In past episodes, I've often mentioned accessing information in psychedelic sessions from my spirit guides. But what does that really mean? I'm your host, Carla Detchon, and in Episode 26, I share my personal experiences over the past 30+ years of learning to access and work with a range of spirit guides from ancestors to angels, to gods and humans and even my pets. I first learned to access non-ordinary guidance by working with world-renowned Shamanism expert, Michael Harner, and my long-term psychedelic teacher, Ralph Matzner. I share my first encounters of accessing guidance through drumming and meditative states, the process of formally inviting guides into your psychedelic journey, and the impact of this type of guidance on my life. I also talk about "cosmic manners" or the importance of gratitude and respect when accessing guidance, and I share a practical tool, the "rose exercise" to help you strengthen your own intuitive knowing. If you've ever wanted a deeper relationship with a guide in your psychedelic exploration, this is your episode. Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: • Website: PsychedelicDivas.com • Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com • Instagram: @psychedelicdivas • YouTube: @carladetchon • Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.
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25. A Trip Through Psychedelic History
Episode 25 with Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD, is a journey back through the psychedelic time machine. Marsha started her medicine journey back in the 1970s, both as an underground explorer of psychedelics and an above-ground researcher for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). For nearly 20 years, she was the Principal Investigator on grants from NIDA to study women heroin addicts, cocaine, methadone maintenance treatment, and MDMA. She then moved to drug policy and education at the Drug Policy Alliance in San Francisco (where she is Director Emerita) where she founded the Safety First drug education project. Back when Marsha, got her start, the general view was that all drugs were bad, which then led to the creation of the war on drugs and all its devastating impacts. Marsha is one of the many voices that has helped our society to come to the new understanding that some drugs can actually be very beneficial and that the drug war did more damage than any drug ever did. Join us for a trip through the psychedelic decades as we explore the amazing contribution of Marsha Rosenbaum to the evolution of drug research, policy and education. Learn More About Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD Drug Policy Alliance: drugpolicy.org Safety First Program: https://drugpolicy.org/resource/safety-first/ Before You Trip: beforeyoutrip.org Coalition for Psychedelic Safety and Education: https://www.coalitionforpsychedelicsafety.org Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: · Website: PsychedelicDivas.com · Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com · Instagram: @psychedelicdivas · YouTube: @carladetchon · Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.
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24. Sacred Lessons from the Psychedelic Underground
Hey Diva listeners—this episode does contain descriptions of suicide and overdosing. If this would be difficult or challenging for you to hear, please take care of yourself and skip this episode. In episode 24, we are swimming in the sacred wisdom of the psychedelic underground with author, Rachel Harris, PhD as our guide. Rachel is a psychologist, researcher, and author of "Listening to Ayahuasca" and "Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground." In this episode: Rachel discusses her formative years at the Esalen Institute in the late 1960s, reflecting on the wild, unstructured, and sometimes dangerous environment that shaped her therapeutic roots. We explore Rachel's decades-long relationship with ayahuasca, including her personal relationship with the plant spirit. She also talks about her experiences with other psychedelics, and the importance of spiritual guidance and integration. Rachel explains the inspiration behind her books, especially "Swimming in the Sacred," which features interviews with 18 underground female guides—most with well over 20 years of experience. We discuss the unique wisdom and challenges of the feminine in psychedelic work, the importance of apprenticeship, and what's missing from modern psychedelic training programs. Rachel discusses the role of surrender, trust, and flexibility in both psychedelic journeys and life itself, including how these lessons prepare us for mortality. Learn More About Rachel Harris PhD · https://www.swimminginthesacred.com · https://www.listeningtoayahuasca.com Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: · Website: PsychedelicDivas.com · Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com · Instagram: https://instagram.com/psychedelicdivas · Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.
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23. Ethics: The Moral Compass of Psychedelic Work
Hey Diva listeners—this episode does discuss a sexual abuse story. If this would be difficult or challenging for you to hear, please take care of yourself and skip this episode. In Episode 23 of Psychedelic Divas, we explore the critical role of ethics in psychedelics with Dr. Sandra Dreisbach—an ethicist, educator, and leader in the psychedelic community. As a former bioethics professor, tech industry veteran, and founder of EPIC (Ethical Psychedelic International Community), Sandra's unique perspective is grounded in real-life experience. In this episode: Sandra shares her journey from philosophy and bioethics to becoming a leading voice in psychedelic ethics. The importance of ethics in the psychedelic space, and why "living well" is at the heart of ethical practice. The challenges of introducing ethical standards in underground and unregulated psychedelic communities. How power dynamics, vulnerability, and the "shadow" side of psychedelic work require careful navigation and open conversation. Real-world ethical dilemmas and stories from Sandra's work with EPIC, including issues of consent, integration, and community accountability. The creation and value of open resources like the Psychedelic Practitioner Code of Conduct and Psychedelic Safety Flags. Learn More About Dr. Sandra Dreisbach Website: SandraDreisbach.com Podcast: Psychedelic Source YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PsychedelicEthics EPIC Resources: https://www.epicpsychedelic.com/resources Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: · Website: PsychedelicDivas.com · Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com · Instagram: @psychedelicdivas · YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon · Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.
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22. I Told My 95-Year-Old Mom I Do Psychedelics
For over a year, I've been creating Psychedelic Divas quietly, without fanfare or a lot of promotion. I told myself I was doing the work my guides had asked me to do — launching the podcast — but deep down, I knew I was still hiding. Hiding from visibility. Hiding from judgment. And, surprisingly, hiding from my 95-year-old mother. In this deeply personal solo episode, I talk about how I shared my psychedelic path with my mother for the first time. For years, I kept this part of my life hidden from her, assuming she'd never understand or accept it. With guidance from my inner team (and a little help from Oprah), I designed a multi-step unveiling that involved clinical research, a YouTube interview, a delightful lunch with Sheri Salata (Oprah's former executive producer and a dear friend), and a handful of heartfelt letters from members of my community. What unfolded was more than just a conversation — it was a profound healing for us both. It was also the key to unlocking something in me that I hadn't realized was there. It cracked open a new layer of freedom, visibility, and trust within myself. This episode is about truth-telling, hard conversations, divine listening, and learning to ride downhill with joy after an uphill struggle. Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: · Website: PsychedelicDivas.com · Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com · Instagram: @psychedelicdivas · YouTube: @carladetchon · Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.
Welcome to Psychedelic Divas, where we explore the power and the pitfalls of the emerging world of psychedelics through the wisdom of the divine feminine. As the psychedelic underground pushes upward into our mainstream awareness and the legal above ground, Psychedelic Divas is here to serve as a guide for those who might be interested in exploring whether these medicines are right for them. Let's be clear, these medicines are definitely not for everyone, and we are not promoting their use. What we are providing is education and a deeper understanding of what's possible—both the good and the challenging—when it comes to choosing whether or not to explore these powerful molecules.
Your host, Carla Detchon, has been exploring psychedelic realms for 40 years both recreationally and ceremonially. Through her work as an Integration Coach, she helps people find a deeper understanding of the messages of these experiences, so they can move into wholeness and motivated action.
Our intention with this podcast is to provide a safe haven, a sanctuary for open-hearted individuals seeking personal growth, spiritual expansion, and a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them. Thanks for listening--We look forward to growing together.
Music Credit: Om Mane Padme Om by Suzanne Sterling & Christopher Krotky
Brasil