Pre-covid we successfully raised the initial seed money ($30,000) to receive Internal Review Board approval from the university.
Lead researcher on psychedelic trials at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Advisor Emeritus. Psychiatrist and pioneer researcher into non- ordinary states of consciousness
Why, you might ask, with all of the super cool findings coming from psychedelic research would we be interested in something as basic as breathing? Good Question.
Here's our answer––if you remember as far back as Stealing Fire, the case we made was "what's really revolutionary here, is less the specific way people are getting into non-ordinary states, but rather, what each approach can tell us about the knobs and levers of our bodies and brains."
We've been saying that about psychedelics and our understanding of the serotonin system. We've been saying that about meditation and EEG, and about cannabis and the endocannabinoid system too.
It's less the key, than the door it opens that's really interesting.
Same goes for breathwork. The ability to alter our neurochemistry through deliberate breathing protocols could be a game changer for people in need.
Because the crazy thing is––even with breathwork––holotropic, pranayama, Wim Hof––being all the rage, and with decades of profound anecdotal impacts––no one has ever validated the science behind it in this way.
That's what this new research is about––providing solid evidentiary support so more communities, clinics, schools, prisons and hospitals can cut through red tape and resistance and begin mending their people with simple tools that anyone can master.
Open Source. Scalable. Free.
A member of our community has generously agreed to match funds dollar for dollar up to $100K!
So every dollar you give is doubled in impact.
*The donation will be made to our partners "Psykia Institute" through the MAPS website –– they're co-leading the study with us*
After this initial trial, we’re making the protocol available to 7 million children worldwide (via the Branson family foundation Big Change and the Veteran's Health Administration).
That's a lot of healing. That's a lot of help.
If you've ever suffered from trauma, anxiety or depression, and want to support the movement to get beyond SSRIs––please consider supporting this project.
If you've ever had your life changed by a psychedelic and wished that people you love could share that experience, but know they won't or can't get beyond the Pale––support this project.
And if, after a frothy cup of cacao, you've huffed and puffed and hyperventilated during a soundbath crystal healing ceremony, felt all tingly and saw sparkles out of the corner of your eyes and got in touch with your inner dolphin––fuck you (*and support this project* :)
Every dollar you give, it's being matched.
The way things are heading, PTSD isn't going away anytime soon. Starting now, and sharing these learnings as far and wide as possible, feels like the right thing to do. So we are, and we hope you will too.
Thanks for stepping up and lending a hand.
*The donation will be made to our partners "Psykia Institute" through the MAPS website –– they're co-leading the study with us*
Image Credit: ESO/VISTA/J. Emerson. Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit