The Psychedelic Society's Homerton space

Anya Oleksiuk

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Hi, I’m Anya, Video Lead in the Psychedelic Society. Through psychedelics I have experienced a profound transformation, and real healing. I was filled with gratitude, and made it my life’s mission to change the general public’s perception of psychedelics. By lifting the stigma through wider education, we will influence civil society and reform outdated drug laws, allowing for psychedelic usage in therapy. I strongly believe that psychedelics are powerful tools capable of healing and improving the wellbeing of many individuals, which in turn has true potential to heal society by and large.

A passion for documentary films and music videos led me towards an MA in Filmmaking, specializing in documentary and experimental forms. Soon after, I joined the charity Marie Curie, as their Head of Video. In 2016 I decided to strike out on my own, founding Spelt Productions. My current clients include THTC Clothing, the UK’s leading ethical streetwear label, for whom I have produced a number of lifestyle and music videos, as well as creating activist content supporting the deregulation of hemp and medical cannabis in the UK. Despite a full work calendar on any given week, my focus remains with supporting the psychedelic movement and creating compelling video content to that end.

When away from my computer and camera, I practice yoga, meditation and embrace psychedelia - necessary tools for expanding my consciousness and centering myself. I also love spending my time dancing at psy trance festivals, contemplating nature and the universe, as well as traveling and meeting fellow psychonauts around the world.

Michael Matania

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Bio coming soon

Ronan Harrington

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Bio coming soon

Gaia Harvey Jackson

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Hi, I’m Gaia, I am the London events coordinator for the Psychedelic Society and facilitator of the Psychedelic Women’s Circles. For me psychedelics are a tool to gain deeper insight into our minds and the nature of existence. They remind me of what really matters and bring me home to the truth of who I am. There are many other tools that I have also found incredibly powerful to this end, such as; meditation, yoga, dance, singing, sensuality and music (amongst others) I am passionate about programming many different holistic events because I see them as; a place for our community to come together and connect, alternative opportunities for exploring consciousness, and as tools that will support psychonauts on their psychedelic adventures.

In 2014 I graduated from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with a BA in Performance Art: Theatre Practice. I have experience in producing cabaret and festivals, devising and performing in immersive theatre productions, and photography and film making. In 2015 I discovered Buddhism and meditation, and since then have developed a spiritual practice which has infiltrated my creative work.

I now facilitate ceremonies, rituals and workshops which combine elements of pagan ritual, buddhist philosophy, tantric practices, sound healing, and theatre games. I am fascinated with human connection, following the natural cycles of the earth and our bodies and finding ways to create deeper and more authentic intimacy between people. My personal mission is to bring more love, play and joy into the world in creative and imaginative ways.

Cherece John

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Bio coming soon

Stephen Reid

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Hi! I'm Stephen Reid, born and raised in London. I attained an undergraduate degree in Physics at Oxford, and then a Masters in Complexity Sciences at Bristol.

I had funding to continue to PhD but at the last minute I dropped out and went to live in Strasbourg, France. After 4 months I returned to the UK and immersed myself in the world of climate activism with the Camp for Climate Action ('Climate Camp').

In October 2010, with friends from Climate Camp, I set up UK Uncut, an anti-austerity direct action group focusing on the issue of corporate tax dodging.

In 2011, I started working for the New Economics Foundation (NEF), a people-and-planet focused thinktank. There I co-founded the New Economy Organisers Network (NEON), a network bringing together campaigners, academics, activists, trade unionists, politicians and others working to bring about a new economic system.

In the summer of 2011 I had my first major drug experience with MDMA at Glastonbury Festival. A year later, I had my first psychedelic experience with 2C-B at Shambala Festival, which inspired a fascination with psychedelics.

In December 2012, I became the youngest ever board member of Greenpeace UK. In 2013 I left NEF and started working as a freelance digital consultant/developer for organisations including 38 Degrees, the Labour Party, the Green Party, 350.org, the Living Wage Foundation, Positive Money, SumOfUs, 10:10 and Brandalism.

In 2014, having just returned from Nowhere (the largest of the European Burning Man events), I founded the Psychedelic Society, which continues to be my main project.

Since 2017 I have been fascinated with metamodern/Teal thinking. In mid-2018, the Psychedelic Society started making the transition to becoming a Teal organisation.

Hana Wolf

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Bio coming soon

Amir Khadr

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Bio coming soon

Claudia Zurawell Elliot

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I’m Claudia. I lead the Psychedelic Society’s press work; looking at how we can raise awareness of the work we do, and of the value of psychedelics for spiritual development and mental health. I have a BSc in Social Anthropology from LSE, and have spent ten years working in communications for social, environmental, and economic justice.

I believe a just, compassionate and sustainable world cannot be realised without ensuring people’s psychological wellbeing. When I began to understand the relationship between personal and social wellbeing, I trained as a coach, and now coach social change-makers. My interest in psychedelics is also in their potential to improve personal mental health and wellbeing, and the possibilities this could hold for improving the health of communities and societies too.

Outside of work, I like anything active, anything to do with food, dancing, doing crosswords, and laughing. I’m eternally trying to establish a meditation practice.

Alana Bloom

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Hello, I’m Alana. I’m one of the events co-ordinators for Bristol and I also facilitate the Psychedelic Movement Journeys. My experiences with psychedelics have been some of the most creative, heart expanding and insightful moments of my life. They have allowed me greater understanding about our world and the interconnectedness of everything within it. I’m passionate about working for the Psychedelic Society because I believe in the transformative possibilities of the creative experience that can be gained through psychedelics and artistic practices.

I’m an artist working in the realms of movement, theatre, circus, creative expression and music, weaving into these practices holistic, spiritual and mystical influences. For the past four years I have been facilitating, holding space and creating environments that give permission for radical creative expression, whilst also developing my research and performance practices that centre around movement and mythology. I use movement meditation and physical embodiment to encourage presence, providing us with a greater awareness and understanding of self. Using the body and the mind in this way can induce altered states of consciousness without substances, as well as supporting the psychedelic experience during, or after a trip. I have a BA (Hons) in Physical Theatre & Apprenticeship of Circus.

Outside of work I attempt use my body as much as possible. I practice yoga, train in aerial circus, dance contact improvisation and many other different dance practices including 5Rhythms. I’m passionate about nature, working with land, cycles, seasons, human connection and environmentalism.