role in the larger ecosystem of healing.

**THEMES**
- Shadows and light in sacred spaces
- Why Mee Ok believes Westerners should not be serving sacred plant medicines
- What “reparations and sacrifice” mean in a healing context
- Cultural and spiritual contamination vs. sacred exchange
- How feedback is an act of love and a pathway to integrity
- The danger of pedestal culture in spiritual work
- Indigenous sovereignty and supporting lineage-led healing
- Ways to be in right relationship with sacred traditions

This is a conversation about truth-telling, leaning into challenging topics, and healing as a relational, not personal, path. It’s about becoming the kind of people—and the kind of community—the medicine has been asking us to be all along.

**CONNECT**
Book a 1:1 session with Mee Ok: https://www.nectara.co/guides/mee-ok-icaro
Join Mee Ok's BIPOC circles on Nectara: https://www.nectara.co/membership
Explore her private offerings: https://www.HoldingCompassionate.space
Mee Ok's Substack: https://meeok.substack.com/

In this heartfelt conversation, Pascal and embodied leadership coach Bettina Rothe explore the deep wisdom of the body and its role in healing, integration, and connection. Bettina shares her personal journey from disconnection to rediscovering the body as a powerful source of intelligence and transformation. Together, they explore how breath, movement, and presence can help us return to wholeness—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The dialogue touches on the role of embodiment in psychedelic experiences, how trauma—including intergenerational patterns—can live in the body, and how somatic practices can support healing, self-love, and more grounded relationships with ourselves and others. It’s an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and remember the body as a sacred ally on the path of transformation.

Key Takeaways

1. Embodiment is the foundation of wholeness—true healing comes from integrating body, mind, heart, and spirit.
2. The body is our gateway to psychedelic experiences—staying grounded in the body deepens the journey and supports integration.
3. Movement is medicine—authentic, intuitive movement helps release emotions, regulate the nervous system, and reconnect to self.
4. The body holds ancestral and intergenerational stories—pain or tension can carry wisdom passed down through our lineage.
5. Somatic practices build capacity—they help us stay with discomfort, expand our ability to feel, and increase emotional resilience.
6. Rhythm is a universal language—dancing or moving in rhythm with others fosters deep connection and collective healing.
7. Pleasure and play are part of the healing path—simple joys like dancing in the kitchen or smelling a flower can reawaken presence and aliveness.
8. Self-love starts with the body—treating the body with kindness opens the heart and transforms how we relate to ourselves and the world.

Notable Quotes

• "Embodiment is essential for wholeness."
• "Shared experiences of movement foster connection, community, and self-expression."
• "Psychedelics enhance the connection to the body."
• "Being present allows for deeper experiences."
• "The body is a library of wisdom."
• "There's an energetic imprint that we carry."
• "We hold a lot of stories from our ancestors."
• "We suppress being tired and our hunger."
• "We need to allow ourselves to experience life."
• "The body doesn't lie and it keeps count."
• "Healing is not always pleasurable."
• "Movement is the medicine."

Connect with Bettina

• Join her movement circles on Nectara's Membership
• Visit her website to learn about her upcoming offerings

In this heartfelt episode, Pascal sits down with Nigel Pedlingham to explore the gentle art of “nesting”—a nurturing practice of creating spaces and rhythms that cultivate safety, slowness, and healing.

Through their warm conversation, Nigel invites us to see nesting as an embodied way of life, blending rituals, nature connection, and intentional community. Together, they reflect on practical ways to embrace stillness, integrate transformative experiences, and remember our innate interconnectedness. Join them to discover how simple acts of care and presence can profoundly enrich our lives, helping us build internal and communal nests rooted deeply in wisdom, compassion, and love.

Key themes

• Nesting as a way of being and self-care
• Slowness and presence in daily life
• Weaving practices for transformation and integration
• Listening with curiosity and discernment
• Community, circles, and collective healing
• Nature connection and embodied wisdom
• Nesting as support for preparation and integration of psychedelic experiences
• Remembering our interconnectedness
• Reclaiming nesting as a society

Key takeaways

• Embrace Nesting: Cultivate intentional spaces—both inner and outer—that foster safety, comfort, and nurturing in your daily life and healing journeys.
• Slow Down to Tune In: Prioritize slowness and presence to connect deeply with yourself, making space for discernment and clarity.
• Practice Curiosity and Discernment: Approach life experiences with openness, asking thoughtful questions and listening to your inner wisdom and intuition.
• Integrate through Weaving: Recognize transformation as an ongoing, organic process of weaving experiences, practices, and insights into a meaningful whole.
• Connect to Nature and the Body: Regularly ground yourself in nature and engage with your body’s wisdom as vital sources of healing and guidance.
• Create and Seek Community: Engage in circles, rituals, and spaces of radical hospitality to foster deep connections, belonging, and collective healing.
• Remember Your True Nature: Return consistently to simple yet powerful practices—such as breathing, gratitude, and stillness—to realign with the fundamental interconnectedness of life.
• Keep It Small and Practical: Begin reclaiming the art of nesting through small, daily acts of care and intentionality, positively influencing yourself and those around you.

Notable quotes

• "Nesting evokes a sense of calm and safety."
• "The nest is an alchemical vessel for transformation."
• "Curiosity is an enormous value in this process."
• "There are no shortcuts in building your nest."
• "Listening to the body is crucial for alignment."
• "The breath is our constant companion."
• "Wandering is essential for discovering and growing."
• "You don't need to keep looking."
• "The journey is always one of failure."
• "Every day is a ceremony."
• "There's no separation."

Connect with Nigel
Book a 1:1 session: https://www.nectara.co/guides/nigel-pedlingham
View his website: https://www.maguey.nl

Pascal chats with Jerónimo Mazarrasa, Director of Social Innovation at ICEERS. Together they discuss the critical risks of using Ayahuasca—both for participants and facilitators—as the practice expands rapidly beyond traditional Indigenous contexts.

Ayahuasca can offer profound healing and transformative experiences, but it’s not without significant risks. In this episode, Jerónimo reveals the biggest risks identified through ICEERS’ extensive global research and experience with harm reduction.

This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in—or considering—the use of ayahuasca, emphasizing responsibility, ethical practice, and informed, conscious participation.

Tune in, stay safe, and journey wisely.
‍

🌿 Interested in elevating your Ayahuasca facilitation and client safety in your practice? Sign up for ICEERS' AyaSafety course and save 15% with the code AYATARA. Open until May 1st only. The course is in its 4th cohort and it includes three Nectara guides as teachers.

‍
‍Episode themes

• The very real and important risks of Ayahuasca that all participants should know about.
• The critical difference between desire and vocation in facilitation.
• Why facilitators must deeply engage in personal and shadow work beyond mere technical training.
• The unique challenges of integrating traditional plant medicine practices in modern, globalized contexts.

Show Notes

Top 5 Risks for Ayahuasca Participants:

1. Lack of true consent: The primary contraindication is taking ayahuasca without fully wanting or understanding it.
2. “Runaway Participant”: Individuals who leave ceremonies prematurely, posing serious safety risks.
3. Impact on relationships: How participant’s experiences can negatively affect their families and relationships.
4. Misinterpretation of visions (“Ayahuasca told me...”): Participants mistaking insights for literal directives, leading to impulsive, harmful decisions (e.g., quitting jobs, divorce, radical life changes).
5. Overwhelming or traumatic experiences: Intense spiritual and psychological experiences that can lead to crisis.

Top 5 Risks for Ayahuasca Facilitators:

1. Power dynamics: Mismanagement of the inherent power imbalance between facilitator and participant.
2. Financial challenges: Ethical issues arising from participants’ gratitude manifesting financially in ways that can compromise boundaries.
3. Sexual energy: Increased intimacy and suggestibility creating ethical pitfalls.
4. Isolation of facilitators: Long-term facilitators risk becoming isolated without peers to provide honest feedback or accountability, leading to unchecked ego or harmful behaviors.
5. Intercultural misalignment: Misunderstandings and ethical challenges that arise when facilitators work outside their own cultural frameworks without adequate understanding.

Notable quotes

• I've come to understood thatthese plants are more like flashlights that you can use to shed light on things that were formerly sort of the shades or unknown or dark rather than levers that you can use to push and move things.
• I didn’t expect things to move so quickly, and parts of it have left me with a bittersweet feeling. What interests me most is how the introduction of psychedelics or plant medicines could positively transform our cultures and societies—not how we could reshape these practices to fit into our existing societal structures.
• Certainly, our narrow definition of prescription medicine—and perhaps even medicine more broadly—is challenged by psychedelics. Many of their greatest potentials aren’t strictly medical treatments but rather fall closer to prevention or helping navigate significant life situations.
• If you don’t have someone who plays that role—whether a mentor, therapist, supervisor, or peer—to provide honest feedback, you risk falling into isolation and self-delusion. Even highly accomplished facilitators who’ve undergone extensive training can become dangerously isolated without someone to reflect their blind spots back to them.
• It began in the Amazon, spreading gradually—from one tribe to the neighboring tribe, then to others. From tribes to jungle towns, then to cities within the country, and eventually beyond borders, reaching all the way to us today. Ayahuasca spreads organically, from person to person and group to group, because people find genuine value in it. This slow, organic growth isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, we’re dealing with something delicate and powerful—not a consumer product like new food or sunglasses, but something more akin to X-rays, offering us an extraordinary capacity to look deeply within ourselves.
• Many training programs focus primarily on the technical aspects of facilitating ceremonies. Very few, however, dive deeply into personal inquiry—questions like: Why are you doing this? Why do you want to facilitate? What brought you here in the first place, and what truly motivates you?

Join the AyaSafety Course‍

Our friends at ICEERS Academy have opened enrollment for the fourth edition of AyaSafety, the first and only online community for facilitators committed to safety and ethics in plant work in non-traditional contexts.

This 6-month harm reduction training provides essential tools, best practices, and strategies, developed in collaboration with experts in medicine, psychology, ethics, and harm reduction, to help facilitators create safer, more responsible practices.

🌿 Receive 15% off when you enroll using code AYATARA

🌿 Applications open until May 1st 

🌿 Classes will run between May and November 2025

Be part of the first global community of facilitators dedicated to safety, ethics, and responsible plant medicine work. Sign up here!

In this conversation, Pascal Tremblay speaks with Dr. Pilar Hernandez-Wolfe, a counseling psychologist, family therapist, and advocate for ethical and culturally grounded psychedelic practices. Together, they explore the intersections of decolonization, access, and ethics within the rapidly evolving psychedelic space.

Dr. Hernandez-Wolfe shares her personal and professional journey, highlighting her experiences with yagé (ayahuasca), her work in Oregon’s psilocybin-assisted therapy framework (Measure 109), and the challenges of creating inclusive and spiritually integrated training programs.

This episode is for facilitators, therapists, and experts in the psychedelic field looking to navigate the complexities of ethics, reciprocity, and community-based healing.

Key Topics and Themes

• Social Location and Psychedelic Work – How personal and cultural backgrounds shape access, opportunities, and perspectives in medicine work.
• Colonialism and Privilege in Psychedelics – Why the psychedelic industry often mirrors systemic inequalities and how to challenge those dynamics.
• Experiences with Measure 109 (Oregon’s Psilocybin Program) – Insights from working on the initiative, the systemic barriers, and the commercialization of psychedelic care.
• Decolonization and Border Thinking – Bringing Indigenous knowledge, spirituality, and relational ethics into psychedelic spaces.
• The Challenges of Training and Access – The high cost of legal psychedelic therapy training, alternative community-driven education models, and the importance of non-Western ways of knowing.
• The Role of Reciprocity and Spiritual Ethics – Why reconnecting with nature, community, and spiritual practice is essential for the future of psychedelic healing.
•  Introducing Weaving Bridges Natural Fellowship – Dr. Hernandez-Wolfe’s innovative church-based approach to psychedelic education, based on reciprocity, gift economies, and ethical integrity.
• Choosing the Right Psychedelic Training Program – A guide for facilitators on navigating the many available programs, balancing scientific knowledge with spiritual wisdom, and finding ethical alignment.
• The Future of Psychedelic Work – Moving beyond profit-driven models to create truly healing, inclusive, and regenerative spaces.

