Tomorrow Talks | Courageous Consciousness

As we prepare for the 14th Annual Tom Tom Festival (April 22–26, 2026), whose theme is COURAGE, the Tomorrow Talk series invites us to explore what courage looks like—in our personal lives, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our society.

As psychedelic spirituality enters a new era of visibility, few scholars have examined its lived reality with the depth and nuance of Jeffrey Breau, researcher at Harvard Divinity School. His recent article, What Makes Psychedelic Experiences Sacred?, features Charlottesville’s own Church of Direct Experience (CODE) and explores a central question that is reshaping religion in America. Through his fieldwork, Breau highlights how meaning arises not from the substances alone but from the structure, ethics, and communal interpretation that shape these ceremonies.

As academic institutions, policymakers, and faith leaders grapple with questions of legality, spirituality, and public safety, this research is at the forefront of a broader movement to situate psychedelic ceremony as a legitimate expression of religious freedom. In this Tomorrow Talk, Breau will share insights from his multi-year study of new psychedelic spiritual communities and what distinguishes CODE within this emerging landscape.

Full Session Description

/// TICKETS ///

Tickets are offered at GA ($25) and Scholarship ($15) Prices.

/// ABOUT TOMORROW TALKS ///

The Tomorrow Talks are a year-long series that picks up critical themes from our April Festival and continues the conversations to create impact in Charlottesville. Each session is facilitated with an emphasis on participation, connection, and new collaborations.  Tomorrow Talks begin with a connection exercise or meditation, and proceed into a presentation and breakout activities. They aim to impart knowledge that is practical and relevant to people's lived experience; combining academic or theoretical insights, alongside pragmatic tools, and experiential and somatic learnings