In this conversation, Fê Gebara delves into the realm of Western psychedelic research and practice juxtaposing them with Indigenous cosmologies and traditions in the Amazon. She sheds light on the repercussions of Western approaches to sacred medicines, which are often characterized by objectivity, reductionism, and commodification and tend to ignore essential compounds of traditional healing, such as ritualizing, chanting, praying, being in community, dancing, and honoring other-than-human beings. These essential elements, which modern societies have become disconnected from, are widely recognized as significant contributors to the present health and environmental crisis. To illustrate the conversation, Fê gives some examples from the Yawanawá and Huni Kuin history and traditions with indigenous medicines debating how we could better integrate Western and indigenous practices and paths.
