Recent studies demonstrate that ibogaine is incredibly effective for treatment of opioid addiction. The mechanisms by which it reduces withdrawal symptoms and helps people reduce problematic drug use are unclear, however. At this Aware Project event, we will explore the therapeutic role of the subjective effects of ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic substance that engenders a "waking dream" state. Our exploration will utilize a qualitative methodology to examine individuals' ibogaine experiences and before/after interviews from people who've received ibogaine treatment for opioid addiction.

With an epidemic rising in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions and a resurgence of interest in psychedelic medicines, it seems inevitable that the two fields will soon intertwine. Pharmacological and anecdotal evidence suggests that psychedelic compounds may have useful implications in the treatment of chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Emerging research is beginning to highlight the immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds, as well as their effect on vagal nerve tone, the microbiome and psychological traumas that initiate autoimmune mechanisms in the body. Psychedelics address both psychospiritual and physiological elements of disease, providing a comprehensive and holistic approach to healing. This talk will thoroughly present existing evidence that psychedelics have potential to provide great relief in this area of medicine covering a broad range of relevant observed effects.

Shamanism has been practiced all over the world for tens of thousands of years. The late anthropologist Michael Harner distilled a set of core beliefs and methods used by shamans from widely varied cultures and geographic regions. One such method is rhythmic drumming to induce altered states of consciousness where where healing and guidance are available from the spiritual realm. Thanks in part to Harner’s teachings, shamanism has undergone a resurgence in recent decades, and shamanic techniques are now used by non-indigenous people for healing and guidance. Shamanic practitioner Sage Heart will discuss the core elements of shamanism, and participants will learn specific methods to inform their own practice. This will include a shamanic drumming experience with a journey into the non-ordinary reality of shamanic cosmology, guiding you to access your own deep spiritual wisdom. Participants are requested to bring something that can be used as a blindfold (such as a bandana) and are encouraged to bring a small hand drum or rattle if they have one.

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.

Carol will discuss hypnosis and hypnotherapy as both an alternative and a complement to the psychedelic experience. Carol will also share about the process of integrating psychedelic experiences appropriately and meaningfully into our lives—integration is everything! She will also present information about the new modality developed by Daniel McQueen of Medicinal Mindfulness; cannabis-assisted therapy and cannabis psychedelic journeys. This novel approach to intentional, ceremonial cannabis use has been demonstrated to be just as deeply powerful and profound as psychedelic medicines such as ayahuasca, DMT, psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA.

Join us for a deep dive into the mystical facets of psychedelics and how they've helped people discover their soul’s true purpose. Drawing from his personal journey and anthropological research, author Jerry Brown will share explorations into psychedelic's rich religious history, illustrating examples with stunning photographs of magic mushrooms in medieval Christian art. Learn about his studies on how psychedelics can lead to life-changing insights for passion, purpose and healing; and explore a future where psychedelics affect and form spirituality and religion.

Come and join us for this super special evening of cultural sharing of the Yawanawá tribe, who live deep in the Amazon of Brazil. We are very excited to invite you to this rare gathering of not only Matsini, the chief and paje of Mutum, but also his wife and two of his 14 children.

Adam Roa and Azrya Cohen have been in a deep communion with altered states of consciousness for the past seven years. During this talk, Adam and Azrya will share the step-by-step journey they’ve been on to turn Media into Medicine, and use their background in filmmaking and storytelling to elevate human consciousness as shepherds of humanity through a global phase shift of Awakening to Empathy.

Increasing access and availability to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy means we are at the cusp of a revolution in the medical treatment of mental health issues. The current state of psychedelics within the fields of psychiatry and mental health will be presented, as well as the future for center based access to these medicines in Los Angeles in 2019 and beyond.

Most famous for his controversial bestseller, Fingerprints of the Gods – first published in 1995, translated into 27 languages and sold over 3 million copies. Graham has also become a leading spokesperson about the ‘War on Drugs’, or what he has famously dubbed the ‘War on Consciousness’, highlighting the pivotal role that various sacred, psychoactive plants have played in the evolution of cultures around the globe and even the human understanding of consciousness itself.

Holotropic Breathwork is a highly experiential, powerful method of self-exploration and healing, that combines fast, deep, and circular breathing, evocative music, focused release bodywork, mandala drawing & group sharing. The emphasis is on creating a safe space in which each participant can enter a expanded state of consciousness, and surrender fully to all the sensations, feelings, energy movement, visions, memories, etc. that can arise during the session. Join us for a presentation and intro workshop on holotropic breath work by Veronica Munoz!

Shadow work is a process of uncovering the aspects of personality that we're often completely unaware of. Join our panel for a discussion on how to reveal, accept, and integrate the shadow, find the gifts hidden within it, and learn how medicines supports this process.

Join us for a panel conversation about the intersection of Masculinity and Medicine. We will discuss what it is to be masculine in today's world, the role systematic structures play, what needs to be nourished in men as we shift into ever more integrated ways of being, and how medicine can support this process.

Ever wonder what makes different psychedelics so different? Learn this as well as how fully customizable psychedelic states can be crafted from psychedelic hacker and molecular alchemist Preston Temple.

How do we, as a community, create a space for the conversation about 'right relationship' with these life-changing earth medicines? In the coming months, we aim to introduce a number of topics that we will expand upon with the help of the medicine community and integration network. This month we will begin this conversation with the first topic around recommendations to seekers around what questions they should be considering asking themselves and potential facilitators before they decide to join a circle. 

Please join us for a wide-ranging conversation with Dimitri Mugianis, where we will discuss the traditional and medical history of iboga, the commodification of plant medicines, and the dangers inherent in the trend of medicalizing iboga. 

Join founder of The Third Wave, Paul Austin, for an evening of discussion, insight, and entertainment revolving around the topic of microdosing psychedelics. Microdosing has been hot as of late, popping up in nearly every mainstream media outlet, major publishing houses, and even in primetime TV shows. But WHY has microdosing gained so much popularity in such a brief period of time?

Join founder of The Third Wave, Paul Austin, for an evening of discussion, insight, and entertainment revolving around the topic of microdosing psychedelics. Microdosing has been hot as of late, popping up in nearly every mainstream media outlet, major publishing houses, and even in primetime TV shows. But WHY has microdosing gained so much popularity in such a brief period of time?

Get a glimpse behind the scenes of the hottest psychedelic film in production: Better Living Through Chemistry: The Work of Ann and Sasha Shulgin. The film focuses on the psychedelic godparents of MDMA, their chemical romance, and their significant contributions to psychedelic chemistry, therapy and research.

Over the next few months the Aware Project is planning a new series of events, the Psychedelic Community Dialogue series, to create space to have these important conversations. Let’s come together in community to address what we need, the standards we want to set, and the future we want to create.

Join the Aware Project and leaders in the Southern California psychedelic/entheogenic community for a panel and community discussion of issues of power, sexuality, gender, race, and ethical practice.

Kratom (Mytragina speciosa), a tree native to Southeast Asia has a rich history of traditional use as a panacea throughout the region. Kratom has gained popularity in our modern world as an alternative to opioid pain management. Given the current opioid crisis and the benefits of Kratom, our intention is to share information and our experiences with this powerful plant ally.

In honor of the birth of the psychedelic research, we are honored to host Rachel Hope, to share her story being a participant in the MAPS Phase II trials of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

On April 19, 1943, Albert Hofmann, a chemist for Sandoz, in Basel, Switzerland, ingested a minute amount—just 250 micrograms--of a compound derived from the ergot fungus. He soon felt so disoriented that he rode his bicycle home, where he experienced all the heavenly and hellish effects of lysergic acid diethylamide. Hoffman experienced a number of remarkable sensations and alterations of his state of consciousness, leading him to further investigate what would become one of the most popular psychedelic substances in history. Bicycle day commemorates the first intentional consumption of LSD known to humankind, and provides an account of a wild, psychedelic journey that resulted in a revolution.

Join us for a night of celebration with local psychedelic-inspired artists coming together to showcase their work, and participate in a panel discussion on the effects of psychedelics on creativity. Come join like-minded people for food, drink, art, and good conversation

We will host an informative conversation that allows our community in California to receive a first-hand perspective about amazonian plant medicines as a path promoting a healthy, holistic way of life that is first of all preventative in its approach to disease, while also going deeper in how disease, illness, and so forth can be healed with the help of the plants after it has already manifested in an individual.

Medical doctor, Joe Tafur, and psychologist, Rachel Harris, will discuss their books, interview each other, and share their stories. We'll explore different models of how healing happens with ayahuasca biochemically, neurologically, psychologically, and spiritually (from a Western and indigenous perspective). We'll consider the role of intention before the ceremony, navigation during the ceremony and discernment, and behavior change after the ceremony. We promise love, laughter, and time for questions.

Ibogaine is a powerful psychedelic medicine that facilitates in the healing process of addiction, PTSD and depression through a physiological resetting of the brain as well as profound personalized visions and deep introspective thought of one’s own life, and their relationship with the world around them. Ibogaine can act as one of the most powerful tools available in helping transcend addiction and the debilitating obstacles present in one’s life. However, what a person does for the weeks leading up to, and months following ibogaine treatment are crucial and can be the ultimate factor which dictates the overall effectiveness and break-throughs gained through the experience. Therefore, coaching and aftercare is of paramount importance in the overall transformational process. Through this extremely intense and difficult experience, ibogaine acts as an interrupter in a person’s addiction, and offers profound and lasting healing potential. Transformational recovery coaching provides the afflicted person with the necessary tools to help them prepare for, navigate through, and then practically integrate the experience into their day-to-day lives. This journey is a step-by-step process, and Tyler will breakdown that process through a spiritual, scientific and pragmatic lens which will be easily digestible to understand.

The Healing Powers (of weed, plants, and other mindful experiences) is a documentary serie that seeks to change that. Join us in a preview screening of The Healing Powers and a discussion where we explore what needs to happen to bring more people to the conversation on psychedelics.

Embody the potent medicine that mushrooms have to offer. Dive into our sacred relationship with this all encompassing powerful organism. Learn how fungi have shaped Homo sapiens throughout time and space. Learn how we as humans can ally with mushrooms to heal trauma, PTSD, depression, addiction, anxiety, and more!

Film Preview in Echo Park: Cura presents an inspiring story of the healing power of family, community, and ceremony in the midst of the brutal American public health and criminal justice landscapes. This event will be co-hosted by Cura's Production team members Steve Holmgren and Francesca Alfano, and Filmmaker Ethan Goldwater.