Help Us Share The Psychedelic Chronicles With The World

We’re in the midst of a global mental health crisis. Multiple clinical studies have shown the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, however, the field is evolving at breakneck speed. This documentary poses urgent questions that need to be asked.

In it, we chart the dramatic re-emergence of psychedelics into the mainstream consciousness and – more controversially – how this is intersecting with western capitalism, the mental health crisis, and indigenous communities.

We want to thank everyone who has supported this project so far. This documentary, formerly known as The Psychedelic Renaissance, truly is a community effort. We’re so grateful to everyone who has given their money and/or their time to help us complete it.

Among our donors we welcome many leading figures from the psychedelic field, including William Leonard Pickard, Graham Pechenik, Dr Rosalind Watts, Michelle Baker Jones, Dr Bia Labate, Chiara Sherlock, Adriana Kertzer, Raquel Bennet, Friedericke Meckel, Daan Keiman, Meghan Kennedy, Sandy Samberg, Vilmarie Narloch, and many more!

To date, we’ve raised approximately £19K and this is our third and last fundraising round. Our goal is to raise £21,000 to finalise the film, so it’s ready to premiere this summer.

"Psychedelic Chronicles project has been a real labour of love. What began with intention to capture the emerging psychedelic renaissance has now grown into a community effort, skilfully facilitated by Anya’s openness and passion to make a difference. We are all now collaborating to consider the robust foundations needed to hold the potential of psychedelics in a safe and sustainable way.

I feel this goes to the heart of psychedelics indigenous roots. The process of working in this field, as a psychedelic therapist, has taught me that we are all interdependent. If the structures we co-create don’t reflect this, we will replicate mistakes from the past; isolating the individual and their healing from the greater systemic reality."

Michelle Baker Jones

We’re deeply passionate about the healing potential of psychedelics in the world, but we also know that being a true advocate means thinking long-term and asking tough questions:

What problems may we be exacerbating, or creating, when money is pouring into an industry with very little regulation?
In what ways are we perpetuating our profit-oriented, consumerist society (and all the problems that come with it) instead of challenging the old system?
How many people are made vulnerable when the excitement about psychedelics drowns out the calls for safety, responsible use and harm reduction?
How could we address the global mental health crisis with safe, supportive models of care that don't just focus on substances?
What can we learn from nature and indigenous communities about the interconnectedness of healing? The need for community, cooperation and connection?
If we allow profiteering and consumerism to continue unchecked, do we risk derailing the entire healing movement?
How can we prioritise the rights, interests and wellbeing of indigenous communities, addressing problems with cultural appropriation, ecological balance and other issues?
How do we tackle issues of equality, including access to therapy, representation in clinical trials, and the disproportionate impact of the war on drugs on BIPOC people?

We believe this film is timely and urgent. But we need your help to release it.

For advocates, like us, who have worked hard for so many years to remove the stigma around psychedelics, it’s an incredible shift to witness the explosion of interest today.

But the rapid pace of change also brings risks. That’s why this documentary is so important.

Your donation will help us to:

EDUCATE: We want to help people understand the health benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy, including the treatment of anxiety, PTSD and addiction.
SUPPORT: We want to give people a comprehensive guide to help them safely prepare for, and integrate after, a psychedelic experience.
PROTECT: We want to create a trusted resource for harm reduction, clearly outlining the risks involved with psychedelics and how to mitigate them.
ADVOCATE: We want to be a voice for marginalised people, campaigning for access for working class/BIPOC people, and justice for those criminalised by the war on drugs
SAFEGUARD: We want to raise awareness of the social, environmental and sustainability issues around certain psychedelics, and reciprocity with indigenous communities in the global south.

“For those of us who have been working towards the careful integration of psychedelics into modern society, it’s hard not to be concerned. If we introduce these substances into the old system (based on individualism, competition, and inequity) we risk amplifying the old problems and creating new ones. We need to start building the more collaborative, inclusive and interconnected systems that we want psychedelics to be part of. It’s so important we come together now to ask difficult questions, learn from our mistakes so far, and consider ways forward that can serve and safeguard the many, not the few.”

Dr Rosalind Watts – one of the 50 Most Influential People in Psychedelics, and in the top 16 Women Shaping the Future of Psychedelics

CONTRIBUTORS

In this documentary, we speak to people from across the community, including many highly respected public figures in the space: Micheal Pollan, David Bronner, Amanda Feilding, Natalie Ginsberg, Friedericke Meckel, Sara Read, Darren La Baron, Sam Gandy, Dr Christopher Timmermann, and more.

