EP04: Community Conversation with Rabbi Aaron Cherniak

Psychedelic science, focused mostly on the medicalization of certain psychoactive substances, has also inspired new perspectives on the science of spirituality and consciousness. What aspects of psychedelic experience are worthwhile to examine from a scientific and/or spiritual perspective? How if at all can spiritual experiences and their effects be measured? What outcomes should be linked to experiences labeled spiritual? Which outcomes should we aim for and how can spiritual experiences be optimized for greater health and well-being? In this community conversation, we are joined by Aaron Cherniak – a clinical psychologist in the Jerusalem Mental Health Center, a researcher affiliated with Stockholm University and Reichman University, and a rabbi. Aaron has conducted two discrete programs of research into the intersection of spirituality/religion with mental health and processes of change in psychotherapy, which influence his approach to studying psychedelics. He launched the Jewish Psychedelic Narratives Project to understand how psychedelic experiences are contextualized in individuals’ lifelong personal stories and spiritual development with the aim of informing clinical intervention. These programs are offered as a free community resource. If you feel moved to donate to support this work, you may do so here: https://www.shefaflow.org/support-our... Stay connected with R’ Aaron Cherniak on Twitter: @aaroncherniak, or on instagram: @adcherniak

Our intro music is an excerpt of the song ⁠Ein Od⁠ by ⁠Yosef Goldman⁠.