Introducing Zendo Lab

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on how new movements begin—not in grand announcements, but in quiet acts of care. In the Zendo, we see this every day: how one person holding space for another can ripple outward and reshape the culture of an entire event. This month, that same spirit of compassion and curiosity is taking a bold new step. We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Zendo Lab, our dedicated research arm, where our team’s commitment to data integrity, learning, and service is beginning to take root in the field of psychedelic science.

Zendo Lab has already begun producing work that is being recognized at the national level, including at conferences like the American Public Health Association (APHA). This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless dedication of our internal volunteers, the wisdom of our external partners, and the trust of everyone who has ever sat, been a guest in the Zendo, or supported our mission. Together, we are proving that compassion and science are not opposites, but partners.

As I have observed, when people cross the thresholds of altered states, compassion is not optional; it is essential. Without caring hands to guide those unique transitions, trauma may take root where healing was meant to unfold. Such work cannot be solely transactional; it requires practitioners grounded in empathy, science, and genuine human connection. By weaving research into our fieldwork, we’re creating the foundations for a future where psychedelic harm reduction is not an exception, but a norm—an essential part of every festival, retreat, and transformative gathering around the world.

But our story is just beginning, and we want you to be part of it. Over the coming months, we’ll begin inviting our broader community to help us shape the next generation of psychedelic care. Whether through survey studies, shared experiences, or volunteer opportunities, your input will contribute to building one of the world’s first large-scale datasets on psychedelic harm reduction and peer support. Together, we can strengthen the science behind what our hearts already know: that compassionate presence saves lives, transforms communities, and expands what healing can look like.

When people look back a thousand years from now on the early history of psychedelic science, I believe they’ll see that what began with small circles of care like ours became a movement that changed how humanity approaches consciousness and connection. Every story shared, every guest supported, and every dataset built is a step toward that vision. Thank you for walking this path with us.

Zendo Lab Partners With Center for Psychedelic Public Health

Through Zendo Lab, we’re transforming years of field data into actionable insights and partnering with external researchers to advance the science of compassionate care. Our first major partnership, with the Center for Psychedelic Public Health, focuses on evaluating the efficacy of Zendo Project’s Sitting and Integration Training (SIT) and exploring how peer support can strengthen community-based approaches to psychedelic wellness and support.

Together, we’ve been invited to present our early findings at the upcoming American Public Health Association (APHA) conference in Washington, D.C., as part of one of the first sessions ever dedicated to psychedelic public health. We look forward to sharing more from this milestone next month.

Volunteer Spotlight: Caitlin Farr

Since joining Zendo Project in 2022, Caitlin has contributed as a shift lead and volunteer camp coordinator at Burning Man. At Burning Man 2025, she went above and beyond in her role as a volunteer coordinator and logistics lead for the Haven by Zendo Project.

Drawing from more than a decade of experience in wellness retreat operations and hospitality logistics, Caitlin focuses on supporting the “setting” in set and setting. She’s deeply passionate about harm reduction and creating environments where people can land softly, feel safe, and be cared for.

Psychedelic Training Weekend Series

The Zendo SIT course will be offered two more times in 2025. Both courses will follow our Weekend Series format, exploring the full SIT curriculum over the course of two consecutive weekends. This course format is ideal for working professionals, students, international learners, and others with full schedules.

Upcoming Trainings

November Weekend Series

• Dates: November 8–9 and 15–16
• Time: 8–11am Pacific Time

December Weekend Series

• Dates: December 6–7 and 13–14
• Time: 8–11am Pacific Time