We closely focus on the work of some of the leading figures in the community who share their private challenges with the industry as it’s developing:

Clinical psychologist Dr Rosalind Watts, founder of ACER Integration and former lead clinician on the Imperial College London Psilocybin for Depression study (Psilodep2)

Michelle Baker Jones, Psilodep 2, current Small Pharma and Imperial College London - DMT for Depression Trial

Leonie Schneider, co-founder of PsyPAN and former patient on the Psilodep 2 study

Camille Barton, artist and drug policy activist, focusing on racial and LGBTQ+ equality

Akua Ofosuhene, producer of African Spiritual Practices, broadcaster, psychedelic fashion designer, co-founder of Hub + Culture

CONTENT

This ground-breaking documentary takes a deeper look at the psychedelic movement:

The rebirth of the movement in the West, from its early stages, to the exponential growth in the field we see today.
The journeys of grassroots organisations, such as The Psychedelic Society UK, and various psychedelic societies globally, as they planted seeds for change at the beginning of last decade.
The revival of psychedelic research, from small medical departments, to dedicated psychedelic research centres and institutes, which continue to propel the revolution in mental health care and psychiatry.
The global use of psychedelics; their socio-cultural value and potential to treat a huge range of mental health issues, including depression, PTSD and addiction.
The often overlooked aspects of psychedelics; the effect of nature; the importance of community; issues of cultural appropriation; indigenous reciprocity (exchange for mutual benefit); and processes of preparation and integration.
The shadow side of the movement and why the mainstream narrative (presenting psychedelics as a panacea for all of society’s problems) is problematic and, potentially, dangerous.

SUPPORT US

We can’t make this documentary without you. We need your support.

We’re invested over £19K of money into filming and production costs over the past five years. We’re now seeking £21,000 in funding to cover our post-production, animation, and release costs.

Donate £10, £20, £50, £100, £1000 (whatever you can afford) and you’ll not only be supporting the psychedelic movement, you’ll be helping us share vital resources, safeguard the community, and advocate for urgent system change.

PLEASE NOTE: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to your GoFundMe.

In addition to this feature-length documentary, we’re working hard to bring you important educational content on our site, psychedelicchronicles.earth.

If we exceed our target, your donation will be a much-needed support for this vital content.

Why other people have donated:

Daphne B - $100

"It's an important topic, and may well help to make the world a better place. Even if it's one drop in the ocean, I'm all for every single drop."

Conor OBrien - $50

"I believe this direction of practice is essential for our development as a species, and as a trained therapist, I would love to be able to use psychedelic substances in instances to help my clients. The movement must continue and a well made documentary would really help that. Good luck, I look forward to watching."

Andrew Parker - $50

"It's great project, part of a very important movement"

Diane Dew - $50

"This work is incredibly important, and the film will be a great way to share it with a wider audience."

Lyn Nelson - $49

"Love this work, can't wait for it to be set free"

Sonia Conchon - $50

"I look forward to seeing the Psychedelic Chronicles to have a balanced, intelligent and honnest look at the movement: its pitfalls, its promises, and all its participants, beyond the good ol' straight educated white men ;) Go go go Anya and all the team!"

Ciara Sherlock - $30

"This documentary will no doubt be of huge benefit to the psychedelic movement and the world. Big thanks to all the team. Let's make it happen!"

THE CREATORS

The documentary is the project of PsyAware

At PsyAwarewe're building a future where everyone using psychedelics, whether in a clinical setting or for personal exploration, can do so in a safe, supported, and inclusive environment.

Anya Oleksiuk >>> Director//Producer//Director of Photography

Anya is a documentary filmmaker, host and educator. She is a Co-Director of the Psychedelic Society UK, leading on video production, harm reduction and education about psychedelics. She curates and hosts talks and panel discussions about psychedelic sicnece and mental health. She is also associated with the Psychedelic Society of the Netherlands and is a consultant for the Polish Psychedelic Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Psychodeliczne). Anya is a founder and director of Triptika Studios, which is a collective of independent filmmakers with interests in health, science, innovative solutions, mental health, drug advocacy, social and racial justice and environment-friendly lifestyles. Her clients include Maudsley psychedelic Research Team at King’s College London, Psychedelic.Support and The Hemp Trading Company.

Haya A >>> Co-Producer//Co-director

Haya is an enthusiastic advocate of psychedelic literacy who intends to help catalyse the psychedelic movement globally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and wrote a senior thesis titled “Ask Your Doctor If Psychedelics Are Right For You: A Closer Look At The Clinical Uses Of Psychedelics.” Since obtaining her degree in psychology she has branched out to work in different fields ranging from NGOs to film sets. She was formerly involved with community development at The Third Wave, and is a long-time active member of the French Psychedelic Society. And finally, in 2023, she founded Arab Psychedelic Society. In the future, she has plans to pursue a PhD in psychology to further develop the skills needed in providing psychedelic assisted psychotherapy and is on a mission to open a psychedelic research center and clinic in the Middle East.

