Bjorn's Story: Religious Trauma, Military Trauma, and Learning to Let Go

Sermon: The Skills We Bring to the Divine Us

In this sermon from the Colorado Psychedelic Church, Teopixqui Dez reflects on the end of the church's first month in the new storefront space and the movement that has grown from two people in a basement into a thriving community in Colorado Springs. Dez opens by honoring those who are no longer physically present, reminding the congregation that their light is still carried forward through love, memory, and revelry. From there, the sermon turns toward community as a place where people can be frail, honest, wounded, and still loved. Dez shares openly about the lingering trauma of losing nearly everything in a house fire 11 years ago, and how the smell of smoke still affects them today. In that vulnerability, Dez models what it means to know your limits, give yourself grace, and trust the community enough to step back when needed. The sermon also includes reflections from Thaumaturgist Julian, Bjorn, and Oracle Richard, each sharing how community has shaped them. Julian speaks about leaving the military, finding purpose through sacrament, and discovering a form of community beyond trauma bonding. Bjorn shares how the church helped him through a dark PTSD episode and gave him a renewed voice and purpose. Oracle Richard reflects on finding his role through Discord, organization, ceremony support, and the simple invitation to "see the need, fill the need." Together, these stories remind us that clergy are not above the congregation. They are part of it. Each person brings skills, gifts, wounds, and wisdom that help build the divine us. Episode Highlights * The end of the church's first month in the new space * Remembering the first sermons in Dez's home and basement * Honoring Harry and others who are no longer physically present * Carrying memory through joy, love, and revelry * Community as a place where frailty is welcomed * Dez sharing the lasting impact of a house fire 11 years ago * Learning to recognize when you are "crispy" and need rest * Why grace must extend to ourselves as much as others * Thaumaturgist Julian on military trauma bonding, purpose, and sacrament * Bjorn on PTSD, veteran support, and finding his voice * Oracle Richard on Discord, organization, and using your gifts * The reminder that clergy stand beside the congregation, not above it * The invitation to notice needs and bring your skills to the community * Weekly sacrament, new member orientation, and the strain Creeper About the Colorado Psychedelic Church The Colorado Psychedelic Church is a community built around healing, connection, PACK Life, and responsible engagement with entheogens and sacred compounds. Through sermons, ceremonies, integration, education, and community events, the church creates space for people to reconnect with themselves, find belonging, and experience healing in community. Contact Us Learn more, view the event calendar, and connect with the community at ColoradoPsychedelicChurch.com.

Sermon: Taking Your Good Day Out on the World

In this sermon from the Colorado Psychedelic Church, Teopixqui Dez speaks about the rapid growth of the community, the responsibility of protecting a safe space, and the role every congregant plays in helping others feel seen, welcomed, and loved. Dez begins with updates on sacrament, including metocin, which offers a more predictable experience similar to psilocybin while reducing nausea, as well as upcoming education on Amanita muscaria. He also reflects on the church's growth, noting that more than 230 new members have joined in just three weeks, bringing the congregation to more than 2,700 people impacted by the community. The sermon then turns toward accountability, safety, and the difficult work of removing malice from the community when needed. Dez reminds listeners that a safe space must be defended, that PACK Life includes accountability, and that love with a backbone sometimes means drawing firm boundaries. From there, Dez returns to the month's theme of community, encouraging congregants to welcome new faces, share the church without proselytizing, and take their good days out on the world. Every kind word, every moment of care, and every invitation into community can become an act of divine intervention. Timeline 00:01 – Wonderful problems: the church needs more chairs 00:40 – Updates on metocin and making the sacrament more comfortable 02:15 – Offering metocin as a sacrament option and asking for feedback 03:00 – Upcoming education around Amanita muscaria 04:10 – Sharing the stage with congregants and community members 05:15 – More than 230 new members in three weeks 06:15 – Welcoming new faces and naming the "mushroom cult" joke 07:40 – What people misunderstand about church and community 09:10 – Growth can bring confidence, but also arrogance if unchecked 10:10 – Addressing recent harm, malice, and anti-men rhetoric in the community 12:15 – No smoke, no mirrors: why transparency matters 13:20 – Discord as an extension of the church community 14:35 – Accountability as part of PACK Life 16:00 – Creating a safe space means defending it 18:25 – Drawing boundaries when former members harass the community 20:15 – Returning to the month's topic: community 21:20 – Community as the answer to depression, anxiety, and isolation 23:15 – The monsters our ancestors chased versus the monsters we face now 24:45 – Helping new people feel welcomed 25:40 – Taking your good day out on everyone 27:00 – Fighting hate with love that has a backbone 29:20 – The political fire and protecting vulnerable kin 31:20 – Showing up, smiling in defiance, and gathering as resistance 32:40 – Inviting someone who could benefit from the community 34:10 – Every congregant brings a skill that makes the community home 35:10 – Podcast invitation and sharing stories as resistance 36:05 – Community cookies, new member orientation, and sacrament details 37:20 – Banfasa Maya shares Roatan mushrooms grown for the community About The Colorado Psychedelic Church is a community centered on healing, connection, spiritual exploration, and the responsible use of entheogens and sacred compounds. Through sermons, ceremonies, integration, and community-led events, the church creates space for people to reconnect with themselves, find belonging, and reclaim tomorrow. Contact Us Learn more, view the full calendar, and connect with the community at: coloradopsychedelicchurch.com

