Part 2: Religious and Spiritual Traditions, End of Life, and Psychedelics

Join us for Part 2 of our FREE online series, where we deepen the discussion on how religious and spiritual traditions, end-of-life care, and psychedelics intersect in ways that shape our lives and our understanding of mortality.

Spirituality is a foundational human drive, embedded in our quest to make sense of life’s mysteries and to explore what lies beyond our everyday experience. Throughout history, humans have sought spiritual practices to answer questions about existence, purpose, and our place in the cosmos. Religions and spiritual traditions across the world—from Christianity and Judaism to Buddhism and Hinduism—have each cultivated unique paths for exploring these profound questions, often through rituals and teachings surrounding death and the afterlife.

In recent years, psychedelics have re-emerged as a powerful catalyst for this exploration, offering a portal to experiences that reveal new dimensions of consciousness, deepen our connection with life, and enhance our sense of unity with others and with nature. For many, psychedelics facilitate a transformative journey into realms beyond ordinary perception, opening pathways to insights that are at once deeply personal and profoundly universal. This can be especially significant in end-of-life care, where these substances help ease fear, foster peace, and offer a unique sense of closure for those nearing life’s end.

In this session, our expert panelists will delve into how psychedelics—when used thoughtfully and in alignment with spiritual and religious frameworks—serve as tools for healing, understanding, and expanding one’s relationship to self, others, and the sacred. They will discuss not only the historical and cultural contexts of these practices but also the potential for psychedelics to reconnect individuals to their innate spirituality, foster a profound appreciation for the natural world, and inspire a deeper sense of interconnectedness.

Panelists include:

• Rev. Hunt Priest, Founder of Ligare, a Christian Psychedelic Society
• Rabbi Dan Goldblatt, Co-Founder of AriYael, a Jewish Healing Center
• Rev. Norma Burton, M.Div., Founder of A Journey to Completion
• Daniel Shankin, Founder Tam Integration and Bhakti Practitioner

Moderated by Christine Caldwell, Founder and Executive Director of End of Life Psychedelic Care (EOLPC), this session will be recorded and available to all registrants. Whether you you saw the first session, this event offers an enriching experience of learning and connection. For those who choose to watch, here is the link to the first panel discussion:

Panelist bios:

Rev. Hunt Priest is a priest in The Episcopal Church and was a 2016 participant in a Johns Hopkins/NYU psilocybin study. His encounters with psilocybin opened him to the healing and consciousness-raising power of sacred plants and fungi and their connection to his own Christian practice. The epiphanies forever changed the trajectory of his work and led him to start Ligare: A Christian Psychedelic Society. Ligare networks with psychedelic researchers, mental health clinicians, spiritual guides and teachers, healers, philanthropists and people of goodwill, regardless of creed, to co-create a movement of healing and wholeness. Striving for justice and peace among all people, Ligare grounds its work in the Christian contemplative tradition and is committed to seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Rabbi Dan Goldblatt has served as rabbi of Beth Chaim Congregation in Danville, CA since 1993. He has a passion for facilitating the sacred and continues to explore ways to enhance the richness of rituals that bring meaning to all of life’s transitions. Rabbi Dan completed rabbinical studies and was ordained by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z”tl, ALEPH, and has been a leader of both ALEPH: the Alliance for Jewish Renewal and OHALAH: Rabbis and Cantors for the Renewal of Judaism.

He co-founded the AriYael Jewish Healing Center with Marc Mazer and Susan Talon Mazer who had lost their beloved son, Ari, earlier that year. Working through his grief over the loss of his wife allowed him to greatly deepen his ability to help others do end of life work, grief work, and expand his lived experience of healing. Rabbi Dan is a trained Spiritual Director and Mikveh Guide and serves on the Board of Wilderness Torah which works to renew earth-based Judaism.

Rev. Norma Burton, M.Div in Psychology of Religions and Hospice Chaplaincy. Norma served as pastoral counselor and hospice chaplain for over 30 years. The psychological study of mystical states has been Norma’s field of research, not only with indigenous elders, but also in the realms of academia for her entire career. Steeped in Buddhism, she lived in Japan, and is a pioneer of American Buddhist psychology.

In the early 1990’s Norma created her own Bodhi-shamanic healing program, the Journey to Completion, now practiced all over the world. In 2020 she co-authored the first international training program for facilitators of psychedelic therapy. In 2021 Norma was chosen to serve on the Oregon State Rules Advisory Committee to guide the rollout of psychedelic assisted therapy in that state. Co-author with her daughter of Lucid Dreaming, Lucid Living. This year they have a book coming out on Psycho-navigating Lucid States of Consciousness.

Daniel Shankin

As a psychedelic integration coach, Daniel serves people with emerging spiritual visions as they weave their new-found truths into their lives in a way that is sustainable, harmonious, compassionate and wise. His methods are fiercely practical while maintaining space for mystery and magic to emerge. He offers time tested and scientifically backed tools so clients can create a life for themselves that is aligned with their deeper values and manifests measurable results that matter.

As the founder and director of Tam Integration, he’s committed to offering radically accessible and inclusive support and education for people who are wanting to transform, heal, and grow. Tam’s integration circles and online conferences enjoy a world wide audience and much critical acclaim.

Daniel also leads the year long Mt. Tam Psychedelic Integration Coaching Program, training emerging leaders in the facilitation of transformational engagement.

About End of Life Psychedelic Care (EOLPC)

EOLPC envisions a world where everyone has access to psychedelic medicines and their potential to transform the death and dying process from one of fear into a sacred and loving journey.

To further that vision, our mission is to create the environment where the safe use of psychedelic medicine is accessible and affordable for anyone faced with a life-threatening illness.

We focus on three programs in support of our mission: Educating consumers and practitioners on the safe and supported use of psychedelics; Connecting consumers and professionals together; and Advocating for legislative and policy reform.

For more information, please visit us at eolpc.org or contact us at [email protected].

Event Venue

Online