I know I'll get blasted for this and I don't care, as a conference attendee I am very glad that these individuals were allowed to speak, but I think their protest was extremely rude and frankly completely childish and I think they just did what they did for attention. The psychedelic community has got to be the most open minded, most inclusive community in all of society, and if you think its not, you could get out of the house and see what real life is like. This community really is trying to include these voices, really is trying to include and promote indigenous folks/cultures, but it will never be good enough for people like Castro, until its just him up there talking and the roll is reversed. These people just want power and attention and its childish and pathetic. They are literally making enemies with the people that seek to help them the most - not a wise choice.
You did not get blasted. In fact, you have the most liked comment, probably because most people saw and heard the same thing you did. That was not the time or place to interrupt, and it was clear that they had no concrete message prepared as Kuthoomi admitted in this article. A voice without a message is just noise, especially if your emotions have taken the wheel during a moment. Now I may get blasted for saying this, but I thought a lot about the protest after the conference and decided to let it go. However, Kuthoomi’s vague and non-specific answers in an article where they has time to give specific examples of the “oppression” that’s happening with psychedelics today just aggravates me even more of his childish display at the conference. I could quote at least 5 statements in this piece where they is either painfully vague or categorically misleading and could make the case that Kuthoomi did not raise one single legitimate complaint about anything at all. Instead, I’ll just echo Trey’s comment - making enemies with those seeking to help you is unwise at best and self-defeating at worst.
Trey, Kuthoomi is Two Spirit and uses they/them pronouns. I request you be respectful to the identities of others in sharing your opinions. I would also request you do more research before blasting people trying to preserve their ancestral heritage and prevent their spirituality from being stolen along with everything else they have lost. Your white privilege and your ignorance is showing.
Completely agree. There are people, probably Castro, who have to got a "enemy", and some even got the "guru complex" who think their views are the only valid ones. Others will never get there according to them. I see and ear a lot of curanderos and such that seem to fit that category. Like we had the fake indian gurus from the 60s onward, the "fake" all knowing curanderos are in the same category but with the difference that they can say that the western man has destroyed their culture and will never understand them.
Since my early teens in part I lived to gather xamanistic knowledge and way of living but what I've seen since then is a lot of ego trips and things like that.
Just because one culture uses psychedelics that doesn't mean they have better use then "others" . And most xamanistic culture if not all is a mixture of western christianism with some xamanistic references, as westerns irradicated the whole xamanistic references and the few that survived have been passing it's cultures from persorn to persorn with all the diverging ways that brings along.
Just look at the yonomani indians, when we discovered them we saw them as a peaceful way of living with nature and themselves and a religion with psychedelic use enlightenment. Then we saw that close to half of the men in their tribes were killers at least killed a living human within their lives, even from their own tribe.
I'm not saying it's all bullshit but there is a lot of bs, specially around the Ayahuasca and similar spots that "sell" enlightenment to westerners mostly.
Thank you for writing this. It was a very unfortunate occurrence at the conference in which ALL of their points were beautifully presented, repeatedly, except for the comments of the white woman who first spoke and was incredibly rude to a person of color. I think Rick was put in an impossible situation, and handled it well, but what happens next? I fear this behavior will only be reinforced.
Thank you for writing this. It was a very unfortunate occurrence at the conference in which ALL of their points were beautifully presented, repeatedly, except for the comments of the white woman who first spoke and was incredibly rude to a person of color. I think Rick was put in an impossible situation, and handled it well, but what happens next? I fear this behavior will only be reinforced.
Thank you, Joseph for bringing this conversation to this platform. Thank you to Kuthoomi and others who stood up and shared this important message at the conference. I am grateful for your strength and courage.
I didn’t appreciate this disruption/protest to a celebration for Rick Doblin. The protests struck me as incredibly self centered, disrespectful and even narcissistic. I don’t think interrupting a conference with your personal beef is appropriate or justified. I couldn’t understand why the organizers allowed the interruption to go on and on. MAPS can’t be everything to everyone and doesn’t represent all that is psychedelic. The conference was entitled “Psychedelic Science” and that’s what I and many others came for - not long winded complaints by various members of the community. Personally I would never support any of the organizations the disruptors were screaming about simply because of their approach and disrespect and I’m glad this article gives them a voice here so I can avoid. By the way this venue is much more appropriate than the approach they took at the conference.
