Episode 6: Psychedelics and Forgiveness with Vero Ruelas
Welcome to Integrating Psychedelics, featuring insights gleaned from psychedelic experiences and conversations around how to integrate this wisdom into our daily lives. I'm your host, Jenny Weinar, and in today's episode I'm speaking with Vero Ruelas.
Veronica Ruelas is the co-CEO and creator of the app called Forgivity. She hopes to bring Forgiveness to 88 gazillion people in the world through Science, Technology and Humor. Vero believes that the lack of forgiveness fluency manifests in mental and physical health challenges, staggering suicide rates, increased cultural division and malignant widespread hatred. It's a silent epidemic and a generational problem in our world.
Before Forgivity, Vero practiced as an Optometrist for 20 years. She is the founder and Chairwoman of ThirdEyeVision Foundation, a nonprofit which has brought eye sight to thousands around the world since 2008. The mission’s current focus is on raising awareness on Human Trafficking in New York City.
Vero currently resides in California and Miami with her husband, Leonberger puppy (130 lb and growing) and 2 attitude-loving cats.
In this episode we discuss:
How Vero went from using psychedelics to numb out to using psychedelics to heal her trauma
How psychedelics catalyzed Vero’s yoga and meditation practice
How the experiential aspect of psychedelics brought Vero closer to a sense of truth in herself and the universe
The intention of working towards embodying the journey space in our everyday lives without the medicine
Vero’s introduction to ketamine for therapeutic purposes
How ketamine helped Vero create some space between herself and her inner critic
Vero’s experience of exploring different doses of ketamine within a therapeutic setting
How intentional work with psychedelics enabled Vero to rewrite her trauma story
How Vero worked with the themes of shame and forgiveness that began to emerge from her journeys
The negative health implications of not-forgiving compared with the physical and mental health benefits of forgiving
How Vero’s deep dive into the research on forgiveness led to the creation of her app, Forgivity
Vero’s 7 step process of forgiveness and the importance of having permission not to forgive
How forgiveness can coexist with justice and accountability
Why forgiveness is ultimately for the person who was harmed and how it can liberate us ...and more!
Head over to the Forgivity website to try the app out for free, and make sure to follow Forgivity and Vero on Instagram.
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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. Please do your research about the legality and safety of any substance you are considering using and make the most informed choice possible for your unique situation and self.