DENVER — Sovereign Oshumare loves giving hugs, which is fitting considering all of the work they do in the community. Oshumare leads meditation groups for LGBTQ+ people, consults with companies entering into the plant medicine industry and acts as Co-Ecosystem Director for SPORE (The Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform and Education). Their advocacy for psychedelic medicine is driven by their passion for connection.
Oshumare sat down with Rocky Mountain PBS to talk about their journey with psychedelics, specifically psilocybin, a compound in "magic" mushrooms. According to recent studies, psilocybin that has been found to relieve symptoms of depression, addiction and anxiety — something Oshumare is familiar with.
“Mushrooms gave a voice to anxiety for me. As an inventor and creator, in some ways I get in my head and let anxiety run me,” they said, explaining that microdosing mushrooms gives them the ability to process and release their feelings without trying ignore or numb them. “I was able to see my anxiety and look at it, and ask questions like ‘why am I anxious, and what purpose is it serving?’”