Dr. Simon Ruffell is trained across three modalities: Western medicine (as a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry), research psychology (with a PhD in Amazonian ayahuasca and mental health), and traditional plant medicine (as a student of curanderismo). He is the Chief Medical Officer of MINDS (Multidisciplinary Investigation into Novel Discoveries & Solutions), a nonprofit research organization exploring the potential of psychedelics and consciousness practices to explore the science of breakthrough insights for humanity’s greatest challenges.
Dr. Ruffell has contributed to several major psychedelic research trials at leading universities worldwide. His roles have included Senior Research Associate on King’s College London’s psilocybin trial for treatment-resistant depression, and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Research Fellow at the Psychae Institute, University of Melbourne, investigating the potential application of botanical ayahuasca analogues. Since 2015, his work has been primarily focused on exploring the traditional psychedelic brew, ayahuasca.
He is the CEO of Onaya and co-founded the nonprofit Onaya Science, which researches the effects of ayahuasca in naturalistic Amazonian settings, collaborating with traditional healers, universities, charities, and Indigenous-led think tanks worldwide. Dr. Ruffell’s work seeks to understand plants such as ayahuasca from both Indigenous and Western perspectives, aiming to generate a richer understanding of treatment modalities. He is currently training in Shipibo Shamanism under Don Rono Lopez.
Colloquium Presentation: 21 March 2025, 3:30-5pm (Room G17, Mood Disorder Centre, Sir Henry Wellcome Building)
Sacred Patterns & Ancestral Wisdom: The Historical and Cosmological Vision of the Shipibo-Konibo
Abstract
This talk explores the rich spiritual traditions of the Shipibo-Konibo people, whose intricate cosmology is deeply woven into their art, music, and healing practices. Through the lens of Kené—sacred geometric patterns—and the wisdom of ayahuasca, we delve into how these traditions connect individuals to the cosmos, ancestors, and plant spirits. From historical resilience in the face of colonialism and the rubber boom to the complexities of modern ayahuasca tourism, this presentation illuminates the Shipibo-Konibo’s profound relationship with nature, sound, and the unseen realms.