We Are Done With Shamans Behaving Badly - psychedelic communities confront abuse, coercion, and unaccountable power in ceremonial and healing spaces

Psychedelic communities are confronting abuse, coercion, and unaccountable power by ceremonial leaders who misuse spiritual authority in healing spaces. The focus is on harmful behavior by so-called shamans, facilitators, and guides, and on the need to stop excusing misconduct as part of medicine work or tradition. Survivors, organizers, and participants are pushing for clearer consent practices, stronger community accountability, and consequences for boundary violations, manipulation, and sexual exploitation. Informal hierarchies, idealization of charismatic leaders, and secrecy around ceremony settings can make harm easier to hide and harder to report. Safer psychedelic culture depends on centering informed consent, peer oversight, trauma awareness, and transparent community standards rather than treating spiritual status as immunity from criticism. The broader implication reaches beyond any single lineage or practice - ethical leadership and collective responsibility are essential wherever vulnerable people seek healing.