INSIGHT Forum - Public Talk Series

Exploring psychedelics in medicine and culture of consciousness

INSIGHT Forum - Public Talk Series

Exploring psychedelics in medicine and culture of consciousness

INSIGHT Forum - Public Talk Series

Exploring psychedelics in medicine and culture of consciousness

INSIGHT Forum - Public Talk Series

Exploring psychedelics in medicine and culture of consciousness

INSIGHT Forum Archive - Now available!

Upcoming INSIGHT Forum Events

INSIGHT Forum (EN): Beyond Reductionism in Psychedelic Research?

Saturday, 25 April 2026 at 19:00

Open Event

About the INSIGHT Forum

To make the potential of altered states of consciousness accessible for human development, we need to create a new and responsible culture around psychedelic and mind-altering practices. That is why the INSIGHT Forum opened its doors in February 2024. 

Here, we critically examine the science and practice of consciousness from a variety of angles - medical, psychological, philosophical, sociological, economic and many other perspectives - in order to engage in a diverse discourse. Ultimately, we strive for a responsible integration of psychedelic and other mind-altering states into medicine and society, as described by the German philosopher Thomas Metzinger with the term Bewusstseinskultur, a culture of consciousness: “A Bewusstseinskultur is a culture that examines the mental states of its members in an evidence-based way and assesses and cultivates them from an ethical perspective. Of course, building such a culture also requires a better understanding of consciousness itself.”

Accordingly, the aim of the INSIGHT Forum is to provide education, fact-based information and to raise the public discourse on psychedelics and mind-altering experiences to a scientific level. Each event consists of three parts: the Rationale as critical-intellectual, science-oriented discourse, the Transrationale as an experience-based practice such as meditation or breathwork, and Communitas as a space for networking and get-together. Through this combination of activities, we strive to build a new cultural context that supports an ethical practice of altered states of consciousness and the values of a so-called Bewusstseinskultur. 

Three segments

Rationale

In the Rationale part of each of our INSIGHT Forum events, experts share their academic research, professional experience or other forms of knowledge in a logically structured and rationally accessible way. The aim is to identify and critically discuss theories and research findings that have the potential to improve medicine and society. The topics discussed and presented are related to the development of an ethically reflected Bewusstseinskultur. Sometimes we also hold panel talks to bring together several expert opinions. One idea behind this is to build a bridge between science and experience. The Rationale part of each event is also available online via live stream.

Transrationale

The transrational activities at INSIGHT Forum events aim to explore and learn about practices that bring body and mind into contact, have a mind-altering effect and ultimately enable us to see ourselves and our social and ecological environment in a different light. Accordingly, together at our events we practice techniques, such as meditation, that “transcend the rational”, i.e. transrational in the sense that we focus on pre-theoretical or embodied experiences, which we then reflect upon together and integrate in a science-based way.

Typical activities in this transrational part of the event include secular meditation techniques, Bohm dialogues, breathing techniques, musical performances and many more.

Communitas

The third part of each event is dedicated to building personal and professional relationships between our guests, our speakers, and organizers. Communitas is a space for networking and get-togethers at the end of each event. Building a network also means building a community and creating a sense of belonging in the spirit of a Bewusstseinskultur. In this way, we can drive social change and initiate a social dynamic that leads to more awareness about nature, psyche, and the responsible use of psychedelics in our society. 

INSIGHT Forum Team

The INSIGHT Forum is organized by the MIND Foundation, a non-profit legal form (gGmbH). The main responsibility for the program design and management lies in the hands of Simon Reichersdörfer and Dr. Marvin Däumichen, who are both directors of the INSIGHT Forum. Another important team member is Inna Krylovetska. She is responsible for event management and coordinates other people involved in event production. Dr. Henrik Jungaberle, CEO of the MIND Foundation, supports the INSIGHT Forum as an advisor.

Last but not least, a steady but open group of volunteers, interns and other MIND Foundation team members ensure that the INSIGHT Forum is possible in the form of regular events. The MIND Foundation also works closely with its clinical cooperation partner, the OVID Clinic, the first so-called psychedelic day clinic in Europe to offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Our thanks go to everyone who invests their time and energy in this charitable project!

Discover OVID Clinic Berlin

Get Involved in the INSIGHT Forum

We welcome signups for volunteering at the INSIGHT Forum. This includes particularly assistance in the on-site preparation, live event production and wrap-up of our events. If you'd like to support our program and want to make a contribution, please get in touch and we'll register you as a volunteer in the INSIGHT Forum.

 

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Donate to the MIND Foundation

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Thank you from the bottom of our heart!

INSIGHT Forum Archive

Find here an expanding archive of all INSIGHT Forum events. Click the video to watch it. Below each video is a drop-down menu that you can click to read the event description. 

Enjoy!

The INSIGHT Forum event series was opened on February 15, 2024, by Prof. Dr. Thomas Metzinger – with his lecture on "Bewusstseinskultur, Insight, and Intellectual Honesty." The philosophical term Bewusstseinskultur is crucial for the INSIGHT Forum project and Thomas Metzinger describes it as follows:

“I introduced the idea of developing a Bewusstseinskultur a quarter century ago. Bewusstseinskultur aims at a special form of cultural innovation. In a first-order approximation, it consists of three major elements:

  1. The adoption of an ethical stance toward one’s own mental states.

  2. The systematic cultivation of states assessed as valuable. 

  3. A continuous process of rational, evidence-based enculturation – that is, an active embedding of such states of consciousness in culture and society.”

So his lecture in the INSIGHT Forum serves as a profound philosophical manifesto that attempts to bridge the widening gap between the rigorous findings of modern neuroscience and the human need for spiritual depth and ethical orientation. At the heart of his argument lies the concept of intellectual honesty, which Metzinger defines not merely as a scholarly duty but as a fundamental existential virtue for the twenty-first century. He posits that we are currently living through a historical transition where our traditional self-image as stable, soul-endowed entities is being systematically dismantled by the cognitive sciences. This "naturalistic turn" leads to what Metzinger calls the disenchantment of the world, a state where the comforting myths of personal immortality and a divinely ordered universe are no longer tenable for a rational mind. Instead of fleeing into the safety of neo-religious dogmas or falling into a destructive nihilism, Metzinger challenges us to accept this radical honesty as a starting point for a new form of secular spirituality. 

Central to this is his "Self-Model Theory," which suggests that the "ego" is not a thing but a process – a transparent representation created by the brain that we mistake for ourselves because we cannot see the underlying neural mechanisms at work. This realization is not just a theoretical abstraction; it has profound implications for how we experience our lives and how we should structure our societies. Metzinger argues that if the self is a simulation, then the focus of our culture should shift from the preservation of a fictional ego toward the cultivation of valuable states of conscious experience. This is where his vision of a "Bewusstseinskultur" or "culture of consciousness" begins to take shape as a normative project. Such a culture would prioritize mental autonomy and the reduction of suffering by actively managing the types of conscious states that a society deems worthy of pursuit. This necessarily includes a radical rethinking of altered states of consciousness, particularly those induced by psychedelic substances or meditation. Metzinger views psychedelics as powerful epistemic tools that can facilitate a first-person insight into the very nature of the self-model that he describes in his philosophy. When an individual undergoes a psychedelic experience, the hierarchical structure of the self-model often dissolves, leading to states of "ego-dissolution" that provide a direct, lived experience of the brain’s constructive nature. In a mature “Bewusstseinskultur”, these experiences would not be marginalized or criminalized but would be integrated as legitimate paths for self-exploration and "insight" in the literal sense of seeing into the internal workings of one's own mind. However, Prof. Metzinger remains a critical rationalist throughout, warning that the profound sense of meaning often found in psychedelic states must still be held to the standard of intellectual honesty. He cautions against "spiritual bypasses," where individuals use the awe-inspiring nature of a trip to justify new, unproven metaphysical claims. Instead, the goal is to use these states to foster a "non-dual" awareness that acknowledges the absence of a permanent self while remaining grounded in a scientific understanding of the world. 

The INSIGHT Forum is organized by Simon Reichersdörfer, Dr. Marvin Däumichen, and Inna Krylovetska.

Weltbekannt wurde Norman Ohler als Schriftsteller, der sich auch mit Psychedelika und anderen psychoaktiven Substanzen auseinandersetzt. Sein erstes Werk, welches hauptsächlich Psychedelika thematisiert, “Der stärkste Stoff. Psychedelische Drogen: Waffe, Rauschmittel, Medikament”, stand im Mittelpunkt unseres Abends. Vor Lesung und Diskussion mit ihm und Simon Reichersdörfer stellte Dr. Henrik Jungaberle die aktuelle psychedelisch orientierte Bewusstseinsforschung der MIND Foundation und die damals neugegründete OVID Tagesklinik für Substanz-unterstützte Psychotherapie vor. Zum Ende luden wir bei Musik, Drinks und einem atemberaubenden Blick über Berlin im Rondell des berühmten Cafés Kranzler zu Gespräch und Begegnung ein.

Das von Ohler weit früher, im Jahre 2015, veröffentlichte Sachbuch „Der totale Rausch“ („Blitzed“) wurde ein internationaler Beststeller, der auch jenseits von Europa, wie beispielsweise in den USA, viel Aufmerksamkeit erregte. In diesem thematisiert er die Verwendung von Drogen wie Pervitin oder Opiaten im Nationalsozialismus und Zweiten Weltkrieg. Inzwischen schreibt er nun über Psychedelika. Eigentlich seiner Romane wegen bekannt geworden, wurde Norman Ohler auch zu einem Sachbuchautor als er feststellte, dass die Bedeutung von Drogen und psychoaktiven Substanzen in der Menschheitsgeschichte von Historikern meist unterschätzt wird. Er nahm sich des Themas an und veröffentlichte im vergangenen Jahr jenes Buch, übrigens im Englischen mit dem Titel: „Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age“ – und ebendieses war im zwölften INSIGHT Forum am 11. Oktober 2024 ab 19 Uhr im Fokus unserer Aufmerksamkeit.

Norman Ohlers Lesung befasste sich also mit der dramatischen Geschichte der Psychedelika in den letzten hundert Jahren. Im Zentrum steht dabei das Psychedelikum LSD – der stärkste Stoff – und der wechselhafte Werdegang dieser psychoaktiven Substanz im 20. und 21. Jahrhundert. Ursprünglich als Medikament vorgesehen, kam es zeitweise als Waffe in der vom Kalten Krieg geprägten Welt zum Einsatz, um sodann zum global kriminalisierten Rauschmittel und zur Partydroge zu werden. Heute wiederum wird erneut geforscht, ob Psychedelika doch als Medikamente dienen können; so ist die MIND Foundation beispielsweise an entsprechenden klinischen Studien beteiligt.
Historisch ist zudem auch der Ort an dem Ohler seine Lesung hielt: Das Café Kranzler in Berlin am Kurfürstendamm galt im vergangenen Jahrhundert als das bekannteste Kaffeehaus Deutschlands, viele Berühmtheiten gingen dort ein und aus. Im Jahr 2000 schloss es die Türen und öffnete sich am 11. Oktober 2024 für das INSIGHT Forum. Der Abend war von einer besonderen Atmosphäre durchzogen, schmeckte nach Zukunft und Tiefgang, endete in der legendären Rotunde.

Das INSIGHT Forum wird organisiert von Simon Reichersdörfer, Inna Krylovetska und Dr. Marvin Däumichen. 

For our INSIGHT Forum on November 20 in 2024, we were honored to welcome Prof. David Nutt, one of the world’s foremost neuropsychopharmacologists and a leading figure in the resurgence of psychedelic research. As a pioneer in the field of psychedelic science, he has dedicated his career to the study of psychoactive substances that affect the brain, particularly in the context of addiction, depression, and anxiety. In this INSIGHT Forum event, Prof. Nutt delved into the latest research on how psychedelics such as psilocybin and DMT are offering new hope to individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression.

