The Psychedelic Society South Africa Podcast

Today’s episode is all about our upcoming event Holding Space [https://www.psychedelicsociety.co.za/events?fbclid=IwAR3H8_1SrYYVvfb9G4dgQDDTbHDpg6cgKJ6hy3BVyCdFj_ZPUbtch8MJrHo⁠ ].    Holding Space [https://www.psychedelicsociety.co.za/events?fbclid=IwAR3H8_1SrYYVvfb9G4dgQDDTbHDpg6cgKJ6hy3BVyCdFj_ZPUbtch8MJrHo⁠ ] is a 3-Day in-person training workshop that teaches psychedelic care, crisis intervention and psychedelic integration derived from mindfulness and psychotherapeutic approaches, to anyone who wants to learn how to hold space for psychedelic experiences.   We'll be hosting workshops in Johannesburg from 21-23 July and one in Cape Town from 14-16 July. Sign up or find out more about the event HERE. [https://www.psychedelicsociety.co.za/events?fbclid=IwAR3H8_1SrYYVvfb9G4dgQDDTbHDpg6cgKJ6hy3BVyCdFj_ZPUbtch8MJrHo⁠ ] And learn more about Nir, Igal and their work HERE. [https://psychedelicare.com/holding-space-workshop/] In this episode, we talk about: * What is the ‘Holding Space’ workshop? * Who is it for? * What’s included? * Who Nir and Igal are, and what they do * The difference in outcome between a situation where someone does vs does not get support during a difficult psychedelic experience * The dangers of being perceived as being ‘crazy’ during a difficult trip * Psychedelically induced PTSD * The 4 key tenets of holding space * The difference between normal psychotherapy and psychedelic psychotherapy * Trusting the inner healer of the participant * Why training is important even though this work is largely intuitive * Integration * The adverse effects of a really good trip * What to do if you feel ‘broken’ by a psychedelic experience

Donaghue Woodman is the Head of Research and Development for CMG Global and Director for CannhealthMD, global pharmaceutical and educational based companies driving acceptance and change in the cannabis and psychedelic medicine space. She has more than 13 years of experience within the Pharmaceutical industry in the public and private sector. She is an MBA graduate, holds a degree in Biochemistry, Honours in Ethnopharmacology and has been awarded a scholarship in 2021 to undertake a Master’s in Psychology through Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. She is now heading the first women’s focused phase 2 psilocybin trial on the African continent. In this episode: * A description of the psilocybin trials, including the theoretical basis, chosen target population, trial protocol, dosage, reliability and validity * The interaction of oestrogen levels and psychedelics * The significance of these trials in the South African mental health space * Risks associated with commercialisation and capitalisation of psychedelics * The importance of psychoeducation in the psychedelic space * The importance of holistic psychedelic treatment models * Readying your heart space for a psychedelic journey * The potential of psychedelic medicine for individuals suffering from Schizophrenia * Making psychedelic medicine accessible to all You can contact Donaghue at D.woodman@cannsun.com or 0674006894 and you can find CannSun through their website https://cannsun.com/ [https://cannsun.com/]

In this podcast Nick interviews good friend, Brigitte Heeb.  Briggs or Mama B is a multi-facetted healer who's goal of guiding people through their ascension process has brought thousands within her frequency.  Her expertise lay within mushroom ceremonies and breathwork, but are in no way there limited. There's a beautiful moment in this podcast where Mama B stops us and asks us to take a heartfelt breath. If you're able to suspend your resistance, she plunges you into a sweet moment of serenity.  In this podcast:  * The processes of a Briggs-style ceremony. * Maternal energy and deciding who gets into the ceremony.  * What are frequencies?  * The awakened vs the indoctrinated state.  * How do we balance being a healer without generational teaching?  * What are lightworkers?  * Where is the balance between Light and dark?  * The dangers and gifts of charlotonne healers * What is channeling, and how to go about it.  * Light language and more. Links: Free Online Psychedelic Breathwork: https://www.bodhibreathwork.com/events Briggite's Website: https://brigitteheeb.kartra.com/page/about

Jon Mac Gillivray is an renowned mushroom expert, businessman and author in the field of Mycology.  He is a qualified field guide with vast experience in translating the wilds and has over 20 years of guiding experience and has been hunting fungi for over 14 years.  Jon is currently the president of the Mycological Society of Southern Africa (MSOSA) and the Chief Strategic Officer for Mycocorp, a company involved in mushroom facility design and production. In this episode: * Jon’s personal journey with mushrooms * Jon’s vision of reconnecting individuals to nature and each other through mushrooms * Mushrooms role of creating balance in our external and internal ecosystems * Hunting magic mushrooms in South Africa  * How foraging enhances your connection to the mushroom medicine  * Species of magic mushrooms Jon has discovered in South Africa - focus on the Natal Super Strength  * Empowering others by sharing knowledge in the psychedelic space * Having fun and connecting to your inner child through magic mushrooms * Jon’s involvement in the cultivation of the world’s first commercial crop of psilocybin mushrooms in Lesotho * Challenges involved in mushroom facility design and cultivation * Benefits of growing your own mushrooms  * Potency variance within the same species of magic mushroom and improving consistency

Vanessa is a major social justice and cannabis activist and founder of the holistic cannabis organisation Neked in Clarens. Vanessa has struggled throughout her life with various mental health issues and cancers and has used a combination of psilocybin, cannabis, sound medicine and art therapy to heal herself.  Thank you so much to Vanessa for being on this podcast and for your advocacy and courage in the plant medicine sphere.  Here’s what we cover in this episode:  * The havoc that the pharmaceutical industry wreaked on Vanessa’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing  * How psilocybin mushrooms helped Vanessa completely wean herself off of pharmaceutical drugs and heal from her trauma * Traumatisation during the pandemic and the increasingly imperative role of plant medicine  * The magic mushroom as the most forgiving, understanding and all-encompassing mother * How Vanessa healed her cervical cancer using cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms * Intuitive dosing and the importance of dosage * How mushrooms can change your life - the importance of intention * Acknowledging, respecting and embracing the spiritual experience of plant medicines  * How plant medicine facilitates deeper connection in partnerships * Official announcement of South Africa’s first full cannabis experience hosted by Neked on the weekend of Human Right’s Day 2022 Find out more about Neked here - https://neked.co.za