Cardea

Live Sound Guided Group Ketamine Experience Journey with John MacLean
2023-12-14 12:00 - 15:00, 2023-12-10 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Cardea Space, 511 Canal Street suite 500, New York, NY 10013, New York, NY, 10013, US
Live Sound Guided Group Ketamine Journey
TUITION
Session Fee: $300.00
Medical Fee: $100.00
The Cardea team and its unique Ketamine Space provide a safe and supportive environment for exploration and transformation. Our facilitators and sound practitioners will guide you through this unique fusion of therapies, offering their insights, wisdom, and compassionate care, while holding space for you to have your own individualized and self-directed journey.
Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the session in more detail with the Cardea team:

WHAT TO EXPECT
Introductory Call
You will begin with a 30-minute introductory session with one of the space holders. This is a time for us to begin the process of getting to know you and understand your interest and intentions. We will share more information about the group experience and answer any questions you may have. If it feels like a good fit, we will schedule a medical intake session and send you some intake paperwork through our client portal.
Medical Intake Session
You will then meet virtually with our doctor for a medical intake session where we will explore your medical and mental health history with you to ensure a safe and therapeutic process. At this point, if there aren’t any unresolvable contraindications, our doctor will write you a prescription for a ketamine nasal spray which will be delivered to your home prior to the first session. You will need to bring your prescription with you to each group.
The Group Experience
At Cardea, we believe that human growth and transformation are improvisational events, each person’s emergence a unique journey. Prior to the ketamine experience, we’ll engage in a group creative process using a method aimed to evoke curiosity, reflection, and artistic expression. During the group ketamine session, you’ll be invited to get comfortable in your designated space in our group room. We’ll provide an eye mask for you to wear, and our space holders will provide all necessary instructions. Our sound practitioner will play live vibrational sound throughout your hour-long experience.
Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the session in more detail with the Cardea team:

Cardea is dedicated to assisting individuals in their recovery from deep psychological anguish and supporting those seeking an awakened life. We believe that breaking free from standardized living and embracing uncertainty and novelty are key to personal growth and well-being. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities for self-knowledge and increased wellness through the fusion of psychedelic-assisted therapy, ketamine care, and acupuncture.

Nowadays Community Night - Dr. Ross Ellenhorn on Play and Psychedelics
2023-12-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Nowadays, 56-06 Cooper Ave, Ridgewood, NY, 11385, United States
For this one year anniversary edition, Cardea Co-Founder, Dr. Ross Ellenhorn, returns to nowadays for his powerfully enlightening talk on the role of “play” and improvisation in life.

Ross is a sociologist and psychotherapist; the owner of Ellenhorn, a program that provides non-stigmatizing care for individuals experiencing extreme events of mind and mood; the co-creator of the Lascaux Method for psychedelic journeying and the author of three books on human change. His most recent book, Purple Crayons is published by HarperCollins and explores the psychological, socio-political and religious elements of play. In tonight’s talk, Ross will explore the nature of human play, its role in human transformation, and its relationship to psychedelic experiences. In the current renewal of more mainstream interest in psychedelics, substances like MDMA and psilocybin are being ushered into western medical models, promoted as miracle cures for PTSD, depression, anxiety and a host of other woes. Ross believes that the more psychedelics come to be seen as treatments for diseases, we are potentially losing sight of one of their most precious offerings: the potential for play. In his words: “We can mistake play for ‘fun.’ But even though fun is definitely something we do that is playful, play is very serious business. For children and adults alike, play—which includes the creation and contemplation of art—transforms that which appears solidly unchangeable into something pliable, loosens the hard earth of habit, and awakens us to the world and all its novelty. It is also the threshold through which we access our vitality–that ineffable experience of being alive–and it’s from play that we experience the life of other living beings.
Play is the marrow of compassion and empathy, and it is the antidote to alienation, dehumanization and a deadened approach to nature. Without play, it’s all: same as it ever was, same as it ever was, same as it ever was… “Play is usually understood as the opposite of work, and psychedelics are increasingly being promoted as tools to increase productivity, or cure “dysfunction,” rather than as threshold to what makes us most human, and opens our eyes to the humanity in others, and the life in the natural world. Psychedelics can help return play to its rightful position as an essential part of our humanity.” Through a talk, some Q and A and playful exercises, Ross aims to give some form and frame to the human activity that always fights form and frame, and show how psychedelics are tools that can bring us to that first moment when we conducted the magical act of conjuring life in our toys.

The Anesthetic Revelation: The Origins of the Dissociative Experience
2023-12-07 19:00 - 21:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Join us for a Salon Talk at Cardea as we gather in the grotto with writee Dan Piepenbring.
Limited spots – Free with RSVP!

The Anesthetic Revelation: Benjamin Blood and the Origins of the Dissociative Experience
A century before ketamine was first synthesized—before the words “dissociative” and “psychedelic” had even been coined—Benjamin Paul Blood was overpowered by the remarkable connection between anesthetic drugs and “the old mysteries” of existential thought. Blood (1832-1919) was a true American eccentric: a farmer, inventor, newspaper columnist, and amateur philosopher, he hailed from Amsterdam, New York, a small town northwest of Albany. Around 1860, after a routine dental procedure, he came to believe that nitrous oxide and ether offered acute but fleeting insight into the secret of the universe, revealing what he called “the genius of being.” He self-published a pamphlet calledThe Anesthetic Revelation and the Gist of Philosophy that soon generated controversy in newspapers around the U.S. and England. “Mr. Blood’s most appreciative readers will be found in insane asylums,” one reviewer wrote. But more elevated readers, such as William James and Lord Tennyson, wrote to Blood at once, believing that he’d stumbled onto an exciting if bizarre new avenue for philosophy and psychology. Blood received hundreds of letters from patients in “every hospital and dental office” who recognized his moment of “cosmic illumination” and “had been put in mind of something they can’t think of,” he wrote, and soon he was the most infamous man in Amsterdam. This talk will explore Blood’s thinking, his supporters and detractors, and the shape his pamphlet gave to what we now think of as the dissociative experience, with parallels to the present-day framing of psychedelic therapy and of k-holes in particular.
Dan Piepenbring is the coauthor, with Tom O’Neill, of CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties and the editor of Prince’s posthumous memoir, The Beautiful Ones. Currently he writes the New Books column for Harper’s and is working on a book about ketamine and dissociative anesthetics.

