The Institutionalization of Ecstasy: A Roundtable Discussion with Psymposia & Harvard’s psychedelic student groups
Publication information:
Gillis-Smith, Paul, David Nickles, Brian Pace, Neşe Devenot, and Jeffrey Breau. 2023. “The Institutionalization of Ecstasy: A Roundtable Discussion With Psymposia & Harvard’s Psychedelic Student Groups.” in Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
Abstract: This panel highlights the work of the psychedelic-watchdog group Psymposia. Psymposia has been unwavering in its commitment to social justice and the disclosure of abuses in the psychedelic research and psychedelic spirituality spaces. Their work establishes an ethical standard for anyone interested in the serious study of what psychochemicals offer to address the maladies of the 21st century. However, and perhaps unsurprisingly, their work has been at the center of numerous controversies, which continue to divide the professional world of psychedelic research and therapy.
This panel will feature a roundtable discussion of psychedelic institutionalization with the Psymposia team and graduate students from the Harvard Psychedelics Project @HDS and the undergraduate Harvard Psychedelics Club. Ultimately, this conversation will survey the future of psychedelic spirituality and what lessons students interested in psychedelics, medicine, and spirituality can learn from psychedelic malpractice.
Presenter bio: Paul Gillis-Smith is a second-year MDiv student at Harvard Divinity School. His work focuses on the philosophy of religion and the religious use of drugs. He currently works at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital in the Spiritual Care department, providing chaplaincy services to the inpatient psychiatric unit and the ketamine infusion program.
Presenter affiliations: Harvard Divinity School (Breau, Gillis-Smith); Psymposia (Devenot, Nickles, Pace)
This panel will feature a roundtable discussion of psychedelic institutionalization with the Psymposia team and graduate students from the Harvard Psychedelics Project @HDS and the undergraduate Harvard Psychedelics Club. Ultimately, this conversation will survey the future of psychedelic spirituality and what lessons students interested in psychedelics, medicine, and spirituality can learn from psychedelic malpractice.
Presenter bio: Paul Gillis-Smith is a second-year MDiv student at Harvard Divinity School. His work focuses on the philosophy of religion and the religious use of drugs. He currently works at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital in the Spiritual Care department, providing chaplaincy services to the inpatient psychiatric unit and the ketamine infusion program.
Presenter affiliations: Harvard Divinity School (Breau, Gillis-Smith); Psymposia (Devenot, Nickles, Pace)