Quotes from the Episode

• “We need to move beyond the human-centered view and actually ask the mushrooms and the plant medicines what is needed.” 

• “The psychedelic space is still shaped by extractive, capitalist systems—our work is to create alternatives that center reciprocity and ethics.”

• “We don’t all have the answers. Diversity brings richness, just like in nature.”

• “It’s not about the right way or the wrong way—it’s about having spiritual ethics lead the way rather than colonialism and extractive systems.”

Resources and Mentions

• Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass (Book)

• Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera (Book)

• Measure 109 and Oregon Psilocybin Services – Additional information

• Nectara Mentorship Program – www.nectara.co/interwoven

• Subtle Winds Psilocybin Training (Oregon-based model)

In this episode of One-Degree Shifts, hosted by Pascal Tremblay, co-founder of Nectara and Nicholas Powers, an author and Associate Professor of English at SUNY Old Westbury, discusses his new book, 'Black Psychedelic Revolution: From Trauma to Liberation.' Dr. Powers discusses the book's core premise on how psychedelics can address historical, intergenerational, and racialized trauma, particularly within Black communities.

Drawing from his personal experiences and extensive research, Nicholas explores the socio-political potential of psychedelics, emphasizing the need for accessible psychedelic therapy to heal individuals and broader society. The conversation covers a wide array of topics, including the therapeutic impact of psychedelics, the importance of cultural representation, and the revolutionary potential of societal healing for marginalized communities and beyond.

Key themes:

• How can psychedelics heal historical, intergenerational, and racialized trauma?
• Exploring our relationship to the systems of power
• Sparking and scaling a revolution of wellbeing in black communities
• How do we make the space work well for true societal and inclusive healing?

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:23 The Journey of Writing 'Black Psychedelic Revolution'
09:34 Personal Experiences in Black Communities
25:50 Psychedelics and Societal Healing
37:21 Organizing Underground Psychedelic Therapy Networks
39:55 Addressing Inclusivity and Systemic Oppression
41:51 Challenges and Contradictions in the Psychedelic Community
01:00:42 Vision for Inclusive and Accessible Psychedelic Therapy

Buy the book Black Psychedelic Revolution: How psychedelics can heal historical, intergenerational, and racialized trauma—an Afrofuturistic take on Black psychedelia toward joy and liberation.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760811/black-psychedelic-revolution-by-nicholas-powers-phd/9798889840626/

We converse with Rebecca Nicholson, an advisor, speaker, entrepreneur, and previously the co-founder of 5D Capital.

We explore the intersection of business, psychedelics, and ethics. Rebecca shares insights from her journey in the psychedelic space, emphasizing the need for ethical practices, community support, and redefining success beyond traditional capital metrics. We also touch on the challenges and rewards of building sustainable, community-focused psychedelic retreat centers, the complexities of pricing and accessibility, and the importance of personal healing and support for entrepreneurs in the space.

Main themes:

 • Regenerative and ethical business practices

 • Personal healing through business

 • The importance of community accountability and support

 • Challenges and growth in the psychedelic industry

 • Reciprocity and honoring indigenous wisdom

 • Diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

 • Balancing scaling with sustainability

 • Self-care and vulnerability as a founder/practitioner

In this episode, Pascal sits down with Jennifer Tessler, the director of Alalaho, a Nectara partner retreat center in the Netherlands and Spain. Alalaho was a pioneer in the field of legal psilocybin-assisted retreats in Europe.