Ketamine Experience with Acupuncture
2023-12-01 12:00 - 15:30, 2023-10-29 12:00 - 15:30, 2023-10-16 12:00 - 15:30 | Cardea Space, 511 Canal Street suite 500, New York, NY 10013, New York, NY, 10013, US
A Session Combining Ketamine-Assisted Care and Acupuncture Treatment
With Zach Rieck, LCSW and Margie Navarro, LAc
TUITION
Session Fee: $300.00
Medical Fee: $100.00
Welcome to an extraordinary event that combines the power of ketamine-assisted care with the ancient art of acupuncture.
The therapeutic force of ketamine comes from its ability to help you open up a little – or a lot, giving you the capacity to see the world differently and adding some nimbleness to your thoughts.
Acupuncture works on a mind-body level and pairs well with psychedelic experiences. The benefits of a group acupuncture session stem from the synergy of people collectively receiving treatment along with the effects of the individualized point selections. After the ketamine experience, everyone will have an opportunity to share a few words about what they are feeling in their body or something they’d like acupuncture to help them work through. Afterward, Margie takes each participant’s pulse and selects fitting acupuncture points. Acupuncture treatment will take place during the “recovery” hour after the ketamine experience.
The Cardea team and its unique Ketamine Space provide a safe and supportive environment for exploration and transformation. Zach and Marjorie will guide you through this unique fusion of therapies, offering their insights, wisdom, and compassionate care, while holding space for you to have your own individualized and self-directed journey.
Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the session in more detail with the Cardea team:

WHAT TO EXPECT
Introductory Call
You will begin with a 30-minute introductory session with one of the space holders. This is a time for us to begin the process of getting to know you and understand your interest and intentions. We will share more information about the group experience and answer any questions you may have. If it feels like a good fit, we will schedule a medical intake session and send you some intake paperwork through our client portal.
Medical Intake Session
You will then meet virtually with our doctor for a medical intake session where we will explore your medical and mental health history with you to ensure a safe and therapeutic process. At this point, if there aren’t any unresolvable contraindications, our doctor will write you a prescription for a ketamine nasal spray which will be delivered to your home prior to the first session. You will need to bring your prescription with you to each group.
The Group Experience
At Cardea, we believe that human growth and transformation are improvisational events, each person’s emergence a unique journey. Prior to the ketamine experience, we’ll engage in a group creative process using a method aimed to evoke curiosity, reflection, and artistic expression. During the group ketamine session, you’ll be invited to get comfortable in your designated space in our group room. We’ll provide an eye mask for you to wear, and our space holders will provide all necessary instructions. Our sound practitioner will play live vibrational sound throughout your hour-long experience.
ABOUT THE PRACTITIONERS
Zach Rieck, LCSW
Zach holds the position of Clinical Director at Cardea, where he serves as both lead psychotherapist and guide for the Ketamine Care program. A licensed clinical social worker with over 13 years of experience in psychedelic communities, Zach is also an advocate and active proponent of psychedelic harm reduction. He has applied his extensive personal experience and training to educate and guide others, through trip-sitting and integration work. Zach’s work is heavily influenced by his own transformative experience using iboga to move beyond years of intravenous drug addiction.
Marjorie (Margie) Navarro, LAc
Marjorie is the founder of Vivacity Acupuncture (vivacityacupuncture.com), an organization devoted to acupuncture and holistic care that helps individuals meet their wellness goals and live more vibrantly. Her private practice in Union Square/Chelsea & FiDi NYC focuses on integrative sports medicine, chronic pain and illness. In addition to her clinical work, Marjorie performs research on acupuncture for psychedelic integration. Marjorie’s career has been heavily inspired by the work of Dr. Mutulu Shakur in bringing acupuncture to underserved communities in NYC.
Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the session in more detail with the Cardea team:

Cardea is dedicated to assisting individuals in their recovery from deep psychological anguish and supporting those seeking an awakened life. We believe that breaking free from standardized living and embracing uncertainty and novelty are key to personal growth and well-being. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities for self-knowledge and increased wellness through the fusion of psychedelic-assisted therapy, ketamine care, and acupuncture.

Salon Talk with Nate Gorelick - Ecstasy at the End of the World: On Summers of Love and The Revolution That Wasn't
2023-11-29 19:00 - 21:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Join Nate Gorelick back at Cardea Space for an intimate salon style talk. Enjoy light bite and drinks as you nestle in our gathering grotto and engage in conversation with professor Nate Gorelick on the topic…
“Ecstasy at the End of the World: On Summers of Love and The Revolution That Wasn’t”

Psychedelics have long been associated with revolutionary social upheaval, even liberation. During the Summer of Love in 1967, LSD was the holy sacrament of youth in revolt. In the Second Summer of Love, from 1988-89, the counter-cultural drug of choice was MDMA. Radical change was in the air. Altered states of consciousness promised to overturn our whole collective reality. So what happened? What caused these moments of euphoric hope and audacity to evaporate? Or are they still around, only dissipated into our general social atmosphere? Were they really drug-induced and drug-fuelled? Or was it merely mainstream moral panic that propelled acid and ecstasy to the vanguard of anti-establishment agitation? And what can this teach us about psychedelics’ revolutionary potential, or their counter-revolutionary uses, today, at the outer edge of our increasingly catastrophized, terrorized, medicalized present?

Nathan Gorelick is Term Assistant Professor of English at Barnard College. Previously, he was Associate Professor of English at Utah Valley University, and he holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has published widely on the intersections of literature, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. His first book, The Unwritten Enlightenment, is forthcoming from Northwestern University Press. He is currently researching the history of the relation between psychedelics and the Freudian field, as well as how this relation may be reinvented today.

Live Sound Guided Group Ketamine Experience Journey
2023-11-19 12:00 - 15:00 | Cardea Space, 511 Canal Street suite 500, New York, NY 10013, New York, NY, 10013, US

Community Night at Nowadays - John MacLean & Kim Ann Foxman
2023-10-18 20:00 - 22:00 | Nowadays, 56-06 Cooper Ave, Ridgewood, NY, 11385, United States
Cardea Community Night at Nowadays
For the 10th edition of Cardea’s residency at Nowadays, Lead Ceremonialist and Sound Director John MacLean will return, this time with longtime friend and fellow DJ/Producer, Kim Ann Foxman, for a community conversation about the parallels and intersections between club music culture and psychedelic journeying.
This event is FREE with RSVP!
John MacLean, aka Juan MacLean / The Juan MacLean, is a ceremonial facilitator who has studied extensively both in the Amazon jungle of Peru and also various western contemporary modalities concerning the intersection of consciousness, sound and healing. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, Dj, and producer of electronic music, with an interest in exploring and questioning issues around recreational use of psychedelics and the ways in which, if any, the container of a club settings might resemble traditional ceremonies that involved repetitive rhythmic music as a way of entering into a trance state for healing and communal bonding.