I'm a bit confused as to what the goal is here. Do you wish to keep any traditionally indigenous plant medicine illegal for anyone who is not indigenous? How would indigenous be defined? 10% by genetics? 50% by genetics? What about indigenous people from groups who never historically used psychedelic plants? Illegal for them as well? What about dependents of or current European people who do come from groups who have historically used psychedelic plants? What about people who have absolutely no interest in traditionally native psychedelic use models and prefer LSD or other synthetics with a short history of use? What about people who just use DMT and moclobemide instead of ayahuasca? Is that disrespectful? I truly feel there is something incoherent about this view and yes I possibly am ignorant of what the purpose of this is, because it certainly is not clear. The only thing that makes any sense is to let people use these plants/molecules is a responsible manner in the way they choose to use them. And that means it needs to be legal for everyone in a democratized fashion...
I agree especially after we have Microdose interviewing this individual, with the title "I was shaking and trembling" as if we are suppose to feel bad for him. Rick Doblin acted with impossible composure in indeed an impossible situation, which is why he is a uniter and a leader of the movement, not because he's a power hungry white usurper of indigenous medicines (MDMA, Doblin's flagship 'psychedelic', I hasten to point out to Castro, was not originally indigenous in case they were not aware).
This is an extremely important topic, and a baseline for all us white people who tread on the threshold of indigenous cultures. We need to be and act consciously of origins and give respect where it is deserved. Especially to show the younger generation we care and are willing to listen, because they are not going to stand for any BS from anyone.
Kuthoomi Castro, regardless of whether the protest was ill-timed, inappropriate, or not, is speaking truth to power. When the sacred is capitalized upon, it is hijacked by ego. It's not about restricting access to the medicines; it's about respecting their power and not trying to subtly or not-so-subtly profiteer in the name of science or non-profit or even healing.
Although the corporatization and colonization of psychedelic medicine is an important issue, this was definitely not the right time and place to have this dialogue. Psychedelic Science was so many things but anyone can see how much effort and time was put into curating a whole wide range of perspectives and discussions. To have an explicit desire to impose your own narrative while interrupting the closing address was disrespectful and inconsiderate. YES of course these issues are important but they were discussed during the conference and they will continue to be as time goes on. MAPS has a particular strategy in advocating for psychedelics and while it might not be centered around indigenous voices, it is centered around other voices which are equally as important. MAPS can not be everything to everyone. The true psychedelic renaissance will require the synergy and overlap of many different psychedelic communities all contributing their own special offering and attracting their own respective tribes.
I am struggling to understand how what is happening in the world of psychedelics is taking any of its importance away from any specific culture. We are all humans. We all deserve the right to access psychedelics. Isn't that what this whole movement is all about? Yes all the patent and capitalist BS that inevitably goes with industry is awful. But the bottom line is that it is removing the illegal stigma from using psychedelics, and that's important. We can all use them however we choose, be it traditional or novel. Diversity is beautiful. There is no 'right' way.
If you were not at the conference, I think it's important to note that the protest comments started with an angry white woman who took the mic and stated racially charged things to a woman of color in the audience. I was expecting very specific allegations, aside from what the conference did over and over again, acknowledging the deep, important and continuing leadership of indigenous communities in this space. It was a very sad, for me, display. And I am concerned it will be repeated.
For some white American capitalists, these times are like some psychedelic version of The Night Before Christmas---"and visions of psilo-plums danced in their heads!"
One of the keynote speakers at the conference was the conservative Christian republican Rick Perry, who actually bragged in his opening remarks "'You've seen the light. I'm the dark, knuckle-dragging, right-wing former governor of the state of Texas..."
(Perry ",,,said he believed in the inerrancy of the Bible and that those who do not accept Jesus as their Savior will go to hell."
---Christy Hoppe, "Perry believes non-Christians are doomed", the Dallas Morning News, 11.6. 2006. ["Biblical inerrancy" is the belief that the Bible contains no errors, whether theological, moral, historical, or scientific.])
