Sierra Psychedelic Society Newsletter
Education | Risk Management | Community
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Dear SPS family,
We hope you are having a beautiful fall! Thank you all so much for your continued dedication to our mission to educate and empower our community about the transformative potential of psychedelics. We're excited to announce two upcoming events for October, and we'd like to let you know how to support our beloved Bee on her healing journey!
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GoFundMe for Bee: Bee has touched many lives with her humor and strength; now it’s our turn to show her that she is not alone in this fight. We love you, Bee! Your resilience and strength are an inspiration.
Scroll down for recent highlights, event information, and registration!
In psychedelic service,
Sierra Psychedelic Society
sierrapsychedelic.org
info@sierrapsychedelic.org
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Transformational Breathwork & Sound Bath with Rachel Flower
The Transformational Breathwork and Sound Bath session on September 8th with Rachel Flower was a hit! Rachel invited participants to deeply connect with their breath, release mental distractions, and fully engage their bodies. Rachel's experienced facilitation offered a therapeutic experience combining breathwork techniques with a sound bath--a beautiful and healing combination.
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Somatics & Psychedelics with Rachel Flower
The talk explored the intersection of somatics and psychedelics, focusing on how these practices can be integrated to support profound healing. Participants learned about the role of somatic awareness, emphasizing how psychedelics can amplify the connection to the body’s sensations, movements, and emotions. This was a beautiful, insightful, and impactful talk--thank you, Rachel! Watch the talk here.
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Integration Hike at Hunter Creek Trail with Mountain Medicine
Huge appreciation to Blaire Zika and Mountain Medicine for hosting an expansive and yet grounding integration hike at Hunter Creek!
"Thank you to everyone for bringing such healing and connection to the group. It was truly a beautiful experience."
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Connect with your breath, get out of your mind, and into your body with experienced facilitator Randy Gates. Learn more about Randy here. | |  | |
On the Front Lines of Psychedelic Healing:
Insights from a Wildland Firefighter
with Ben Strahan
Hotshot firefighters are a dedicated group of highly skilled wildland firefighters who specialize in combating wildfires in some of the most challenging and dangerous conditions. Known for their exceptional expertise and bravery, these elite teams are called upon to handle the most critical and demanding fire suppression operations.
The nature of their work exposes Hotshots to traumatic situations, witnessing the destructive power of wildfires and often encountering human tragedies. The constant exposure to danger and the need to make split-second decisions in high-pressure situations can lead to acute levels of stress and anxiety. The intensity of the job, coupled with the long hours and extended periods away from loved ones, can also contribute to feelings of isolation and emotional strain. Bearing the weight of responsibility for protecting lives, property, and the environment can contribute to burnout and mental exhaustion.
Join us as Ben shares his story of personal growth, and how his experiences have driven him to become a vocal advocate for mental health and psychedelic medicine. Ben’s true passion in life is to serve others in the discovery of self by telling deep and powerful stories about his past struggles with suicide and how he overcame them. His genuine and authentic storytelling creates an environment that allows others to feel safe, so their authenticity can be expressed, and so they too can find growth or healing.
Ben Strahan currently serves as a superintendent of an elite wildland firefighting team known as Hotshots. Widely considered the best at fighting some of the most demanding wildland fires in the world, Hotshots are known for their exceptional physical performance and ability to solve complex problems within the wildland fire arena. With over 20 years of experience, Ben has developed a deep understanding of how to lead teams of individuals in high-risk environments to achieve a common goal. His journey has fueled a passion to advocate for mental health and improved working conditions for firefighters, often challenging the status quo to bring necessary reforms to the forefront. His dedication to understanding, embodying, and lobbying for a safer working environment for all wildland firefighters recently earned him the 2024 Wildland Safety Award.
Ben is also the founder of Moment Consulting LLC, a company dedicated to helping corporations and organizations recognize that self-leadership, personal growth, and self-awareness are the catalysts for building strong, cohesive, and high-performance teams. He also works directly with first responders who struggle with mental health balance by exploring alternative healing methods. As an advocate for mental, physical, and emotional resilience, Ben is on a mission to elevate himself by elevating others, and believes that by sharing perspectives, we can all collectively grow together.
Sierra Psychedelic Society and Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines extend deep gratitude to Ben for his enduring advocacy for the healing potential of psychedelic medicines. Ben has provided key testimony in front of the Nevada legislature, and his profound and compelling story has helped to advance policy reform in our state.
