Portland Psychedelic Society

Attention: The very last Empowering Voices will take place May 18th!
Thank you for 5 years of strength, vulnerability, and connection. Beautiful work has been done in this space and Mandi and Jessie could not be prouder of you all. Please take care of yourselves out there, and we look forward to crossing psychedelic paths again!

Welcome to Empowering Voices (EV)! This is a psychedelic integration & support group for women who experienced sexual assault, domestic violence/abuse, or intimate partner violence. Empowering Voices creates a safe and sacred container to share your story, an important step for many in the healing process, and to embrace women alike who are ready to shed the years of silence, shame, guilt, or fear that are all too often held onto.

Abuse may have been, or may currently be, a part of your life experience - but your strength, power, and resilience can never be taken away. These experiences can often leave a survivor feeling as if they have lost complete power and control of their own life, for a time; losing their sense of self, and their voice. This support circle aims to elevate and empower all women, leveraging strength as a community of survivors who have found the road of healing, recovery, and transformation through the power of entheogenic medicine and holistic integration tools such as meditation, breathwork, journaling, art, and bodywork.

Along with building a narrative of power through sharing your story and rediscovering your voice, we discuss a variety of topics and tools. Some of those include setting boundaries, identifying triggers, healthy coping skills, disrupting unhealthy patterns, and the importance of community.

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About the Hosts:

Mandi Friedlander
Mandi is the former Secretary for the Portland Psychedelic Society Events Committee, a Plant Medicine & Integration Coach, a practitioner of Reiki and NLP, and a Women's Integration Circle facilitator for Psychedelic Societies on both the East and West Coast. She is also a Mom, a community builder, an advocate, an educator, and a lifelong learner.

Mandi has found deep healing, from complex trauma in early childhood and adulthood, through community and with the support of various 'alternative' healing modalities and medicines. Mandi is passionate about cultivating containers where women can come together to learn, heal, thrive, and create--safe spaces where women support, empower, and uplift one another on their individual healing journeys.

Jessie Russell
I know psychedelic medicines to be unrivaled for healing and neuro-habituation change. I've been working in human behavior fields since 2003 and have been fortunate to serve at myriad conferences and special interest groups across the US, teaching everyone from primary teachers to military personnel. I have my own counseling practice, I am a certified crisis advocate, a psychedelics facilitator, a non-denominational ordained minister, certified in multiple coaching modalities, and am a DEI trainer. My own background and professional specializations are in neurodiversity, Trauma, non-nuclear family structures (i.e. ENM, child-free, non-cohabitation), human sexuality (i.e. queer matters, non-monogamy, kink, & libido changes), disability, and class awareness. I am also trained and experienced as a Green Dot Ranger, Zendo support volunteer, and DM.

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Portland Psychedelic Society (PPS) is an all-volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donation-based organization.

Welcome to the Portland Psychedelic Society Men's Group

As students of the psychedelic domain, we understand that the situation of being in the world requires us to participate in culture in ways that promote interconnectedness and love. This is the consistent understanding these medicines carry with them. In contrast, the cultural message we often experience as men is one promoting insulation and emotional suppression. One of these messages is an invitation toward curiosity and furthering understanding; the other is a coaxing toward severance and self abandonment.

We know from being in touch with our basic humanness that a state of interconnectedness and love is a state of naturally thriving. We know from psychology that repressing that which desires to blossom from within degrades both psyche and physiology. We understand from being networked in relationships that when we’re living in a state of discontent, we radiate negativity to those in our circles of influence, which radiates outward from there.

From this understanding we can see how being told by culture to repress and isolate makes us sick, which leads to the perpetuation of sickness in the culture. We recognize that we must stop being agents of sickness in the cultural system. We must become agents of healing and regeneration. In order for us to become agents of healing for others, we must first heal ourselves, so we embody a position of healing in the world.

It is for this reason that this Men’s Support Group was formed. Those who have experienced psychedelic states know that, as agents of healing themselves, the psychedelic medicines allow us to face with openness the parts of ourselves that we typically close ourselves off to. In a container of safety, this attentive openness facilitates integration and healing. In the same way, by creating a safe container for men to explore the parts of ourselves that we don’t give enough attention to, we can facilitate healing in ourselves, and feed that healing forward throughout our families, communities, and the greater global consciousness. When we take the message of the psychedelic domain seriously and put it into practice, we each become what I call “the psychedelic man”.

The psychedelic man understands that the process of integration is a lifelong undertaking that imbues life with meaning. He speaks courageously, listens deeply, embraces humility, and approaches all issues with curiosity. He leads other men toward integration through wisdom, action, and firm but compassionate guidance. The psychedelic man looks at all beings as his brothers and sisters, and thereby takes responsibility for engendering the thriving of all beings. He looks to the entire ancestry of humanity as teachers. He looks to archetypal stories and myths rather than cultural trends for guidance. He understands that a system of support is a prerequisite for flourishing. He lives his purpose and undertakes only what is meaningful. The psychedelic man is the man the world is waiting for us to become.

If this writing speaks to you, or resonates with something deep within, join us at the next PPS Men’s Support Group meeting. We await your contribution.

Psychedelic Paths to Wholeness is a monthly gathering focused on exploring the intentional use of psychedelics for personal and communal healing, growth, and expansion.

This group provides a supportive space for individuals to share their experiences, ask questions, and explore the transformative potential of psychedelics. Our discussions will also focus on how psychedelics can foster connection, heal inherited and ancestral traumas, and inspire peaceful activism to create positive change in our world.

Whether you are new to psychedelics or have been a long-time explorer, all are welcome.

📣 PLEASE READ: we have several important announcements, disclaimers, and attendee agreements that we go over at the beginning of every meeting. It is important that everyone attending this meeting be present for this so that they can agree to the group rules. This will usually take place around 6:10pm. Once the group rules have been announced and agreed to by everyone present, we will not be allowing additional people to join. This is to protect everyone's privacy and respect people's time. Thank you for your understanding. 🙏♥️

Ofer is a trauma-informed certified wellness coach, relationship coach, parts work facilitator, and somatic healing practitioner. They are dedicated to helping people find healing, growth, and transformation in their lives. As someone who has experienced the transformative potential of psychedelics first-hand, Ofer has become a passionate advocate for their use in helping others.

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Portland Psychedelic Society (PPS) is a donation-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

This meeting focuses on topics that are relevant to mental health professionals including therapists, counselors, doctors, naturopaths, and other related disciplines. Its cohosts are Dr. Brian Pilecki and Joe Eaton.

We alternate between having guest speakers and having an open discussion. This month we will be having an open discussion, so please feel free to bring any topics, news items, questions, or curiosities to be discussed with the group.

We welcome respectful engagement and discourse, and honor this time and space to be a productive discussion for all.

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About the HOSTS:

Brian Pilecki, PhD: