Proponents of a new wave of interest in hallucinogens argue that the right trip at the right time can change the way people think about the natural world.
The setting for Amanda Joy Ravenhill's first psychedelic experience is most appropriate in the context of Burning Man, a festival in the Nevada desert that, for hallucinogen lovers, is almost as much a place as a bouncy castle is for fidgety children. In September 2009, while inside an art installation resembling an osprey's nest, Ravenhill asked the universe a question when she was once again given the effects of mushrooms: «What do I do next?»
The answer seemed to pulse inside her. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in mushrooms that causes hallucinations, seemed to mumble to her: «Get your hands dirty. It came so strongly that I became obsessed with the role of soil in stabilizing the climate» — she recounts.
The setting for Amanda Joy Ravenhill's first psychedelic experience is most appropriate in the context of Burning Man, a festival in the Nevada desert that, for hallucinogen lovers, is almost as much a place as a bouncy castle is for fidgety children. In September 2009, while inside an art installation resembling an osprey's nest, Ravenhill asked the universe a question when she was once again given the effects of mushrooms: «What do I do next?»
The answer seemed to pulse inside her. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in mushrooms that causes hallucinations, seemed to mumble to her: «Get your hands dirty. It came so strongly that I became obsessed with the role of soil in stabilizing the climate» — she recounts.
At that time, as a graduate student in San Francisco, Sandy returned home and went on to write two books on climate change solutions. In 2013, she co-founded the Global Warming Initiative, now the nonprofit organization Project Drawdown, and today she is co-founder and lead solutions specialist at the Museum of TMRW, an environmental initiative. Her experience with psilocybin has inspired many amazing projects, she says.
The scale of change needed to avert climate catastrophe is far beyond the capacity of one person. Yet Sandy is one of the leaders of a new movement arguing that psychedelics can be a tool to shift the tide. In the U.S. alone, about 1.4 million people will try hallucinogens for the first time in 2023, due to growing destigmatization and new research on their therapeutic potential. While the psychedelic renaissance has its share of commercial interest, proponents emphasize that many, like Sandy, use these substances for environmental epiphanies.
Sandy believes that the coming decades will be «very turbulent» due to climate change, but there are alternatives that may be less catastrophic. Psychedelics, she says, have helped her see situations more clearly and act more proactively to realize them.\
The scale of change needed to avert climate catastrophe is far beyond the capacity of one person. Yet Sandy is one of the leaders of a new movement arguing that psychedelics can be a tool to shift the tide. In the U.S. alone, about 1.4 million people will try hallucinogens for the first time in 2023, due to growing destigmatization and new research on their therapeutic potential. While the psychedelic renaissance has its share of commercial interest, proponents emphasize that many, like Sandy, use these substances for environmental epiphanies.
Sandy believes that the coming decades will be «very turbulent» due to climate change, but there are alternatives that may be less catastrophic. Psychedelics, she says, have helped her see situations more clearly and act more proactively to realize them.\
Clients are executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals willing to pay at least $11,000 for the opportunity to heighten their awareness and understand themselves on a new level. According to co-founder Robert Grover, who formerly worked in the oil and gas industry, such experiences often lead to environmental changes — like switching to organic produce, planting a garden or other small but important steps.
There is some scientific support for this. In 2017, the Journal of Psychopharmacology published a study showing that use of classic psychedelics — LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline — was associated with an increase in «pro-environmental» behavior in participants. The study also controlled for the effects of other substances, such as cannabis, and personality traits that predispose to environmental responsibility, such as openness to experience and conscientiousness. While these findings were correlational, they suggest that long-term experience with psychedelics can change a person's relationship to nature.
«Psychedelics are a kind of default mode network jammer» — claims Joel Briere, who leads retreats at Mexico's Tandava Center, where participants take the powerful psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT. He explains that these substances help reduce the brain activity associated with the individualistic self, which promotes a fuller perception of the world around them. Many of his clients show a desire to live more ecologically and consciously after such experiences.
Of course, there are also skeptics. In the 1960s, psychedelics sparked a wave of social activism and environmentalism, but their long-term effects were questionable. Anthropologist Nicholas Langlitz notes that hopes for utopian change were not realized then, and wonders why that should change today.
Fans of psychedelics believe that much has changed today: the climate has reached a tipping point, research shows their therapeutic potential, and society is increasingly inclined to take them seriously. Luke Pustejowski, founder of Tactogen, notes that psychedelics facilitate acceptance of difficult emotional truths, such as environmental disaster, by helping to lower defense mechanisms. «This is important because eco-catastrophe is one of the hardest truths to accept».
Ravenhill adds that psychedelics empower understanding and action on climate change, «It gives me more tools to hold and understand the issue so I can act more effectively». To maximize the effectiveness of the psychedelic experience, the «setting and environment» is crucial. Taking mushrooms on the couch with a mask on will not have the same effect as being in nature where you can feel part of a larger system of life.
«Realizing yourself as part of the whole — it seems psychedelics can induce that feeling» — says Sam Gandhi. But being connected to nature doesn't necessarily lead to environmentally oriented behavior.
Ravenhill adds that psychedelics empower understanding and action on climate change, «It gives me more tools to hold and understand the issue so I can act more effectively». To maximize the effectiveness of the psychedelic experience, the «setting and environment» is crucial. Taking mushrooms on the couch with a mask on will not have the same effect as being in nature where you can feel part of a larger system of life.
«Realizing yourself as part of the whole — it seems psychedelics can induce that feeling» — says Sam Gandhi. But being connected to nature doesn't necessarily lead to environmentally oriented behavior.
For Kristin Mason, the environment played an important role. Until 2011, she lived in Chicago, ran a technology company, practiced yoga and hadn't even tried cannabis. After the difficult news of her husband's cancer, she tried ayahuasca. The experience allowed her to feel his illness and become more conscious of nature and her life. She subsequently moved to Hawaii, sold the business, founded an eco-village and permaculture learning center, and co-founded Radiant Farms, which makes natural products from medicinal plants.
The group ceremony, where ayahuasca was taken under the guidance of a shaman, was particularly important: participants felt that systemic change is a collective endeavor. She says, «We need to work together to heal the world around us».
Hannes Kettner, a student at Imperial College's Center for Psychedelic Studies and co-author of the selfie study, believes that while psychedelics are unlikely to fundamentally change the global fight against climate change, they can be a powerful push for those already inclined to be environmentally responsible. «People who are already moving in that direction get an extra boost and a greater sense of urgency» — he notes.
The group ceremony, where ayahuasca was taken under the guidance of a shaman, was particularly important: participants felt that systemic change is a collective endeavor. She says, «We need to work together to heal the world around us».
Hannes Kettner, a student at Imperial College's Center for Psychedelic Studies and co-author of the selfie study, believes that while psychedelics are unlikely to fundamentally change the global fight against climate change, they can be a powerful push for those already inclined to be environmentally responsible. «People who are already moving in that direction get an extra boost and a greater sense of urgency» — he notes.
Clinical psychologist Rosalind Watts, head of psilocybin research, emphasizes the importance of the connection to nature that occurs after just one session. However, she says, sustainable change requires systemic change, not just psychedelic experiences. Through the ACER project, she has created an online community to integrate experiences and foster a connection to nature and communities.
However, research on psychedelics is still in its infancy. Despite the promise, scientific evidence on the full impact on environmental behavior is scarce. Many factors, such as personal motivations and environment, play an important role. For example, psychedelics can reinforce whatever is bothering you — warns Nicholas Langlitz. And some people who travel to other continents to take these substances may end up contributing more to pollution.
However, research on psychedelics is still in its infancy. Despite the promise, scientific evidence on the full impact on environmental behavior is scarce. Many factors, such as personal motivations and environment, play an important role. For example, psychedelics can reinforce whatever is bothering you — warns Nicholas Langlitz. And some people who travel to other continents to take these substances may end up contributing more to pollution.
The future of the psychedelics industry is uncertain. Destigmatization and legalization are slow, and there is no scientific evidence of massive changes in policy or behavior yet. However, psychedelic-inspired activists are already working on a small scale and demonstrating that connection to nature and environmental responsibility are important avenues to pursue.
Colette Condorcita, who experienced a severe traumatic event in her youth, has been working since the age of 14 to reflect on the role of psychedelics in environmental protection. After an ayahuasca experience that opened her eyes to the need for radical action, she founded the Philadelphia chapter of Decriminalize Nature in 2020, seeking to legalize psychedelics in regions with high levels of social vulnerability. She believes that nature gives us a chance to figure out how to live in harmony with it before it's too late.
Colette Condorcita, who experienced a severe traumatic event in her youth, has been working since the age of 14 to reflect on the role of psychedelics in environmental protection. After an ayahuasca experience that opened her eyes to the need for radical action, she founded the Philadelphia chapter of Decriminalize Nature in 2020, seeking to legalize psychedelics in regions with high levels of social vulnerability. She believes that nature gives us a chance to figure out how to live in harmony with it before it's too late.
