From Loss to Liberation: Grief, Psilocybin, and Spiritual Growth
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Episode 323
Lena Franklin
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with medicine woman and transpersonal psychotherapist Lena Franklin to explore grief as a doorway to the sacred, bridging clinical training with embodied spirituality, and the ethics of honoring indigenous lineages in modern practice. Lena shares “The Method,” a 90-day psilocybin-supported program (three ceremonies + twelve sessions), and reflects on lessons learned from founding and composting EAST Institute. She also previews a new global initiative for advanced, root-cause healing centers and closes with an embodied playbook for leaders.
Lena Franklin is a Medicine Woman, Transpersonal Psychotherapist, and transformational speaker bridging ancient medicine and modern technology for global healing. Raised in a Buddhist/Christian home, she integrates Eastern philosophy with Western neuroscience across meditation, energy medicine, longevity, human optimization, plant medicine, shamanism, and ecosystem consciousness. Formally trained in psychology (B.S.) and clinical social work (M.S.) at the University of Georgia, Lena weaves lineages from Mahayana Buddhism, Mopan Maya Ancient Medicine, Q’ero Peruvian shamanism, and Shipibo wisdom into ceremonial and teaching work worldwide. She founded The QUINTESSENCE Approach for activating Revolutionary Medicine Woman leadership, The BEING Method for mindfulness-based human potential, and The Meditation Membership of audio/video teachings. Her work has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, Telegraph, and more.
Podcast Highlights
- Grief as a sacred portal
- Clinician and mystic, not either/or
- Lineage stewardship and councils of elders
- “Harm reduction is bi-directional”
- Lessons from founding EAST Institute
- The 90-day, three-ceremony Method
- From psycho-emotional to psycho-spiritual
- Why assessment must stay rigorous
- Vision for root-cause healing centers
- Daily grounding for embodied leadership
Show Links
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