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Bringing Worlds Together: What Marlena Robinson and Other Impactful Voices Teach Us About Respectful Psychedelic Use
- sofiamanne
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
From cutting-edge clinical trials to quiet, personal journeys of healing, people worldwide are rediscovering what many Indigenous cultures have known for millennia: psychedelics can be profound tools for transformation, connection, and restoration. This rebirth offers two intertwined invitations:
Explore new frontiers of the mind that modern science is only beginning to map.
Listen deeply to the ancestral and contemporary wisdom that has safeguarded and guided these medicines across generations.
Honoring the Roots
Psychedelics are anything but new. For centuries—and often for much longer—Indigenous communities have used mushrooms, cactus, vines, and other sacred plants in ceremonial, therapeutic, and communal settings. As interest surges in mainstream culture, our first responsibility is to acknowledge and respect these living traditions rather than treating psychedelics as the latest scientific discovery or wellness trend.
Marlena Robbins: Amplifying Indigenous Perspectives
Marlena Robbins, a proud Diné (Navajo) scholar and advocate, stands at the forefront of culturally grounded psychedelic research. Through her leadership, Indigenous voices are shaping national conversations about therapeutic use, ensuring the renaissance grows with respect, reciprocity, and cultural integrity at its core.
Her own healing journey with psilocybin mushrooms illustrates why these medicines must be approached with reverence: “I see the mushrooms as holy doctors of healing,” Marlena shares. For her, psilocybin helped mend intergenerational trauma and deepened her connection to Diné heritage—an experience rooted in values far larger than neurochemistry alone.
Sacred Medicine, Shared Responsibility
Marlena’s message is clear: psychedelics can be extraordinary tools, provided they are used responsibly, with gratitude, and with equitable access for the Native and Indigenous communities that have protected this knowledge. Research may push forward, but the wisdom embedded in ceremony, story, and land must travel alongside it.
Lucid Institute’s Commitment
At Lucid, we echo Marlena’s call for preservation and reciprocity. Our mission is to:
Honor origin – Center Indigenous histories, practices, and perspectives in all educational offerings.
Champion ethical access – Support policies and programs that ensure all peoples, especially Indigenous communities, can heal with dignity and autonomy.
Cultivate informed journeys – Provide science-backed, culturally sensitive guidance for those exploring psychedelic experiences.
Moving Forward—Together
The path ahead demands collaboration between researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and—above all—Indigenous knowledge-keepers. Psychedelics can be a meeting ground where respect, integrity, and gratitude guide innovation that uplifts everyone. Excluding Indigenous voices is not only unjust; it impoverishes the very field they helped seed.
An Open Invitation
We believe stories shape movements. If you have experiences, teachings, or research to share, we welcome you to contribute to Lucid’s platforms. Knowledge is power, and storytelling is its greatest force.
Let’s weave these worlds together—honoring the past, empowering the present, and healing toward a shared future.
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