Alalaho is rooted in five core values: honesty, heart, commitment, brilliance, and magic. They stand for deep, authentic healing that honors the full spectrum of human experience, offering transformative journeys guided by love, patience, and creativity. Through their retreats, Alalaho fosters a space for personal and collective growth, where participants are invited to slow down, trust the process, and connect to the deeper wisdom within. 

In this conversation, Jennifer shares her insights from over a thousand days spent in meditation and her journey into slowing down in both personal and professional realms. We explore how intentional slowness and deep trust in the organic unfolding of healing can affect people seeking healing and also how a retreat space in the plant medicine space changes when it prioritizes slowness and small over speed and scale.

Main Themes

• The Powerful Meaning of the Word Alalaho
• Depth over Width, Intention over Scale
• The Tibetan Perspective on Healing
• The Jaguar Archetype and Meditation
• Balancing Action and Stillness 
• Challenges and Rewards of Running Smaller Retreats 
• The Importance of Togetherness‍

Notable Quotes

1. “The word Alalaho comes from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and it’s a word that points to the nature of mind, in particular to the aspect of space and that capacity of the mind to hold the whole spectrum of human experience.” – Jennifer 

2. “The archetype of the jaguar teaches us to have divine self-care for ourselves but also pounce when it's the right time to do so.” – Pascal 

3. “Scale and impact is still important to us, but not at the expense of sacrificing the depth, longevity, and deep-rootedness of the work that we do.” – Jennifer 

4. “We always talk about integration as a lifelong journey…not just about getting better for ourselves, but healing for the sake of helping the world become the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.” – Jennifer

5. “The slow work is that the things that happen and are really deep are most of the time quite unnoticeable… there’s a lot of evolution and growth, but it’s gradual and almost imperceptible in the moment.” – Jennifer

6. “Traditional Tibetan thinking believes in transformation… but they also have such a relaxed relationship to their own neurosis. There’s this acceptance, like, ‘that’s part of the human realm,’ and it’s so refreshing.” – Jennifer ‍

Join an Alalaho Retreat‍

Explore Alalaho's upcoming retreats in the Netherlands or Spain and see if they are a good fit for you. Use the code 'NECTARA150' for 150 EUR OFF..

In this episode, Lore shares their perspectives on the call to service for facilitators, elements and importance of creating 'safe enough' spaces for plant medicine participants. They discuss key elements of safety, effective facilitation, trust, integrity, inclusivity, and the necessity for self-awareness and continuous personal growth.

🌿 Join the upcoming 10-day Shipibo cultural immersion retreats in Peru in November 2024. A very special opportunity to go deep with an Onanya elder with four decades of experience holding the medicine. Learn more

00:00 Introduction to One Degree Shifts
00:39 Lore's Healing Journey and Plant Medicine Facilitation
07:49 The Importance of Trust and Skill in Facilitation
22:25 Inclusion and Safety in Plant Medicine Circles
37:17 The Power of Specific Questions
38:17 Trust and Integrity in Safe Spaces
40:21 Attunement and Sensitivity in Practice
45:03 Self-Awareness and Personal Growth
48:32 Embracing Shadows and Resistance
50:58 The Call to Service and Dedication
01:03:58 The Importance of Peer Support
01:06:37 Shipibo Cultural Immersion Retreat
01:13:37 Conclusion 

An intimate conversation about Lore's extraordinary healing journey. Lore opens up about their challenging past, including experiences with psychosis, violence, and life living in a car, and explains how plant medicines, teachers, and community helped to transform their life from suffering to service as a guide and facilitator.

Topics discussed:

• Lore's journey and experiences with psychosis and healing
• The role of plant medicine in Lore's recovery
• Peak experiences and slowness
• The importance of discernment, silence, and listening in healing
• Presence and the qualities of good mentors and teachers
• Worthiness and self-love
• Being gender queer and belonging in community
• The upcoming Shipibo cultural immersion retreats in Peru

Explore profound insights and teachings on healing, belonging, and the impact of spiritual guides in this inspiring episode.