David Nutt is not only renowned for his pioneering work on the clinical application of psychedelics but also for his bold reassessment of the harms posed by psychoactive substances. His 2010 study, published in “The Lancet“, which ranked alcohol as the most harmful drug and psilocybin mushrooms as among the least harmful, sparked intense debate and upended traditional societal views on drugs. This work built on his earlier research, which had already led to his controversial dismissal as chair of the UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in 2009. Nutt's efforts to reframe drug harm, including his comparison of horse-riding risks with ecstasy, continue to fuel discussions on drug policy and regulation. Through Drug Science, the organization he co-founded after leaving the ACMD, Nutt has remained a leading voice advocating for evidence-based drug policy reform.

Over the past decade, David Nutt has spearheaded numerous clinical trials at Imperial College London, exploring the potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and DMT to treat mental health disorders, particularly depression. This includes the first clinical trial comparing psilocybin-assisted therapy to conventional antidepressants with psychotherapy in depression treatment. In his INSIGHT Forum talk, Nutt focused on the growing body of evidence suggesting that psychedelics could offer rapid and lasting relief for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, in stark contrast to traditional antidepressants. He explored the fundamental differences in the pharmacology and brain mechanisms of psychedelics, which may position them as an entirely new class of mental health treatments.

Following the talk, participants had the opportunity to engage with Prof. Nutt in a Q&A session, where we will dive deeper into the scientific, societal, and therapeutic implications of his work. This session was moderated by Prof. Gerhard Gründer, who is himself one of the most prominent scientists in the field of psychedelic research and conducted a Phase II clinical trial on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in collaboration with the MIND Foundation. Together they gave an insight into the future of mental health treatment. 

The INSIGHT Forum is organized by Dr. Marvin Däumichen, Inna Krylovetska, and Simon Reichersdörfer. 

Ulrike Herrmann war unser Gast im INSIGHT Forum am 26. März 2025 und stellte ihr wirtschaftswissenschaftlich orientiertes Buch vor, dieses trägt den kontroversen Titel „Das Ende des Kapitalismus“ – in dem Kontext gingen wir den folgenden Fragen nach: Sind Wirtschaftswachstum und Klimaschutz vereinbar? Können Psychedelika zu einem gesteigerten ökologischen Bewusstsein führen? Wie könnte eine volkwirtschaftliche Transformation hin zur Klimaneutralität geordnet verlaufen?

Ulrike Herrmann ist eine bekannte Wirtschaftsjournalistin und Publizistin, die regelmäßig in wichtigen Medien, Tageszeitungen und Fernsehsendungen prominent in Erscheinung tritt; diskutiert dort mit führenden Experten und Politikern, wie auch schon mit dem Bundeskanzler. Ihr genanntes Buch ist ein Beststeller und stand auch auf Platz 1 der Spiegel-Bestsellerliste. Zum Buch und Thema ihres Vortrags: In der Klimatologie und Meteorologie besteht kein Zweifel mehr, dass der Klimawandel von der menschlichen Gesellschaft verursacht wird. Das kapitalistische Wirtschaftssystem benötigt derzeit die technisch-industrielle Verwendung fossiler Brennstoffe, wie z.B. Öl oder Gas, um wachsen zu können und emittiert dabei Kohlenstoffdioxid in die Atmosphäre. Während der Kapitalismus einerseits den Lebensstandard, die Gesundheit und Lebenserwartung sowie demokratisch-freiheitliche Standards in einer historisch beispiellosen Weise verbessert und erhöht hat – so hat derselbe Kapitalismus andererseits aufgrund genannter CO2-Emissionen einen problematischen Klimawandel erzeugt, der dem Planeten eine folgenreiche Heißzeit und andere besorgniserregende Entwicklungen zu bescheren droht. Die Antwort der Wirtschaftswissenschaften verweist im Hinblick auf diese Problemlagen in den meisten Fällen auf das sogenannte „grüne Wachstum“, also auf einen ökologisch verträglichen Kapitalismus vermittels neuer Technologien. 

