Women are changing the psychedelic conversation

AMHERST, Mass.—October, 2020—A growing number of talented women are expanding our understanding of psychedelics in the world today. By presenting at psychedelic events, publishing articles, authoring books, leading scientific research, creating works of art, preserving and evolving precious spiritual traditions, these women are balancing and enriching the conversation.

Cosmic Sister, an environmental feminist collective that supports female thought leaders and emerging voices in the psychedelic field, is influencing the movement by raising the voices of talented women through high-profile presentation grants and awards that amplify their visibility.

“Women from all walks of life are tapping into this current of change and reaching out to us from around the world,” says Cosmic Sister founder Zoe Helene, who coined the term Psychedelic Feminism.

“We’ve been pitching, placing, sponsoring, and promoting female speakers for just shy of six years because access and inclusion shape the trajectory of this global revolution. Leadership should reflect that exquisite diversity.”

Cosmic Sister offers an interconnected quartet of merit-based Psychedelic Feminism educational advocacy grants, including the Cosmic Sister Women of the Psychedelic Renaissance (CS WPR) grant for presentation and the Cosmic Sister Emerging Voices Award (CS EVA), which increases visibility for talented women in psychedelics and cannabis who work tirelessly in behind-the-scenes roles, as well as newcomers who bring unique voice and talent to the movement.

This year, in partnership with Spirit Plant Medicine Conference (SPMC) and Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada’s Examining the Psychedelic Renaissance, Cosmic Sister has awarded merit-based educational advocacy grants and awards to 30+ women who were born in and/or are based in and/or honor ancestry in a wide range of countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Nigeria, India, Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, France, and the United Kingdom and more, helping them reach a global virtual audience.

“These women share a passion for human and non-human rights and for environmental protection,” Helene says. “And they credit psychedelics for changing the course of their lives.”

Expert hashmaker, educator, and media personality The Dank Duchess (@TheDankDuchess) received a Women of The Psychedelic Renaissance grant to speak on the main stage at SPMC last year and a second Women of The Psychedelic Renaissance to present at SPMC this year. “The grant that I received from Cosmic Sister provided the opportunity for me to step fully into the academic psychedelic realm and to offer the unique perspective of a Black woman working with sacred medicines,” Duchess says.

Integration coach Raven Marie will be presenting for the first time. “I’m so profoundly grateful to be making my speaking debut honoring the sacred plant medicine Iboga—which is of my own ancestry—alongside such a dynamic, intelligent, and heart-based group of women who are consciously changing the narrative of the role we play in the world of sacred plant medicines,” Raven says.

The educational grants are funded through tax-deductible donations by way of Cosmic Sister’s fiscal sponsorship with MAPS. “With great appreciation and gratitude, we wish to thank and acknowledge MAPS for their fiscal sponsorship and every single individual and entity who donated and supported,” Helene says. “When you witness these women sharing their wisdom, please know that you helped make this happen.”

2020 Cosmic Sister Women of The Psychedelic Renaissance Grant Recipients

The following women (in alphabetical order) received a Women of The Psychedelic Renaissance Grant to speak at Spirit Plant Medicine Conference, where Zoe Helene will present “Psychedelic Feminism—Represent the Medicine.”

Ethnobotanist Rocio Alarcón, PhD (@iamoec), opening keynote, “La Limpia: Healing Power of the Americas to the World”

Indigenous storyteller Ethnobotanist Solana Booth (@advocate0sacred), “Remembering Mother’s Breath”

The Dank Duchess (@TheDankDuchess), “Homemade Hashish: A Guide to Personal Wellness through Cannabis Concentrates”

Cannabis yoga instructor Minelli Eustacio-Costa (@yogawithminelli), opening blessing, “Blessings from L.A and Guided Meditations”

Guatemalan ceremonial leader and naturopath Nan Shuni Giron (@shunigiron), “Returning to the Natural Order”

Trauma therapist and researcher Heather Hargraves (@minerva_twist), “Nurturing Awareness: Neurofeedback and Psychedelics”