Kim Ann Foxman is a DJ, electronic artist & producer. She has extensive experience working deeply with medicinal plants, and utilizing psychedelics together with sound. She believes music has the ability to transport you even further into psychedelic realms, and together they are a perfect combination for exploratory mind and body journeys, healing, and a powerful source of finding creative inspiration as well.

They will discuss issues relating to the influence of music and sound on the psychedelic experience, what it means to create a safe space for those experiences, the similarities between traditional ceremonial containers and dance music spaces, the use of psychedelics for healing and self-exploration, and in true psychedelic form whatever related topics spontaneously arise. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences and ask questions.

Please note: The use of psychedelic substances is not part of this program.

Therapists & Behavioral Health Professionals Open House: Experience Our Lascaux KAP Method
2023-10-17 18:00 - 20:30 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Join us at Cardea Space on October 17th for a Therapist open house! This will be a chance for all professionals in the Behavioral Health field to explore the Lascaux Method in depth with its founder, Ross Ellenhorn, and experience our dialogic techniques firsthand in our unique space. This event is free with limited capacity. Reserve your spot now!

The Lascaux Method is a short-term ketamine-assisted psychotherapy approach that integrates therapeutic principles with carefully guided ketamine sessions, all aimed at creating a fertile space for healing and expanding aliveness through a concept we call Play.

At Cardea, we see ketamine and psychedelic experiences in general, as a “key to a key.” They assist in helping us gain access to a sense of aliveness, in both ourselves and in others.
Our practice approach is most strongly influenced by a Finnish model called Open Dialogue and the “dialogic” process it initiated. In this approach, the therapist’s job is to avoid the certainty of expert formulations, analysis, and diagnosis in order to create the right environment for play. Working this way, we offer an innovative approach to an “old school” ethos, since we see psychotherapy as it was originally intended: an improvisational art form helping people contemplate “problems of living” rather than an attempt to remove symptoms surgically.
Our intention is to provide our guests with a chance to reconnect with their innate vitality and inherent ability to perceive the dynamic life in others; to feel more related to their relationships; to embrace head-on the life-enhancing potential of uncertainty; and to embark on a transformative journey of personal growth. The way to get there is to unleash the playful elements practiced in the best of psychotherapies and turn up the volume on these while seeing ketamine as an ally in this process, helping people open up to novelty and uncertainty, and a sense that their experience of themselves and others is ready to be sculpted into something new.
Enjoy light bites, drinks, and conversation. We will guide guests through their own Dialogic experience and of course, answer any questions about our methods.
Hope to see you there!

The Playful Power of Fungi Art & Architecture - An Evening with Artist Randy Polumbo!
2023-10-15 16:00 - 19:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Ketamine in Mushrooms? Art & design play a large role in a psychedelic journey’s set and setting. We invite you into Cardea, a ketamine space nestled right in the heart of Manhattan, where our mission is to help guests feel the power of play.
The entire space was designed in collaboration with installation artist, Randy Polumbo, who built the furniture, light fixtures, and custom soundproof shutters all from reishi mycelium, creating a unique atmosphere to ignite wonder and curiosity. Step into the brilliant and playful mind of Randy Polumbo while journeying into a multi-sensory experience at Cardea. Discover how fungi are being used as an artistic medium and learn about the mycology that makes it possible! You’ll hear about what inspired the creation of the space, the unique process of crafting the one-of-a-kind fixtures, and all the vintage items from his personal collection that fill the space.
We’ll have light bites and beverages accompanied by musical entertainment and “Philo Questioning”—a unique activity for inquiry and reflection.
Randy Polumbo is an installation-based artist who lives and works between Joshua Tree, California and New York City. His artwork has been shown nationally and internationally across metropoles and natural landscapes such as deserts, ruins, and caves. He is a graduate of The Cooper Union School of Art, as well as a LEED accredited master builder and serves on the Board of Directors of New York Live Arts.Randy joins us with decades of experience in building spaces and immersive environments, using polished metal and blown glass, reishi mushroom mycelium, kaleidoscopic grottos, and cast glass. His projects range from museum installations, to public sculpture, to monumental renovation of New York mansions and apartments for clients and design luminaries around the world. Randy has designed and built our Tribeca Ketamine Space in New York City to enhance the calming, novel and imaginative environment for transformative experiences. The space’s design materializes our concept of “radical hospitality,” which places the guest and their goals at the visual, tactile, and acoustical center of the experience. All sensory interactions have been considered, from lighting, sound, scents and textures, leading each moment of a journey to a new discovery.

Jamaica Psilocybin Retreat
2023-10-09 - 2023-10-15 | Kotch Properties, Old Wharf Rd, Treasure Beach, Jamaica
Weeklong Immersive Psilocybin Retreat in Jamaica for Transformation and Awakening
Located in Treasure Beach
With decades of experience in psychedelic, psychiatric and psychotherapeutic practices, CARDEA invites those seeking transformation and awakening to a weeklong immersive psilocybin retreat in Jamaica. Free of hype, liberated from diagnostic labels and one-size-fits-all practices, we will face uncertainty together and innovate something both wise and new that will be a creation all our own..
INTRODUCTION
Whether we notice it or not, we all stand on a threshold. One that begins in the space between who we are as original beings, and the cultural, social and natural worlds that exist independent of us. A world of you, and a world that is not you, but of which you are a part, and a grappling with where you rest between these two worlds.
Psychedelics have a long history of helping people examine this threshold between the Self and the world, and how to move through it in order to narrow the divide between an individual’s internal growth and a connection to a greater whole.
If you are looking for trusted and masterful allies in your pursuit of greater expansiveness, we’re the place to go. With over a century of combined experience in the psychedelic and psychotherapeutic arts, in psychedelic space-holding and sound-based ceremonies, we bring unprecedented wisdom from all these practices to help you journey to where you already are: the doorway between your inner life and the outer landscape in which you roam. Indeed, it is for this reason that we chose our name to honor Cardea, the ancient Roman “threshold” goddess of hinges and handles—the tools that make doors work.
This is not a one-off experience. This is not the break from day-to-day life–to return to how things were. We believe it is our job to help you improve your ability to pivot and master yourself at this in-between space long after your time with us.
To find out more or to reserve your spot, schedule a free consultation with a Cardea team member:

WHAT TO EXPECT
Introduction to The Cardea Method
including Dialogic sessions – a reflection-based listening model for preparing and processing your experience.
Three Pre-Retreat Dialogic Sessions
and 1 group meeting prior to the retreat
Three Inward-facing Psilocybin Sound Ceremonies
guided by skilled facilitators who are trained in both traditional indigenous and modern sound healing techniques
Group and 1:1 Reflection Sessions
led by our facilitators the day after each ceremony to make meaning of your experiences and deepen your intentions
Luxury Accommodations
5-star private chef, on-premise concierge services, beach-front access, three private pools.
Life-infusing Art & Activities
Art-making, energetic bodywork, yoga, local hikes.
Community Building
Access to Cardea’s network of like-minded beings to continue enriching your work with psychedelics.
Post-Retreat Dialogic and Group Sessions
One Post-Retreat 1:1 Dialogic Session and one group Zoom meetup after you return home.