Ulrike Herrmann thematisiert in ihrem Buch die Tatsache, dass keineswegs geklärt ist, ob der Klimawandel allein durch technologische Innovationen erfolgreich aufgehalten werden kann; insbesondere, wenn wir weiterhin in einer Gesellschaft leben wollen, deren Lebensstandard vom Wirtschaftswachstum getragen wird. Die Konzepte für eine Nicht-/Postwachstumsökonomie erlauben zwar bereits heute, sich eine klimaneutrale Gesellschaft in wissenschaftlich fundierter Weise vorzustellen. Aber es bleibt dabei fraglich, ob eine geordnete Transformation vom Kapitalismus hin zu einer Nicht-/Postwachstumsökonomie eine realistische Option ist. Fakt ist, dass der Klimawandel dem Kapitalismus heutiger Prägung eine zeitliche Limitation und substanzielle Grenzen setzt. Dennoch ist Ulrike Herrmann keineswegs eine Anti-Kapitalistin. Sie will vielmehr erklären, was Transformation konkret bedeutet, falls technologische Innovationen nicht genügen, um den Klimawandel zu stoppen und ein nachhaltiges Wirtschaftssystem zu errichten. 

Mit ihrem Buch will sie die Gesellschaft auf die Folgen einer solchen Umstellung vorbereiten und zur Reflexion anregen. Viele Menschen reagieren auf die komplexe Klimaproblematik mit einen manchmal simplifizierenden Innovations- und Technik-Optimismus. Es bleibt aber fraglich, ob sich ein wachstumsgetriebener Kapitalismus mit konstruktivem Klimaschutz in einer angemessenen Zeitspanne vereinen lässt. Deshalb ist die Klimakrise für etliche Menschen auch ein existenzielles Problem, welches als leidvoll und ambivalent erlebt wird. Meditationspraktiken oder psychedelische Therapie können ebenfalls zu einer gesteigerten Bewusstheit hinsichtlich jener gesellschaftlichen Problemlagen führen. Für alle diese Themen und Fragestellungen war im Rahmen des INSIGHT Forums ausreichend Raum für Diskurs, Reflexion und Austausch an jedem Abend, der von Simon Reichersdörfer moderiert wurde. Simon Reichersdörfer stellte dabei auch Verbindungslinien zwischen psychedelischer Forschung und Kultur sowie dem wirtschaftssoziologischen Thema von Ulrike Herrmann her.

Das INSIGHT Forum wird von Simon Reichersdörfer, Inna Krylovetska und Dr. Marvin Däumichen organisiert. 

Prof. Dr. med. Gerhard Gründer war unser Gast im INSIGHT Forum am 22. Januar 2025 – der Titel seines Vortrags und die Fragestellung des Abends lautete: „Psychedelika und psychische Gesundheit 2025: Wo stehen wir und wo wollen wir hin?“ Gerhard Gründer ist Psychiater und Psychotherapeut, Professor an der Universität Heidelberg und Leiter der Abteilung für Molekulares Neuroimaging am Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit in Mannheim. Zudem ist er Ärztlicher Direktor der OVID Tagesklinik in Berlin; diese gilt als erste psychedelische Tagesklinik Europas. Gründer hat im Rahmen einer von ihm geleiteten klinischen Phase-2b-Studie die Wirksamkeit des Psychedelikums Psilocybin bei der Behandlung von Depressionen erforscht. Die Studie erfolgte in Kooperation mit der Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin und der MIND Foundation.