I know I'll get blasted for this and I don't care, as a conference attendee I am very glad that these individuals were allowed to speak, but I think their protest was extremely rude and frankly completely childish and I think they just did what they did for attention. The psychedelic community has got to be the most open minded, most inclusive community in all of society, and if you think its not, you could get out of the house and see what real life is like. This community really is trying to include these voices, really is trying to include and promote indigenous folks/cultures, but it will never be good enough for people like Castro, until its just him up there talking and the roll is reversed. These people just want power and attention and its childish and pathetic. They are literally making enemies with the people that seek to help them the most - not a wise choice.
You did not get blasted. In fact, you have the most liked comment, probably because most people saw and heard the same thing you did. That was not the time or place to interrupt, and it was clear that they had no concrete message prepared as Kuthoomi admitted in this article. A voice without a message is just noise, especially if your emotions have taken the wheel during a moment. Now I may get blasted for saying this, but I thought a lot about the protest after the conference and decided to let it go. However, Kuthoomi’s vague and non-specific answers in an article where they has time to give specific examples of the “oppression” that’s happening with psychedelics today just aggravates me even more of his childish display at the conference. I could quote at least 5 statements in this piece where they is either painfully vague or categorically misleading and could make the case that Kuthoomi did not raise one single legitimate complaint about anything at all. Instead, I’ll just echo Trey’s comment - making enemies with those seeking to help you is unwise at best and self-defeating at worst.
Trey, Kuthoomi is Two Spirit and uses they/them pronouns. I request you be respectful to the identities of others in sharing your opinions. I would also request you do more research before blasting people trying to preserve their ancestral heritage and prevent their spirituality from being stolen along with everything else they have lost. Your white privilege and your ignorance is showing.
🙏
Completely agree. There are people, probably Castro, who have to got a "enemy", and some even got the "guru complex" who think their views are the only valid ones. Others will never get there according to them. I see and ear a lot of curanderos and such that seem to fit that category. Like we had the fake indian gurus from the 60s onward, the "fake" all knowing curanderos are in the same category but with the difference that they can say that the western man has destroyed their culture and will never understand them.
Since my early teens in part I lived to gather xamanistic knowledge and way of living but what I've seen since then is a lot of ego trips and things like that.
Just because one culture uses psychedelics that doesn't mean they have better use then "others" . And most xamanistic culture if not all is a mixture of western christianism with some xamanistic references, as westerns irradicated the whole xamanistic references and the few that survived have been passing it's cultures from persorn to persorn with all the diverging ways that brings along.
Just look at the yonomani indians, when we discovered them we saw them as a peaceful way of living with nature and themselves and a religion with psychedelic use enlightenment. Then we saw that close to half of the men in their tribes were killers at least killed a living human within their lives, even from their own tribe.
I'm not saying it's all bullshit but there is a lot of bs, specially around the Ayahuasca and similar spots that "sell" enlightenment to westerners mostly.
Thank you for writing this. It was a very unfortunate occurrence at the conference in which ALL of their points were beautifully presented, repeatedly, except for the comments of the white woman who first spoke and was incredibly rude to a person of color. I think Rick was put in an impossible situation, and handled it well, but what happens next? I fear this behavior will only be reinforced.
Thank you for writing this. It was a very unfortunate occurrence at the conference in which ALL of their points were beautifully presented, repeatedly, except for the comments of the white woman who first spoke and was incredibly rude to a person of color. I think Rick was put in an impossible situation, and handled it well, but what happens next? I fear this behavior will only be reinforced.
Thank you, Joseph for bringing this conversation to this platform. Thank you to Kuthoomi and others who stood up and shared this important message at the conference. I am grateful for your strength and courage.
Thank you Kuthoomi Castro for speaking your peoples truth. And yes you are right. No one owns anything and money corrupts everything.
I didn’t appreciate this disruption/protest to a celebration for Rick Doblin. The protests struck me as incredibly self centered, disrespectful and even narcissistic. I don’t think interrupting a conference with your personal beef is appropriate or justified. I couldn’t understand why the organizers allowed the interruption to go on and on. MAPS can’t be everything to everyone and doesn’t represent all that is psychedelic. The conference was entitled “Psychedelic Science” and that’s what I and many others came for - not long winded complaints by various members of the community. Personally I would never support any of the organizations the disruptors were screaming about simply because of their approach and disrespect and I’m glad this article gives them a voice here so I can avoid. By the way this venue is much more appropriate than the approach they took at the conference.
