July Soul Talk: Our Origin Story

From Arrest to Awakening—Ten Years of Sacred Transformation

By Courtney Rose Co-Founder & Executive Director, Psanctuary

Welcome back to Soul Talks, our monthly rhythm of reflection from within the sacred ground of Psanctuary. I’m Courtney Rose, co-founder and executive director, and I’m so honored to share this second installment with you. Watch the video version of this talk here!

This month’s theme—Our Origin Story—is deeply personal. In fact, recording this brought a mix of excitement and nerves. It’s not every day that we pause to reflect—truly reflect—on the past 15+ years of our lives. But that’s exactly what I’ve been doing as we prepare to tell the story of how Psanctuary came to be.

A Decade Since Everything Changed

This July marks ten years since Eric and I were arrested for possession of sacred mushrooms.

Even writing that, my heart swells. I wish I could go back to that moment—to myself on that hot Kentucky afternoon, hanging sheets on a clothesline for our Airbnb business—completely unaware that the sheriff’s car pulling into the driveway would change the course of our lives forever.

Those early moments were filled with fear, confusion, and grief. I didn’t know what was coming or how our lives would unfold. But there was also something else—a whisper, a voice, a deep knowing—telling me: It’s all working out. It’s going to be okay. I didn’t know how. But I held on.

And what followed was a kind of faith freefall that lasted months—maybe longer.

Compost for the Future

That arrest wasn’t just one event. It rippled through every part of our lives. It meant jail, house arrest, probation. It meant losing our rights, facing public scrutiny, and feeling completely deflated. We had no prior record—no misdemeanors, no warnings. And suddenly, we were felons. Couldn’t vote. Couldn’t own firearms. Couldn’t imagine what would come next.

But here’s the thing: that moment, as painful as it was, turned out to be the compost for the future.

Out of that dark soil, something began to grow.

Eric formed PLEDG—Psilocybin Liberation Education Diversity and Guidance—which allowed us to fulfill community service hours while on probation and plant seeds of a new vision.

We began retreats in Jamaica. That was an act of proclamation for us both—a way of saying: We’re not hiding. We’re not ashamed. This work deserves the light. And although that retreat center didn’t become the ongoing community we’d hoped for, it served over a thousand people and saved lives. It taught us. It shaped us. And eventually, it led us to Psanctuary.

Reclaiming the Sacred

Psanctuary was born not out of success, but out of surrender. It came through grief and grace, clarity and community. We realized we didn’t want to charge $6,000–$12,000+ for a weeklong mushroom retreat. That wasn’t the model our hearts were called to create.

We wanted a church. A home. A community that was accessible, supportive, and spiritually alive.

And now, here we are—co-creating something with you. With our members, our ministers, our board, and our friends who have held us in the darkest moments and said, “You will get through this.” And we did.

A Collective Origin Story

So July isn’t just about our origin story—mine and Eric’s, or Amy’s and Athena’s. It’s about yours. It’s about ours.

How did you arrive at this point in your journey? What challenges shaped you? What seeds are you planting for the future?

Together, we’re building something beautiful. Something we believe will last for generations. A world where joyful, empowered communities discover their divinity with sacred mushrooms and each other.

July: A Month of Celebration & Announcements

This July is a party of a month! Here's a glimpse of what’s to come:

• 🎙️ Psanctuary Podcast 2.0 launches with Eric as host and me as the first guest—sharing the full arrest story in depth.

• 📖 Sacred Mushrooms Throughout History: Eric’s live webinar exploring mushroom symbolism in ancient art and culture.

• 💬 Conversations with our founding members who stood with us in the hardest moments—and helped bring this vision to life.

• 🌱 Exciting announcements about membership, seminary updates, and new access points for our growing community.
  

If you watched our February review of 2024–2025 goals, you’ll start to see those seeds bloom now.

You Make This Real

I want to close with a personal truth.

Sometimes, we wonder—Does what I do really matter? Is brushing my teeth, going to work, logging into Sunday Service or a minister call really doing anything?

And the answer is: Yes. Yes, it is. The way you show up—your presence, your energy, your care—makes all the difference. The world, just as it is, could not exist without you.

So as we do the sacred work of reflection this month, I invite you to do the same. See how your small daily acts have created ripples of support, healing, and hope. Your impact is real, and your presence matters more than you know.

From the bottom of my heart—thank you for being here. Thank you for walking this sacred path alongside us.

With love and reverence, Courtney

We’ve come together with intentions of service to the land and all of its inhabitants. May peace be with you as you go forth into the world. See you in the next Soul Talk.