Big Psychedelic Symposium 2023

Big Psychedelic Symposium: Diversity of Thought

Saturday & Sunday, August 12th – 13th, 2023

11:00am – 5:00pm

As we will celebrate our third annual psychedelic symposium, we will honor Diversity of Thought as our theme of learning. Access to psychedelic resources empower individual autonomy and educate community of alternative careers & lifestyles, drug misinformation, and sustainable health & wellness practices. We activate discussions that practice free speech explore morality, and challenge belief systems through respectful conversation. As psychedelics continue to evolve our society, we hope to ignite reflection and presence through the process. Big Psych practices cultural conservation in all her forms before the industrialization of psychedelics. A history we are currently experiencing. Reflecting on the present and honoring the transformational times we live in.

The legacy lives on.

Tickets

Tickets now available!

Email bigpsychmpls@gmail.com for scholarship inquiries

The Capri Theater

The Capri Theater is an anchor of trust, reliability, and innovation. We want to not only honor the achievements of the Capri as a historic center for community, but highlight the capacity for intellectual conversation and progressive leadership. These conferences have been held in spaces like Cooper Union in Manhattan, New York and Berkley University in California. We want the Capri to be added to this list of names and contribute to hosting these liberating conversations. As our North Minneapolis community is in the process of rebuilding, we want to represent and share our offerings in our community.

Saturday Speakers

Sunday Speakers

Saturday Workshops

Sunday Workshops

Saturday Bodyworkers

Sunday Bodyworkers

Emcee

Cameron Taylor

Cameron was born in Kansas City, MO and moved to Minneapolis in 1993. He graduated from Minneapolis North High School, and considers himself a Northside native. He is a father, community organizer, podcast moderator, radio personality, world traveler, amateur psilocybin cultivator, and advocate for the decriminalization of plant-based medicine. He’s here to share my personal experience with psychedelics for the promotion of mental, physical, and spiritual health well being. As a menu option to help fight depression, a guide for esoteric knowledge, and a bridge to strengthen community. 

Marcus Harcus

Marcus is a loving family man, writer, organizer, non-profit lobbyist, social entrepreneur, nature lover and traveler from North Minneapolis. Love, freedom and peace are his core values, so he lives his life in alignment with them. He has worked mostly in the non-profit sector on a wide variety of issues including youth development, community development, education policy, housing policy, workforce policy, etc. For the past seven years, he has lobbied for the full legalization of Cannabis in Minnesota, and now advocating for decriminalization of sacred mushrooms and all entheogenic plants.

Speakers

Stig Mycelia

Tunnels

Stig Mycelia is a self taught cultivator and lifelong student of psychoactive fungi. He has a primary focus in the exploration, cultivation, and relationship building with “exotic” psychoactive fungi. It is his mission in life to cultivate a relationship with any and every psychoactive fungi he comes across while maintaining a low tech approach that is hands on and personal to develop accessible approaches to working with otherwise “difficult” fungi. He is an educator and advocate for the fungi often overlooked by the broader and mainstream psychedelic culture, having direct experience in the cultivation of several distinct species across multiple genera and many localities and lineages from across the globe. His approach and philosophy of life is one rooted in nature and the natural world, of connection and relationships, and to the pursuit of happiness. 

Talk Description

This talk will be an open reading and exploration into the creativity and Imagery of the psychedelic space. In this talk I will attempt to put the ineffable into words through a creative writing project. Exploring the psychedelic state through sensory focused diction to paint the images of psychedelia into our minds. This talk is in collaboration with the masters of story telling, fungi. Come with me as I bring you into the world we have shared and explored together.

Clem Dabney, PhD

Making Your Own Cannabis Based Medicine

Clemon Dabney is Owner of Doctor Dabs a MN based hemp company that manufactures THC edibles and white labels for local hemp companies. Clemon Dabney III has a B.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of St. Thomas as well as an M.S. in Applied Plant Sciences with a specialization in Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Minnesota on the genetics of cannabinoid and terpene production in Cannabis sativa. Clemon has held a IHPP permit since 2017. Clemon also is the owner of MN Food Forest which is a farm that produces maple syrup, honey, ramps and gourmet mushrooms as well as makes maple cream and maple sugar.