Visionary artist Martina Hoffmann (@martina_hoffmann_art) and visionary artist Pascal Ferry (@pascal.ferryhf), “The Inner Journey and Transmutation Through Art”

Poet and ceremonialist Kohenet Rachel Kann (@msrachelkann) will present “Spirit-Infused Performance Poetry”

Clinical instructor Pam Kryskow, MD, “The Science of Microdosing: Where We’ve Been and Where We Are Now”

Integration coach Raven Marie (@ravenmarie111), “The Great Remembrance: Unraveling the Internal Layers with Iboga”

Integrative psychotherapist and Kohenet Tiana Mirapae, “Psychedelics as a Doorway into Earth-Based Spirituality”

Ayurvedic doctor Dr. Sheetal Narsai, aka “Dr. Seeta” (@seetalove), “Breathing with Sacred Plants: An Ayurvedic Medicine Perspective”

Executive Director of San Francisco Psychedelic Society Danielle Negrin (@psychedelicsocietysf), “The Psychedelic Society Model: Power to the People”

Empowerment coach Chioma Nwosu (@chiomanwosu), “The Power of Affirmations Spoken in Igbo Dialect”

Performing artist Xhalida September (@anaknglupa), “Heart, Soul, and Humor: A Visit to Other Brain Regions”

2020 Cosmic Sister Emerging Voices Award Winners

In partnership with Spirit Plant Medicine Conference and MAPS Canada, the following women received a Cosmic Sister Emerging Voices Award:

Indigenous ritualist Nepheriti Amen (@nephertitiamen)

Ecopreneur Lian Bruno (@puffherbalsmokes)

Digital nomad and founder of the Psychedelic Society of India Kamya Buch (@wanderingkamya)

Filmmaker Kumiko Hayashi (@kumiihayashi)

Author and journalist Michelle Janikian (@michelle.janikian)

Cannabis advocate Julia Jerome

Artist and indigenous art educator Ana Jost (@shamanfashionista)

Registered nurse and co-founder of the Okanagan Psychedelic Society Melissa Mazereeuw (@mizmaz111)

Indigenous activist Ida Ida Manuel (@ida.manuel)

Naturopathic Medicine student Courtney Middleton (@coco__middleton)

Visionary artist and witch Mari Omori (@trilliumhealingpath)

Counseling and Mental Health Services student Lisa Marie Persaud (@lmariepersaud)

Psychedelic Club of Pittsburgh founder Katlyn Rose (@cha_michi)

Contemplative Psychology and Sacred Ecology student Laurel Silberman (@artemisia.luna)

Indigenous herbalist and educator Lori Snyder (@earthandcompany)

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About Cosmic Sister

Cosmic Sister (@CosmicSister) is an environmental feminist collective that connects kindred-spirit trailblazing women who understand that true balance of power across the gender spectrum—globally—as the only way humans (and non-humans) will survive. Cosmic Sister’s psychedelic feminism educational advocacy initiatives promote safe, legal, intentional journeying with sacred plants and fungi as a way for women to explore the wilderness within, where they can discover fresh, liberating perspectives on core women’s rights issues. Contact: media@cosmicsister.com. Connect: @CosmicSister

Cosmic Sister’s immersive Plant Spirit Grant program is funded internally. Cosmic Sister’s Emerging Voices Educational Award program is funded in part by participating partners such as the Spirit Plant Medicine Conference and MAPS Canada.

Donations for Cosmic Sister’s educational advocacy initiatives are fully tax-deductible through Cosmic Sister’s fiscal sponsor, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). All donations go directly to educational advocacy. To donate, please visit Support Cosmic Sister.

About Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Founded in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and MAPS Canada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. For more information, visit maps.org

About Spirit Plant Medicine Conference

The intention of Spirit Plant Medicine Conference is to offer accurate, respectful, and most of all beneficial information and inspiration on the use of and larger context around sacred healing plants. Now in its 9th year, the mission of the SPMC is to help guide this work forward by bringing a world-class international group of leading visionary voices to Vancouver. SpiritPlantMedicine.com