Colonization and Healing Work: Addressing Harm in the Wellness Space
The wellness industry, in its many forms, offers opportunities for healing, self-discovery, and personal transformation. Yet, as we engage with practices like hypnotherapy, breathwork, and psychedelic therapy, we must also confront the complexities that have shaped this space. One of the most significant of these complexities is the ongoing legacy of colonization, particularly within modalities that draw from indigenous traditions or involve plant medicines.
Colonization has left a lasting imprint on many of the practices that now flourish in modern wellness, often in ways that perpetuate harm, erasure, and exploitation. To engage ethically in this space, it is essential to critically reflect on how wellness practices intersect with systems of power and oppression. By doing so, we can move toward healing work that honors the roots of these modalities, supports equity, and respects the integrity of the cultures from which they originate.
This article explores the issues of colonization within the wellness industry, particularly in psychedelic therapy and hypnotherapy, and offers a reflection on ethical practices that can help to dismantle harmful dynamics and create space for more inclusive, respectful healing.
The Legacy of Colonization in Psychedelic Spaces
Psychedelics have long been used as sacred medicines in indigenous cultures around the world. For centuries, substances like psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, peyote, and other plant medicines have been central to cultural healing, spiritual rituals, and community cohesion. These substances were not just tools for individual healing; they were, and still are, woven into the spiritual, social, and ecological fabric of indigenous life.
However, as psychedelics have gained popularity in Western wellness spaces, there has been a tendency to strip them of their cultural and spiritual contexts. In many cases, plant medicines have been rebranded and commodified, turning sacred traditions into marketable experiences. This commodification often happens without acknowledgment of the deep histories and the wisdom keepers who have safeguarded these medicines for generations.
One of the consequences of this is the perpetuation of harm to indigenous communities. From the appropriation of ceremonial practices to the exploitation of natural resources and land, the commercialization of psychedelics often results in financial gain for Western practitioners while indigenous peoples remain marginalized, both socially and economically. Many wellness retreats and psychedelic tourism operations fail to give back to the communities they draw from, deepening the inequities that colonization first created.
This dynamic echoes broader patterns of colonization, where indigenous knowledge and resources have been extracted for profit, with little concern for the well-being of the communities from which they are taken. Addressing this requires not only acknowledgment but also a commitment to ethical practices that honor the origins of these healing traditions.
Cultural Appropriation in the Wellness Industry
Beyond psychedelics, the wellness industry as a whole has often fallen into patterns of cultural appropriation. Practices such as yoga, meditation, sound healing, and even aspects of hypnotherapy are regularly presented without recognition of their cultural roots. This disconnect between the practice and its origin is problematic because it often erases the cultural significance of these modalities while turning them into marketable commodities.
Cultural appropriation in wellness can also create a situation where the knowledge and practices of marginalized cultures are rebranded and sold back to people who historically have been excluded from the benefits of their own traditions. For instance, many indigenous communities have been forced to abandon their spiritual practices due to colonization, only to see these same practices popularized in Western wellness circles without compensation or acknowledgment.
To address this, it is essential to recognize that healing practices do not exist in a vacuum. They are shaped by the cultures, histories, and social conditions from which they arise. Respecting this means taking time to learn about the origins of the modalities we engage with, giving credit to those cultures, and ensuring that our engagement with these practices does not perpetuate harm or erasure.
Shifting Toward Ethical Healing Practices
While the wellness industry has been shaped by colonization in harmful ways, it also holds the potential for transformative change. By reflecting on our practices and the systems they are part of, we can work to create spaces that are rooted in respect, reciprocity, and inclusion. Here are some considerations for cultivating ethical healing practices in the wellness space:
Acknowledge the Origins of Healing Practices One of the most important steps toward addressing harm in wellness is acknowledging the cultural and historical roots of the practices we use. Whether working with plant medicines, yoga, meditation, or hypnotherapy, understanding where these practices come from allows for a deeper, more respectful engagement. This acknowledgment can take many forms, whether through sharing the history of a practice with clients, supporting indigenous-led organizations, or compensating cultural teachers for their wisdom.
Promote Accessibility and Equity Healing practices should be accessible to all, not just those with financial means. The wellness industry often caters to a privileged demographic, excluding marginalized communities from access to healing. Creating sliding-scale pricing, offering community programs, or partnering with organizations that serve underrepresented groups can help make wellness more inclusive. Equity in wellness means recognizing that healing should not be a luxury, but a right.
Honor Indigenous Knowledge and Support Indigenous Communities When engaging with practices that have indigenous roots, particularly in psychedelic spaces, it is critical to honor the cultural wisdom behind these traditions. This involves not only giving credit but also actively supporting indigenous communities, whether through financial contributions, ethical collaborations, or participating in efforts to protect indigenous land and rights. Reciprocity is key to ethical engagement with indigenous healing practices.
Emphasize Integration and Sustainability In both hypnotherapy and psychedelic therapy, healing is a combination of both the experience and the integration process. Sustainable healing requires that we approach these practices mindfully, with a focus on long-term well-being rather than immediate outcomes. The commodification of wellness can sometimes create pressure to offer quick fixes or marketable results, but true healing happens over time, through reflection, integration, and ongoing care. Fostering this approach ensures that healing work remains grounded and responsible.
Commit to Ongoing Learning and Accountability The process of unlearning colonized practices in the wellness industry is ongoing. It requires continuous reflection, education, and openness to feedback. Practitioners, facilitators, and clients alike must be willing to listen to marginalized voices, to learn from those impacted by the wellness industry's blind spots, and to make changes as needed. Being accountable means recognizing that no one has it all figured out, but we all have a responsibility to engage ethically.
Healing the Healers: Moving Toward Collective Wellness
Healing the wounds of colonization in the wellness space is about transforming the entire system. True wellness must be collective, addressing the harm caused by systems of oppression while promoting healing for all people, especially those who have been historically marginalized or excluded from these spaces.
By engaging with wellness practices through a heart-centered, ethical lens, we can help dismantle the colonial dynamics that have shaped this industry and create a future where healing is rooted in respect, equity, and justice. This work is ongoing, and it requires us all to be active participants in creating the kind of world we want to live in ~ one where healing is available to everyone and where the cultural roots of our practices are honored and protected.