Talk Description

This seminar will discuss the history of cannabis and what makes cannabis unique, what the major and minor cannabinoids commonly used in hemp and adult use cannabis products are and the forms used in product formulation (isolate, distillate, crude extracts). We will review the medicinal benefits of CBD, CBDV, CBG, CBC, CBN, d9THC, & THCV, what dosages are commonly used and the purported medicinal benefits produced by each cannabinoid, as well as the differences between acid and neutral forms of cannabinoids (CBDA vs CBD). We will cover what terpenes are, how they are used in various hemp and adult use cannabis products and how consuming more than one cannabinoid and/or terpene creates a synergistic effect known as the entourage effect. We will examine the common formulated hemp product categories and the lab testing used when making these products for sale.

Tegan Carr

The Medicine Objective: Healing through Psychedelics & Decolonization

Tegan is a multidisciplinary researcher, sociocultural-behavioral scientist, consultant, community healer, and acclaimed JEDI innovator. Tegan is the Founder and CEO of The Medicine Objective, a nonprofit working at the intersections of science, decolonization, and community health with a special interest in psychedelic medicine. Tegan works through ‘functional decolonization’, a method used to shift complex systems, restructure institutions, and rewrite academic norms.

Tegan holds BAs in anthropology and psychology (UMN), a Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies/Research (CIIS), and she is an alumna-scholar of the AAAP REACH Program. Tegan attended UMN Medical School for 3 years where she served as MD-student Chief Diversity Officer and co-led the movement for academic medicine reform following the local murder of George Floyd. She is the current President of White Coats 4 Black Lives – Minneapolis Chapter. Tegan researches psychedelics through the Nielson Lab (Psychiatry, UMN) and co-Chair of the Northern Lights Psychedelic Research Collaborative.

Tegan is passionate about identifying creative ways to unite and empower people. Lastly and mostly, she is a writer, poet, dancer, performer, healer, water protector, air bender, plant tender, firekeeper, and activist, bringing art and heart into every aspect of her work.

Talk Description

Decolonization allows us to reach beyond the edges of our societal (colonized) conditioning to access other ways of knowing and being. The field of psychedelic medicine is fertile space for discussions of decolonization, but the concept of decolonization is often presented as a vague destination without a roadmap. In response, I developed Functional Decolonization (FD). Decolonization is a process; FD is HOW. In this presentation, I will introduce FD in the context of psychedelics and the genesis of FD through my own healing journey and qualitative research. I will also present on MN nonprofit, The Medicine Objective Inc. to discuss our hands-on work through FD ranging from scientific research, rewilding, and community action.

Jessica Nielson, PhD

Demystifying Clinical Trials With Psychedelics: More Science Than Therapy

Jessica is a neuroscientist and psychedelic researcher that has been exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for the past 10 years. She is leading several psychedelic research studies at the University of Minnesota aiming to understand how psychedelics like ayahuasca and psilocybin may help with post-traumatic stress and depression, mechanisms for how psilocybin changes the human brain, and survey studies about the unique perspectives of BIPOC psychedelic users and people living with spinal cord injury on how they engage with and respond to psychedelic experiences. She is also a sub-investigator for a phase III clinical trial with psilocybin for treatment resistant depression, is the founder and Executive Director of the Psychedelic Society of Minnesota and member of the Global Psychedelic Society, and the Innovation Alchemist at Big Psych.

Talk Description

A lot of exciting new evidence is emerging from clinical trials with psychedelics. While the evidence from these trials is informing how drug policy will change for these types of drugs, many people struggling with mental health conditions are uncertain about how to access psychedelic therapy legally and safely. While clinical trials are a critical process towards this end, being involved in a clinical trial is more about the science of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, and less about the equitable and accessible delivery of psychedelic therapy to people who are suffering. This talk aims to demystify the clinical trial process, provide educational resources for those looking to be involved in a clinical trial with psychedelics, and offer practical alternatives to gaining access to psychedelic therapy in this evolving landscape.

Mama Ayanna Iyi

The Chronicles of a Psychedelic Crone

Ayana Iyi is a modern day witch with ancient sensibilities, utilizing entheogenic plants in her work as a Psychic and Medium. Ayana has an intimate relationship to spirit going back to early childhood. Sharing many decades of experience working as a healer of immense knowledge and power. Incorporating teaching fungi into her work was the perfect complement to accessing the ancient worlds of the divine feminine. Many testify to the fullness, depth and passion that Ayana brings to the Psychedelic community.

