Exploring the Good Friday Experiment and My Personal Healing Journey

Good Friday Experiment

About 64 years ago the notorious Good Friday experiment took place, about 6 years ago I had an experiment for my self. I had spent the prior 8 months recovering from a near death experience. As I had broken my C2, rib, and arm I had a lot of time in bed, I did a lotttt of research which led me to my deep dive of understanding "alternative' ways of healing. 6 years ago it was Covid, government made laws that aligned with my present desire of wanting space and time to be alone, as it felt clear for myself to BE in my energy.
Here I share a glimpse of my healing journey, and what went down in 1962 in hopes that it shines a light along your path as well.

Understanding the Good Friday Experiment

When I say "Good Friday," I'm sorry to say Ice Cube didn't come out with a new movie nor am I referring to the church tradition commemorating Jesus' crucifixion — though both make for very different kinds of solemn reflection. I mean the April 20, 1962 experiment at Boston University's Marsh Chapel, where some participants got psilocybin, others a placebo, and the sermon ended up sharing the stage with one of the most famous investigations into consciousness, spirituality, and whether hymns sound better on mushrooms.

Most of the people given psilocybin reported experiences that sounded less like a trippy magic show and more like a board meeting with the cosmos—states of unity, transcendence, deep peace, and what many called direct encounters with the divine. These were not mere fleeting hallucinations; they had weight, narrative, and meaning. Many participants later ranked the experience among the most significant events of their lives.

And it didn’t just read like a good story afterward—the effects stuck. Years later, follow-ups found lasting increases in life satisfaction, spiritual openness, and a reorientation toward meaning, as if the soul had returned from a field trip and decided to redecorate.

SOOOO what exactly happens in the brain mush when it meets the mystic mush?

Modern neuroscience gives us some language for the kind of rewiring and quieting that can make mystical states feel both
vivid and enduring.

Psilocybin interacts primarily with serotonin receptors, especially the 5-HT2A receptor, leading to: Decreased activity in the Default Mode Network (DMN) in other words, ADIOS EGO! When it quiets, people often report ego dissolution or a sense of oneness. The barriers fade and there's an increased connectivity across brain regions, areas of the brain that don’t usually “talk” to each other begin communicating, leading to novel insights, creativity, and sometimes deeply emotional releases.

Imagine what a world we could live in, if we all just dissolved our barriers for a moment to feel, to listen, to connect, and to use our creative genius to recognize that we might all have different values and perspectives, yet beneath it all, its a beating heart with a mushyy guide of the mind. Perhaps the mushrooms are trying to lead by example....

Did you take a moment to pause? Can you handle it? I find with any preparation of diving deep into the subconscious, we need to learn to be still with ourselves. Don't worry, I offer many free resources to support you in this.
With the extra firing of the neural connectors comes heightened emotional and sensory processing. Music feels deeper. Emotions feel more accessible. Memories can surface with clarity. We become highly sensitive, which is a blessing--yet connection to yourSelf is one of the greatest protections.

As James Fadiman writes in The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide (one of the books I used to prep my journey):

“Psychedelics are not drugs that shut the brain down—they are substances that open it up.”

And with that opening comes both potential and responsibility. As my trauma therapist told me, "your consciousness will reveal to you what you're ready to see," which gives peace to mind before embarking on a deep journey. What did I intend to see on my Good Friday Experiment? GOD. nbd.....

I expected the sky to crack open with a booming voice, which led to to recognizing the concept of Projection vs. Reception. A full yin video is here to time travel you back when the world was more slow aka Covid.

My Own Spiritual and Healing Exploration

For me it was a quest to reconnect with GOD — like dialing an old friend who finally picks up. After months of feeling broken, boxed-in, and living in a body that had earned its scars like a badly behaved souvenir, I felt equal parts sympathy and curiosity. I wanted answers. I wanted a conversation. There was a gap of time from flying out of a car to landing in a hospital bed. Interestingly enough, I pieced this together in a breathwork session, under zero influence.

