Beneath the Snow, The Seeds are Listening
Hello and happy mid-winter to you all!
Perhaps this finds you deep in wintering mode—hunkered down and embracing the stillness, or simply moving at a slower pace. February offers us a unique tension: days so cold that you can’t wear enough layers, tempered by the light extending into the early evening. While this week is often the coldest of the year, take heart in knowing that the warmth of the sun will thaw us out soon.
Reflections on our Reflections
To those who braved the cold and slush to join us for our recent ‘Connections and Reflections’ event—thank you! We hope the conversations were heartwarming enough to dry out the boots and coats you donned to join us. For those who couldn’t make it, we missed you and look forward to crossing paths with you soon.
We held this gathering to offer a space to reflect on the ideas shared at Harvard’s recent conferences on psychedelics, religion, law, and culture. The themes explored at the conferences deeply resonate with Open Circle Alliance’s mission of cultivating a safe, supportive psychedelic ecosystem, so we wanted to create a space to keep the conversation going.
Many presenters explored the qualities of such ecosystems, offering wide-ranging perspectives from diverse experiences—from a Mazatec art gallery and cultural space to the ethos of community at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert, from a Professor of New Testament to spiritual care in Maryland’s African-American churches. Presentations like these sparked important questions for us, such as:
What is the role of community outside the immediate medicine experience and what forms can this take?
How can we create inclusive containers that enable safe exploration of our personal relationships with the divine?
How do we cultivate the fruits of a psychedelic experience in ways that lead to greater compassion, service, and justice?
How do we create space to work alongside each other to think beyond ourselves or deepen our integration practices?
You can learn more about programming included in Harvard’s Study of Psychedelics in Society and Culture here. We look forward to tending these seeds of conversation with you…
Gratitude for our Connections
This was the first time we tried a “pay what you can” model for our events. We are SO GRATEFUL to those who connected with this idea.
Your generosity goes a long way in our ability to continue hosting these events, growing and strengthening the community. We are deeply appreciative of your support!
Events on Our Radar
Late winter is bringing some more opportunities to engage at events sponsored by other organizations in the greater Boston area. Some can also be accessed virtually. Learn more by visiting our Events page.
February 26 - Breaking Barriers: Expanding Access to Psychedelic Therapies through Right to Try and Breakthrough Therapy Legislation
Organized by Safer Psychedelics Association of New England (SPAN)February 28 - Portal to Plants and Other Medicines
Organized by Talking Joints MemoMarch 5-6 - Psychedelics in Monotheistic Traditions: Sacramental Practice and Legal Recognition
Organized by Harvard Law SchoolMarch 21-22 - NECANN, Psychedelic Track
Organized by 2025 New England Cannabis Convention
What’s Next on Our Agenda
We are beginning to build out a trusted resource library. Additionally, we are engaging in conversations with facilitators to learn more about how Open Circle Alliance can support their needs. There is so much expertise in this community, and we look forward to exploring these topics with you.
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