A Convergence of Minds at MAPS’ Psychedelic Science 2025

There are moments in time when it feels as though reality itself winks at us—pulling back the veil just enough for us to peer through the cracks of consensus and catch a glimpse of something more profound. The 2025 Psychedelic Science Conference in Denver, hosted by MAPS, was one of those rare openings: a portal. And Synergetic Press walked right through it, arms wide open and books in hand.

As the official bookstore collaborator for this historic event, Synergetic Press was honored to partner with MAPS, bringing forth the voices, visions, and volumes that have shaped—and continue to shape—the psychedelic renaissance. We stepped into that portal with reverence, arms wide open and books in hand, in full support of the groundbreaking work MAPS has cultivated over decades of dedication and vision.

Some of the most memorable moments unfolded at the MAPS Bookstore, curated and managed in partnership with Synergetic Press. Beyond showcasing our expansive catalog, the space became a dynamic, living hub—home to intimate author signings, spontaneous meet-and-greets, and a vibrant Author Talk Stage, where conversations sparked, reflections deepened, and unexpected magic took root. It offered a softer, more personal rhythm within the broader pulse of the conference—a place where stories were exchanged, ideas were ignited, and the movement found its beating heart.

Leonard Pickard reads an excerpt from The Rose of Paracelsus, sharing poetic reflections from a life lived on the psychedelic edge.

Books, Ideas, and Electric Encounters

At the heart of our booth, beyond the neatly stacked tomes and the flicker of QR codes, something else was happening. Conversations. Invitations. Synchronicities. Our space became an oasis of insight—a literal mindfield—where one could stumble into a dialogue about the multiverse, trauma healing, Indigenous knowledge systems, or the pharmacology of frog venom. And at the center of it all were our authors: the myth-makers, the scientists, the dreamers.

Leonard Pickard: A Ghost from the Psychedelic Underground

Leonard Pickard’s presence at MAPS 2025 carried the unmistakable gravity of lived myth. Revered, enigmatic, and often shrouded in legend, Pickard emerged into the public light after serving nearly two decades in prison—his sentence the result of a now-infamous LSD manufacturing case that became one of the most widely reported busts in psychedelic history. But to reduce him to the headlines is to miss the multidimensional nature of the man. What he brought to the conference was not scandal—it was soul.

Appearing at the Synergetic Press booth with a quiet dignity, Leonard spoke not as a provocateur, but as someone who has walked through fire and returned bearing gifts. “There was no LSD in prison,” he shared candidly, “but there was heroin and fentanyl. That says something about our system.” It was a sobering reminder that the war on drugs, particularly psychedelics, is a war on consciousness itself—and the casualties are often those trying to expand it.

His book, The Rose of Paracelsus: On Secrets and Sacraments, is a literary enigma—a 650-page spiritual epic, dense with symbolism, coded language, and philosophical musings. Part memoir, part metaphysical riddle, it chronicles a clandestine network of alchemists who seek to preserve the sacrament of LSD through secret traditions and initiatory knowledge. The text reads like a transmission from another dimension, and those who have encountered it often speak of it as a spiritual experience unto itself.

To stand with Leonard was to be in the presence of living contradiction: a scientist and outlaw, a philosopher and prisoner, a man who once operated in the shadows of a hidden psychedelic elite, now stepping into the light to share what he’s learned. He did not come to glorify the past. He came to bear witness to what it cost—and why it still matters.

Sharing space with Leonard was like holding hands with the shadow of history while watching it begin to heal. His presence reminded us that the psychedelic path is not just about transcendence and beauty—it is also about risk, consequence, and the courage to keep loving the truth, even when it burns.

We are honored he joined us, and grateful for the opportunity to listen.

Dennis McKenna: The Plant Elder Speaks

Dennis McKenna, ever the botanical bard, reminded us that we are not the only intelligence walking this Earth. His presence at the Synergetic Press booth brought with it a wave of reverence—his grounded, poetic wisdom cultivated through decades of entheogenic inquiry and scientific rigor. As co-founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, Dennis has become one of the most respected voices in ethnobotany, advocating for the integration of Indigenous plant wisdom with modern scientific exploration.

At MAPS 2025, Dennis shared reflections on one of his most ambitious and important projects to date: the Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs (ESPD). First held in 1967 and later revived in 2017 and again in 2022, the ESPD conferences serve as groundbreaking symposia that convene some of the most brilliant minds in the fields of pharmacology, ethnobotany, anthropology, and Indigenous medicine. The most recent gathering, ESPD55—held virtually in 2022 to mark the 55th anniversary of the original event—was a convergence of 33 of the world’s foremost researchers and cultural stewards, delivering 37 deeply insightful presentations.

