At Brooklyn Psychedelic, we are deeply committed to giving back and supporting initiatives that align with our values of healing, sustainability, and community empowerment. That’s why 3% of all donations are directed to organizations making a meaningful impact both locally and globally. Here are the organizations we proudly support:

• Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines (chacruna.net): Chacruna advances education, cultural understanding, and social justice around psychedelics. Their work supports Indigenous reciprocity and amplifies the voices of traditional knowledge keepers who have long been stewards of plant medicine practices.

• The Bronx Documentary Center (bronxdoc.org): A cultural hub in the South Bronx that uses photography and film to amplify community voices, foster education, and inspire social change. By supporting the BDC, we are empowering youth and underserved communities through creative expression and storytelling.

• Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund (imc.fund): This fund works to protect the lands, traditions, and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities who safeguard plant medicines like ayahuasca, peyote, and iboga. By supporting the IMC Fund, we help ensure these sacred medicines are preserved and respected for generations to come.

• Magic Fund Amazon (magicfundamazon.com): Dedicated to the protection of the Amazon rainforest and the communities that inhabit it, Magic Fund Amazon focuses on conservation, sustainable practices, and the well-being of Indigenous people who depend on the forest for their livelihoods and traditions.

The more we give, the more we are supported, and the more we can extend that support to those in need of healing. By choosing Brooklyn Psychedelic, you’re contributing to a ripple effect of positive change—helping to protect sacred traditions, nurture communities, and create a sustainable future for us all.

The word “psychedelic” comes from the Greek words psyche, meaning “mind,” and delos, meaning “manifesting.” Coined in 1956 by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond in a letter to author Aldous Huxley, the term describes substances like psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, mescaline, and DMT that can produce profound, non-ordinary states of consciousness. These states are often compared to those experienced in deep meditation, near-death experiences, or mystical awakenings.

Psychedelics work by temporarily altering the brain’s default mode network (DMN), which governs habitual thought patterns and the ego. In doing so, they can dissolve the boundaries of self, allowing users to access deeper insights, repressed emotions, and a sense of connection to something greater than themselves. These altered states can open the door to healing and growth at a cognitive, emotional, and spiritual level, offering new perspectives on old traumas, behaviors, or ways of being.

Beyond their therapeutic potential, psychedelics have been used for thousands of years in spiritual and ceremonial contexts by indigenous cultures around the world. Today, they are increasingly studied in modern science for their ability to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. At Brooklyn Psychedelic, we honor both the ancient traditions and cutting-edge research, offering a balanced, respectful approach to these “mind-manifesting” tools for transformation and growth.

"Set and setting" refers to the internal and external conditions that shape your psychedelic experience. Coined by Timothy Leary and popularized during the 1960s, this concept emphasizes the importance of your mindset (set) and environment (setting) when using psychedelics. Together, these factors significantly influence how you process the experience and the insights you gain from it.

Set refers to your internal state—your mood, thoughts, intentions, and expectations going into the experience. Having a clear intention and being in a calm, grounded emotional space can help you approach the journey with openness and curiosity, even when challenging emotions or memories arise. Preparing your mind is essential for creating the conditions for healing and growth.

Setting encompasses the external environment, including the physical space, the people you’re with, and the overall atmosphere. A safe, supportive, and comfortable setting—whether it’s a trusted guide’s presence, soothing music, or a familiar environment—provides a sense of security and reduces the likelihood of anxiety or fear. At Brooklyn Psychedelic, we help you curate both set and setting to ensure your journey is as meaningful, transformative, and supportive as possible.

Psychedelic coaching offers personalized guidance to help you navigate the profound insights and challenges that often come with psychedelic experiences. These journeys can open doors to new perspectives, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening—but without support, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure how to integrate these lessons into your life. A skilled coach helps you make sense of your experience, providing structure and tools to translate your insights into meaningful, lasting change.

One of the key benefits of psychedelic coaching is having a safe and nonjudgmental space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Whether you’re preparing for a ceremony or reflecting afterward, coaching ensures you feel supported throughout the process. Coaches can help you clarify your goals, process emotions, and identify patterns or behaviors that may no longer serve you. This guidance empowers you to move forward with clarity and confidence.

At Brooklyn Psychedelic, we believe coaching is about more than just insight—it’s about transformation. Through personalized sessions, we help you integrate the wisdom of your journey into your daily life, supporting growth in areas like relationships, career, spirituality, and self-discovery. With the right guidance, psychedelic coaching can turn a powerful experience into a lifelong path of healing, purpose, and wholeness.