​Ayana Iyi Detroit native has realized that her journey as Warrior High Priestess is a journey of wisdom, innerstanding and truth. As a visionary in her communities and throughout the US, she inspires women to reclaim their Birthright(s) as Goddess, Warrior and Mother through counsel, tarot and entheogenic ceremony. Most importantly, by divine example. Wife, Elder and Mother to many, Ayana works effortlessly to provide spiritual guidance for all of her sisters and daughters. Showing that total acceptance, love and knowledge of self is her code of life through Profundity, Intelligence, Silence and Truth.

Talk Description

Sage advice and wisdom from an experienced pyschonaut.  How 20 plus years of psychedelic use has altered my way of thinking and not conforming to the mainstream. Free your mind and you ass will follow so to speak. What to look for as this movement has gained momentum and to always give reverence to the sacredness of the sacrament. 

Ian Bollinger

A Psychedelic Journey From Citizen to Scientist

Ian Bollinger is an Entheogen Researcher and Co-Founder of Hyphae Labs, the Entheome Foundation, and the Center for Mycological Analytics. He centers his work around education and conversations by bringing the importance of analytics, citizen science, and community to the forefront by supporting the science behind the Psilocybin/Hyphae Cups and in developing the Hyphae Spectrum(TM), while building platforms for education both in the US and internationally. Through these endeavors he hopes to provide space for highlighting those scientists and cultivators who kept and continue to keep the work alive during the ‘prohibition dark ages’ we are emerging from, as well as provide tools, education, and access to platforms so that the next generation and community can flourish.

Talk Description

The importance of citizen scientists in the growing entheogen space; specifically talking about how we need to be inspiring current and future biologists, chemists, and ecologists who work with entheogenic mushrooms. I will touch bases from the perspectives of a Scientist, Psychonaut, and Educator with discussions around chemical profile testing (Hyphae Labs), genomic databases (Entheome Foundation), and teaching citizen science (Center for Mycological Analytics).

Kristen Paradise, MS, LPCC

The Connection Between Psychedelics and Grief

Kristen is a psychedelic assisted psychotherapist in the Twin Cities, providing psychotherapy in conjunction with the administration of Ketamine, to treat grief and loss, identity concerns, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health concerns. Kristen has also become a certified end-of-life doula, to assist in providing care to dying persons and their caregivers. Kristen operates from the model that therapy, combined with the use of psychedelic medicine, can help people who are stuck in traditional therapy, or persons who would like a shift in perspective, and a reset to their lives. Kristen believes in creating a comfortable and authentic space, for her patients to explore and find healing.

Talk Description

Psychedelics and grief share a surprising kinship. Both are shrouded in societal taboos and folklore mysticism that places them at cultural outskirts and conversations. More importantly, they are both a delicate, natural and ancient human experience that it seems the world may finally be ready to learn not just about —but learn from. There is no quick and easy way to get through the grieving process. In fact, the process of grieving is important for us to heal, and if we try to ignore the process or push down our feelings, we may never fully get to a place where we feel healed from the loss. Some people have found that psychedelic-assisted therapy can be a helpful tool in the process of grieving and coping with loss when used appropriately under the direction of a trained facilitator. Neuroplasticity, or the ability to alter neural connections, allows the brain to compensate for injury, illness, loss, and other life-altering traumatic events by forming new neural connections based on these experiences. This helps an individual adapt to new situations or environments.

Reggie Harris

Lessons Learned In The World Of Psychedelic Business: The Minority Report

Reggie has over a decade of political campaign experience ranging from city council races to presidential elections, working to replace police with guidance counselors in Oakland public schools, and managing the western and southwestern state campaigns with Color of Change PAC.

Reggie has consulted with the largest mushroom cultivators in the world. He has worked with the largest cultivators in The Netherlands and has recently advised in the establishment of the largest commercial mushroom farm and state of the art testing lab in Jamaica.

Reggie has established Oakland Hyphae which hosted the Psilocybin Cup (now known as the Hyphae Cup) and the most impactful Psychedelic Conferences across the country. He is a co-founder of Hyphae Labs, leading the industry in psychedelic mushroom potency testing, and offering adaptogenic medicinal fungi through Hyphae Nootropics. Reggie is a strong advocate for who he calls, “the little guy” or the “legacy plant medicine workers” whose perspective he uplifts through his recent publication, HyphaeLeaks. It is Reggie’s goal to protect the legacy plant medicine workers and create barriers to entry for big-money interest groups in the psychedelic space.

Talk Description

This talk will be a reflection on my transition from the world of street business, to the many levels of the psychedelic business world. It will give the audience a peek behind the curtain of psychedelic ‘love & light,’ and expose the reality of how business can go. We hope the audience leaves this talk equipped with practical knowledge to protect themselves in their own endeavors. 