Zum Auftakt ins damals neue Jahr sprach Gründer über ein bis heute sehr aktuelles Thema: Die globale Krise der psychischen Gesundheit ist ihm zufolge, zusammen mit der Klimakrise, eine der größten Herausforderungen der Menschheit. Neben individuellen biologischen und genetischen Aspekten ist diese auch auf wirtschaftliche und soziale, also soziologische Faktoren zurückzuführen. Denn zum Beispiel Armut, Arbeitslosigkeit, soziale Isolation, aber auch die Digitalisierung und der fortwährend zunehmende Leistungsdruck in der postmodernen Gesellschaft haben messbare Auswirkungen auf die psychische Gesundheit. In seinem Vortrag analysierte Gründer die kulturellen und strukturellen Bedingungen, die die genannte Krisendynamik verstärken und mit Blick auf die entsprechende Überforderung der Gesundheitssysteme thematisierte er neue und innovative Lösungsideen, die auch über rein medizinische Ansätze hinausgehen – wie z.B. die Psychedelika-unterstützte Psychotherapie sowie andere bewusstseinskulturelle Ansätze. Das Event wurde von Simon Reichersdörfer und Henrik Jungaberle moderiert. Im Anschluss an den Vortrag kam es mit dem Publikum noch zu einer Diskussion über jene medizinischen, soziologischen, existenziellen-psychologischen und psychedelischen Aspekte der genannten Vortragsthematik von Gründer. 

Auch in seinem Buch „Wie wollen wir leben?“ hinterfragt der renommierte Psychiater Prof. Dr. Gerhard Gründer das moderne, rein biologische Weltbild der Medizin. Sind wir tatsächlich lediglich das Produkt unserer Gene und Hirnchemie, oder haben wir die Macht, unser Wohlbefinden aktiv zu gestalten? Er setzt damit einen entscheidenden Gegenentwurf zum technokratischen Optimierungswahn und zeigt auf, dass wahre Gesundheit weit über die reine Hirnforschung hinausgeht. Anstatt psychisches Leid isoliert durch Medikamente und Algorithmen heilen zu wollen, rückt Gründer die Gestaltung unserer Lebensbedingungen ins Zentrum: von einer gesünderen Arbeitswelt bis hin zu sozialer Gerechtigkeit. Er plädiert leidenschaftlich für ein humanistisches Weltbild, in dem Psychiatrie ihre soziologische Bedeutung sowie politische Verantwortung wahrnimmt und wir als Gesellschaft die Rahmenbedingungen für ein gesundes Zusammenleben wieder selbst in die Hand nehmen. Einige Akzente dieses Buchs greift Gründer ebenso in seinem Vortrag im INSIGHT Forum auf. 

Das INSIGHT Forum wird organisiert von Simon Reichersdörfer, Inna Krylovetska und Dr. Marvin Däumichen

In our INSIGHT Forum event on February 7 2025, we delved into a critical yet still underexplored dimension of psychedelic research: the structural underrepresentation of women’s bodies, experiences, and gendered perspectives. Our speaker, Julia Mándoki, examined the gender data gap within the field, uncovering overlooked connections between hormonal cycles, reproductive phenomenology, and the effects of psychedelic substances. 

Psychedelics are known for their ability to alter perception and amplify subjectivity, yet much of the research to date has approached these phenomena with a gender-blind lens. Such an approach neglects the unique lived experiences and embodied changes associated with pregnancy, child loss, menstruation, and menopause – profound and cyclical phenomena that often carry existential significance. In her presentation, Julia Mándoki discussed parallels between the cyclical nature of these life stages and the psychedelic experience, which is frequently described as a journey through contexts of birth, death, and the encounter with otherness. We also explored potential biochemical interactions between psychedelics, hormonal cycles, and the uterus – questions that remain largely unexamined yet hold significant implications for the future of psychedelic-assisted therapy and research. 

Beyond biological aspects, the presentation reflected epistemic injustices that arise from gender blindness, not only in psychedelic research but also in broader scientific and medical contexts. By calling for a more inclusive and interdisciplinary approach, Julia Mándoki aims to illuminate how gender, as a variable, might shape subjective experiences, perception, and identity during psychedelic therapy. 

The event was moderated by Dr. Marvin Däumichen. The INSIGHT Forum is organized by Dr. Marvin Däumichen, Inna Krylovetska, and Simon Reichersdörfer. 