The upcoming ESPD55 book, to be co-published by Synergetic Press and the McKenna Academy, captures the depth and breadth of this intellectual and spiritual convergence. This anthology will feature topics ranging from the biochemistry of ayahuasca, psilocybin, and iboga, to the ceremonial use of psychoactive snuffs in the Amazon, the cultural revival of peyote traditions, and critical perspectives on the globalization of plant medicines. More than just a record of a conference, ESPD55 is a multidisciplinary tapestry of knowledge that honors the plants, their wisdom keepers, and the complex relationship between humans and the visionary flora of our planet.

In Dennis’ presence, you could sense the plants speaking too—through kinship, through ceremony, through research. With his lifelong dedication to honoring sacred medicines and the cultures that carry them, Dennis continues to guide the psychedelic renaissance not as a commercial trend but as a sacred continuity. His work reminds us that this movement is not only about healing the individual, but restoring our collective relationship to the natural world.

We are deeply grateful to Dennis for joining us at MAPS 2025 and for his unwavering commitment to preserving, protecting, and elevating the ancient intelligence of psychoactive plants. The psychedelic space is richer, more rooted, and infinitely more meaningful because of him.

Bia Labate, Clancy Cavnar and Ibrahim Gabriell: Weaving the Sacred Back In

From the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, anthropologist Dr. Bia Labate, psychologist Dr. Clancy Cavnar and Ibrahim Gabriell brought with them a necessary and unapologetic message: there is no psychedelic future without the inclusion—and deep respect—of Indigenous voices. Their presence at MAPS 2025 was more than symbolic; it was foundational.

Chacruna, as an organization, has long stood at the intersection of psychedelic science, cultural preservation, and social justice. Founded by Bia Labate, Chacruna has become a leading force in challenging the dominant Western narrative around psychedelics. The Institute is renowned for its work amplifying Indigenous perspectives, supporting grassroots communities, and examining the political, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of entheogenic use. Through articles, conferences, and educational programs, they invite us to look beyond the clinical and into the cultural.

Bia Labate, an internationally recognized scholar, has spent decades studying the use of ayahuasca and other psychoactive plants in traditional and contemporary contexts. Her work dissects the colonial entanglements of psychedelic practices and advocates for Indigenous-led leadership in the field. Dr. Clancy Cavnar, Chacruna’s co-founder and creative director, complements this work with her background in clinical psychology and a deep curiosity about identity, healing, and consciousness. Together, they embody a vision of psychedelia that is expansive, intersectional, and grounded in justice.

As they shared their insights at the conference, Bia’s words rang out like a call to action:

“Bringing ideas, changing hearts, opening minds, creating new paradigms, encouraging curiosity, collaboration across borders… between north and south, between different ways of knowing and seeing the world.”

Their talk emphasized the urgent need for ethical frameworks within psychedelic work—not just checklists for practitioners, but immersive, Indigenous-led pathways of knowledge transmission. Chacruna’s future programming includes certificates in psychedelic ethics, integration workshops informed by traditional knowledge holders, and the much-anticipated Psychedelic Culture Conference, set to take place in April 2026. This forthcoming event promises to expand the conversation beyond clinical trials and commodified treatments into something deeper: a cross-cultural exchange of wisdom, accountability, and healing.

In their vision, dialogue becomes ceremony. Research becomes relational. And healing becomes collective.

Dr. Bia Labate, Dr. Clancy Cavnar, and Ibrahim Gabriell of the Chacruna Institute present the Chacruna Anthology and Dennis McKenna in a heartwarming meet-and-greet with fans celebrating wisdom, connection, and psychedelic culture.

Betty Aldworth: Publishing as Revolution

In the heart of the MAPS pavilion, amidst shelves pulsing with the stories of our psychedelic lineage, stood Betty Aldworth—a guiding force behind MAPS’ publishing vision. With her characteristic clarity and warmth, Betty offered an intimate glimpse into the evolution of psychedelic literature as both a historical record and a revolutionary act. As we stood together, surrounded by the collected works of Stanislav Grof (Psyche Unbound), Albert Hofmann, Claudio Naranjo, and other luminaries of the psychedelic renaissance, the atmosphere was more than literary—it was ceremonial.

To publish in the psychedelic space is to engage with cultural transformation in real-time. It’s not simply about printing books—it’s about curating consciousness, preserving memory, and shaping the very language through which we explore mind, spirit, and healing. Betty reminded us that every title is a torch, lighting the path from ancient mysteries to modern frontiers.

