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 Event
Psychedelic Therapies for Veterans and Enlisted Soldiers:
Opportunities and Challenges
A special forum co-hosted by Naropa University and Chacruna Institute

April 5th, 2023 // 1:00 - 2:30 PM MT // Live Online
From our friends at Chacruna Institute:
Each day, anywhere from 16 to 44 veterans die by suicide in the United States. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has inspired hope for addressing this dire reality, and at the same time, many psychedelic leaders see veterans as a strategic way to advance the mainstreaming and medicalization of psychedelics due to their often-bipartisan political commitments. While there has been a steady focus on addressing trauma experienced by soldiers, less attention has been given to how psychedelics might address the structural problems that lead to violence and impact both veterans and civilians alike.
This community forum, comprised of veterans and researchers, will explore sensitive and controversial questions such as:
- What is moral injury?
- How can we ensure BIPOC veterans know psychedelic treatments are available?
- Should psychedelics be given to active soldiers?
- Can psychedelics affect political views and raise issues about the American military-industrial complex?
- Can psychedelics promote pacifism?
- What are the future and hopes of the psychedelic movement in the US?
Come join us for this intriguing conversation!
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.

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!