Episode 67 - Rachel Harris, PhD - Swimming in the Sacred

We welcome Rachel Harris back to the MAPS Podcast in support of her new book 'Swimming in the Sacred - Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground.' Our conversation takes into the heart of the research and experiences Rachel had in interviewing the 15 brave women who have been doing medicine work over the last 30-50 years. In her words they are more like "shamans and priestesses" than any other label we can come up with. Their stories and Rachel's wisdom takes us deep into the heart of the psychedelic movement past and present. 

Psychologist Rachel Harris, PhD is the author of 'Swimming in the Sacred - Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground."  She was in private practice for thirty-five years working with people interested in psychospiritual development. During a decade working in research, Rachel received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator’s Award and published more than forty scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals. She has also consulted to Fortune 500 companies. 

Rachel was in the 1968 Esalen Residential Program, Big Sur, CA. This intensive six-month program focused on meditation and body work. In the early1970’s, Rachel studied with Dorothy Nolte in the movement system, Structural Awareness, based on Dr. Ida Rolf’s Structural Integration (Rolfing). Rachel also co-edited the Journal of the American Dance Therapy Association for three years. Awareness of how people live and move in their bodies has always been an aspect of Rachel’s approach to psychotherapy.