ABOUT THE PRACTITIONERS
Ross Ellenhorn, LICSW, Ph.D
Ross is a Cardea co-founder, CEO of Ellenhorn Psychiatric Recovery Program, and a pioneer and leader in the development of community integration services. His work and therapeutic model empower individuals to achieve recovery and purposeful reconnection to real life while remaining in their own communities and outside institutional settings. His recent book, How We Change (And Ten Reasons Why We Don’t), published by HarperCollins in 2020, focuses on the science of human change, and how this science supports the argument that change occurs in collaborative and co-created relationships. Ross developed The Cardea Method and facilitates all Dialogic session pre, post, and during retreat.

Aisha Delfaus, PMHNP-BC
Aisha is a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, wellness advocate, and holistic healer. She strives to deliver care that embraces a holistic and humanistic approach, intentionally nurturing the mind, body, and soul in an integrated manner. Aisha earned her Master’s degree in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing from Hunter College School of Nursing, completed a 200-hour Vinyasa yoga teacher training at Yogamaya and a 300-hour Kaula Tantra yoga and shamanism course at Durga’s Tiger School in Ecuador, as well as trained Thai yoga bodywork practitioner. She will be assisting our guests as our in house nurse practioner, as well as ceremonial space holder and co-facilitator for all dialogic sessions pre, post, and during retreat.

Le’ Jai’ La Troi
Le’ Jai’ La is a medicine woman based in Mexico who works with sacred plants and modalities to help others come back into alignment. She is a writer, coach, consultant, reiki master, herbalist and teacher. Le’ Jai’ La has worked in wellness and with entheogenic plants for the past twelve years, studying with indigenous wisdom keepers and learning traditional healing techniques from teachers worldwide. Her studies range from curanderismo, Native American, African healing, and shamanic practices to yoga, sound meditations, and more. Le Jai La returns for her second retreat with Cardea to bring her healing wisdom through Cacao and Psilocybin plant ceremonies.

John “the Juan” MacLean
John is an experienced ceremony facilitator, multi-instrumentalist, and international touring musician and producer. He has cultivated a deep interest in the ways in which sound and vibration interact with consciousness, particularly under the influence of psychedelics. John integrates both traditional ceremonial techniques of holding space and using sound as a guide with contemporary modalities that consider the construct of the Western psyche. John believes in the “Iso Principle,” a concept from music therapy that values an attuned approach to each person. He works intuitively in the ceremonial space in order to co-create the safest and most helpful experience with the participants for whom he is holding space. John returns for his fourth Cardea retreat to facilitate psilocybin and acupuncture ceremonies with live sound.

PHOTOS FROM OUR LAST RETREAT

PRICING, ITINERARY & ACCOMMODATIONS
For more information on pricing, itinerary and accommodations, download the brochure:

Cardea is dedicated to assisting individuals in their recovery from deep psychological anguish and supporting those seeking an awakened life. We believe that breaking free from standardized living and embracing uncertainty and novelty are key to personal growth and well-being. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities for self-knowledge and increased wellness through the fusion of psychedelic-assisted therapy, ketamine care, and acupuncture.

Safer Spaces for Expanding Consciousness: A Discussion
2023-08-16 20:00 - 22:00 | Nowadays, 56-06 Cooper Ave, Ridgewood, NY, 11385, United States
A Special Presentation in Cooperation with Nowdats
For this month’s edition of Cardea’s residency at Nowadays, Cardea Community Manager, Paige Rothaus, will lead a panel with the top psychedelic community leaders in NYC to discuss the importance of community to support psychedelic experiences, and how these once underground community spaces can be more accessible and “therapeutic” without the need of a licensed therapist.

PANELISTS:
Kat Lakey
Kat Lakey is the founder and director of The Psychedelic Assembly. In 2017, Kat began an Ayahuasca apprenticeship in Peru with Jessica Bertram, an Ayahuasquera who came by strong personal reference from Dr. Dennis McKenna. She spent 3 years in and out of the Jungle as a student of plant medicine, before moving back to NYC in 2021, to work as the in-house videographer and events coordinator at The Blue Building in Midtown Manhattan. There she birthed the idea of the Psychedelic Assembly, an intimate NYC Psychedelic Conference which debuted September of 2022. In February of 2023, Kat transformed the Blue Building space to its next venture, and launched the Athenaeum, a member-supported psychedelic social club, co-working space, library, museum, and performance venue – making the Athenæum a central gathering place for all psychedelic community-based events, educational programming, and networking.
Doc Kelley
hristopher “Doc” Kelley received a PhD in Religion from Columbia University where he studied Indo-Tibetan Buddhism with Robert A. F. Thurman. He is a scholar of Buddhism and a part-time professor in religious studies at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, The New School University, and Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara. He is also the co-founder of Psychedelic Sangha, which he considers a “spiritual community without a guru.” The Sangha offers community of like-minded individuals through integration circles, dose-friendly Bardo Bath gatherings, pop-up BYO ceremonies, and retreats. Doc is an early pioneer in the NYC Psychedelic Renaissance and community builder with a mission to liberate the psychedelic experience from the underground allowing accessibility in a safe container.
Pammy Jackson
Founded The Psychedelic Sisterhood in February 2020 to establish a sacred space for growth, healing, and womxn’s empowerment through altered states. She divides her time immersed in the new wave of psychedelic research by co-creating in community as co-president of New Yorkers for Mental Health Alternatives (NYMHA), a Marketing Director of the Brooklyn Psychedelic Society, and an event organizer for the Global Psychedelic Society — a worldwide community of organizers offering guidance and resources to those interested in learning more about psychedelics and building thriving communities. Prior to founding The Psychedelic Sisterhood, Pammy began her healing journey with psychedelics in 2015 after a heart-opening spiritual awakening with Ayahuasca. Since then, she has vowed to be of service to plant medicines and strives to build heart-centered programming that serves womxn’s and non-binary’s holistic health by cultivating a balance of the divine feminine with us all.
Undrea (Dre) Wright
Dre is the Founder of the Ancestor Project, whose mission is to integrate ancestral Sacred Earth Medicine wisdom into the modern journeyers’ experience, to reduce harm and expand consciousness. He believes that Sacred Earth Medicine is key in liberating all oppressed peoples. The Ancestor Project facilitates online and in-person opportunities for learning that support radical self-transformation in the name of collective liberation. Dre has been working to heal himself with sacred medicines for over 15 years. He is a cannabis entrepreneur that was instrumental in the decriminalization and medical bill passed in Maryland. He focuses on equity and inclusion in all healing work and communities. Dre practices in the Traditional Amazonian ways, informed by the South American Shipibo-Conibo and Quechua-Lamista lineages, having trained with various global indigenous masters. In June of 2022, he completed his MAPS MDMA psychedelic-assisted Therapy Program and is currently enrolled in his Ph.D. program for transpersonal psychology.
(Teachers are subject to change.)