Rio is the Director and Lead Facilitator of Brooklyn Psychedelic and has been working with psychedelics for over 20 years, using these sacred tools to facilitate growth, healing, and spiritual awakening for himself and others. He combines traditional plant medicine practices with modern scientific research to create a safe and transformative environment for those seeking self-actualization and personal transformation.

Río grew up in rural Texas near the U.S./Mexico border, a setting that instilled in him a deep appreciation for nature, culture, and the healing power of community. His journey with psychedelics has led him to participate in and facilitate ceremonies across the United States, Mexico, and Peru.

In Peru, Río studied under the guidance of a Shipibo Maestro in the Amazon Jungle, where he deepened his relationship with Ayahuasca and dieted Noya Rao, a sacred and secret tree known for its luminous properties and profound spiritual significance. This experience, along with living among the Shipibo people, profoundly shaped Río’s approach to healing and ceremonial work.

Río also spent three years living in Mexico, cultivating a strong bond with psilocybin mushrooms. During this time, he developed close ties with Mazatec and Zapotec communities, learning from their ancient practices of healing and connection to Nature. He has been honored with blessings from these communities, including the family of María Sabina, the renowned Mazateca curandera who introduced psilocybin mushrooms to the Western world—a privilege and responsibility he holds with deep reverence. He has also studied extensively with Mara'akame (Huichol shamans) The Wixárika desert of Northern Mexico, also known as Wirikuta, learning their sacred practices with Peyote, an experience that continues to inform his work.

In addition to traditional practices, Río stays informed on the latest developments in psychedelic science, drawing from groundbreaking studies conducted by institutions such as Johns Hopkins, NYU, and the Imperial College of London. He integrates these methodologies into his ceremonies, blending ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic frameworks to maximize the healing potential of psychedelics.

Río emphasizes that psychedelics are not a magic bullet. While they can open doors to profound insight and healing, they are but one step along the path. What is more important is learning to access the power of our own inner healer in a way that is as natural and universal as possible—a pathway that anyone can follow, no matter their circumstances. True transformation comes from cultivating inner work, allowing clients to find healing and strength within themselves rather than relying on external conditions, personalities, substances, tools, or ceremonies.

Río works closely with his clients to develop practices that support long-term growth and self-actualization without the ongoing use of psychedelic intervention. These practices include mindfulness, holistic health, and shadow integration. By embracing these tools, clients learn to ground themselves in the present moment, align with their true nature, and move toward lasting healing and transformation.

Río believes in creating a safe, supportive environment for all participants. While not a doctor or psychotherapist, he and his team adhere to a strict code of ethics and work collaboratively to ensure each person feels secure, prepared, and cared for throughout their journey. Brooklyn Psychedelic is rooted in the belief that psychedelics, when approached with intention and respect, can open the door to profound healing and personal transformation. Río inspires his clients to reconnect with their inner healer and trust in their innate ability to create meaningful, lasting change. Clients leave not just with insights but with the tools to integrate these insights into their daily lives, empowering them to navigate their own path of transformation with confidence and purpose.

Integration is the process of taking the insights and revelations from a psychedelic experience and applying them in a way that creates lasting change. The word “integrate” means “to make whole,” and this work is about weaving the lessons of your journey into your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Without integration, even the most profound experiences can remain fleeting, leaving you unchanged despite the insights gained.

Psychedelics can open the door to transformation, but it’s up to you to walk through it. Insights alone won’t create change unless they are supported by intentional effort. Practices like journaling, meditation, therapy, or creative expression help to anchor what you’ve learned and turn it into a foundation for growth. As Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Integration helps ensure that the wisdom of your experience finds a place in the everyday moments that make up your life.

Integration is deeply personal. For some, it might involve processing challenging emotions, exploring new perspectives, or making changes in relationships and routines. For others, it might be about rediscovering a sense of joy or connection. The goal is not to rush or force change, but to gently align your life with the truths uncovered during your journey, in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.

At Brooklyn Psychedelic, we’re here to support you in making integration a lifelong practice. Through tools, teachings, and community, we help bridge the gap between the extraordinary and the ordinary, guiding you toward wholeness and transformation. Integration is not just a phase—it’s a commitment to honoring the experience and allowing it to guide you toward a deeper, more meaningful life.