Two months ago, I was honored to receive my license as a Natural Medicine Facilitator from the state of Colorado, allowing me to support individuals during plant medicines journeys within the state’s newly created regulatory model. Achieving this milestone through the accelerated pathway for legacy practitioners, a journey that began with the Zendo Project nearly a decade ago, has inspired a deep reflection on the unconventional path that led me here. In particular, it has reinforced my gratitude for the experience I have gained through the Zendo Project, which provides a vital route for non-clinicians to engage in psychedelic support work.
When I first applied to volunteer with the Zendo Project in 2016, I was a computer science graduate, living in New York City, and working on Wall Street – as far from a licensed psychedelic facilitator as one could imagine. Attending festivals on the East Coast at the time, I noticed a clear absence of support and resources for people encountering challenging experiences. An introduction to Sara Gael, who was Director of Zendo Project at the time, transformed my initial interest in supporting patrons at local events into a journey of volunteering at multiple events each year with Zendo, significantly shaping my personal and professional growth.
Over the years, working with the Zendo Project has afforded me the profound privilege of holding space for some of the most intense and deeply human experiences, substance-related or otherwise. Event-based psychedelic crisis work differs significantly from the more structured and controlled context of facilitated psychedelic sessions, offering a unique perspective on the broader landscape of psychedelic care. Working in festival settings and high-energy environments, the unpredictability and immediacy of the work have allowed me to develop my skills in ways that traditional facilitation simply cannot replicate.
Another unique benefit of working with Zendo Project is the opportunity to collaborate closely with an incredible network of peers and mentors at every event. In the professional facilitation space, real-time collaboration and feedback are not always available. In contrast, working with Zendo Project provides a volunteer the opportunity to observe and work alongside seasoned practitioners in action, both receiving and providing consultation in the moment and in post-event debriefs. This immersive learning environment has played a crucial role in my growth, significantly accelerating my understanding of best practices, nuanced techniques, and the art of holding space for others in challenging and often unpredictable situations.
As we step into another exciting festival season, our community will come together once again to support event participants through the Zendo Project’s services. This is a transformative time for the field of psychedelic support, and the opportunity to grow in this field and expand our impact is something we all share. I am deeply grateful for the collaboration and connections that make this work possible!
In Psychedelic Service,
Ben Halper / “Lighthouse”
Zendo Project
Event Services Manager
2025 Events Update
Zendo Project is planning to take 2025 off from Burning Man, as we get ourselves established as a new nonprofit and work on building key programs in our organization. We plan to return to Burning Man in 2026, and are actively collaborating with Rangers to help find an interim solution for 2025. Stay tuned to our monthly newsletter for more updates.
If you have questions, concerns, or want to discuss ways to support Zendo Project at Burning Man, please get in touch. Thank you for your ongoing support!
If you are interested in volunteering with us at other events this year, please take a moment to complete our interest form below.
Volunteer Spotlight: Hannah Procell, “Wrangler”
A deeply personal experience during college fueled Hannah’s dedication to harm reduction. Her involvement traces back to Fall 2014 when she joined the New College of Florida’s Chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). After attending an SSDP Regional Conference, Hannah returned inspired by the community of advocates she met. Tragically, just a month later, her friend Julian accidentally overdosed and died on campus. This loss strengthened her commitment to hone her skills as an activist in service to the harm reduction movement.
Zendo Project on the Divergent States Podcast
Ever wonder what it’s like to hold space in the heart of a psychedelic swirl? We joined the Divergent States podcast to talk about life inside the Zendo, navigating stigma in a complicated psychedelic landscape, and what we’ve been up to since becoming our own nonprofit in 2022.
If you’ve ever been curious about the behind-the-scenes of psychedelic peer support (or just want to hear us ramble about presence, empathy, and tending to the chaos), give it a listen.
July Zendo SIT Registration Now Open!
Registration for the July 2025 4-Week Zendo SIT Course is now open! This is your opportunity to deepen your understanding of psychedelic care and learn the core principles behind our compassionate care support model.
Details:
- Dates: July 7, July 21, July 28, and August 4 (No meeting on July 14)
- Time: Mondays, 4–7pm Pacific Time
- Duration: 4 weeks (online)
For questions, contact our team.
We hope you will join us!
Join us on Bicycle Day for the Ride to Destigmatize.
Zendo Project is joining PORTAL and organizations across the world for a benefit bike ride and global day of action to power our collective mission. Join us in Denver this Friday!