ICEERS’ psychedelic research study, Keeping the Candles Burning: Empowering Peacemakers in Dark Times, was supported through a MAPS grant as part of our ongoing commitment to advancing multidisciplinary research and dialogue around psychedelics, peacebuilding, and social transformation. The work was conceived and developed by JC Bouso, J. Ollero, and C. Sánchez as an independent social innovation initiative. While MAPS is proud to have provided funding support, the analysis, perspectives, and conclusions expressed in this guide are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of MAPS.
The methodological guide explores the intersection of community-based psychedelic use, restorative justice, and conflict transformation from an explicitly intersectional perspective. Drawing on historical and contemporary research, the authors argue for the potential of MDMA — described as a “connectogen” for its capacity to enhance empathy, trust, and emotional openness — to support peacebuilding efforts in contexts marked by political violence, systemic injustice, and intergenerational trauma. The framework centers on MDMA-assisted peace circles as a tool for strengthening social cohesion, fostering dialogue, and supporting pacifist organizations working in protracted conflict settings.
Grounded in the traditions of conflict transformation and restorative justice, the proposed methodology emphasizes long-term, community-led change across individual, relational, structural, and cultural dimensions. The guide outlines a practical intervention model designed to improve emotional well-being, deepen social connection, build group cohesion, and ultimately contribute to broader cultural shifts toward reconciliation and justice. This work is offered as a contribution to ongoing global conversations about peacebuilding, community healing, and the responsible exploration of psychedelic tools in non-clinical contexts.