🌿 Join the upcoming 10-day Shipibo cultural immersion retreats in Peru in November 2024. A very special opportunity to go deep with an Onayana elder with four decades of experience holding the medicine. Learn more

Join Pascal, co-founder of Nectara, and Melissa Stangl, co-founder of Soltara, as they discuss the world of Ayahuasca retreats and personal transformation. This episode explores Melissa's journey from a biomedical engineering background to co-founding a leading retreat center in Costa Rica, the challenges of integrating Indigenous healing traditions with modern therapeutic practices, and the importance of community and holistic support in the healing process. 

Learn about the intricacies of running a retreat center, the significance of collaboration over competition, and the future of the evolving psychedelic retreat space.

Topics discussed:

• The founding story of Soltara
• Definition of a “next-generation” retreat
• Challenges of running a retreat well
• Balancing and integrating healing and business
• Decolonizing through business 
• Working cross-culturally
• Merging Western treatments with plant medicine traditions
• Soltara's beautiful new location in Costa Rica 

Check out Soltara's retreats in Costa Rica. Supported by Nectara's ecosystem of integration support and care. Save $200 with code 'NECTARA200'

Erica Siegal discusses the challenges and opportunities in the psychedelic space, focusing on harm reduction, support for survivors, and the need for infrastructure and standards. She emphasizes the importance of slowing down the growth of the industry to ensure safety and ethical practice. Erica also highlights the blind spots of facilitators and the need for comprehensive training and community support. The conversation delves into the challenges of giving and receiving feedback in the psychedelic facilitation space, the importance of accountability and ethical guidelines, and the need for transparency and financial stewardship in retreat centers. It also explores the nuances of pricing, the significance of intentionality and care in creating a nurturing space, and the future of the psychedelic space with a focus on compassion, grace, and connection.

This podcast is primarily for psychedelic coaches, facilitators, retreats, and clinic teams wanting to elevate their standards of care.

** KEY TAKEAWAYS **

• The need for infrastructure and standards in the psychedelic space to ensure safety and ethical practice
• The importance of slowing down the growth of the industry to prevent harm and ensure comprehensive training and community support
• The blind spots of facilitators and the need for comprehensive training and community support Effective feedback and repair in the psychedelic facilitation space is challenging but essential for growth and community repair.
• The need for accountability measures, ethical guidelines, and transparency in retreat centers to ensure safety and trust within the psychedelic space.
• The significance of intentionality, care, and attention to detail in creating a nurturing and supportive space for psychedelic experiences.
• The future of the psychedelic space should be guided by compassion, grace, understanding, flexibility, creativity, and connection.
• The importance of financial stewardship, pricing models, and community-based review systems in the psychedelic facilitation and retreat center space.

** CHAPTERS **
0:00  Intro
1:15  Erica's background in harm reduction
5:20  Challenges in the current psychedelic space
10:45  Why Erica created Shine Support for psychedelic survivors 
15:30  Common challenges faced by facilitators 
21:45  Blindspots and power dynamics facilitators should be aware of
28:15  Importance of giving/receiving feedback as a facilitator
34:30  Considering your decision matrix as a facilitator
39:40  Finding mentorship and continuing education 
46:20  Realistic caseloads and scheduling for facilitators
51:10  Importance of hospitality and attention to detail at retreats
57:45  Financial transparency and ethical pricing models 
1:02:00  Future accountability measures and credentialing

** KEY LINKS **
Shine Support
Nest Harm Reduction

In this episode, Pascal engages in a profound conversation with Jerónimo Mazarrasa, Director of Social Innovation at ICEERS Foundation. The discussion touches into the concept of psychedelic enlightenment, the integration of ceremonial plant medicines in modern society, scaling the psychedelic space well, and the interplay between indigenous wisdom and Western scientific approaches.

