Igor Domsac | May 29, 2025
On the weekend of May 24 and 25, 2025, the third edition of La Seta Crítica was held in the Sierra de Guadarrama, in Madrid. This alternative gathering, organized by Kravan and the Psychedelic Society of Madrid, is already establishing itself as a landmark event for those who explore the social, therapeutic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of entheogens. In this edition, the event once again brought together a diverse community of people interested in the conscious use of visionary plants and substances, combining science, art, activism, spirituality, and sensory experiences.
In addition to the scheduled presentations, the gathering was characterized by an atmosphere of openness and collective participation. Upon arrival, attendees were greeted with small symbolic gestures: portable ashtrays were distributed to smokers, encouraging care for the shared environment, along with stickers from the PsychedeliCare initiative, a European citizen campaign that seeks to promote safe and legal access to psychedelic-assisted therapies, integrating them in a regulated manner into Europe’s public health systems.
Transdisciplinary psychedelia
La Seta Crítica III proposed a transdisciplinary exploration of psychedelia, addressing its relationship with meditation, shamanism, neuroscience, pharmacology, social structures, and processes of personal and collective transcendence. Among the speakers were figures such as Santos Rodríguez, who gave a fascinating talk, not without humor, in which he explored the molecular complexities of phenethylamines; Marcos Rodríguez, with a reflection on psychedelics and ultimate reality; Juan Soriano, who contextualized pre-Columbian shamanism; and J.Q. Arosa, with a provocative exploration of the nature of the ego.
There was also a space for sharing psychedelic stories, coordinated by Marina Febles, creator of the podcast Mujeres psicodélicas (Psychedelic Women). The proposal offered a safe environment for attendees to share their experiences with psychedelic substances aloud, with the explicit aim of creating a special episode of the podcast dedicated to La Seta Crítica.
From a scientific perspective, the presentations by Irene de Caso on psychedelic neuroscience, Pablo Martín on reprogramming the belief system with psilocybin, and Carlos Moriano, who proposed a systemic approach to trauma from an expanded consciousness, stood out. The clinical aspect was also represented with presentations such as that of Marta Martín, from the Synaptica Clinic, on the treatment of addiction with psychoactive substances, and that of Antón Gómez-Escolar, focused on current evidence of the therapeutic use of these substances.
Innovative visions
The meeting also included presentations with an alternative approach to established systems, such as that of Pájaro Volador, who presented an accessible introduction to the world of Bitcoin from a practical and libertarian perspective, highlighting its potential as a tool for individual financial sovereignty in times of digital surveillance and centralized economies. For his part, lawyer Fran Azorín gave an incisive presentation on the role of psychedelic activism, addressing both current legal challenges and the possibilities for social transformation that arise when reimagining the prohibitionist paradigm, emphasizing the need to build fairer legal frameworks focused on individual rights, mental health, and personal autonomy.
Other names that enriched the program were Judit Rosell, with contributions on breathing and emotional regulation; Adela Abad, reflecting on interculturality; and Jorge Escohotado, who presented PIHKAL, the influential work by the Shulgins. Within this framework of cross-disciplinary knowledge, Igor Domsac‘s presentation on ICEERS stood out for offering an institutional perspective on integration, legal defense, political advocacy, and human rights in responsible practices with traditional Indigenous medicines. The presentation was received with interest by an audience sensitive to the social and political implications of the psychedelic renaissance.
During the meeting, Psymposium was also presented, a conference organized by Inawe in collaboration with the Spanish Society of Psychedelic Medicine, which will hold its first edition in October 2025 in Madrid. This event will focus on innovation in mental health and psychedelic research, bringing together experts and professionals in the field to share advances and perspectives in these emerging areas.
Workshops for the body and soul
In addition to intellectual stimulation, La Seta Crítica was committed to cultivating the practical and executive dimensions of being. Workshops were offered on mycological cultivation, compound extraction, and the production of Viking mead and psychedelic soaps. The schedule of extraordinary activities was as rich as it was varied. From gong bath sessions with Helena and Emilio, to the ancestral chants of Chico Pómpos, to didgeridoo meditations led by Rocío González, to Jose’s BPM sessions, the space was permeated by immersive proposals aimed at introspection.
Metanoia, by Pablo Bullejos, offered a deeply sensory artistic-spiritual experience, while Marco Padiya and E1000’s audiovisual journey fused shamanic music and real-time diffracted visuals. Judit Rosell’s breathwork offered safe spaces for deep emotional release, and DJ sets by DJ Igua, DJ Karisma, and Mama Love guided attendees in meditative, ritualistic, and celebratory dances.
There was no shortage of live graffiti by Gerbos Art, rapé circles, runic and tarot readings, psychedelic decoration by Dragon Fungi, and a laughter therapy workshop facilitated by Irene Megina, founder of the Madrid School of Laughter Therapy. This workshop, which closed the event, offered a transformative experience through laughter and play, allowing participants to release tension and reconnect with their most authentic essence, in line with the experiential and transformational methodology that characterizes its approach.
As part of its commitment to collective care, La Seta Crítica III featured a PsyCare space, dedicated to accompanying difficult experiences. Inspired by models of harm reduction and emotional containment, this corner offered confidential support to anyone going through a challenging process during the event. Facilitators trained in active listening and psychological first aid were available to provide support with empathy and respect, reminding us that psychedelia also involves responsibility, care, and community.
The community as an expanded field
Beyond its content, La Seta Crítica III functioned as a field of affective resonance where science, art, spirituality, and social action converged in a transformative experience. An event that not only brought together experts and artists, but also built a horizontal community, where each intervention represented a mushroom entangled in a symbolic web of life.
The event functioned as an open platform, where the organization focused on facilitating the space and logistics, allowing anyone with a proposal to share it. This structure, while greatly enriching the program, also meant that some planned activities did not take place, simply due to the intensity and density of the program.
ICEERS recognizes this space as a key node in the contemporary cartography of psychedelic change. At a time of growing public visibility for these substances, La Seta Crítica represents a commitment to the autonomous, the sensitive, and the radically human. A gathering where thinking, feeling, and doing come together in the present.
Throughout the weekend, the confluence of scientific, spiritual, therapeutic, and artistic perspectives allowed attendees to delve into a fertile field of reflection and personal transformation. The Sierra de Guadarrama, with its rugged beauty, provided the ideal context for this collective immersion into the mysteries of consciousness.
At ICEERS, we value the opportunity to have contributed to this space of articulation between science and the soul, with the conviction that events such as La Seta Crítica are essential for continuing to build bridges between tradition, community, and psychedelic innovation.
Photo: Igor Domsac.
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