Please note: The use of psychedelic substances is not part of this program.

Ketamine Experience with Acupuncture
2023-07-02 12:00 - 15:30 | Cardea Space, 511 Canal Street suite 500, New York, NY 10013, New York, NY, 10013, US
A Session Combining Ketamine-Assisted Care and Acupuncture Treatment
With Zach Rieck, LCSW and Margie Navarro, LAc
TUITION
Session Fee: $350.00
Medical Fee: $50.00
Welcome to an extraordinary event that combines the power of ketamine-assisted care with the ancient art of acupuncture.
The therapeutic force of ketamine comes from its ability to help you open up a little – or a lot, giving you the capacity to see the world differently and adding some nimbleness to your thoughts.
Acupuncture works on a mind-body level and pairs well with psychedelic experiences. The benefits of a group acupuncture session stem from the synergy of people collectively receiving treatment along with the effects of the individualized point selections. After the ketamine experience, everyone will have an opportunity to share a few words about what they are feeling in their body or something they’d like acupuncture to help them work through. Afterward, Margie takes each participant’s pulse and selects fitting acupuncture points. Acupuncture treatment will take place during the “recovery” hour after the ketamine experience.
The Cardea team and its unique Ketamine Space provide a safe and supportive environment for exploration and transformation. Zach and Marjorie will guide you through this unique fusion of therapies, offering their insights, wisdom, and compassionate care, while holding space for you to have your own individualized and self-directed journey.
Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the session in more detail with the Cardea team:

WHAT TO EXPECT
Introductory Call
You will begin with a 30-minute introductory session with one of the space holders. This is a time for us to begin the process of getting to know you and understand your interest and intentions. We will share more information about the group experience and answer any questions you may have. If it feels like a good fit, we will schedule a medical intake session and send you some intake paperwork through our client portal.
Medical Intake Session
You will then meet virtually with our doctor for a medical intake session where we will explore your medical and mental health history with you to ensure a safe and therapeutic process. At this point, if there aren’t any unresolvable contraindications, our doctor will write you a prescription for a ketamine nasal spray which will be delivered to your home prior to the first session. You will need to bring your prescription with you to each group.
The Group Experience
At Cardea, we believe that human growth and transformation are improvisational events, each person’s emergence a unique journey. Prior to the ketamine experience, we’ll engage in a group creative process using a method aimed to evoke curiosity, reflection, and artistic expression. During the group ketamine session, you’ll be invited to get comfortable in your designated space in our group room. We’ll provide an eye mask for you to wear, and our space holders will provide all necessary instructions. Our sound practitioner will play live vibrational sound throughout your hour-long experience.
ABOUT THE PRACTITIONERS
Zach Rieck, LCSW
Zach holds the position of Clinical Director at Cardea, where he serves as both lead psychotherapist and guide for the Ketamine Care program. A licensed clinical social worker with over 13 years of experience in psychedelic communities, Zach is also an advocate and active proponent of psychedelic harm reduction. He has applied his extensive personal experience and training to educate and guide others, through trip-sitting and integration work. Zach’s work is heavily influenced by his own transformative experience using iboga to move beyond years of intravenous drug addiction.
Marjorie (Margie) Navarro, LAc
Marjorie is the founder of Vivacity Acupuncture (vivacityacupuncture.com), an organization devoted to acupuncture and holistic care that helps individuals meet their wellness goals and live more vibrantly. Her private practice in Union Square/Chelsea & FiDi NYC focuses on integrative sports medicine, chronic pain and illness. In addition to her clinical work, Marjorie performs research on acupuncture for psychedelic integration. Marjorie’s career has been heavily inspired by the work of Dr. Mutulu Shakur in bringing acupuncture to underserved communities in NYC.
Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss the session in more detail with the Cardea team:

Cardea is dedicated to assisting individuals in their recovery from deep psychological anguish and supporting those seeking an awakened life. We believe that breaking free from standardized living and embracing uncertainty and novelty are key to personal growth and well-being. Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities for self-knowledge and increased wellness through the fusion of psychedelic-assisted therapy, ketamine care, and acupuncture.

Nowadays Talk with Nate Gorelick
2023-06-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Nowadays, 56-06 Cooper Ave, Ridgewood, NY, 11385, United States
Psychoanalysis and Psychedelics
In Gorelick’s words: “Freud’s legendary (mis)adventures with cocaine have drawn plenty of attention, but far less has been said about the fraught relation between the science he invented and the clinical history of psychedelics. In fact, psychoanalysis and psychedelics grew up together. At times they were even friends. Now that psychedelics are (again) going mainstream, we should return to this history and consider: what can the theory, clinical practice, and ethics of psychoanalysis learn, or relearn, from the psychedelic experience? And what can the science and big business of altered states of consciousness learn from the unconscious?”

Nathan Gorelick is Term Assistant Professor of English at Barnard College. Previously, he was Associate Professor of English at Utah Valley University, and he holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has published widely on the intersections of literature, philosophy, and psychoanalysis. His first book, The Unwritten Enlightenment, is forthcoming from Northwestern University Press. He is currently researching the history of the relationship between psychedelics and the Freudian field, as well as how this relation may be reinvented today.

What The Bodhis*ttva is Buddhist Mantra?
2023-06-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Cardea Space, 511 Canal Street suite 500, New York, NY 10013, New York, NY, 10013, US
What the Bodhis*ttva is Buddhist Mantra?
Explore the full-on healing power of Buddhist mantras with Benny Oyama, troubadour of the paradigm shift.
Our gathering is an immersion into the world of using our voices to open the heart and the portal to the Buddhist multiverse.
Benny Oyama is a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from New York City who travels the world spreading connection and dharma through music. His mission is to aid in humanity’s process of becoming fully expressed and intimately interrelated beings through music and storytelling.
“I have been walking a path of deep inquiry, discovering pebbles of music along the way. Inspired by the openness of sharing, I join forces with others who are trailing the rocky road of collective awakening to embody the universal human value of stewardship.”

