Q&A
What is this all about?
A design-thinking workshop powered by low-dose psychedelics to leverage individual and organizational capacity to promote novel ideas, collaboration, greater empathy, and cognitive flexibility.
Don't we have AI to power innovation?
While AI is awesome at analyzing data and applying existing knowledge and best practices to new applications, it is not capable of generating truly novel concepts and ideas. A novel concept is "a new, unique, and original idea, innovation, or way of thinking that is different from anything previously known, experienced, or done". Only humans are capable of novel thinking. Arguably, it is our strongest differentiator, and a skill we need to cultivate now more than ever.
Why psychedelics?
Psychedelics create new connections between areas of our brains that don't usually "talk" to each other, and actually build new brain cells in a process called neurogenesis. We will be using low doses of mushrooms to promote out-of-the-box thinking while still allowing you to engage in conversation, collaboration, and idea generation.
Can I participate without taking psychedelics?
Absolutely! One of the objectives is to figure out what the optimal ratio is for participants taking psychedelics and those who are not. Most groups will be composed of up to 8 participants, with 25% - 75% of participants taking a small dose of psychedelics to activate synaptic connections, creativity, and connection. This dose is often called an "empathetic dose"; it is slightly higher than a micro-dose, but lower than a "hiker dose".
Why do I need a facilitator? Can I do this by myself?
Yes, you could, but have you ever tried to wrangle cats... on shrooms? Having an experienced facilitator allows the group to get the most out of the collective intelligence of the group by providing structure, activities to generate creativity, and keeping everyone focused and safe.
Who is this for?
This is for founding teams and non-profit leaders who would like to apply cutting-edge research and tried-and-true creativity tools to the challenges facing their organizations. This opportunity is especially useful for cash-strapped non-profits and early green economy startup teams dealing with unprecedented challenges, and who are seeking an edge to stand out from the crowd.
Where is this happening?
Pilots are being conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area, Oregon, and Colorado. Additional pilots might be added in different locations based on demand. If you have a group or organization that would like to participate in the pilot, specify your city and the number of people in your group in the application.
When will the pilots take place?
We are shooting for November and December.
How many people will be in each pilot?
There will be a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 18 participants in each pilot.
Who are you?
I have a PhD in East-West Psychology, an MA in Transformative Leadership. I have been coaching leaders and facilitating transformative experiences for the last 15 years. My dissertation research focused on how psychedelics shift eco-anxiety and paralysis into greater equanimity, resilience, creativity, and pro-environmental behaviors. I believe in the potential of psychedelics to help us find solutions to society's most pressing challenges. You can view my CV, training, and experience here.
How can I find out more?
You can view my website here.
I have more questions. Can we talk?
Gladly! Use this link to schedule a chat.
If you are interested, please fill out the form below, and feel free to forward to to others who might be interested.
Thanks!
Isabel Santis, PhD, MA
Founder, Spiral r-Evolution and The Spiral Journey