After the Book Comes Out

I recently watched a panel discussion focused on a newly published study that documented what happens when a diverse group of spiritual leaders are given a high dose of psilocybin. Among the panelists were Michael Pollan, who covered the study in a piece for the New Yorker, and Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, one of the study participants.

Kamenetz spoke about his own transformative experience with psilocybin, but also of his subsequent discovery of an entire underground culture of Jews from across the spectrum of religious practice who are using psychedelics to expand and deepen their relationship with Judaism.

In many ways, the rabbi’s experience resonated with my own. When I first began to explore psychedelics in my early sixties, I had no idea the journeying in older age was such a widespread and powerfully positive phenomenon. This exhilarating discovery was the impetus for writing my book, ELDEREVOLUTION – Psychedelics and the New Counterculture of Aging.

If all goes as planned, the book will be available in bookstores in Spring 2026. When that happens, I anticipate that a certain subset of readers will come away from the book interested in exploring a psychedelic experience themselves. They will be looking for practical, reliable information on next steps to take. Many will be reaching out to me for guidance.

How I answer this anticipated response is foremost in my thoughts.

There are many options. Rabbi Kamenetz, for example, created a non-profit entity, Shefa, which serves as a meeting place and resource for spiritually and psychedelically-inquisitive Jews.

Among the various ideas I’m considering is my longtime dream project – to create a special program where groups of older adults can collectively explore the themes of elderhood through study, mindfulness practice, community service and the safe and legal exploration of the outer boundaries of consciousness.

In a few days I’ll be attending the gargantuan Psychedelic Sciences 2025 convention in Denver and I plan on talking a lot about this vision.  Fortunately, it’s not a hard sell…

For the legions of boomers who are uneasily confronting their own aging and mortality, the notion that elderhood can be a time of healing, growth, mutual support, meaning-making and joy is welcome news. And as I show in my book, many older adults are already finding those experiences through their explorations with psychedelics. Offering these opportunities in a legal, responsible and intentional framework will not only make them more accessible, which would ideally have a positive impact on countless lives, but could also catalyze a re-set of our society’s negative narrative around aging.

I realize that offering such a program by next spring isn’t realistic. But in the meantime, I have other plans so that I won’t leave inquisitive readers high and dry…