Bridging Approaches: Metaphysics

Michiel van Elk, PhD (Cognitive Neuroscientist)
Erika Salazar (Medical Herbalist & Minister of Kamentsa Ancestral Ceremonies)
Marta Santuccio, PhD (Facilitator)
Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, PhD (Philosopher of Mind and Metaphysics & Lecturer at The University of
Exeter)

Tuesday 20 May, 2025 8PM CEST (6PM GMT, 2PM ET, 11AM PT)

Online via Zoom

Add to Calendar

What is reality? What entities does it include? How do they relate to each other? Which categories are essential to understanding the world? Our answers to such questions vary depending on multiple factors, such as our upbringing, education, cultural context, intuition and personal experiences. Our different and sometimes contradictory opinions on the subject affect how we conduct research, which practices we use in the field, and how we understand and explain psychedelic-related phenomena.

Bridging Approaches is a series of events tackling subjects under dispute in the psychedelic field in a peacemaking mode. Moderated by philosopher of mind and metaphysics Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, this first event on metaphysics will focus on three worldviews and related practices. Cognitive neuroscientist Michiel van Elk will talk about Materialism and the research conducted under his supervision at the Psychedelic, Religious, Spiritual and Mystical (PRSM) experiences Lab. Medical Herbalist and Minister of Kamëntsá Ancestral Ceremonies Erika Salazar will share the cosmology of the Kamëntsá people of Colombia and her ceremonial work with them. Philosopher of metaphysics Marta Santuccio will discuss Neutral Monism and her work as a holotropic breathwork facilitator. Together they will try to create bridges between their views, and find constructive manners to talk and work together without resolving the conflict.

Who this event is for?

Researchers and scientists in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and consciousness studies
Therapists, clinicians, and practitioners working with psychedelic-assisted therapies
Philosophers, students, and scholars interested in metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind
Indigenous leaders, anthropologists, and those involved in cross-cultural or traditional plant medicine practices
Spiritual guides, and ceremonial facilitators
Individuals passionate about exploring different worldviews and their impact on healing, science, and understanding psychedelic experiences
Anyone seeking tools for better dialogue across divergent perspectives within the psychedelic field

READY TO ATTEND?

ATTEND FOR FREE AS A MEMBER

Unlock access to this and all exclusive live events & recordings with leading psychedelic experts and engage in real time through the OPEN Community Membership. Plus, enjoy a community space, a content library, discounts, and more.

ATTEND with donation

You can attend this event through a one-time donation to support our non-profit in organizing high-quality educational events with networking opportunities.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERs

Michiel obtained degrees in philosophy (MA), biological psychology (MSc) and the psychology of religion (MSc) in Utrecht, Amsterdam and Nijmegen. He completed his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Donders Institute in Nijmegen (cum laude). He worked as a visiting researcher at the University of California Santa Barbara (2010), as a Marie Curie post-dotoral fellow at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland (2010-2012), as a Fulbright Scholar at Stanford University (2017), as a Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS) in Amsterdam (2019-2010) and as a researcher at the University of Amsterdam (2013-2020). Since 2020 Michiel is affiliated as Associate Professor to the University of Leiden and supported by grants from the Templeton Foundation, NWO and the BIAL Foundation he supervises the Psychedelic, Religious, Spiritual and Mystical (PRSM) experiences Lab. Michiel has published several popular science books on such different topics as the Babybrain, the Evolution of Religion, Ecstatic Experiences and Psychedelics.

Erika supports the bridge between the Kamentsa and the International community. She has spent 20+ years studying the traditions and people of the Andes. I studied Master Plants under Taita Juan and have organized non-profit work for the region since 2011. Attuned to the natural world, Erika supports the organization, from local operational planning to international outreach. I am a Medical Herbalist (Vitalist Tradition), a Holistic Therapist (University Esneca, Spain), and a Minister (Circle of Sacred Nature).

Marta holds a PhD in philosophy, specializing in the metaphysics of consciousness. She works as a facilitator of expanded consciousness and embodied experiences, particularly within the modalities of Holotropic Breathwork and the Hoffman Quadrinity Process.

In her private practice, Marta offers transformative journeys that combine metaphysical inquiry with non-ordinary and embodied states. These journeys provide a unique process for self-transformation, preparation, and integration of psychedelic and mystical experiences. Her experimental approach is called Contemplative Embodiment.

Marta can also be found talking about consciousness, metaphysics, psychedelics and mystical experiences around Europe.

Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes is a Philosopher of Mind and Metaphysics who specializes in the thought of Whitehead, Nietzsche, Bergson, and Spinoza—and in fields pertaining to panpsychism, pantheism, mental causation, and altered states of consciousness. He is a lecturer at The University of Exeter.

Peter is the author of Noumenautics (2015), Modes of Sentience (2021), co-editor and contributor of Bloomsbury’s Philosophy and Psychedelics (2022), the TEDx Talker on ‘psychedelics and consciousness‘, and he is inspiration to the recreation of inhuman philosopher Marvel Superhero, Karnak.

Member Access

As a member, you can log in below and access this event or click the button at the bottom to go to the community platform.