Paula Brandt (DeSanto) MS, LSW

Addressing the Overdose Epidemic – The Case for Safe Injection Sites

Expanse MN Co-Founder and Chair for MN Overdose Awareness
Paula Brandt has developed and worked in programs that serve people with mental illness and/or substance use issues for over 40 years. She has dedicated her career to advocating for person-centered, common sense, compassionate care. Presently, she is Co-Founder of Expanse MN and an instructor with the Psychedelic Somatic Institute.  She is also serving as Board Chair for MN Overdose Awareness (the non-profit leading the Overdose Awareness and Prevention).

Talk Description

Drug overdoses remain the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the US. This presentation will discuss the current challenges as well as effective strategies to save lives.

Terry Tauger, MSW, LICSW

Addressing the Overdose Epidemic – The Case for Safe Injection Sites

Terry Tauger is a social worker for Hennepin County-Human Service and Public Health serving adults with mental health and substance use disorders. He is a board member of the Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV/AIDS and Minnesota Overdose Awareness. Terry is a consumer advocate for holistic approaches to well-being, health justice and equity, and building on community resource to improve health outcomes. Terry has lived experience with substance use and co-occurring disorders.

Ian McLoone, MPS, LPCC, LADC

Addressing the Overdose Epidemic – The Case for Safe Injection Sites

Expanse MN Co-Founder
Ian McLoone is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and licensed professional clinical counselor. He is co-founder and director of clinical services at Expanse Minnesota, a mental health clinic specializing in addiction and trauma. Ian is a member of the community faculty at the University of Minnesota’s integrated behavioral health program and a passionate advocate for common sense strategies when working with clients and families.

Talk Description

Drug overdoses remain the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the US. This presentation will discuss the current challenges as well as effective strategies to save lives.

Sarah Maricha White

Reparations for Rest

Hawk Communion. Dreaming about how to use 40 Acres of land to create a collective healing space for community to learn, rest, nourish and unlearn dependency on systems built to keep us untapped from our innate power & wisdom. Listening to the land for answers on how to be IN relationship with Earth during times of climate chaos and new pathways. 

Dr. Carl Hart

High Price: Standing Up For The Least Among Us Is Often Costly

Carl L. Hart is the Mamie Phipps Clark Professor of Psychology in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Columbia University. He is also a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He has published numerous scientific and popular articles in the area of neuropsychopharmacology. He has served on multiple National Institutes of Health grant review committees and on multiple Editorial Boards of scientific journals, including Progress in Neurobiology and Addiction Neuroscience. He is the co-author (with Charles Ksir) of the market-leading textbook “Drugs, Society and Human Behavior” . His book, “High Price: A Neuroscientist’s Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society,” was the 2014 winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. His most recent book,“Drug Use for Grown-ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear,” has sparked a more nuanced national conversation on the topic.

Professor Hart has appeared on numerous podcasts, radio and television shows and is frequently invited to lecture on topics related to drug science. His essays have been published in several popular publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, Scientific American, The Nation, Le Temps (Switzerland), and Folha de S. Paulo (Brazil).

Talk Description

I’ll recount my journey of becoming a mainstream drug scientist in the skin of America’s outcast.

Workshop Hosts

Tony Cineus

The Mushroom Block:

Unlocking the Psychedelic Potential: A Guide to Growing Entheogenic Mushrooms

“The Mushroom Block” is an platform that focuses on urban cultivation and foraging of mushrooms, aiming to connect individuals with communities and facilitate the sharing of valuable information. Our goal is to create a dynamic and inclusive environment that serves as a hub for individuals to come together, exchange knowledge, and deepen their ties to local communities. We aspire to foster a vibrant and diverse space where people can connect with one another, engaging in meaningful interactions, and learning from the collective wisdom of the community.
Email: TheMushroomBlock@gmail.com

Workshop description

 In this Entheogen mushroom cultivation workshop, participants will learn how to create mono tubs and prepare their own substrate for optimal mushroom growth. Through hands-on experience, attendees will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to cultivate thriving mushroom ecosystems at home. The workshop will cover the construction of mono tubs, including container selection and creating an ideal microclimate. Participants will also explore substrate preparation techniques, pasteurization methods, and substrate recipes. Resources for obtaining spores will be provided, highlighting ethical sourcing and reputable suppliers.

