Journeying into Right Relations: Scientists Turn to Psilocybin to Shift Psychological Burdens of Global Environmental Change and Find Transformational Pathways Forward

Eight scientists who have long studied global environmental change and carried psychological burdens such as fatigue, anxiety, grief, and hopelessness conducted a participatory self-study in Oregon, where psilocybin administration is legal. They explored whether psilocybin could alleviate these burdens and illuminate creative pathways forward. Through careful preparation, group intention setting, and integration protocols, they shared their experiences and insights. A central, common insight emerged: it is impossible to learn "right relations" outside of relationship, and righting relations for a transformed, collective future is an act of love. The paper recounts their journey, vignettes, and ongoing learnings, aiming to encourage further investigation of psychedelic-assisted approaches for resilience and transformative change.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper follows 8 scientists who ventured into the world of psychedelics on a quest to find transformational pathways forward. Each have worked on aspects of global environmental change for decades, and observing environmental crises converging into a global polycrisis/metacrisis with genuine potential for collapse, we have all carried psychological burdens, including fatigue, anxiety, grief, and hopelessness. Psilocybin offers potential for alleviating and transforming these burdens, and for shining light towards creative ways forward. Through professional connections and quiet conversations, we came together to conduct a participatory self-study to directly explore this potential. The study was conducted in Oregon, which offers a legal framework for the administration of psilocybin. We embarked with thoughtful preparation, group intention setting, and integration protocols. This paper recounts our journey together, including vignettes of our experiences; a preliminary synthesis of learnings; and a glimpse of insights that continue today. We emerged with a powerful, common insight: it is impossible to learn “right relations” outside of relationship, and that righting of relations for our transformed, collective future is an act of love. We tell our story in the hope of enlivening conversations, actions, and further investigation of psychedelic-assisted approaches for fostering resilience and realizing transformative change.