Lauren Katalinich is one of two co-directors at The Psychedelic Society and I’m delighted she ‘In Conversation’ with YOMU today.

Watch this space as I have so many brilliant business owners and founders coming this summer, and beyond, all of whom have created something amazing you need to know about.

Now over to Lauren.

What inspired you to start a company in the health and wellness sector and what do you offer? 
The Psychedelic Society has been around for a while now. We're celebrating our 10th anniversary this year! It was started in 2014 by Stephen Reid some time before psychedelics really started appearing in the mainstream consciousness. The idea, which we remain true to, was to provide a space to learn about, experience, and connect with others on their journeys of self-discovery and altered states of consciousness. Something that, at that time, was hard to come by!

We believe authentic connection is one of the most crucial elements of wellbeing and one of the least accessible and discussed in today's alienated world. We offer a huge variety of events across seven categories but at their heart, all our events are about connection. We seek to connect and reconnect people on multiple levels - to themselves and their emotions through individual practices and experiences like meditation, breathwork, and talks on mental health; to others and community with intimacy workshops and conscious meetup events; to nature through our nature connection events; and to the deep mysteries of existence through ritual and ceremony.

What influenced your services?
We have very much been influenced as an organisation by our own personal journeys - evolving from a focus on psychedelics to an expanded view of altered states of consciousness and the many, many avenues we can take to heal and explore the self. Because that was our experience! Although psychedelics are a powerful wake-up call, ultimately healing comes from engaging the body, mind, and spirit in daily and sustainable practices like the ones our events focus on.

How does your company uniquely address the health and wellness needs of its customers?
We believe we are in the midst of an enormous crisis of meaning and we address this need by helping people rediscover themselves, their unique passions and gifts and crucially, providing a space for them to meet and connect with others in community who can support them. Health and wellness can be a highly individualistic pursuit for many but we believe that the greatest and most rewarding impacts come from connecting and supporting others on a similar path.

What major health and wellness trends have impacted your business strategy?
We've noticed that many of the events that we held ten years ago like sound healing and gong baths have become common now. There are many more options for people to choose from so we have started to emphasise our focus on the community aspect. That these events aren't just one off sessions but a chance to become part of a movement and worldview with other like-hearted people.

Could you describe a pivotal moment or decision in your company's development?
There's no end to this road. Success to us means every step someone comes closer to feeling authentically themselves, to changing behaviours they felt were no longer working for them, to meeting and making deep friendships. I never stop being touched when someone tells me that an event of ours changed their life, awoke something in them, has inspired them to live differently in the world, or set them on a new course. Everyone is on their own journey and I like to think of our work as a doorway for wherever they may be headed.

What role does technology play in your business, especially in relation to enhancing health and wellness?
Building community is difficult and one of the issues we struggle with is following through on our promise to provide a connective space for people. It's especially hard with our base who are not in the UK to design online spaces where they can make meaningful and authentic connections with others. 

How do you stay informed and continue to innovate within the health and wellness field?
Through experience!

We have nearly 70 facilitators and are bringing on new courses and workshops all the time based on the people we meet and the experiences we have that we think others would find helpful and meaningful.

To find out more head to The Psychedelic Society and see what’s on offer this summer, and into autumn, I think you’ll like that you see.

Natalie