Marcus Harcus

Sacred Highdeas

Marcus is a loving family man, writer, organizer, non-profit lobbyist, social entrepreneur, nature lover and traveler from North Minneapolis. Love, freedom and peace are his core values, so he lives his life in alignment with them. He has worked mostly in the non-profit sector on a wide variety of issues including youth development, community development, education policy, housing policy, workforce policy, etc. For the past seven years, he has lobbied for the full legalization of Cannabis in Minnesota, and now advocating for decriminalization of sacred mushrooms and all entheogenic plants.

Workshop Description

Marcus Harcus will lead an interactive, meditative discussion about conscious consumption of Cannabis and sacred mushrooms and learning to be optimally human. This workshop will include a joint rolling clinic, an introduction to breath work, which is a practice Marcus is learning this summer, and we will discuss how to practice gratitude, intentionally enjoy life even through the toughest of personal struggles, and explore what it means to be a good human being, including but not limited to a true friend, a safe intimate partner, and/or healthy parent.

Keiko

The Path to Vitality

Keiko is an self taught Alkaline Chef, Educator, Herbalist, and Artist. She believes through good food, education and love we can heal each other. Her mission is to inform, educate and empower majority- Black communities to take on the African Bio Mineral Balance.

Workshop Description

Live a life you love. One free of dis-ease, anger and pain. The African Bio Mineral Balance created by Dr. Sebi is the key to vitality. By consuming Alkaline Plant Foods and Herbs you can manifest an happy healthy life. Join our workshop to begin your healing journey

Haley Purvis

Dreams, Death, Rebirth

Born and raised in Minnesota, shoutout Minneapolis!  Plant medicines opened up my world and launched a lifelong journey of integrating their insights to better move with integrity within my relationships. There have been many teachers on the path and I would not be who I am today without them. I have explored many introspective techniques of embodied consciousness and have settled on what feels natural to me. With practice I have learned to listen to the wisdom stored within my body. I believe in the reinvigoration of community ceremony in a culture built upon over consumption, isolation, and control. I aim to connect horizontally with others who walk a similar path.

Workshop Description

This workshop will explore symbolism and ancient mythology surrounding death, rebirth, and the nature of our dreams. The inherent psychedelic nature of death and rebirth is found woven throughout our lived experiences.  The transitory nature of consciousness, paired with the precious depth found within each given moment is exactly what enriches our time here on this Earthly realm. 
For 45 minutes, allow yourself to relax into a sensually curated space, coming back to your senses, back to the body and breath. Warm soundscapes and meditative guidance will drop us into a state of co-regulation, allowing room for discussion and active imagination. As we deepen relationship with our Dreams, Death, and Rebirth, we deepen into our relatedness with Life.

Courtney Osborn

Myco Op: Cactus Cultivation and Conservation

Myco-Operative is a start up Mycological Research company located in North East Minneapolis. Recently Myco-Op has been assisting in the first U.S. grown Beefsteak mushroom! (Fistulina Hepatica). Myco-op has been culturing Minnesota mushrooms for cultivation and preservation purposes the last few years. Myco-Op is also exploring new ways of mushroom extractions for supplemental purposes. 

Workshop Description

In this workshop, we aim to empower participants with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully grow and care for cacti, all while fostering a sense of responsibility towards the conservation and protection of these unique plants.

The workshop delves into the diverse and captivating aspects of cactus cultivation. From understanding the anatomy and growth patterns of different cacti species to learning the optimal conditions for their survival, participants will gain valuable insights into the art and science of nurturing these resilient plants.

However, our workshop extends beyond the realm of cultivation. We believe it is crucial to shed light on the urgent issue of cactus poaching and its detrimental impact on wild populations. We will explore the ecological importance of cacti. The significant role they play in arid ecosystems and how habitat loss affects these populations. By examining the consequences of poaching, we aim to instill a sense of responsibility and encourage participants to become advocates for the conservation of these remarkable plants.

Through demonstrations participants will learn proper propagation techniques, including seed sowing, offset division, and grafting. We emphasize sustainable practices, such as responsible sourcing of cacti and the promotion of legal and ethical means for obtaining new plants. Our goal is to inspire participants to develop their own cactus collections and contribute to the preservation of these magnificent plants within their communities.

Leaving this workshop you will have more experience in cultivating a deep-rooted understanding of cacti while working towards a future where these remarkable plants thrive in their natural habitats, protected from the harms of poaching and habitat loss.

