An in-depth conversation with Zoe Helene, a trailblazing activist who created Psychedelic Feminism and founded the environmental feminist collective Cosmic Sister. Zoe’s matrilineal Indigenous Éllinas (Greek) ancestors developed rich, nature-based spiritual traditions that included women-led psychedelic ceremonies and a universal language that is profoundly relevant to the psychedelic experience today. Her tribal village is home to the temeno (temple) of the moon goddess Artemis Karyatis, shape-shifter, protector of women, children, wildlife, and wilderness and the goddess of plant communities and childbirth. We will discuss herstorical wisdom from this lineage, focusing primarily on Artemis and her psychedelic realm of Arcadia, the seemingly infinite wilderness within—where the wild things are. This realm is an expression of a type of psychedelic journeying, a place where we are wildlife. How does exploring the unchartered territories of the psyche enhance personal and collective healing, empowerment, and liberation? How is it essential to the evolution of our species?

About Zoe Helene

Zoe Helene coined and popularized the term Psychedelic Feminism and founded the environmental feminism collective Cosmic Sister (@CosmicSister) to champion the rights of women, wilderness, and wildlife, as well as the right to journey with psychoactive and psychedelic plants and fungi, our co-evolutionary allies. Zoe believes the grossly imbalanced “power-over,” late-stage patriarchal model will continue to lead humans down a devolutionary path ending in the destruction of life on Earth as we know it, and that a true balance of power across the gender spectrum—globally—is the only way humans (and non-humans) will survive. She advocates for intentional work with natural psychedelics as a way to jump-start rapid personal and cultural revolution, leading to higher relationship with self, other humans, and all living beings.

Psychedelic Feminism is a sub-genre of feminism that embraces the power of psychedelics and encourages women to explore the wilderness within, in part to explore core feminist issues in fresh and exciting ways.

Zoe grew up exploring primary rainforests in Aotearoa (New Zealand). As a pioneer in the ‘90s digital revolution, she helped hundreds of arts and humanities organizations, including Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, World Music, and Very Special Arts, develop their first online presence. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Professional Theatre from Brandeis University, where she was mentored by the legendary theatrical Patricia Zipprodt.

Zoe’s work has been featured in Forbes, BBC, BUST, Playboy, VICE, Broadly, Tonic, Outside Magazine, Fast Company, Boston Magazine, ABC Australia, Radio New Zealand, and many other top-tier media venues and popular podcasts. She has presented at the Emerald Cup, Spirit Plant Medicine Conference, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada, New England Women’s Herbal Conference, Bastyr University, and for psychedelic societies at Naropa University, University College London, University of British Columbia, and more.

About Shannon Smadella

Shannon is a Spokesperson & Business Advisor for World Psychedelics Day. Shannon has interviewed some of the most prominent leaders, innovators, scientists, doctors and luminaries in the psychedelic space. Host of Seasons 1 & 2 of Examining The Psychedelic Renaissance, Shannon spent time with over forty pioneers in the field to find out their take on the Psychedelic Renaissance. A supporter of MAPS, and volunteer pioneer consultant of their Canadian fund-development program, she has donated over 450 hours of her time to MAPS over the past four years, in addition to sponsoring various events and being a donor herself.

As a ‘Wellness Personality’ & Speaker with over 8000 hours of teaching and fifteen years of experience, Shannon holds space for transformation in various classes, workshops, & trainings around the world. As a Yoga Alliance Certified School and Chopra Centre Meditation (PSM) Instructor; Shannon shares her passion for healing, while celebrating the inter-connectedness of body, mind and Spirit. As host of her own podcast, Dialed In, Shannon shares her own healing experience, along with interviewing experts, doctors, and healers from around the world on how they “Dial In” to their higher self.

As a charitable business professional & corporate consultant of over two decades, humanitarian and advocate, Shannon has used her business experience and passion for helping others to aid in raising funds and awareness for many large and small organizations. Traveling to countries like Ecuador and Mexico Shannon uses her strengths to help those in need and has worked extensively with organizations such as World Vision and the Red Cross. In 2010, Shannon cycled over 2500 miles from Calgary, Canada to Santa Monica, California over forty days to help victims stricken by disaster and aid the efforts of the Red Cross. Her passion for service and helping others has lead her to give over 3000 volunteer hours to charity and non profit organizations locally and internationally, cumulatively raising millions of dollars. She has been honored with awards from the American and Canadian Red Cross, along with a Woman of Distinction nomination from the YWCA. Shannon has researched, observed, coached and trained in excess of 5,000 individuals in sales, marketing, and business management. Aside from Shannon's strengths in business, she has a love for the Arts. She has starred in 2 feature films, is a former Miss Canada, and a freelance journalist. During her reign as Miss Canada, she toured North America speaking to children in schools about the importance of “inner beauty”, and wore a dress made out of burlap on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards to show that beauty comes from within. As a keynote motivational speaker and Emcee, she has hosted numerous events on and off camera, interviewing celebrities, politicians, and athletes among others and has appeared on various networks such as TSN, CTV, KTLA, MTV just to name a few. Shannon is also an Ordained Metaphysical Minister and has worked in the field of Metaphysical healing for over fifteenth years. As a Reiki Master and Spiritual Advisor she has worked with thousands of clients in the area of mental and physical well-being. Shannon studied Science (Microbiology & Immunology) at the University of Saskatchewan and will soon have her PhD in Philosophy.

Official: www.shannonsmadella.com,
Online Academy: www.insight-global.ca,
Podcast: www.dialedinpodcast.com

About World Psychedelics Day

World Psychedelics Day 6·20, 2021 plants the seeds for an annual, global day of discussion and recognition to build awareness of, and respect for, the therapeutic and life-enhancing potential of synthetic psychedelics and traditional psychoactive plant medicines.

We envision a time when synthetic and naturally occurring psychedelic medicines are better understood, made safely and legally available, and are appreciated for all their beneficial, wondrous, and sacred uses.

World Psychedelics Day 6·20, 2021 is a project of the International Psychedelics Awareness Foundation, a Canadian non-profit organization of artists, journalists, university students, parents, and businesspeople.