BangKlang: A Live Performance
2023-05-31 18:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Join Us at Cardea for An Original Musical Experience…

RSVP here!
The duo known as BangKlang, a site responsive musical improvisations by AP Bergeron (@yearofyog) and Leander Knust (@mienardus), met during the Arctic Circle Residency program in June of 2022. Aboard the tall ship Antigua, which for two weeks meandered the shores of the Svalbard Archipelago, they found a sound that surprised all, and Bang Klang was born. Over the course of their residency, BangKlang performed five times in five locations: at the old trappers’ Villa Oxford cabin, the bay at Texas Bar, the Antigua engine room, the abandoned Cultural Center in Pyramiden, and the world’s northernmost church, Longyearbyen Chapel.

What To Expect
Armed with new music conceived at the Orient Point Lighthouse (designed and built by CARDEA’s own Randy Polumbo), BangKlang should feel right at home showcasing their “spritely and rigorous” sound amidst CARDEA’s cascading chrome couches and mushroom-infused interior. In addition to voice and banjo, BangKlang will make use of sound devices that adorn the walls of CARDEA. They’ll play intimately, loosely, and responsively to the environment for about an hour, give or take. Guests will be invited to lounge and luxuriate in the space, almost as if we are about to engage in a session of inner play.

The event is FREE for all attendees. Donations to the artists highly encouraged!
RSVP here!

Reiki Level I Training In NYC (Day 2)
2023-05-28 09:00 - 13:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
With Le’ Jai’ La Troi And Paola Guerrero
We Are Honored To Extend An Invitation To Join Us For A Reiki Level I Training.

More Information

We encourage therapists, clinicians, space holders, facilitators, and practitioners in the wellness field to explore this training with those in the psychedelic and plant medicine world. Reiki is a great tool and ally for traversing the world of consciousness through energy healing.
Join the Reiki Training

Reiki is an energy healing technique with Japanese origins. Reiki can help ease tension or stress and nourish the body’s vital functions while releasing blockages. This energetic tool creates a calming environment for more profound physical, mental, and emotional healing.
The word reiki comes from the Japanese word “Rei,” which means “universal life,” and “Ki,” which means “energy.” Therefore, reiki uses the universal life force chi, prana, that flows within the physical body through pathways called chakras, meridians, and nadis to support one’s overall well-being.
This class is designed for those interested in learning Reiki as well as those who would like to refresh their training.
Exchange: $220.00 Includes Reiki Manuel

Reiki Level I Training In NYC (Day 1)
2023-05-27 11:00 - 17:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
With Le’ Jai’ La Troi And Paola Guerrero
We Are Honored To Extend An Invitation To Join Us For A Reiki Level I Training.

More Information

We encourage therapists, clinicians, space holders, facilitators, and practitioners in the wellness field to explore this training with those in the psychedelic and plant medicine world. Reiki is a great tool and ally for traversing the world of consciousness through energy healing.
Join the Reiki Training

Reiki is an energy healing technique with Japanese origins. Reiki can help ease tension or stress and nourish the body’s vital functions while releasing blockages. This energetic tool creates a calming environment for more profound physical, mental, and emotional healing.
The word reiki comes from the Japanese word “Rei,” which means “universal life,” and “Ki,” which means “energy.” Therefore, reiki uses the universal life force chi, prana, that flows within the physical body through pathways called chakras, meridians, and nadis to support one’s overall well-being.
This class is designed for those interested in learning Reiki as well as those who would like to refresh their training.
Exchange: $220.00. Includes Reiki Manuel

Psychedelics & Race
2023-05-26 18:30 - 20:30 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Limited Spots – RSVP here!
Dr. Nicholas Powers will be joining us for a lecture. Powers is a literature professor, novelist and journalist. He has facilitated workshops from Occupy Wall Street, PEX, Burning Man and the California Institute for Integral Studies, and his writings have appeared in The Village Voice, Huffington Post, The Raw Story, Truth-Out, The Indypendent, Business Insider, Chacruna, Double Blind and the MAPS Spring 2018 newsletter. He has been interviewed by Naropa University’s “The Root” program on psychedelics and race. His latest book, a political vampire book titled, “Thirst” just came out, and his prior book “The Ground Below Zero: 9/11 to Burning Man, New Orleans to Darfur, Haiti to Occupy Wall Street” was published in 2014 by Upset Press. He’ll be talking with us tonight about psychedelics and race.

As Powers sees it, the psychedelic hype machine is going 100mph, but the reality has not caught up. Amidst all the headlines, basic questions such as, say, how can LSD or molly or ‘shrooms cut the intergenerational trauma loops for working class people of color, are barely talked about. In this presentation, Dr. Powers looks at how a Container beyond the basic ideas currently being put forth in the medical model’s ideas of “Set and Setting” are necessary when bringing psychedelic care to those who are marginalized.

He’ll explore the Black Freedom Movement as a potential container. In Dr. Powers’ words: “In the Black Freedom Movement, freedom is found by returning to the body, a political and risky act because under white supremacy, the body is what we are exiled from. Psychedelics can be the yellow brick road back home.”

Cacao Ceremony: Integrating The Messages
2023-05-24 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-05-17 19:00 - 20:30 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
With Le’ Jai’ La Troi And Paola Guerrero
FREE EXPERIENCE
Limited spaces are available so please RSVP to save your spot!
We Are Honored To Extend An Invitation To Join Us For An Integration Cacao Ceremony.

More Information

A heart-opening and grounding experience. Join us for an evening of gentle integration, sound healing and community!
We encourage therapists, clinicians, space holders, facilitators, and practitioners in the wellness field to explore this cacao ceremony with those in the psychedelic and plant medicine world. Cacao is a great ally for integrating previous experiences while offering guidance and stability for your current journey.
Join The Cacao Ceremony

Cacao is a sacred plant shared since ancient civilizations such as the Olmec, Aztecs and Maya. During this cacao ceremony, participants will be guided to connect with an intention and intuition to receive clarity or support from previous plant medicine experiences and activations. We will use the Mayan Cosmovision to share an evening of exploration through a shamanic sound journey and integration with the community. Cacao allows you to ground and relax while helping you connect deeper with yourself and the world.

Whether you are curious about what a cup of ceremonial-grade cacao taste like, seeking to heal, or wish the find the voice of reason within yourself this experience will offer a transformative space to look within.