Our collaboration with MAPS has been a deep honor—an evolving alliance built on shared values and visionary intent. Together, Synergetic Press and MAPS have created a platform where wisdom meets accessibility, where deep psychospiritual work meets public discourse. It is, in every sense, a publishing revolution—one led not by trends, but by truth.

Wendy Tucker and the Shulgin Legacy

Alongside Betty stood another keeper of the flame—Wendy Tucker of the Shulgin Foundation. If Betty’s work anchors the psychedelic canon, Wendy’s presence evokes its alchemical heart. Representing the legacy of Sasha and Ann Shulgin, Wendy brought stories that shimmered with both scientific brilliance and soulful devotion. The Shulgins, often referred to as the godparents of psychedelic chemistry, were not just pioneers of molecules—they were stewards of consciousness exploration, and fierce advocates for responsible, ethical use.

Wendy’s updates from the foundation painted a beautiful picture of preservation and renewal. From archiving Sasha’s extensive laboratory notes and personal writings, to organizing events that honor the sacredness of chemical exploration, her work reminds us that behind every compound is a philosophy—an intention to connect, to understand, to heal.

To know chemistry through the Shulgin lens is to know it as poetry. It’s not just about receptor sites and binding affinities—it’s about the soul’s yearning for union, for expanded awareness, for communion with the ineffable. Wendy reminded us that this legacy isn’t just something we look back on—it’s something we continue to build, collectively, with every conscious step forward.

Together, Betty and Wendy offered us more than updates. They offered us anchors—living testaments to the integrity, care, and brilliance required to carry the psychedelic renaissance forward. Through the power of story, stewardship, and sacred knowledge, they are helping us remember who we are… and who we are becoming.

Wendy Tucker, Doug Reil, and colleagues representing the Shulgin Foundation and Transform Press, alongside Betty Aldworth and Rachel Nuwer speaking on the Author Stage—celebrating legacy, literature, and the future of psychedelic publishing.

Tripping Through History and Future

Among the fresh wave of contemporary authors, Norman Ohler brought his literary fire with Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age—a book that cuts deep into the political underbelly of psychoactive substances and state control. His sharp wit and historical insight lit up many conversations as readers discovered how psychedelics have long been intertwined with the darker currents of history.

Rachel Nuwer’s I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World touched tender hearts, bringing to light how the need for intimacy and healing is written into our very biology. Her voice is a reminder that healing is relational, and that MDMA is not just a molecule—it’s a mirror.

It wasn’t just about books. It was about being seen. Rhoney Gissen Stanley, Zach Leary (echoing his father Timothy’s cosmic call), Matt Zemon (reminding us of the needs of our veterans), Olga Chernoloz, Genesee Herzberg—each one brought with them a piece of the greater puzzle. A living library of revolutionaries in human form.

Together, we laughed, we cried, we signed books, and we stared into the glowing eyes of strangers who quickly became kin. We discussed ethics and metaphysics, brainwaves and archetypes, laughter and lineage.

Synergetic Press is not just a publishing house. We are the mycelium—subtle, ancient, and quietly alive beneath the surface of culture. Our work weaves through the roots of consciousness, connecting nodes of wisdom across time, space, and discipline. Like the fungal networks that feed the forest, we exist to nourish ideas, foster symbiotic relationships, and turn the invisible into fruit: books that heal, provoke, and awaken.

Our presence at MAPS 2025 was more than a booth—it was a living, breathing organism. A gathering point. A pulse. People didn’t just stop by to shop—they came to remember. To remember that books are portals. That stories are medicine. That knowledge, when held with reverence and shared with integrity, is a form of ceremony.

This was not about sales. It was about soul. About placing sacred texts into the hands of seekers. About spontaneous heart-to-hearts with strangers who somehow already felt like kin. About watching tears well up when someone stumbled upon a book that spoke to the exact moment they’re in.

The psychedelic revolution is not coming—it’s already here. It’s here in the cross-pollination of scientists and shamans, veterans and therapists, Indigenous wisdom keepers and policy reformers. It’s here in our stories, our research, our dreams.

At Synergetic Press, we are committed to continuing this work—not as trend-chasers, but as time travelers. We walk with the ancestors and speak to the future, one page at a time.

And if you missed us this time, don’t worry. The story is still unfolding. The network is still growing. And we’ll be right here, weaving the words that help make this moment unforgettable.

The Synergetic Press team above: Founder and Director Deborah Parrish Snyder, Guy Gaffney, Fernanda Baraybar, Abe Ogden, and our amazing volunteers—grateful for the heart and dedication behind every moment at MAPS 2025.