Chance York

The Architect of Your Autopilot

Chance York is a well known yoga practitioner, wellness professional, rapper, and host of the TPT/PBS Regional Emmy award winning series, “Outside Chance.”  He serves as a consultant to YMCA of the North’s Integrative Health and Wellness program, an instructor at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and healing has worked on a yoga and meditation study with the Minneapolis Heart Institute for communities impacted by health disparities. 

Workshop Description

The majority of our lives takes place on autopilot. Thoughts, feelings, actions repeat in a loop so often, we overlook our ability to choose. Mindful practices allow us to better observe our loops and empower us to see life changing choices hidden in our daily habits. Explore how to become the architect of your autopilot, with insight, intention, and practice!

Caty Brown

Soul Body Finesse: Energy Hygiene and Sound Healing

The founder of Soul Body Finesse, Caty is a Sound Healer, Reiki practitioner, labor & birth doula and creative consultant.  She coordinates wellness events, offers private group work, 1:1 and guides some of the in studio classes.  Caty is available to help curate and collaborate on unique healing experiences to be cherished for life.

I believe balance is achieved by finding our center, coming back into harmony with our true frequency and listening to our intuition.  It was through radical self care and holistic therapies that allowed me to heal and align with my Soul’s purpose of creating  safe spaces for people to connect, heal, share and grow together.  As a forever student and observer of the world,  I enjoy intuitively connecting with others by supporting self care practices that stimulate growth, inner peace and self acceptance.  I have a passion for serving and empowering women, mothers and all people to heal during difficult transitions in their lives.  

 I moved back to Minneapolis in 2019 to start Soul Body Finesse with a mission to make Holistic therapy and Sound Healing more accessible to the community and to raise my children in this resilient, beautiful and artistic community.

Workshop Description

In this workshop we will explore techniques to clear the different energy systems that govern the physical body. We will teach simple yet profound tools to regulate the nervous system and come back to our unique frequency. Through qigong, energy medicine and guided meditation, we will release the layers and the weight that builds up from day to day life.

We will then allow the magic of sound to reprogram our waters and cells into a state of harmony through crystal singing bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, chimes and more.

We will finish the workshop with a group discussion, sharing our journey and experiences from this newfound state of being.

Dan Estenson

Soul Body Finesse: Energy Hygiene and Sound Healing

A co-captain of Soul Body Finesse and founder of Soul Magic – the crystal and healing tools shop in the back of our healing studio. Dan is a Sound Healer, Reiki Master, Yoga Teacher, and student of life. He facilitates sound healing, teaches yoga and wellness classes, guides group meditations, offers private group session, 1:1 work and healing events (festivals, yoga studios, weddings, and community gatherings).

I am a self care teacher and enjoy connecting with others. I have a knack for guiding people to their own inner wealth, light and wisdom within.

In 2012 I felt this activation and “knowing” that my purpose was to do energetic healing work. In 2017 I started a sound healing practice. Fast forward to 2021 where Caty and I connected over our love for sound healing and the harmony it fosters. We realized the alignment and potential for creating an impact of peace if we were to combine forces. In 2022 I joined Soul Body Finesse and we found our new home at what we like to call “the Eagles Nest” in the Northwind Lofts.

Workshop Description

In this workshop we will explore techniques to clear the different energy systems that govern the physical body. We will teach simple yet profound tools to regulate the nervous system and come back to our unique frequency. Through qigong, energy medicine and guided meditation, we will release the layers and the weight that builds up from day to day life.

We will then allow the magic of sound to reprogram our waters and cells into a state of harmony through crystal singing bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, chimes and more.

We will finish the workshop with a group discussion, sharing our journey and experiences from this newfound state of being.

Richard “Chi” Johnson

Soul Body Finesse: Energy Hygiene and Sound Healing

Richard is a classically trained philosopher and musician, but also a classic non-comformist. He has been teaching TaiChi and Yoga for more than 15 years and is passionate about upending common misconceptions and preconceived notions.  

A lifetime of learning and exploring spiritual-truths continues to be enriched through his fascination with political science, theoretical physics, artificial intelligence, astrology, linguistics, sports, and life itself. Despite a penchant for provacative statements, the driving force behind his offerings (by way of the great and magnificent grace of his Teachers) is always a blend of radical humor, fierce compassion, and real love.

He is in studio guiding weekly kirtan (call-and-response chanting), yoga and qigong practices, as well as offering astrological insights at our Lunar Landing workshops.  He is available for private readings.

Workshop Description

In this workshop we will explore techniques to clear the different energy systems that govern the physical body. We will teach simple yet profound tools to regulate the nervous system and come back to our unique frequency. Through qigong, energy medicine and guided meditation, we will release the layers and the weight that builds up from day to day life.

We will then allow the magic of sound to reprogram our waters and cells into a state of harmony through crystal singing bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, chimes and more.

We will finish the workshop with a group discussion, sharing our journey and experiences from this newfound state of being.

Stig Mycelia

Fungal perspectives

Stig Mycelia is a self taught cultivator and lifelong student of psychoactive fungi. He has a primary focus in the exploration, cultivation, and relationship building with “exotic” psychoactive fungi. It is his mission in life to cultivate a relationship with any and every psychoactive fungi he comes across while maintaining a low tech approach that is hands on and personal to develop accessible approaches to working with otherwise “difficult” fungi. He is an educator and advocate for the fungi often overlooked by the broader and mainstream psychedelic culture, having direct experience in the cultivation of several distinct species across multiple genera and many localities and lineages from across the globe. His approach and philosophy of life is one rooted in nature and the natural world, of connection and relationships, and to the pursuit of happiness. 

Workshop Description

This workshop will be a discussion and conversation on the array of sacred mushrooms present around the world. Speaking to philosophy and catered to the interpersonal relationship between people, mushrooms, and the land. Towards the end I will also be available for questions in regard to the cultivation of psychoactive mushrooms beyond the common species of Psilocybe cubensis. Join us as we travel the globe and explore the intricacies of mushrooms and the stories of their homes.

Kayla Felten, MSW, LICSW

Spiritual Abuse Recognition & Recovery

Kayla Felten, MSW, LICSW (she/her) has been an advocate for religious trauma and spiritual abuse survivors throughout her career, as the co-founder of the Reclamation Collective, as well as a Psychedelic Therapist in her clinical work. In both of these realms of practice, Kayla has been able to support those in the process of reclaiming their inner peace, relational harmony, autonomy, pleasure, and authentic self. Kayla was initially invited to facilitate support groups for survivors of spiritual abuse due to abuses of power taking place in plant medicine and yogi contexts within Minnesota. This experience helped expand her understanding of spiritual abuse both within and outside of religious contexts, and has allowed her to be a voice of advocacy within the psychedelic and therapeutic communities she shows up in to inspire heightened awareness of the power dynamics present in these containers for potential healing, while acknowledging the coexisting potential for abuse. 

With over four years experience facilitating support groups, integration circles, retreats, and teaching workshops for folks navigating themes of religious trauma, spiritual abuse, deconstruction, and reclamation through the Reclamation Collective, Kayla aspires to curate expanded offerings for survivors on their healing trajectories that prioritize personal autonomy and pursue radical authenticity. 

Reclamation Collective // Religious Trauma & Spiritual Advocacy organization offering support groups, workshops, and retreats for survivors around the globe.

The Ancestor Project // Education, ceremony and integration for modern journeyers rooted in reverence and respect for ancestral wisdom.

Intero Psychedelic Therapy // A collaborative clinic of therapists and medical providers offering Psychedelic Therapy located in St. Paul, MN. Currently offering Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and Integration support for Minnesota residents. 

Workshop Description

This workshop explores how to identify and build language around naming spiritually abusive dynamics and cycles.  So often spiritual abuse is sticky and nuanced, and sometimes even unconscious on behalf of all parties involved in the relationship.  This workshop offers some tools for how to take inventory of the power dynamics at play in all of our relationships to curate boundaries and protections over the relationships where we both access and find ourselves being accessed for spiritual leadership, emotional holding, and guidance.  

Join Kayla Felten (she/her), psychedelic therapist and co-founder of the Reclamation Collective for this invitation to expanding awareness for how to better equip ourselves and colleagues in psychedelic spaces to prevent conscious or unconscious abuses of power. 

Bodyworkers

Priscilla Momah

Somatic Movement, Yoga, Reiki and Thai Bodywork

Priscilla Momah is a  multifaceted wellness practitioner who weaves together her unique offerings into immersive Soulful Embodiment Experience. These  practices interlace Somatic Movement, Yoga, Reiki and Thai Bodywork coupled with live music, to create a foundation for healing on both an individual and community level.  Made  accessible to all levels these Soulful Embodiment Experiences offer a space to lean into the direct felt experience of the present movement through the art of receiving.  Her music stylings are a unique form of empowering vibrational melodies that are intentional in opening up the heart space. Rooted in unconditional love and self compassion her lyrics and songs are a gateway into a realm of inner nourishment fusing Soul, R&B, folk, hip hop and movement into a unique sound and healing journey. 

Karina Vazquez

Fire Cupping & Moxa

My name is Karina Vazquez and I am a Minneapolis local with a passion for helping and serving others. Through my loving connection and inspiration found through Earth and her plants, I have a love for herbalism and a passion for body and energy work. In my spare time, I enjoy the expression of creativity through a family cultural tradition of beadwork of various designs stemming from Mexico.

I offer practices of healing with the philosophy and techniques of Central America, Western, and Eastern traditions through reiki, fire cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion.

With these forms of healing, I continuously aim to practice and promote the importance of making all forms of healing affordable and accessible to all communities.

I believe the body has a beautifully innate ability to heal and with a loving emphasis on the focus of sacred listening, blossoms a blueprint for tending to the body, mind, and spirit, as a whole.

With humbleness, I am grateful to offer gentle space for individuals to allow me to partake in being guided by their body and spirit needs by being a part of their healing journey.

Adrienne O’Brien LMT

Therapeutic Massage

Adrienne specializes in therapeutic massage for active bodies, utilizing deep tissue techniques and myofascial release to customize each session based on the unique needs of each client. Whether someone is rehabilitating an injury, or looking to optimize their muscles so they can go farther and feel better, she works with each individual to find an approach that will help them reach their goals. Adrienne has been practicing massage since 2016 and had her own private practice since 2017. When she’s not working, you can find her practicing yoga, kayaking, skiing, or simply outside enjoying all the wonders that nature has to offer.

Kelsey Hendershott, CMT, CNMT

Massage Therapy

Hi, I’m Kelsey! I have been practicing massage therapy since 2016. I started my career studying an AAS in massage therapy at Northwestern Health Sciences University with an emphasis on medical/clinical based massage, and special training in Neuromuscular Therapy, Clinical/rehabilitative, relaxation/swedish, myofascial release, oncology, pregnancy, and sports massage. Since graduating I have enjoyed traveling abroad and experiencing new styles of massage including Thai yoga massage, Ayurvedic massage, and Mayan abdominal massage. I truly believe massage can benefit everybody, and every body requires a unique approach. Today I take all my knowledge and experience and combine my techniques to cater to each individual. I love experimenting with cupping, hot and cold stones, essential oils, and passive stretching. Through my own journey of mental health, I have discovered the importance of bodywork to a healthy mind and spirit. I love working with clients to aid relaxation and release and move energy through their body in a comfortable and balanced environment. I look forward to healing with you!

Shireen Ghanatabadi

Reiki & Shafaa Healing

Shireen Ghanatabadi is a Persian-Celtic mystical embodied earth medicine space holder. As an energy worker, she combines Reiki, a Japanese healing art form from the Usi Lineage, and Shafaa Healing, which was birthed from her Persian Zoroastrian lineage. Shireen’s soul has a deep affinity for co-creating meaningful space for humans to unearth their own healing elements already living within them and their roots. 

In her free time, Shireen fills up her soul-cup by being immersed in nature, paddle boarding, jumping into lakes, writing, creating ritual, dancing, sharing space for depth conversations (especially with plants and animals), and spending time with her partner and pups. 

Jade Harmonia

Massage Therapy

Jade is a Minnesota native with a devotion to self-exploration and healing. She practices a variety of bodywork modalities; deep tissue, trigger-point therapy, Swedish relaxation, craniosacral, and reflexology. She will work with you to create a session that best meets the needs of your mind body & soul in this present moment. Outside of her healing practice, she is a student and teacher of yoga, herbalist, and world traveler. 

Food

Nanny’s Jamaican Kitchen

Sponsors

Symposium Sponsor 2023

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• Mycelium Tier ~ $1,000 - $2,000: Logo on all marketing and signage, Tabling location (1), Event tickets (5), Newsletter mention (1), Instagram mention (1)
• Spawn Tier ~ $3,000 - $4,000: Logo on all marketing and signage, Tabling location (1), Event tickets (10), Newsletter mention (2), Instagram mention (2)
• Fruit Tier ~ $5,000 +: Logo on all marketing and signage, Tabling location (1), Event tickets (20), Newsletter mention (2), Instagram mention (2), Logo on all video footage, Invitation to private related events

Feel free to reach out with alternative sponsorship exchange ideas. We would love to find a collaboration that works for us both!

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