Awakening 2025 Thursday Program
*
YORK MANOR • 4908 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90042
October 2–4, 2025
PROGRAM of EVENTS
Thursday, Oct 2, 2025
Clarity Room
10:00 – 11:50 AM
Ceremonial Breath Experience
Ceremonial Breath is a guided, ceremony-inspired breath ritual blending ancient shamanic traditions and plant-medicine wisdom with modern healing modalities—opening doorways to clarity, release, and connection without substances. Through rhythmic, music-backed breathing, participants access non-ordinary states, release stored tension, and awaken deep presence. Perfect for psychedelic preparation, integration, or as a complete ceremony, this safe, accessible practice reconnects you to your body, spirit, and innate medicine. In each 90–120 minute session, you’ll learn the Ceremonial Breath pattern, journey in sacred space, and integrate with grounding practices—remembering and embodying your own medicine.
Speaker: Melissa Terese
• • •
3:00 – 4:50 PM
Create Your Own Sacred Psychedelic Art: Experiential Workshop
Enter the portal, awaken your vision, and create the art of your becoming.”
Step into the “portal of Possibility” with HeARTsong Wellness. THis unique workshop blends a guided shamanic journey with intuitive art-making, inviting you to explore new realms of insight, healing, and creative potential. As you journey inward, you’ll discover your personal portal and bring its energy to life through an intuitive art project – designing and decorating your symbolic doorway. No art experience needed – just a willingness to explore, create, and embrace what’s possible.
Speaker: Kat Angelica (Founder, HeARTsong Wellness)
• • •
Insight Room
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Harmonic Light
Speaker: Reid Godshaw
• • •
Portal Room
11:00 – 11:50 AM
Hapé Ceremony
Rapé or Hape is the preparation of powdered medicinal herbs, often with a tobacco base. Hapé is typically made with mapacho – Hapé elicits a feeling of alertness and elevation that surpasses most other natural plant-based effects.
The effects of hapé are experienced rapidly and intensely because the powdered snuff is administered through the nose. The practice of consuming powdered plant medicines through the nose is much more ancient than we realized (dating from the pre-Columbian days) and was first observed among the Brazilian indigenous tribes. Attend this session and experience this powerful medicine.
Speaker: Samson Love
• • •
1:00 – 2:50 PM
Introduction to Becoming a Professional Psychedelic Facilitator
This is a 2-hour workshop exploring the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. We’ll cover essential safety protocols, various medicine paths, and the ideal skills & space requirements for conducting sessions. We will explore the psychological, energetic and emotional qualities of what it means to hold space as a “healer”, including the basics of client-provider boundaries, container & expectation setting, money-matters and provide insights into the challenges, responsibilities of leading with an open heart. If you have ever wondered, “is holding space as a psychedelic healer for me?”, this workshop is for you. Join us to gain a comprehensive overview of this transformational work.
Speakers: Paul Karasik, Loretta Gold
• • •
3:00 – 4:50 PM
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy: Integrating with Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Nature Informed Therapy
Integrating Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy with Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Nature Informed Therapy offers clinicians a novel approach to treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder. In combination these modalities support individual self exploration, alternative methods for expansion, and have potential for community healing. Participants will learn about practices to support their work as clinicians, and introduce avenues of healing for clients.
Speaker: Mary Tobon
• • •
Speakers, Leaders & Performers
in order of appearance
Melissa Terese
Heather Mack
Pete Sessa
Magic Mike
Samson Love
Paul Karasik
Loretta Gold
Mary Tobon
Teresa Kearney
Adam O’Neill
Dr. Christopher D. McLaine
Paul Wigdor
Conference Room
11:00 AM – 11:50 PM
How to Run a Successful Psychedelic Business
Success in the psychedelics industry requires more than vision—it demands a strong business foundation. This pre-conference session will outline the critical back-office elements every entrepreneur must address, from business structure and compliance to bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll. Led by Teresa Kearney, Vice President of Sales at Panacea Payroll, along with Adam O’Neill, a business strategist, the discussion will cover essential operational and financial considerations. From financial systems to growth strategies, they’ll share insider tips to help attendees avoid costly mistakes and fast-track success.
Speakers: Teresa Kearney, Adam O’Neill
• • •
1:00 – 1:50 PM
Bridging SSRIs and Psychedelics: New Perspective on Mental Health
What happens when we look at mental health through both a scientific lens and a spark of wonder? This workshop invites participants to explore the relationship SSRIs and microdosing each has on the brain, and what that means for healing and growth. We will touch on current research, statistics, and fresh perspectives that open meaningful dialogue about mental health in new ways. Participants will also learn compassionate approaches for beginning conversations on the subject with loved ones. Designed for facilitators, clinicians, practitioners, and those curious about reframing perspectives, this session bridges the two methods and fosters collaborative, informed dialogue from both schools of thought.
Speaker: Atara
• • •
4:00 – 5:00 PM
Capital Raising 101 for Your Psychedelic Business
Hear from experts with decades of experience in helping businesses raise capital. You will learn: How to know when your business is ready for outside capital and how to structure your deal and funding options. In addition, you will learn what you will need to do once you are ready to raise, the different types of investors and how to find them and what investors will expect from you once they write their check.
Who Should Attend this Workshop/Panel: Psychedelic Entrepreneurs and Investor
Speaker: Paul Wigdor (CEO Awakening Capital)
• • •
