Psychedelic Alchemy Speaker Series
Naropa Center For Psychedelic Studies Presents Psychedelic Alchemy, a speaker series dedicated to exploring the modern psychedelic landscape.
Featuring prominent and emerging leaders in the field, these public events will investigate salient topics in the psychedelic space such as psychedelic-assisted therapy, science, social action, spirituality, healing integration and more. Whether you’re a novice or well-researched expert, join us for this curated series of inspiring à la carte discussion panels, lectures, and interviews with galvanizing psychedelic luminaries.
Upcoming Events
Colorado and Proposition 122: Where Do We Go From Here?
A special panel co-hosted by Naropa University and Chacruna Institute

January 18th, 2023 // 1:00 - 2:30 PM MT // Live Online
Colorado recently made history within the psychedelic realm with the passing of Proposition 122. This proposition creates a natural medicine services program for the supervised administration of various psychedelics including psilocybin, mescaline (excluding peyote) and others, and creates a framework for regulating the growth, distribution, and sale of such substances to permitted entities. While this has been an incredibly groundbreaking accomplishment, we are still left with many questions in regards to accessibility, education, community, risks, integration, potential monopolization and qualifications to administer and distribute these psychedelics.
What do community model healing centers look like and how do we prepare existing psychedelic communities to handle the growing flow of interest in a safe way for community leadership, community members, and participants, to make sure that people are educated on their rights and responsibilities? What markers of success should determine how and when the NMHA should expand to include more natural medicines? Who should be permitted to facilitate psychedelic therapy and who should be excluded?
Join us in the conversation to discuss these questions and more, with speakers Veronica Lightning Horse Perez, who is a NLP practitioner and certified Time Line Therapist, Joshua Kappel, who is is a founding board member of the International Cannabis Bar Association, Bia Labate, who is executive director of Chacruna Institute, Nicholas Powers, who is a poet, journalist and Associate Professor of Literature, Jamie Beachy, who serves as Director of Education for Naropa’s Center for Psychedelic Studies, and Emily Boeschenstein, who is a psychedelic therapist and art therapist.
Recent Past Events

Valeria McCarroll PhD, LMFT - Are psychedelics doomed to be tools of oppression, or can they be agents of liberation?
On October 20th, 2022, NCPS hosted Valeria McCarroll for an engaging talk on psychedelics, mysticism and possibilities for transformation. Valeria is a consciousness guide, teaches somatic and transpersonal psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), and serves as the Embodied Wisdom Advisor for Synthesis Institute. Valeria’s interests lie at the nexus of nondual wisdom traditions, somatics, psychedelics, and social/transformative justice, which culminate into her healing work called Somadelics℠. Valeria lives in Northern California with her husband and daughter and, when not synthesizing and refining liberative systems for deconstructing patriarchy, enjoys playing outdoors and creating beauty.
Other Past Events

Erik Davis, PhD - LSD and the Alchemy of Modernity

Nicholas Powers, PhD - Flowers in Gun Barrels: How the Psychedelic Renaissance Can Stop War
NCPS was pleased to host professor, poet, novelist, and journalist Nicholas Powers for an inspiring Psychedelic Alchemy speaker event.
Dr. Powers’ lecture, “Flowers in Gun Barrels: How the Psychedelic Renaissance Can Stop War” examined the ways in which patriarchy, militarism, and poverty distort self-image and censor consciousness, and how a re-imagined psychedelic social movement can begin to repair these damages.

Spring Washam - Buddhism and Plant-Based Medicine: A Dharma Teachers Journey
NCPS was thrilled to host meditation teacher, author, and visionary leader Spring Washam for our inaugural Psychedelic Alchemy event!
Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based healing practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founders and core teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy for the last 25 years. In addition to being a dharma teacher, Spring is a shamanic practitioner who has studied indigenous healing practices for over a decade. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, an organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom.
Check out the event recording to learn more about the profound synergy between contemplative practice and psychedelic experience, and hear about Spring’s unique journey on this blended path!