I'm a bit confused as to what the goal is here. Do you wish to keep any traditionally indigenous plant medicine illegal for anyone who is not indigenous? How would indigenous be defined? 10% by genetics? 50% by genetics? What about indigenous people from groups who never historically used psychedelic plants? Illegal for them as well? What about dependents of or current European people who do come from groups who have historically used psychedelic plants? What about people who have absolutely no interest in traditionally native psychedelic use models and prefer LSD or other synthetics with a short history of use? What about people who just use DMT and moclobemide instead of ayahuasca? Is that disrespectful? I truly feel there is something incoherent about this view and yes I possibly am ignorant of what the purpose of this is, because it certainly is not clear. The only thing that makes any sense is to let people use these plants/molecules is a responsible manner in the way they choose to use them. And that means it needs to be legal for everyone in a democratized fashion...
Couldn't have said it better myself! We need to democratize transcendence.
I agree especially after we have Microdose interviewing this individual, with the title "I was shaking and trembling" as if we are suppose to feel bad for him. Rick Doblin acted with impossible composure in indeed an impossible situation, which is why he is a uniter and a leader of the movement, not because he's a power hungry white usurper of indigenous medicines (MDMA, Doblin's flagship 'psychedelic', I hasten to point out to Castro, was not originally indigenous in case they were not aware).
Really enlightening. Thanks for starting this conversation.
This is an extremely important topic, and a baseline for all us white people who tread on the threshold of indigenous cultures. We need to be and act consciously of origins and give respect where it is deserved. Especially to show the younger generation we care and are willing to listen, because they are not going to stand for any BS from anyone.
We just want to conserve our medicine in the purest form for our younger generation.
Kuthoomi Castro, regardless of whether the protest was ill-timed, inappropriate, or not, is speaking truth to power. When the sacred is capitalized upon, it is hijacked by ego. It's not about restricting access to the medicines; it's about respecting their power and not trying to subtly or not-so-subtly profiteer in the name of science or non-profit or even healing.
Although the corporatization and colonization of psychedelic medicine is an important issue, this was definitely not the right time and place to have this dialogue. Psychedelic Science was so many things but anyone can see how much effort and time was put into curating a whole wide range of perspectives and discussions. To have an explicit desire to impose your own narrative while interrupting the closing address was disrespectful and inconsiderate. YES of course these issues are important but they were discussed during the conference and they will continue to be as time goes on. MAPS has a particular strategy in advocating for psychedelics and while it might not be centered around indigenous voices, it is centered around other voices which are equally as important. MAPS can not be everything to everyone. The true psychedelic renaissance will require the synergy and overlap of many different psychedelic communities all contributing their own special offering and attracting their own respective tribes.
I am struggling to understand how what is happening in the world of psychedelics is taking any of its importance away from any specific culture. We are all humans. We all deserve the right to access psychedelics. Isn't that what this whole movement is all about? Yes all the patent and capitalist BS that inevitably goes with industry is awful. But the bottom line is that it is removing the illegal stigma from using psychedelics, and that's important. We can all use them however we choose, be it traditional or novel. Diversity is beautiful. There is no 'right' way.
If you were not at the conference, I think it's important to note that the protest comments started with an angry white woman who took the mic and stated racially charged things to a woman of color in the audience. I was expecting very specific allegations, aside from what the conference did over and over again, acknowledging the deep, important and continuing leadership of indigenous communities in this space. It was a very sad, for me, display. And I am concerned it will be repeated.
For some white American capitalists, these times are like some psychedelic version of The Night Before Christmas---"and visions of psilo-plums danced in their heads!"
One of the keynote speakers at the conference was the conservative Christian republican Rick Perry, who actually bragged in his opening remarks "'You've seen the light. I'm the dark, knuckle-dragging, right-wing former governor of the state of Texas..."
(Perry ",,,said he believed in the inerrancy of the Bible and that those who do not accept Jesus as their Savior will go to hell."
---Christy Hoppe, "Perry believes non-Christians are doomed", the Dallas Morning News, 11.6. 2006. ["Biblical inerrancy" is the belief that the Bible contains no errors, whether theological, moral, historical, or scientific.])