We were pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. med. Franz Vollenweider, one of the world’s most influential psychedelic researchers, to the INSIGHT Forum on May 15 2025. In this event, he explored what happens in the brain during psychedelic experiences and how these effects relate to practices like mindfulness meditation. Both psychedelics and meditation can lead to deep changes in how we experience ourselves and the world around us. They can help us gain perspective, reduce emotional distress, and connect more fully with the present moment. While meditation teaches us to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment, psychedelics can sometimes bring about rapid emotional breakthroughs and feelings of clarity or self-transcendence.

In his talk, Prof. Vollenweider explained how these two approaches might work together. Could mindfulness help people better navigate the psychedelic experience? Could psychedelics support the development of mindfulness skills? And what can neuroscience tell us about the similarities in how they affect the brain?

It was an evening of science and reflection as we discuss how ancient contemplative practices and modern psychedelic research are beginning to inform one another – and what this might mean for the future of mental health, well-being, and human development. The talk and the discussion with him was moderated by Dr. Marvin Däumichen. 

The Swiss researcher is still one of the most frequently cited scientists in the field of psychedelic research worldwide: Prof. Franz Vollenweider is a world-renowned pioneer in the field of consciousness research and neuropsychopharmacology. As a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Zurich and founder of the Heffter Research Center, he is a leading figure in the 'Psychedelic Renaissance.' His groundbreaking work focuses on the neurobiology of altered states of consciousness and the therapeutic potential of substances like psilocybin for treating depression and other mental health disorders.

The INSIGHT Forum is organized by Dr. Marvin Däumichen, Inna Krylovetska, and Simon Reichersdörfer.

Following the INSIGHT Forum with Thomas Metzinger about his concept “Bewusstseinskultur” (which you could call a “culture of consciousness” or “cultivation of consciousness”), the INSIGHT Forum on Mach 15 in 2024 explored how Buddhist concepts could contribute to a psychedelic culture of consciousness in the sense of Metzinger. The evening focused on the combination of rational, scientific perspectives from the Western tradition of enlightenment (“Aufklärungsphilosophie”) with trans-rational, spiritual perspectives from Eastern meditation traditions. This combining concept is particularly valuable for the meaningful enculturation of psychedelic substances and evidence-based psychedelic practices. The guest speaker for that event was Stefan Lang, an authorized Buddhist Dharma teacher and expert in meditation from Bern, who is also deeply familiar with scientific research on psychedelic states. At the second INSIGHT conference in 2021, Lang gave a talk with the title: “Buddhist Practices as Epistemic and Ethical Framework for Psychedelic Experiences”, there he explored how both meditation and the structured use of psychedelics function as epistemic practices – methods that strive for knowledge and self-knowledge in a way that is analogous to empirical scientific research. The event reflected this duality by exploring these practices both practically, through joint meditation, and theoretically, through a scientific lecture and discussion. The conversation also addressed a few historical and socio-cultural links between Buddhist and psychedelic cultures, which are rooted in the subcultural movements of the 20th century, like the Beat Generation or the Hippie movement. 

By analyzing all these concepts and influences, the event provided a contemporary, scientific perspective on how these historical developments have become an essential part of our postmodern worldview and how they continue to shape a new, psychotherapeutically oriented “Bewusstseinskultur” today, which integrates Buddhist philosophy as well as clinical research into psychedelics. The event was moderated by Dr. Marvin Däumichen. 

The INSIGHT Forum is organized by Dr. Marvin Däumichen, Inna Krylovetska, and Simon Reichersdörfer. 

INSIGHT Conference

The INSIGHT conference, organized by the MIND Foundation since 2019, is an international, transdisciplinary conference series with a focus on research, therapy and
human development in relation to psychedelics and psychedelic states.

Here we bring together researchers, clinicians, and experts from various sectors, including the medical field, related disciplines from the natural to social sciences, legislation, public health, and industry. The conference is open to the public and besides lectures, panel discussions, and networking opportunities it includes interactive workshops, an award ceremony, and an arts and social program.

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