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Integration Circles &
Microdosing Support
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Wednesday night circles will be moving back to the main Studio location (1085 S Virginia St.) starting November 1st! | |
Also beginning in November: Peer Support for Addiction Circle with Brendon is moving to the 2nd Wednesday. Symbols & Meaning Circle with Kathy is moving to the 1st Wednesday | |
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WHAT IS INTEGRATION?
"Integration refers to the process by which the material accessed, and insights gained in an entheogenic experience, are incorporated over time in a way that benefits the individual and the community." - ERIE (Entheogenic Research Integration and Education)
These circles are a safe and confidential space to talk openly about non-ordinary states of consciousness. To learn more about integration and the various circles we offer, click HERE. If you'd like to connect online with our group between meetings, we invite you to join the slack group.
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Art Integration Circle
Join us for a transformative exploration of the psychedelic journey in this special art integration circle, facilitated by Grace! Through reflection, sharing, and creative expression, we'll navigate the integration process together. No need to bring supplies—just bring an open mind and a willingness to explore.
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Oct Wednesdays - 600 S. Virginia
Saturdays - 1085 S Virginia St.
These circles are designed to offer a safe space to discuss non-ordinary states of consciousness while providing emotional support and guidance after transformative experiences.
All levels of life experience are welcomed and accepted.
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The 1RV (1st Responders & Veterans) Integration Circle is a confidential and secure space dedicated to first responders and veterans.
This is a place to gather, connect, and learn about the potential for healing through alternative remedies. Thank you for continuing to bring awareness to this very necessary conversation, and for your continued support of our first responders and veterans and their healing journeys.
Learn more here.
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In this integration circle, we center our discussions on the transformative journey of self-parenting, fostering self-acceptance, and cultivating self-love.
Through open dialogue and shared experiences, we explore how insights can become powerful tools for nurturing a compassionate relationship with oneself, promoting personal growth, and fostering a deep sense of inner harmony.
Join us in this supportive space as we navigate the pathways to self-discovery and healing.
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Symbols & Meaning Integration Circle (Ullman Method) with Kathy! Wednesday, Oct 9th, 5:30-7:00 PM at The Studio Reno - MORAN.
"As my journey…” approach to Psychedelic Integration. This integration circle is based on the Ullman method and has typically been used for nighttime dreams. This circle is for those who are curious about finding meaning from the messages, images, symbols, stories, etc. from their psychedelic experience. The messages of the unconscious are not always clear and we may have to work to understand them.
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Psychedelics and journey work can change the way we see the world and give us new perspectives. As parents, this has meaningful implications for shifting how we parent, including communication with our children, our co-parent relationship, and interrupting generational trauma, to name a few. Join us for a parenting integration Circle facilitated by Kathy, Charmi & Grace.
We will be meeting at The Studio Reno, 1085 S Virginia St, Reno. See you there!
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Are you interested in learning how psychedelic medicines can be helpful with addictive behaviors and patterns? We invite you to join us for a peer-led, safe, and confidential space where we can support each other on the journey! (NOTE: These are sober sessions offered for emotional support. We are not providing psychotherapy, medical advice, or substance abuse counseling.) | |
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Join us every first Thursday from 12:00 - 1:00 PM at The Studio Reno (1085 S Virginia St., tea lounge room) for our microdosing support group. This is a safe space to share experiences and to learn from others who have explored the practice of microdosing to benefit mental health.
All are welcome--from experienced microdosers to curious beginners!
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Please be advised: we will be locking the doors shortly after start time at both the main Studio location and the Moran location for security. | |
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Hello, book lovers!
We are taking a seasonal break from Book Club starting this month. If you're interested in joining when we start our next book, please contact kathy@sierrapsychedelic.org
or join our slack channel for current details!
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Speaker Series Lineup!
Mark your calendars early, the stage is set through the end of winter!
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Our Sister Advocacy Organization
We invite you to check out & support Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines!
NCPM is a 501(c)4 nonprofit currently working with legislators to reduce penalties and to bring legalized access for psychedelic medicine to Nevada. If you would like to support NCPM's mission to save lives and revolutionize mental health, please consider joining the coalition to make a positive change for drug policy reform in our state!
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You are receiving this email either because you signed up for our newsletter or attended one of our events. If you know anyone who would like to join and/or be included in occasional updates and event information, please feel free to forward this email to them—there’s a signup page here for our email list. We promise to keep your information confidential and if for any reason you’d prefer to opt out—no worries! Just click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this email. For more information, please visit our website, slack channel, or email us at: info@sierrapsychedelic.org. We look forward to hearing from you! | | | | | | |
