Ten Laws with East Forest Katherine MacLean - Psilocybin research, Personal freedom (#59)
Katherine MacLean is a research scientist with expertise in studying the effects of mindfulness meditation and psychedelics. At Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she conducted legal clinical trials of psilocybin, the primary chemical found in "magic mushrooms”. In 2015, she co-founded and was the first director of the Psychedelic Education and Continuing Care Program in New York (www.psychedelicprogram.com), where she led training workshops and monthly integration groups focused on increasing awareness and reducing risks of psychedelic use. She helped to bring medical and humanitarian aid to remote Himalayan villages, as well as create sanctuary spaces for psychedelic support at large outdoor festivals.
Katherine's teaching and integration approach combines over a decade of training in rigorous academic and clinical research with practical intuition guided by personal experiences, including five silent meditation retreats, a 2-month pilgrimage in the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal, her 29-year old sister’s death journey through metastatic breast cancer, and natural homebirth.