** KEY THEMES **
🌿 Psychedelic Renaissance to Psychedelic Enlightenment
🌿 The Gift of the Gods Myth and Psychedelics
🌿 Ceremonial Plant Medicines and Practices as Keystone Species
🌿 Challenges in Psychedelic Practices
🌿 Bridging Indigenous Wisdom and Western Science
🌿 Training and Safety in Psychedelic Use
🌿 Vision for the Ethical Scaling of Psychedelics

** SUPPORT ICEERS **
Support the important work of ICEERS with a donation and participation in their training programs: Integration Training and Increasing the Safety of Ayahuasca Sessions: https://www.iceers.org

** STAY IN TOUCH **
Don't miss an episode: https://nectara.myflodesk.com/bloom

We spoke with Marci Moberg, a Nectara integration guide, on the deep and intentional relationship we can hold with psychedelic medicines and plants and fungi as tools and entities possessing consciousness and spirit. 

We discussed the significance of such relationships for personal healing and growth, emphasizing the importance of context and interconnectedness in understanding and utilizing psychedelic experiences. The podcast also explores the broader implications of these relationships for ecological awareness and societal change.

Whether you're a psychedelic enthusiast, a mental health professional, or simply curious about alternative healing methods, this episode offers a unique blend of science, spirituality, and personal development. Tune in to explore how we can form meaningful connections with these ancient medicines and transform our approach to mental health and wellness.

Key Themes:

1. Psychedelic Medicine as Conscious Entities: Recognizing psychedelics not just as substances but as teachers or spirits with whom one can form a meaningful relationship.
2. Healing Through Relationship: The idea that engaging with psychedelics relationally can aid in healing, especially for those with past relational traumas.
3. Eco-Consciousness and Rightsizing Ego: The concept of expanding one's perspective from ego-centric to eco-centric through psychedelic experiences.
4. Indigenous Wisdom and Cultural Respect: Honoring the long history and wisdom of indigenous practices in using psychedelics and understanding their relational approach.
5. Eco-Anxiety and our Planetary Relationship: How psychedelic experiences relate to climate change and a sense of being part of a larger web of life.
6. Dreamwork and Spiritual Communication: Exploring the role of dreams as a continuation of the psychedelic journey and a medium for spiritual communication.
7. Plant Dieta and Localized Spiritual Practices: Emphasizing the significance of local plants and the practice of dieta in developing deep, spiritual relationships with nature.

Book a 1:1 session with Marci: https://www.nectara.co/guides/marci-moberg

Don't miss an episode: https://nectara.myflodesk.com/bloom

This episode delves into the profound journey of integrating psychedelic experiences into daily life. 

Pascal Tremblay hosts Isabel Santis to explore the sacred and delicate process of embracing the insights and transformations that arise post-ceremony. They discuss the importance of honoring these experiences with gentleness and patience, avoiding the rush to assign concrete meanings and instead allowing the layers of understanding to unfold over time. The conversation illuminates how to approach these moments with grace, self-reflection, and a commitment to integrate these profound shifts into one's life meaningfully.

Through this nurturing exploration, this episode offers a sanctuary of wisdom, inviting listeners to deeply honor their inner journeys and embody the transformative insights gained from their psychedelic experiences.

Themes

• Sacredness of Integration: How can we maintain the sacredness and potency of our psychedelic experiences in the post-ceremony phase? What are the risks of rushing to share or overly define these experiences?
• Challenges in Meeting the Moment: What common pitfalls do individuals encounter when trying to make sense of their psychedelic journeys? How does societal emphasis on speed and quick understanding impact the integration process?
• The Role of Unconscious Communication: In what ways do our unconscious minds communicate through imagery and metaphor during psychedelic experiences? How can different contexts and perspectives offer varied meanings from the same psychedelic experience?
• Importance of Slow and Intentional Integration: What strategies can support a more gentle, patient approach to integrating psychedelic insights? How does recounting and recording experiences contribute to deeper understanding and integration?
• Navigating Post-Journey Challenges: How does the societal disconnect from inner intelligence and spirit body affect the integration process? What can be done to prepare the psyche for the journey and deal with the aftermath effectively?
• Long-Term Impact and Transformation: How do psychedelics fundamentally change attitudes, beliefs, and perspectives? What is the significance of the post-experience period for personal growth and change?
• Integration in Everyday Life: How can the lessons and insights from psychedelic experiences be grounded and actualized in daily life? What are effective practices and habits for sustaining and growing from these transformative experiences?