Camille Barton >>> Co-director

Camille is an artist, diversity consultant, researcher of somatic social justice and a drug policy reform consultant. She has written for the MAPS Bulletin and currently works as an advisory board member for the MAPS public benefit corporation to ensure that MDMA assisted Psychotherapy will be accessible to marginalised communities. She brings her passion for social change to life through a variety of art mediums, including dance, film and clowning. Her art practice fuses improvisation, ritual and Afrofuturism to weave new realities inspired by the creativity of the African Diaspora. In June 2018, Camille’s film Space is the Place was shown at Sheffield Doc Fest, and in August she curated The SanQtuary, an intersectional safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community at Shambala Festival. In late 2018, Camille co-produced RE:GENERATE an arts festival on the intersections of drug policy, racial justice and liberation.

Mareesa Stertz >>> Co-director & Camera

Mareesa Stertz is a filmmaker, community organizer, and KRI certified Kundalini Yoga teacher. She is the producer and host of the documentary series, The Healing Powers (of Psychedelics and Other Mindful Practices), currently streaming on Gaia TV. She is also one of the founders of Lucid News - a news platform that covers the growing integration of psychedelics into society and their broad implications for human wellness. Mareesa is the founder of The Psychedelic Leadership Summits, a series of workshops focused on building relationships within the community and creating space for important conversations. Mareesa also programs events at The Aware Project, a Los Angeles Psychedelic Society. She is passionate about finding solutions to systemic problems, and her work is heavily informed by her own journey of healing, which has taken her all around the world, filming with the curanderos of Peru to the holy men of India. She has a BA in Cinema at San Francisco State University, and her documentaries have been featured by Gaia TV, Viceland, Indigenous Films, Merry Jane, and Participant. Her film on the spiritual intentional community Damanhur will be released mid 2020, and she is currently in development on a one-woman play that celebrates the healing journey.

Ana Sabolic >>> Camera

Ana Sabolić is a visual artist and filmmaker working in the field of independent film production and contemporary visual art. She graduated with a MA in Art in 2015 focused on graphics and video art. Interested in psychogeography, Ana explores problems through moving images and art workshops. Many of her workshops were founded and supported by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and shown as solo exhibitions in galleries. It is an on-going project about exploring the identity of space and the effects of the geographical environment on the emotions and behaviour of individuals. In the context of film and video production, she works on experimental and documentary projects which often go beyond the boundaries of the traditional state of a movie in cinemas and integrates into modern gallery spaces. Currently, she is an MA Film Production student at London School of Film, Media, and Design at the University of West London focused mostly on experimental and documentary film. She is working as a freelance Art Director and Editor and is a Co-director of Triptika Studios.

Mercedes CA Grant >>> Associate Producer

Mercedes CA Grant is a witch, writer, activist, community organizer, trauma & justice informed yoga teacher, student astrologer and psychonaut, currently practicing on the island of the T’oq qaymexʷ in the traditional territory of the Klahoose, Tla'Amin, and Homalco First Nations, on Turtle Island, with roots in Ireland, Scotland and England. She is dedicated to creating and supporting dynamic, inclusive, educational spaces and opportunities that encourage healing and paradigm-shifting dialogue, while building safe(r), just, compassionate and supportive communities both online, and in-real-life. She holds 500+ hours in traditional yogic education, with a focus on substance abuse recovery and trauma recovery through a disability justice lens. Mercedes has contributed to the psychedelic and plant medicine community since 2015, providing support to organizations including MAPS Canada, the Spirit Plant Medicine Conference, Therapsil, The Psychedelic Society UK, The Psychedelic Renaissance documentary, and the 2018 and 2020 Psychedelic Psychotherapy Forum. She is currently studying astrology, building a tiny house in the woods, resting, and weaving the threads of her experience and education to be able to offer psychedelic and plant medicine relationship-building and integration support, while holding space in her community for resilience building and mutual aid amidst climate and ecological collapse.

Former Team Members❤️

Martha Allitt - Social Content Producer, Community Manager and Event Facilitator

Ashwin Bolar - Digital Comms Lead

Weronika Sikorska - Assistant Editor

Matt Reid - Web Design & Technical Support

Leily Kassai - Content Creator

Power the Psychedelic Chronicles documentary film!

Still £18,166 to go. Help us build momentum.