So, you have this extraordinary psychedelic experience, which it's usually, like, what the hell is going on? I don't know what any of that means. And then being able to process that is crucial. Unless you want to do it just for fun, which is okay, but if you want any real juice out of it or change, integration is what is needed. And I'm quite convinced that bringing nature context into the integration process is possibly the most powerful way of doing it’ - Adrian Harris
From the hotbed of psychedelic research in Exeter Adrian joins us to trace the roots of his relationship with mushrooms that started for fun in his early twenties; then shifted into a more spiritual arena through ritual and paganism.
A chance encounter with the book ‘Psychedelic Renaissance’ lured him along this pathway and led to the job of his wildest dreams as the Director of Ecopsychology at the Synthesis Institute. Within this role he embedded nature connection practices to support the longer-term integration of psychedelic experiences. Our conversation touches on the complex realms of clinical trials, evidence, ethics and the law with a dose of animism along the way.
Bio: Adrian’s life is a journey through spirituality, activism and academia founded in what makes us human; embodiment and ecological belonging. That led to ecopsychology and training as a somatic psychotherapist. He began to facilitate nature connection workshops and later became Lead Editor of the 'European Journal of Ecopsychology'. Training as Physical Intelligence Coach came next, increasingly with nature as the ground of practice. He’s also worked in psychedelic research and continue to explore how that medicine dances with nature connection.
Much of this is distilled into his book that offers a offers a simple pathway to what the title promises: 'Nature Connection: Remembering Wholeness'. His current project is ‘The Way of Wholeness’, a nature-based, embodied approach to coaching. The journey continues!
Website: https://embodiedpathways.org/
X @dradrianharris
Instagram @dr.adrianh
TikTok @dr.adrianh
Resources
Book: Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Book: Science and Spiritual Practices by Rupert Sheldrake
Conference: Breaking Convention
LinkedIn: Sam Gandy
University of Exeter – Psychedelic Studies
The Psychedelic Drugs Trial – BBC
Profile: Dr Rosalind Watts
Profile: Jon Young
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