During my spiritual journey, there was no booming voice and the sky did not dramatically split (I was disappointed, at first). Instead I found myself in front of a mirror and, for the first time—not as a clever line or ritual, but straight to the gut—I said, “I love you.”

It landed like a soft but decisive thump. Not just words; embodied. I felt my body again—not a traitor, but a weathered vessel that had carried me through impact, healing, and surprisingly survival.

There was a gentleness, a small homecoming. Not fixed. Not flawless. Definitely present.

Then I danced--I felt the Peter Davison album in a whole new way, which led me to rebirthing myself out of an iridescent egg. See for yourself.

I took photos, and within them I felt I could see the divine within it all. I became aware that the divine was woven within and all around me. I recognized the power of projection verses reception, and how important it is to be present with what is, instead of trying to see it in a way that you want it to be true. It can be a tough pill to swallow, especially when we wish relationships to flow in a certain way (at least that's my soft spot). It's a reminder that the truth will always set you free, and when you move, speak, and percieve the world from a place of truly loving yourself, life unfolds differently.

If you're remotely like me, there's a chance your inner psychonaut is already doing the research and planning a day to venture. It's not always a psychedelic cinema of swirls and melting landscapes, in fact I find the magic taps deeper when it isn't.

While everyone is responsible for themselves, let me fuse my skills as a Transpersonal Psychology/Psychedelic Integration Coach, Sister (who has lil resistance to giving a reality check), Breathwork facilitator and DJ who knows what happening back stage. (Yes, I offer a lot, as I've been around for longer than I look.)

As this (and always) is where awareness matters.

Psychedelics are powerful substances. Just as your power shouldn't be underestimated, likewise it's important to remember the power of anything that you consume.
They are not for everyone, and they are not without risk.
Yet here's some basic 101...
• Set and setting are everything (your mindset and environment shape the experience)
• Individuals with a history of certain mental health conditions (like psychosis) should avoid use
• Integration afterward is just as important as the experience itself
• These substances are illegal in many places—know the laws where you are

This isn’t about promoting or discouraging—it’s about being informed.

And a love note for my fellow dance floor bunnies...

As a dancer and a DJ, I’ve spent years in spaces where energy is high and substances are often part of the landscape. Especially as we move into big party weekends, as for many of us, we find GOD on the dance floor, or maybe you're not religious at all—we all celebrate in different ways.

There’s no judgment, nor am I saying one way is the right way.
Yet to stay authentic, I’ll circle it back to awareness and expanding potential.
Know what you’re consuming.
Understand what it does to your brain.
Recognize the ripple effects—not just for you, but for others and even the planet.
Sometimes just hearing that is enough to inspire a different choice.
IF you don't know, ASK.
Unless you have the ability to walk on water, chances are you won't come back after being in a dark room (tomb) for 3 days.

ACT & SPEAK to yourself/anything you consume with intention, essentially any substance will alter your brain chemistry, and your body is LISTENING.

There's great potential beyond just having a wild time. Obviously I could elaborate on my unexpected healing journeys on dance floors, yet I hope my sharing so far has illuminated a part of you that was seeking clarity, a part of you that wished to feel inspired, or a part of you that can now move forward with a deeper understanding. In general, I notice a common theme with those who consume, there is a search for something deeper or a general wish to avoid life all together. There are many ways to build strength to handle what you want to avoid and to access something greater, within yourself. Call me if you're curious.

As I reflect on both the Good Friday Experiment and my personal healing journey, I see common threads. Both instances illustrate the significance of experience and the power of perception in shaping our understanding of reality. Remember, healing is a deeply personal journey, and finding what resonates with your spirit can be a transformative endeavor.

Remember the magic last forever when you integrate your treasures of wisdom into your daily life. For me, producing music, creating costumes, and dancing always keep me tapped into my FREAK.
I work with people like you on a 1:1 basis to support embodied potential, expanding dreams into reality, and boosting confidence.

In my mind, it looked something like this... Guess who got the placebo?

Thank you for tuning in. I love you.