Pascal, who has Syrian lineage, and Shiri, who has Israeli lineage, engage in a conversation about the complex dynamics of war, peace, and integration. They explore how these elements intersect in their personal journeys and contribute to collective healing. This thought-provoking discussion delves into topics that are not always easy to address but encourage a deeper sense of awareness, connection, and understanding of the contrasting aspects of human nature that exist within each of us.

Themes

1. Shared personal stories of war in Syria and Israel
2. Psychedelics and their role as sacred activism
3. Our relationship to our own disgust, violence, and inner wars
4. Navigating apprehension to war and privilege
5. The pitfalls of duality and justice as a loaded word
6. The potential transformational power of rage
7. Living every day as a ceremony as medicine for peace
8. Gratitude and awareness as tools for navigating global chaos
9. The illusion of separation and shared humanity

We had the incredible opportunity to chat with Andrea Langlois, an organizational ecologist and strategic consultant in the psychedelic space. With a background in environmental and social impact work, including her time at ICEERS and other non-profits, Andrea brings a unique perspective to the table.

During our conversation, Pascal and Andrea delved into the fascinating world of systemic perspectives within organizations, particularly in the psychedelic space. They explored concepts like organizational ecology and systemic constellations, shedding light on their profound impact on our own integration process. They also discussed the immense potential for collective consciousness and group intention in the psychedelic field, in leadership, and the organizations of the future.

Andrea's vision for the future is truly inspiring. She envisions a world where biological and cultural diversity is not only cherished but celebrated, where we recognize our interconnectedness as part of a larger system.

Join us on this podcast as we explore the frontiers of consciousness and connect with the wisdom living at the edges of our constellations.

Episode themes

• What is systemic thinking and why is it so important?
• Constellations as a living map to work with and integrate from
• The future of the psychedelic space, its organizations and leadership
• Greater meaning and sense making through systemic awareness
• Including excluded parts of ourselves back into our system to remove blockages
• Looking at and embracing the margins in a system to accelerate growth and learning
• The importance of including the most painful and challenging parts of a system
• The opportunity of holding group intentions in psychedelic ceremonies

Links

Frederic Laloux's Reinventing Organizations

We spoke with Dr. Sandra Dreisbach, Director of Ethics at Nectara about the ethics of psychedelic integration. Ethics isn't often put side by side with integration, but it should be to help ensure the integrity of retreats and creating safer and more compassionate support systems for journeyers.

In this episode, Sandra and Pascal explore a few of the many facets of ethics and integration and offer some perspectives for journeyers curious about integration and for services providers in the psychedelic space.

Episode themes

• Honouring the significance and human need for integration
• Honouring life’s transitions and integrating them
• The ethics of diversity and meaning of providing effective integration
• The ethics of being a retreat operator or facilitator
• The ethics of determining what is effective integration
• The ethics of informed consent and capacity
• The ethics of honouring time
• The ethics of community-based integration

Episode themes

• What are non-ordinary states of consciousness?
• The importance of cultural context in accessing non-ordinary states in a good way
• Shifting Western culture and our approach to spirit
• The critical role of elders and teachers
• Addressing spiritual narcissism and ego
• Returning to selfless service to nature and community
• The importance of lengthy apprenticeship in psychedelic facilitation
• The ethics and infrastructure of scaling care well
• Defining ethical principles for best practices

Useful links

• Books: Ayahuasca Awakening, A Guide to Self-Discovery, Self-Mastery and Self-Care Volume One and Volume Two