Ep 37: Fernando Hettiyadura: ‘Used responsibly, magic mushrooms can be more powerful than meditation’

“The one who needs to be loved is the one in the mirror. And if we can love ourselves so deeply, we can love even a stranger and see their suffering,” says Thailand-based Fernando Hettiyadura, a Multidisciplinary Therapist and ICF-designated Master Certified Coach, who leads unique interventions derived from integrative neuroscience, Vipassana and psychedelic plant medicine. He has also launched the world’s first-ever Professional Coaching Qualification for Psychedelic Integration, accredited to the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

A part of the LGBTQI+ community, Fernando faced bullying as a child, along with other adversities. His first encounter with psilocybin or magic mushrooms, he recalls, left him feeling lightheaded and with a sense of abundance, realising for the first time how it felt to be mentally healthy.

He also quotes modern breakthroughs in psychedelic research led by esteemed institutions such as Johns Hopkins and Imperial College London, on the healing and mind-enhancing capabilities of Plant Psychedelic Medicine. While mentioning the beneficial effects in alleviating depression and anxiety, he cautions that the session should be conducted in a controlled setting, following strict safety protocols, after consulting with a medical expert and with the correctly prescribed dosage, in keeping with the laws of the specific country or region. Certain drugs, such as antidepressants, may also interfere with the process, therefore, expert guidance is essential.

Fernando is also the founder of Ignite Global, Evolving Temple, Awaken Mind Guide and the Global Center for Reflective Practices & Consciousness – a group of organisations dedicated for healing and mind development. Currently, he is pursuing a postgraduate degree in Counseling Psychology and conducts research, focusing on “Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Integrated Coaching in Treating Childhood Trauma”.

His message? “Let’s be open-minded; every powerful resource has positive and negative impact, it’s important we pay attention and recognise the possibilities.”

Timestamps:
01:15 Talking about psilocybin or magic mushrooms as part of Fernando’s life coaching practice
07:25 How Fernando discovered the “power” of magic mushrooms16:00 Understanding our default mode network and sense of identity
24:25 Does the experience help you discover who you are?
31:10 Comparing the effect of psilocybin to meditation; experiencing altered states of consciousness
45:00 Dosing and micro-dosing
56:26 Fernando as a “wounded healer”, healing from the adversities of his early life
01:02:54 Overcoming adversity in his early life; facing bullying and assault as part of the LGBTQI+ community
01:05:45 His first encounter with plant medicine, waking up with a feeling of abundance
01:10:00 Fungi as the most powerful ecosystem on earth

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