Dudes. In the midst of a pandemic, deep economic crisis; shocking and mean-spirited governmental incompetence, abuse, and neglect; deep cultural malaise punctuated by eruptions of collective indignation and outrage at the systemic racial injustice embedded in U.S. society – what could possibly be worth talking about? What could possibly help? There’s only one thing I can think of: a shift – an expansion – of consciousness. That’s why I wanted to talk to my old friend Aaron Genuth, a psychedelic educator, advocate, and organizer with Darkhei Refuah, Paths of Healing – with a focus on Orthodox and Hassidic communities. Aaron talks about his own experience growing up in Orthodox Judaism and the intriguing openings and opportunities that exist within traditional religious communities that generally trend culturally conservative. He gives his take on the current wave of psychedelic acceptance currently unfolding in the zeitgeist – “There is a growing recognition that mainstream pharmaceuticals are in many many cases not working, and in some cases making things much worse” – and about the healing potential of psychedelics as treatment for addiction, depression, trauma, end of life anxiety. No less importantly, he gets into their benefits as a spiritual practice and a catalyst for deepening awareness – and even more broadly, their capacity to help us “to channel what’s right and what’s true into a holistic and regenerative system of living.” (He also talks about why the microdosing trend may be a capitalist plot.) In short, I learned things! Gootimes!