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The Mystery Religions of the ancient world frequently, if not always, employed the use of psychoactive drugs or entheogens to induce altered states of consciousness. Such experiences were indispensable to the initiation of members, their rituals relating to spiritual development, and ultimately the attainment of the “peak” experience(s) that represented the apotheosis and fulfillment of their theological and spiritual initiations.

All religions have been either directly or indirectly interested in human consciousness. Most religions expect that an awareness of the transcendent will cause a change of consciousness in the devotee. A mere sense that, ‘we are not alone’ or perhaps, ‘the context of our vast universe prevents any particular individual from believing they are the centre, around which all else moves’.

Sacred places, sacred rites and indeed all sacraments, exist to bring about a change of consciousness in the religious person. Baptism, marriage, ordination, last rites all seek to reorient a person to a change of circumstance, to bring a change of consciousness that will better equip a person for the change of circumstance.

In various religious traditions, communities have met mostly on a weekly basis to participate in rituals, that aim to be “food for the journey”. For example, the rite of communion is ingestion of wine and bread that becomes by virtue of the rite, an ingestion of grace, the very essence of the person of Jesus.

As the Western world become less religious, it’s hardly surprising that some of the ancient wisdom should be found in a more medical framework. Under the proper conditions and used intentionally, psychedelics are able to produce mystical, religious, or otherwise deeply meaningful experiences which can be employed for therapeutic purposes. These medicines help people to heal, process trauma, commune with others, or divine something about themselves and the universe. Psychedelics lend themselves to the concept of spiritual enlightenment at the most intimate personal levels. They also reveal collective truths, as well as scientific ones, to ‘change our minds’, our communities and our world.

Why shouldn’t a qualified therapist with medical training use certain medicines to bring about a change of consciousness in order to bring a change in circumstance and improve wellbeing? Neither religious practitioner or medical practitioner need to adopt the language of the other but each can concede a place for the other in the interest of bringing people to improved health and better circumstance.

Imagine if we could repair society by helping human beings feel connected to each other and to the universe!

WEBINAR SESSION

Topic: Tripping to Enlightenment? Consciousness, Religion, Mental Health and Psychedelics

Date: Wednesday 21 October 2020

Time: 7:25pm for 7:30pm start – 8:45pm (incl Q&A) (AEDT)

The presentation WILL BEGIN AT 7:30pm.

Location: Online. A link will be emailed to you with the viewing details.

Following the presentation there will be a Q & A panel with Tania de Jong AM, Peter Hunt AM, Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, Imam Tawhidi and Pastor Graham Long AM. This will be an opportunity to engage in a discussion about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies for mental illness broadly, and what Mind Medicine Australia and other local organisations are doing here in Australia.

More about medicinal psychedelic treatments:

Psychedelic-assisted treatments offer enormous potential in providing a meaningful alternative to current treatments for mental illness. PTSD is a debilitating condition that affects tens of millions of people worldwide, with many more trauma victims diagnosed with comorbid conditions such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. In recent clinical trials, MDMA has been shown to produce reliable clinical improvements, restoring patient safety and self-agency even for individuals who have suffered with PTSD for many years, and for whom many treatments have failed.

The wave of clinical psychedelic research and regulatory support is rapidly building, with experts forecasting the availability of psychedelic-assisted treatments in the US and EU within the next 2 to 5 years, subject to positive clinical outcomes in large trials that are currently underway.

More about the presenters

Rabbi Zac Kamenetz
M.A.
Educator, Rabbi and aspiring Healer

Rabbi Zac Kamenetz is the founder and CEO of Shefa, an education and advocacy organization dedicated to supporting individual and collective healing, self-discovery, and transformation by unlocking the practical wisdom of Jewish mystical traditions, sharing them as a guiding force. Shefa provides seekers with a Jewish framework for direct spiritual experience, prepares communities for the integration of psychedelics into mainstream therapeutic and religious culture, and empowers them to bring the wisdom, wellbeing, and joy that arise from direct perception of the divine into their daily lives. Zac received rabbinic ordination in 2012 an MA from the Graduate Theological Union/UC Berkeley. A sought-after speaker and educator, Zac lives in Berkeley, CA with his wife and their daughter.

Imam Tawhidi
Islamic scholar, educator, best-selling author and global speaker

Imam Mohammad Tawhidi is an Islamic scholar, educator, best-selling author, speaker, and one of the leading voices in the global movement of social Islamic reform. He has dedicated his life to ideologically tackling the spread of Islamic extremism and has delivered speeches at conferences, parliaments, mosques, Islamic centers, churches, synagogues, temples and universities across the Middle East, Europe, America, Asia, and Australia. He is licensed by Islamic leaders of the highest order to lead and represent the Muslim community. Tawhidi enjoys healthy international diplomatic relationships with numerous governments and provides regular advice on counter-terrorism. Imam Tawhidi was publicly ordained as an Islamic authority in the Holy City of Qum, Iran, by the Senior Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in 2010. He was recognized by the Senate of Canada on Wednesday June 13th of 2018, and is fluent in Arabic, English and Farsi.

Pastor Graham Long AM
Pastor Emeritus
The Wayside Chapel

At the time that Wayside called him into Ministry, Graham was a postie. He’d almost perfected riding a little motor bike when Wayside called him to be their next Minister. In his first life, Graham was a social worker in South Australia, specialising in the field of child protection. Graham trained for ministry from 1979 to 1982. After a few years in church ministry, Graham became a chaplain to Parramatta Prison and he ran a church welfare agency. Academically, after ordination, Graham pursued studies in philosophy achieving degrees from Catholic Theological Union and from the Catholic Institute of Sydney. A Masters honours in philosophy was halted when a near fatal motorcycle accident changed all of life’s priorities in 2001. Graham has been married to Robyn for 49 years and together they have two children and five grandchildren. Graham is the author of three books. Graham was named NSW Local Hero in the Australia Day awards of 2014 made a Member of the Order of Australia on the Queen’s Birthday 2015.

Tania de Jong AM
LL.B (Hons), GradDipMus
Founder & Deputy Chair of Mind Medicine Australia

Tania de Jong AM is a trail-blazing Australian soprano, award-winning social entrepreneur, creative innovation catalyst, spiritual journey woman, storyteller and global speaker. Tania is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators developing 5 businesses and 3 charities over the past 3 decades. She is Founder and Executive Producer of future-shaping events series, Creative Innovation Global. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2008 and named one of the 100 Women of Influence and the 100 Australian Most Influential Entrepreneurs in 2018.

Peter Hunt AM
B.Com, LL.B
Founder & Chair of Mind Medicine Australia

As an investment banker Peter Hunt AM advised local and multi-national companies and governments in Australia for nearly 35 years. He co-founded and was Executive Chairman of one of Australia’s leading investment banking advisory firms, Caliburn Partnership (now called Greenhill Australia) and continued as Chairman of the Firm after its sale to Greenhill Inc in 2009. Peter is an active philanthropist involved in funding, developing and scaling social sector organisations which seek to create a better and fairer world. Peter was made a member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2010 for services to the philanthropic sector.

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Disclaimer

Mind Medicine Australia does not encourage or facilitate illegal use of psychedelics or plant medicines. MMA focus is focused on clinical and legal use only supported by the emerging science and legislative processes. Mind Medicine Australia reserves the right to record and publish webinars on various social media platforms. You agree that you will not discuss any names, locations or specific details of illegal use of psychedelics both verbally or via any written forms of communication via Mind Medicine Australia social media platforms (for example facebook, instagram and zoom private and public chat forms during the webinar). Breaches of these guidelines may result in not being able to participate in the event. We thank you for support and cooperation on these matters.