Welcome back to The Drop In, a newsletter pouring psychedelic tea into your inbox twice a week! This week we’re peddling stories about ayahuasca gummies on Reddit, queering astrology, and a harsh truth the psychedelics and wellness spaces have to address…
Our featured story this week is about the Matriarchal Alliance for Accountability and Transparency, or MA’AT, an organization representing collective voices harmed by predatory practitioners in the psychedelics and wellness spaces. Led by Mikaela de la Myco (@mamadelamyco), the organization has mobilized in response to the sensual and financial harm caused by a well-known spiritual coach and influencer. Three women, two of whom are women of color and single mothers, have come forward with similar stories of abuse and manipulation.
“We called this action together to support survivors of predatory practitioners because many have been arising,” Mikaela says. “I’m seeing that an overarching body and regulating force of balance is necessary for the multitude of cases that have recently surfaced and are going to continue cropping up in this niche grey area community.”
We’ll let you read the story linked below to learn more about this new endeavor. It’s sparking a lot of necessary conversation about the role of ethics and accountability within psychedelics, and what that looks like. In the meantime, enjoy this newsletter as the sun begins its descent into tomorrow and the temperatures drop to bearable degrees. Remember: Progress happens when we’re willing to trek through the darkness 🖤.
Solidarity,
Mary Carreón
Senior Editor
Featured
MA’AT Brings Sexual Assault Advocacy to the Psychedelics and Wellness Space
The psychedelics and wellness spaces have a major sensual assault problem, but now there’s a community organization taking action.
The psychedelics and wellness communities are grappling with rampant sexual assault issues, often unaddressed due to a lack of regulation. In response, activist Mikaela de la Myco founded the Matriarchal Alliance for Accountability and Transparency (MA’AT), dedicated to supporting survivors and holding predatory practitioners accountable.
MA’AT offers tangible aid such as care packages, emergency housing, and mental health resources while promoting transparency and ethical practices. The organization also aims to educate and train advocates, creating a safer and more informed community. MA’AT’s mission is inspired by the principles of the Egyptian goddess of truth, justice, and balance.
Together With…
Festival season is here! Are you ready to support your body through all of the fun?
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From boosting your energy levels and mood to supporting your immune system, it’s an absolute MUST to help you thrive this festival season.
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Our Latest
Ayahuasca gummies, combining DMT and an MAOI inhibitor, offer a new, convenient way to experience the psychedelic. Made by an underground business in British Columbia, they aim to make ayahuasca more accessible and affordable. However, concerns about safety and proper use outside traditional settings remain, emphasizing the need for education and precautions.
Queering astrology reimagines the planets as queer elders, offering a new perspective on cosmic and personal understanding. Dr. Diana Quinn suggests that seeing planetary archetypes through a queer lens creates space for queer and trans individuals to find guidance and connection.
Artist Paige Emery’s new album “Intercommunications” is inspired by her practice of singing to plants, and blends experimental electronic music with plant medicine songs, creating a tranquil, hypnotic atmosphere that invites listeners to connect deeply with the natural world. We sat down with her to discuss it.
& More Must-Reads
Tripping is great and all, but don’t forget to put your feet in the soil. Here’s why connecting with the Earth might be a vital part of psychedelic healing.
Yopo is a powerful psychedelic snuff used for healing and shamanic practice in the Amazon's Orinoco basin. Crisis puts people and cultural knowledge at risk.
Inside a decades-long journey to uncover the sacramental origins of the Bufo alvarius toad—and the powerful psychedelic derived from it
Trip Tales
I mentally connected with the thoughts of my daughter. I could read her meaning in her thoughts. I laughed, cried, and got a ton of cleaning done. It was the best I've felt in years. Mentally and physically.
— June B., Georgia, USA
Have you had a profound experience with psychedelics before? Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in The Drop In. Submit your entry here.
Learn with Us
🍄 The Treasure Coast Psilocybe cubensis mushroom, named after a stretch of the Atlantic Coast in Florida known for shipwrecks and treasure, is a highly esteemed strain in the online mushroom community.
🪄 If witchcraft intrigues you, you may want to check out these great books about its ancient yet intriguingly varied and modern practices.
❤️ MDMA is called the “love drug” for good reason, but are there dangers to expressing love while under the influence?
🍊 Can orange juice really influence a psychedelic trip? Here are the facts and fictions about this urban legend.
DoubleBlind Digs
Here are today’s recommendations to help you live more psychedelically…
Pair kanna with cannabis to enhance your sesh. Cannabis offers relaxation, pain relief, and mood elevation, while kanna eases overwhelming emotions and fosters connection. Together, these powerful plants create ultimate bliss, with Kanna enhancing cannabis’ effects for a smoother, elevated high. Pro tip: Eat 1-2 Fun Guy fruit chews before lighting up.*
We’re cooking up garlic shrooms and coriander pesto. This delightful dish combines the earthy flavors of fresh mushies with aromatic garlic and coriander. This creative recipe not only enhances the taste but also makes consuming fresh shrooms a simple and enjoyable experience. Who knew magic could taste so good? Get the recipe here.
Growing mushrooms is a simple—and yet radical—response to our times. Once you’ve learned the skill, you can grow your own food, you can grow your own medicine, and you can, simply, reconnect with the magic of nature. Click here to grow your own and use code SUMMERFUNGI for $50 off through July 1.
It’s mushroom festival season. From the mountains of Colorado to the valleys of Bhutan, we’re dishing on the best mushroom festivals around the world—where you can learn, dine, trip, and forage to your heart’s content.
*This is sponsored by our friends at Fun Guy. Use code DOUBLEBLIND for 20% off.
Together With…
Join Chacruna for a transformative journey from July 15th to September 23rd, 2024, as they explore the vibrant intersection of psychedelics and queer culture.
This course dives into the rich history and profound impact of queer folk on the psychedelic movement while addressing the harm caused by heteronormative assumptions.
Through engaging discussions and comprehensive lectures, you'll learn to critique patriarchal influences, practice self-acceptance, and understand the unique needs of LGBTQ+ communities in psychedelic therapy.
Whether you're seeking personal growth or professional CE credits, this course offers a unique opportunity to foster healing and liberation within the psychedelic renaissance.
From the Magazine
There continues to be a handful of men who are credited with the first psychedelic revolution in the US in the 60s and 70s. But alongside them were many others: underground chemists, artists, ethnobotanists. Among them was Penny Vieregge, poet and longtime pillar in the Big Sur community. Now 95, poet and writer Noelle Armstrong visits her in the forest and we tell her story for the first time.
Latest Podcast Episode
Hot Goss with Michelle Lhooq: Lessons from the Underground Rave Scene, Avoiding Cannabis 2.0, and the “California Sober” Lifestyle
Are you California sober? What does the underground rave scene reveal about psychedelics? Tune into this episode to explore the intriguing world of late-night rave culture and unconventional lifestyles with an insider’s take on the party scene’s hidden depths.
Around the Web
Biotech companies are developing next-generation psychedelic drugs that minimize or eliminate hallucinogenic effects. But should they? Read more in Scientific American.
A new study found that microdosing LSD leads to earlier bedtimes and longer sleep durations. Read more in PsyPost.
A UK trial found that slow-release ketamine tablets can help prevent depression relapses, with 43% of patients relapsing compared to 71% in the placebo group. Read more in the Guardian.
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