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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Politics
Edward Helmore

‘Shame and betrayal’: sexual abuse within the spiritual healing industry comes to light

Dried leaves in a wooden bowl.
Dried guayusa leaves, which are frequently used in the production of psychedelic ayahuasca compounds. Photograph: Beata Predko/Alamy

Shamanic healing or opportunity for ritualized abuse? A lawsuit filed in New Mexico last week alleged that a “shamanic master” assaulted a woman during an “energy medicine” training session in March.

The claim, which is being investigated, could shed more light on what some say is a dark side of some trends in modern spirituality, especially those that involve the ceremonial use of often intense psychedelic treatments.

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