Mindfulness & Psychedelics: A Synergistic Relationship
2023-05-16 18:00 - 20:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
How can having a mindfulness meditation practice help with the preparation, navigation and integration of a psychedelic experience?
How can a psychedelic experience support the deepening of one’s meditation practice?
What do meditation practice and psychedelics teach us about surrendering?
We will explore these questions through some reflections, guided practices, break-out groups and Q&As.
This event is freely offered with a suggested donation amount of $15. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
RSVP
Teacher bio:
Guillaume Caron’s greatest teachers are the challenges and wonders of his own life: balancing artistic aspirations with the necessity to make a living, striving for a healthy lifestyle in a massive urban center, and adapting to a non-native culture and language while remaining authentic.
Guillaume started practicing meditation in 2014 at New York Insight where he was exposed to a vast array of teaching styles and ways of relating to the Dharma. While rooted in Theravada Buddhism, Guillaume has been exploring other traditions of awakening and modalities of healing such as non-violent communication, inner child awareness and plant medicine ceremonies.
Guillaume is currently in the Mindfulness Training Institute under the guidance of Martin Aylward and Mark Coleman. Guillaume serves as a Practice Leader for New York Insight and is a Psychedelic Sangha collaborator.
Guillaume is currently in the Mindfulness Training Institute under the guidance of Martin Aylward and Mark Coleman.

April Residency at Nowadays: John MacLean - A Search for Transcendence in Club Culture and Ceremony
2023-04-12 20:00 - 22:00 | Nowadays, 56-06 Cooper Ave, Ridgewood, NY, 11385, United States
For our April Residency at Nowadays present John MacLean aka The Juan MacLean
John MacLean, aka Juan MacLean / The Juan MacLean, is a ceremonial facilitator who has
studied extensively both in the Amazon jungle of Peru and also various western contemporary
modalities concerning the intersection of consciousness, sound and healing. He is also a multi-
instrumentalist, DJ, and music producer of electronic music, with an interest in exploring and
questioning issues around recreational use of psychedelics and the ways in which, if any, the
container of a club settings might resemble traditional ceremonies that involved repetitive
rhythmic music as a way of entering into a trance state for healing and communal bonding.
John will speak to his experience and journey of awakening that was initiated over 25 years ago
by the spiritual emergency of opiate addiction, and subsequent recovery through various
meditative techniques and ceremonial psychedelic use. He will also speak to issues of cultural
appropriation, cultural extraction, and the ongoing struggle to find a respectful and healing
container for these ancient psychedelic technologies in the current context of Capitalism in
which they are reemerging into the mainstream. He will explore issues around club culture and
the entertainment industry in general and whether or not these experiences and ‘products’ are
tools of healing and transformation, or simply ways of assuaging existential anxiety in order to
keep a broken system running smoothly. He often refers to the Krishnamurti quote “It is no
measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society” as a reference and
framework for his work with psychedelics.

There will also be a brief sound experience with some vibrational as a demonstration of the
kinds of techniques used in psychedelic ceremonies as a way of entering into a non-ordinary
state of consciousness.

Psychedelic Access Fund x Cardea Fundraising Night
2023-04-06 18:30 - 20:30 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
RSVP here!

Psychedelic Care—Accessibility for All.
We’re excited to launch the first fundraising event to celebrate the Psychedelic Access Fund’s partnership with Cardea.
Join us on Thursday, April 6th at 6:30 PM for an evening of networking, mingling, and gathering in community with the common goal of paying it forward and bringing psychedelic healing to those in need.
The event is taking place at CARDEA—a one-of-a-kind space designed by celebrated artist Randy Polumbo. The entire space is a work of art featuring hand-crafted reishi mushroom furniture, light installations, and a playful atmosphere that inspires creativity.
Our goal for the night is to raise $2,100
This covers full sponsorship for two individuals to join CARDEA’s Group Ketamine Journey Series.
About The Event:
With your support, we’re bridging the gap between psychedelic care and accessibility.
This event is an opportunity to connect and network with others in the psychedelic space. We’ll have two main pieces of entertainment throughout the night:

Spontaneous, personalized poetry by Peter Chinman (@TheParkPoet)
An inspiring dance performance by Madeline Warriner (@MaddieWarr)

You’ll also enjoy lite bites and refreshments from our sponsors:

Farm-to-Table Ethiopian food by Ras Plant Based
Crunchy mushroom snacks by Popadelics
Booze-free cocktails by Ghia
Relaxing refreshments by Moment

About CARDEA’s Group Ketamine Journey Series:
To honor both community and accessibility, CARDEA created their Group Ketamine Journey Series—a 3-part group ketamine experience.
The sessions are held at CARDEA’s gathering grotto and they’re kept intimate with only 5 to 7 people per group. All experiences are hosted by a licensed therapist and a sound practitioner that guides the hour-long session with live sound and vibrational instruments.
The group meets weekly for four weeks, going through the entire experience together. The series includes three ketamine-assisted journeys and two group dialogic sessions—CARDEA’s unique approach to preparation and reflection.
Learn more about the Group Ketamine Journey Series
Meet The Psychedelic Access Fund:
The Psychedelic Access Fund (PAF) is a non-profit organization, determined to remove the financial barriers that prevent a person from experiencing psychedelic healing. We believe that psychedelic healing should be accessible to all, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We accomplish this by sponsoring select individuals for ketamine-assisted therapy, and will eventually move into psilocybin, once it becomes available.
Meet CARDEA:
CARDEA is a Ketamine Space that takes a seriously playful approach to psychedelic care. With the ethos of “radical hospitality” at their core, they aim to create a space for growth and expanded awareness from a place of playful creativity. CARDEA goes beyond just a space for ketamine-assisted therapy. They believe in the improvisational nature of personal growth and tap into many different healing modalities like energy healing, art, moving meditation, and more.

Guided Bodily Reverie: Body Meditation
2023-03-27 18:00 - 20:00 | 2277 3rd Ave, 2277 3rd Ave, New York, NY, 10035, United States
Reserve Your Spot

Guided Bodily Reverie
This class is a snapshot in time of my current explorations in decentralizing and distributing awareness to be responsive to, and responsible for, the multiplicity inherent in the carnal body. Privileging qualitative sensorial curiosity and actively resisting the urge to translate these experiences into the quantitative world of data and information. Endeavoring to remove the scalpel from the hands of the domesticating influence of any number of patterns and systems that alienate us from our own sentient and sensuous bodies. My offering is a flavor of guided meditation which I have come to call Guided Bodily Reverie.
Class includes somatic movement and awareness exercises, consented hands-on and/or self-touch, deep meditation practices, and exploration of improvised movement and vocalization, among other creative devices. We will move at the pace of our own visceral exploration.
This class can only hold 5 guests. Please wear comfortable clothing.
Kayvon Pourazar was born in Tehran and spent his formative years in Iran, Turkey and England. He immigrated to the US in 1995, graduated with a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase in 2000 and has resided in NYC ever since, working as a contemporary/experimental dancer and teacher. Kayvon has collaborated and performed in the works of numerous NYC-based choreographers and dancemakers. In 2010 he received a Bessie Award for Performance. He has served as Adjunct Faculty at Bennington College and The New School, has taught classes frequently at Movement Research and as a guest artist in several universities and festivals domestically and internationally.