Sermon: Pride, Safety, and the Boundaries of Community

In this sermon from the Colorado Psychedelic Church, Teopixqui Dez opens with a listener note that this episode includes a difficult moment in the congregation, including raised voices and people approaching with malice in their hearts. Rather than hiding that moment, the sermon offers a real-time look at how the community works to protect the space, name what threatens it, and continue forward with honesty. Dez begins by honoring Harry, one of the church's earliest congregants, whose loss continues to shape the church's mission and commitment to making sure no one in the community feels alone in their darkest moments. From there, Dez speaks about what it means to build a safe space. A safe space is not built through avoidance or silence, but by naming threats clearly, honoring the tolerance paradox, and refusing to allow hate, misogyny, misandry, racism, homophobia, transphobia, or any other blanket demonization of people to take root in the community. After an emotional interruption, Dez continues by grounding the room in the meaning of Pride, authenticity, and the divine self. Pride is framed not as arrogance or superiority, but as the courage to exist honestly, to reclaim what has been silenced, and to bring one's true self into community. This sermon is a candid and powerful example of "love with a backbone" and "kindness with teeth" … a reminder that community requires grace, boundaries, accountability, and the willingness to protect one another. Timeline 00:00 – Listener note about potentially triggering moments 00:40 – Welcome and settling into the new space 01:50 – Two weeks in the new 3,500-square-foot home 02:30 – Honoring Harry, congregant number two 04:20 – A moment of remembrance and the importance of staying connected in dark moments 06:35 – Pride as something for everyone 07:20 – Building a safe space means naming what threatens it 08:35 – The tolerance paradox and protecting the community garden 09:50 – Why trauma cannot become repurposed hate 11:30 – Grace, correction, and accountability inside the community 12:20 – Dez asks for either apology or departure from those harming the space 14:55 – Congregational outburst 15:40 – Dez responds and clarifies that misandry is not welcome any more than misogyny 17:35 – Returning to Pride and the divinity of the self 19:15 – The Divine Us and the power of shared community 21:15 – Pride, malice, and carrying threats together 23:30 – How one person's safety affects the whole community 26:00 – Pride versus toxic pride 29:00 – Reclaiming authenticity and naming what has been muted 30:30 – Dez reflects on being non-binary and living more fully in authenticity 34:20 – Homework: affirm something true about yourself 36:50 – Sacrament, new member orientation, and welcoming new faces 39:10 – Invitation for congregants to share their stories on the podcast About The Colorado Psychedelic Church is a community centered on healing, connection, spiritual exploration, and the responsible use of entheogens and sacred compounds. Through sermons, ceremonies, integration, and community-led events, the church creates space for people to reconnect with themselves, find belonging, and reclaim tomorrow. Contact Us Learn more, view the full calendar, and connect with the community at: coloradopsychedelicchurch.com

Sermon Recap: What Do You Bring?

