Hi there,

Happy Imbolc! Tomorrow is the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in the Celtic wheel of the year. Imbolc means ‘in the belly’ because it's at this time that all life that held in the quiet earth is preparing to be birthed. It's the feast day of St Brigid, who carries the legacy of the Celtic goddess of fertility and healing and patron of poets, midwives, and healers.

Imbolc has so much to teach us about patience and possibility. The natural world is bare and seemingly dormant. And yet there are signs of life just beginning to emerge, the snowdrops and crocuses, evidence of all that is brewing in the soil beneath us. Internally, we can feel our spirits begin to stretch and awaken from winter’s rest and dreaming. We are bursting with new ideas and plans. It is a potent time for connecting with intuition and planting seeds with intention.

Here at The Psychedelic Society we're already feeling the excitement. Despite the London cold, our psychedelic socials and community are back in full force this year. Our monthly socials have become a real highlight, with such a warm, welcoming vibe that we're expanding them. Starting next month, we're adding online speed friending so our international members can join in too. We've given ourselves a spring makeover with new banner designs and are bursting with plans for the year.

But for now, the trees have yet to bud. Take your direction from them and do not rush your unfurling. Tend what needs to be tended. Imbolc is also a time of uncertainty when we can feel full of inner chaos as new things come to life in us. So allow yourself this last deep inhale of winter’s breath, this gentle lingering in stillness with your own dreams and thoughts before you release into spring.

This week we're highlighting those events that encourage us to stillness, reflection and dreaming…

At the bottom of this email you'll also find:

An invitation to join the Synthesis Institute for four free conversation sessions with leading psychedelic practitioners and thinkers
A discount on their upcoming Psychedelic Practitioner Core Training
A call for contributions to our research on psychedelics and hormonal contraception

ALL OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

in Ceremony & Ritual

We're so excited for our next portal retreat! This time in the wilds of Cornwall. Enter this sacred Atlantic rainforest waterfall glen & be guided back into a sense of wholeness, nourishment and tranquility on a journey to recenter and reconnect to soul, land & tribe...

in Psychedelic Science & Integration

in Embodiment & Creativity

in Psychedelic Retreats

in Intimacy & Identity

in Nature Connection

in Community, Leadership, & Social Change

in Adventures in Awareness

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Join our parnters at the globally-renowned Synthesis Institute for a free series of four thought-provoking live conversations with leading psychedelic voices as we explore how scientific knowledge, sacred traditions, embodied insight, and relational wisdom converge to form the foundation for safe, ethical, and transformative care. The Synthesis Institute is a global leader in the modern psychedelic movement, offering ethical and professional psychedelic education and training to current and aspiring psychedelic practitioners who seek personal growth, community, and professional development.

The Heart of Holding Space – Relational Foundations of Psychedelic Care (Wed, Feb 12th, 6pm GMT) with Dr. Rosalind Watts and Shannon Duncan
Beyond the Brain – Science and Evidence of Transformative Care (Wed, Feb 19th, 6pm GMT) with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and Jules Evans
Honoring the Sacred – Meaning-Making in Psychedelic Space (Wed, Feb26th, 6pm GMT) with Philip Carr-Gomm and Akua Ofosuhene
Embodying the Journey – Somatic Foundations of Psychedelic Care (Wed, March 5th, 6pm GMT) with Charlotte Duerr James and Dr. Devon Christie

Their free series also offers a glimpse into their 13-month Psychedelic Practitioners Core Training program which begins in April. This training, which is a response to the growing need for highly skilled and professionally trained psychedelic facilitators, includes nine (9) modules of coursework, each building upon the last, to develop the essential foundational competencies required for legal, professional, and ethical psychedelic facilitation.

They welcome professionals from various backgrounds and industries who have a proven track record of maturity, commitment, and focus and all participants will enjoy access to their global network of psychedelic thought leaders and plant medicine centers.

As our partners, they are offering a $500 DISCOUNT on this programme. Just use the code when applying: PPCTPSYCHSOCIETY

Learn more & apply

We’re currently exploring the intersection of psychedelics and hormonal contraception—an area that hasn’t been widely studied but holds valuable insights. If you have any relevant personal stories, please get in touch with martha@symbiota.coop.

Your experiences could help shed light on how these two influence each other and may also serve as preliminary data for future research. Everything will remain confidential and only be published anonymously at your discretion. Some key points we may look to uncover include:

Do psychedelics affect any psychological side effects of oral contraception, or vice versa?
Do psychedelics affect any physical side effects of oral contraception, or vice versa?
Have people found notable differences in their psychedelic experiences while on oral contraception versus not using it?
Do psychedelics make people more aware of or reflective about using hormonal contraception?

Any other personal experiences or perspectives relevant to the topic will be greatly appreciated!

Join our community of members!

We fund our work in integration, education and harm reduction primarily through our membership program.

By becoming a member of The Psychedelic Society community, you get access to exclusive members-only events, a discount on events, and support the development of this alternative cultural space. Membership starts from just £5/month!