ARTemple with Ross Ellenhorn
2023-03-26 10:30 - 12:00
RSVP Here

Join CARDEA’s co-founder Ross Ellenhorn at ARTemple—a space to co-create art from a place of inner guidance, instead of guidelines. This space is fitting for anyone, no art experience required. Through pen, pencil, charcoal, and pain, we’ll meet each other in a place of creativity, improvisation, and connection.
We’re gathering at CARDEA’s gathering grotto on Sunday, March 26th at 10:30 AM. This is a free event and a kid-friendly space. RSVP to save your spot!
“It’s not what you see that is art; art is the gap,” wrote great Dadaist artist Marcel Duchamp. Art is always about the middle land we call relationship or encounter—the ineffable terrain of the in-between—that space we all know as real since we all feel most real when we’re there. At Cardea, we see this space as a kind of holy site, a secularly sacred realm in which we “encounter encounter,” or have a “relationship with relationship,” as we put it. And we see it this way because we believe that it is in the land of the threshold where we come alive, experience the aliveness in others, and—again—encounter the life that courses between us.

The famous theologian Martin Buber wrote that “All real living is meeting.” We think he’s exactly right. And at our monthly ARTemple Sundays, we meet in the deepest way through the making of art. Expect no sermons, no hagiarchy or hierarchy, and only the graceful act of conjuring life through pen, pencil, charcoal, and paint.

This process is less “art for art’s sake” then “art for relating, connecting and the experience of the “thou.” There is absolutely zero need for artistic skill at ARTemple and you will not learn new skills either! Also, feel very free to bring the kids. They have a lot to teach us.

Transcend Sings: The Rites of Spring Mini Concert
2023-03-24 19:30 - 21:00
Limited Spots – RSVP here!

Transcend exists to bring trans and gender-expansive/gender non-conforming voices into the choral music of the western choral tradition. We perform art music (in all its forms) from medieval to contemporary, with a general focus on presenting works of composers from minority backgrounds.

Our goals are artistic, musical, pedagogical and socially-oriented: we are making interesting, thoughtful music, while using our voices to create space for gender-expansive voices in the traditional canon and carve out a legacy for future generations of trans or gender-expansive singers.
Singing together — whether that’s informally with our friends at karaoke, or in a structure environment, like a choir — is one of the core elements of the human experience. Research tells us that singers of all levels benefit in myriad ways from choral singing: physically (blood pressure! heart rate!), emotionally (lower anxiety! stronger sense of personal identity!)and socially (group identity! sense of belonging! sense of personal and group achievement!). It’s hard to find any downsides to being in a choir…

…Unless, of course, there’s no choir for you, no choral home where you feel welcome because you don’t really ‘fit’ into the traditional vocal paradigms on which western choral music is built. In short, if you aren’t clearly an S(oprano), A(lto), T(enor) or B(ass), there are very few places where your voice is a comfortable, easy fit. This is obviously an issue for trans singers in transition, whose voices are changeable and uncertain, but it’s also an issue for anyone else whose voice just happens to be a little different. Maybe your timbre is unusual. Maybe you’re louder than most. Maybe your voice is androgynous and doesn’t really fit with the other voices in your section. What then?

That’s where Transcend steps in: We believe that there’s a place for everyone, regardless of voice type, status or otherwise. We exist to show the world what beauty there can be in voices that don’t ‘fit,’ to showcase the unique aesthetic of transitioning and non-conforming voices coming together in song.

Everyone deserves to have a voice. Everyone deserves to have their voice heard. Everyone deserves a welcoming place where they can express themselves and communicate with others musically. We believe that singing is a human right, and we exist to advocate extending that right to everyone, regardless of whether or not their voice ‘fits.’

Ours didn’t.

Thus, we are creating our own musical space, to show others like us that their voices are valued, are beautiful, are worth hearing.

Cardea: The Studio Mycologist
2023-03-22 20:00 - 21:30 | Nowadays, 56-06 Cooper Ave, Ridgewood, NY, 11385, United States
Free Event @ Nowadays

For the March edition of Cardea’s residency, Randy Polumbo and Eugenia Bone will be joining us for a talk on using fungi as an artistic medium and the mycology that makes it possible, followed by a wide ranging Q and A covering mycology, fungal ecology and psychedelic mushrooms.

Randy Polumbo is an installation-based artist who lives and works between Joshua Tree, California and New York City. His artwork has been shown nationally and internationally across metropoles and natural landscapes such as deserts, ruins, and caves. He is a graduate of The Cooper Union School of Art, as well as a LEED accredited master builder and serves on the Board of Directors of New York Live Arts. Randy joins us with decades of experience in building spaces and immersive environments, using polished metal and blown glass, reishi mushroom mycelium, kaleidoscopic grottos, and cast glass. His projects range from museum installations to public sculpture, to monumental renovation of New York mansions and apartments for clients and design luminaries around the world.
Randy has designed and built Cardea’s Tribeca Ketamine Space in New York City to enhance the calming, novel and imaginative environment for transformative experiences. The space’s design materializes Cardea’s concept of “radical hospitality,” which places the guest and their goals at the visual, tactile, and acoustical center of the experience. All sensory interactions have been considered, from lighting, sound, scents and textures, leading each moment of a journey to a new discovery. Randy first began growing and casting mycelium during COVID. This led to his monumental installation at the Brooklyn Museum and a myriad other mycelia projects including Cardea!
Eugenia Bone is an internationally known food and science writer whose work has appeared in many anthologies, magazines, and newspapers. She is a member of the faculty at the New York Botanical Garden where she teaches classes on mycophagy and psychedelic mushrooms. She is the author or co-author of eight books on food and biology, including the category staple Mycophilia, and most recently, the Fantastic Fungi Community Cookbook (December, 2021). She has been nominated for a variety of awards, including a James Beard Award. Eugenia is featured in the documentary directed by Louie Schwartzberg, Fantastic Fungi (2019), and in the Netflix children’s show about food, Waffles + Mochi (the mushroom episode) produced by Michele Obama’s Higher Ground Productions.
