Altered States The Peace Seekers
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Aug 21, 2024 
Shaina Shealy, a producer focused on peace activism, is joined by Sami Awad, a prominent Palestinian peace activist, and Lior Roseman, an Israeli neuroscience expert. They discuss the transformative use of ayahuasca ceremonies by activists from both sides to heal trauma and foster understanding. Sami shares his insights from using his kitchen as a peacebuilding hub. The trio explores the emotional journeys participants experience and the potential for collective healing, even amidst ongoing conflict and chaos.
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Tree Planting That Shaped A Life
- Sami Awad described his childhood moment planting trees under threat and choosing to replant after soldiers uprooted them.
- That decision at age 12 sparked his lifelong commitment to nonviolent peacebuilding.
Trauma Undermines Peace Efforts
- Sami realized inherited narratives of existential threat block trust and true peacebuilding.
- He concluded healing intergenerational trauma is essential for sustainable political change.
First Ayahuasca Ceremony Experience
- Sami recounted first trying ayahuasca after Israelis invited him and feeling intense purging and emotional release.
- The experience opened him to confronting personal wounds tied to occupation and arrests.