Dez gave last week's sermon feeling very under the weather, so he sat down to recap what he talked about. In this message, Teopixqui Dez explores one of humanity's oldest truths: we were never meant to survive alone. Drawing lessons from our earliest ancestors, Dez reflects on how primitive communities overcame impossible odds not through strength, speed, or individual achievement, but through cooperation, trust, and shared purpose. From ancient hunting parties to modern struggles with depression, anxiety, and isolation, the lesson remains the same… we are strongest when we support one another. The sermon examines the role community plays in healing, resilience, and personal growth while challenging listeners to consider what unique gifts they bring to the people around them. Through stories of early human survival, the concept of the healed femur as a sign of civilization, and reflections on modern life, Dez makes the case that meaningful community is not a luxury… it is part of what makes us human. In This Sermon * Why humans evolved to thrive through cooperation * What ancient hunting strategies can teach us about modern life * Facing today's "beasts" of anxiety, depression, and isolation * The importance of diverse skills and experiences within a community * The story of the healed femur and the origins of civilization * Why caring for one another is a sign of strength, not weakness * Healthy relationships and meaningful energy exchange * Finding purpose through contribution and belonging * The value of mutual support during difficult times * What each person uniquely brings to the collective Key Message Community is not simply about being around other people. It is about recognizing that every person has something valuable to contribute and that together we can accomplish far more than any one of us could alone. The same principle that helped our ancestors survive continues to help us heal, grow, and thrive today. About the Colorado Psychedelic Church The Colorado Psychedelic Church is a community dedicated to helping people reclaim tomorrow through connection, personal growth, spiritual exploration, and mutual support. Through sermons, ceremonies, integration work, and community events, the church creates a space where people can heal, belong, and discover the strength that comes from walking life's path together. Thank you for listening to the Colorado Psychedelic Church Podcast. Contact Us Colorado Psychedelic Church 📍 5028 North Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 https://www.coloradopsychedelicchurch.com/ [https://www.coloradopsychedelicchurch.com/] Join us for weekly sermons, community events, integration support, educational programs, and opportunities to connect with others seeking healing, purpose, and authentic community.

Bjorn's Story: Religious Trauma, Military Trauma, and Learning to Let Go

Bjorn never expected to find himself in a church. A military veteran, former Mormon, practicing pagan, and someone living with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD, he initially came to the Colorado Psychedelic Church with his wife to attend a Healing from Religious Trauma gathering. Guarded and uncertain, he soon discovered something he hadn't found elsewhere: a genuine community where authenticity mattered more than appearances. In this deeply personal conversation with Bahn Fasa Maya, Bjorn shares his journey through military service, religious trauma, chronic pain, depression, and the healing that began after reaching out to the church during one of the darkest moments of his life. After years of unsuccessful treatment through the VA, including numerous medications and opioid pain management, a guided psilocybin breakthrough experience helped him experience ego dissolution, begin releasing long-held trauma, and reconnect with parts of himself he thought had been lost. Bjorn discusses how microdosing has helped him manage depression, sleep naturally, reduce chronic pain, and eliminate several medications. He also reflects on the importance of integration, difficult conversations in marriage, choosing healthy relationships, and learning that kindness and love were never truly gone—they simply needed room to emerge again. Whether discussing his unexpected introduction to psychedelics at a Native American ceremony, the value of community, or the healing power of simply asking for help, Bjorn offers an honest reminder that transformation is possible when we're willing to do the work. Episode Highlights * Discovering the Colorado Psychedelic Church through the Healing from Religious Trauma group * Growing up between Mormonism and paganism * Why Bjorn ultimately chose a different spiritual path * An unexpected first psychedelic experience during a Native American ceremony * Living with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD * The challenges of navigating care through the VA * Reaching out to the church during a mental health crisis * A guided psilocybin breakthrough and experiencing ego dissolution * Releasing trauma that had occupied his mind for years * How psychedelics helped reduce chronic pain and improve sleep * Replacing multiple medications with a new approach to healing * The importance of integration through nature, reflection, and conversation * How healing transformed his marriage and family relationships * Learning to set healthy boundaries and choose peace * Rediscovering compassion after years of emotional compartmentalization * Why authenticity and community have become central to his healing * Advice for veterans and anyone considering their own healing journey About the Colorado Psychedelic Church The Colorado Psychedelic Church is a community centered on healing, connection, PACK Life, and responsible engagement with entheogens and sacred compounds. Through sermons, ceremonies, integration, education, and community events, the church provides a place where people can explore their spirituality, reconnect with themselves, and experience the strength of meaningful community. Contact Us Learn more about the Colorado Psychedelic Church, explore upcoming events, listen to the podcast, or connect with the community at ColoradoPsychedelicChurch.com. Colorado Psychedelic Church 5028 North Academy Boulevard Colorado Springs, CO 80918