The Aware Project (www.awareproject.org) hosts a series of monthly Psychedelic Awareness Salon events in Los Angeles and San Diego. We are creating a connected and educated community that feels passionately about balancing the conversation about psychedelics.
SCHEDULE
Doors open at 7:00 PM for mingling.
Presentation will begin at 7:30 PM.
TALK TITLE
Autism On Acid: How LSD Helped Me Bridge the Autistic-Neurotypical Divide
DESCRIPTION
At the age of 27—after a lifetime of struggling with autism spectrum disorder and concurrent clinical depression—Aaron Paul Orsini received a dose of LSD that gave him access to emotional and social intuition for the very first time. This 75-minute talk includes Aaron’s first-hand account of his LSD-assisted breakthroughs in behavioral and occupational therapy, as detailed in his newly published essay, “Autism on Acid”, paired with evidence-based theories on the mechanisms of action of LSD, and explorations of how LSD and other 5-HT2A Agonists could be used as “neurological contact lenses” for those struggling with social, emotional, and sensory disabilities.
BIO
Aaron Paul Orsini is a writer, public speaker, and survivor of a decades-long battle with clinical depression resulting from social isolation, mental rumination, and hypo-sensitivity issues common in autistic individuals. When Aaron was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 23, he took comfort in receiving a diagnosis but remained deeply depressed as a result of seeing himself as broken and blind; someone who just couldn’t and wouldn’t “get it”. But then came his first experience with LSD, during which he became INTUITIVELY aware of the very stimuli he’d been incapable of perceiving throughout his life. Thanks to LSD---and a yet-to-be-fully-understood combination of chemically-induced synesthesia and associated fluctuations in intrinsic functional connectivity within the salience and default mode networks---Aaron can now perceive critical social cues embedded in facial expressions, speaking tones, and body language, which in turn means he feels fully connected which in turn means he feels fully connected to the human experience, and fully capable of navigating the social and emotional landscapes of life.
VENUE
Thymele Arts. 5481 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
The space is located just off the 101 between Hollywood and Silverlake. Please enter the building and go up the stairs. Our room will be just down the hall to the left.
PARKING
There are plenty of parking options. There is an underground parking garage at 1110 North Western Ave north of Thymele. Another option is in the strip mall with the Subway and T-Mobile at the intersection of Western and Santa Monica or across the street, behind the bakery with the black metal fencing. Allow extra time because traffic in the area can be a bit intense.
REFUND POLICY: Refunds allowed up to 7 days of event, no refunds day of regardless of rain or shine
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This group is being designed as a secure space. It is not a place to seek, encourage, or participate in the procurement of controlled substances. Do not bring, buy, sell, transfer, or arrive on any illegal substances, or swap information on how to buy them. Members who violate these basic house rules will be removed from the group and will not be allowed to attend future events."
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This group is being designed as a secure space. It is not a place to seek, encourage, or participate in the procurement of controlled substances. Do not bring, buy, sell, transfer, or arrive on any illegal substances, or swap information on how to buy them. Members who violate these basic house rules will be removed from the group and will not be allowed to attend future events.