February 16, 2022

If the Medicine Works Shouldn’t We All Have Access to it? A Recent Poll of Australians Says Yes We Should

Written by Scott Leckie and Tania de Jong

(As published in The Daily Telegraph on 16th February 2022)

The painful COVID-era will fade but it will never be forgotten. This unanticipated period will be remembered for many things – death, suffering, economic and social disruptions and words like lockdown, iso, quarantine, social distancing, Zoom, omicron…

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September 7, 2021

A Prayer to Humanity in a Time of Crisis

As we look into the shining eyes of a child so we look back at ourselves – in all their wholeness and light.

It’s time to return, for we are all children;

And as we pass into adulthood and elderhood, we come to learn that nothing in this material world is permanent;

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August 30, 2021

I feel so sad about what Australia has become

Our politicians say things like “we are all Australians” and “we are all in this together”. We are NOT.

They hide behind secretive ‘health advice’ that has banned everything, from playgrounds to golf and sunsets, contrary to global scientific evidence. They keep children from attending school which has led to a crippling, devastating shadow pandemic of self-harm, mental illness and domestic violence. This will lead to lifetimes of suffering due to the inter-generational nature of trauma and mental illness.

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August 11, 2021

Are we saving lives or destroying them?

(As published in The Spectator on 10th August 2021)

The great Albert Einstein said: “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it”. Our politicians and public servants need to find a new way of dealing with the pandemic which empowers rather than disempowers Australians. With premiers around the country demanding zero cases before they open borders and remove their draconian lockdowns, it is not surprising that people around the nation (and the world) wonder if Australia can ever get out of the mess our governments have created.

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January 8, 2021

Give Us Back Our Humanity

(As published in the Herald Sun on 8th January 2021)

Dear Leaders, Premiers, Health officers and others

I am sure that each and every one of us wants this to be over. We want to move on with our lives, work, families and communities.

Many people lost loved ones to Covid-19 or as a result of the fall-out from it. Small businesses and whole economies collapsed under lockdown. Unemployment, suicide, domestic violence, divorce and addiction rates skyrocketed, and global hunger and homelessness doubled.  We are a planet and a nation in grief and disarray.

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October 12, 2020

A Sad State of Affairs

(This article was originally published in the Herald Sun on October 10 2020)

I am really missing home, especially my Mum.  I miss my Melbourne; the way it was before this mess. I even miss my office and all the meetings I used to have. And I sure miss singing and connecting with audiences.

My husband and I came to NSW for a short holiday in June and here we still are, working and Zooming. Where we are, you’d never know there was a virus. People go about their lives. They go to school, bands and the beach and have friends over for parties, BBQs and dinner.  It reminds me how much I miss sharing happy times with friends and community.

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October 5, 2020

How Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Changed My Life

From Singing to Psilocybin

I don’t drink or smoke. I’ve never taken any drugs till four years ago. Yet today, my life revolves around psychedelic medicines — heavily stigmatized substances still illegal in this country and most others across the world.

How did this happen?

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August 24, 2020

This Is Not Australia

The Seekers’ much-loved chorus lyrics for the iconic song ‘I am Australian’ are:

“We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian.”

This song symbolises a nation whose people, history, culture and landscape are deeply intertwined. It is a song that celebrates both Australia’s diversity and its unity.

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April 28, 2020

My Magic Medicine Journey

I want to start with a snapshot of how I’m probably different from you and a lot of other people.

I don’t smoke. I haven’t been drunk, ever, nor do I really drink alcohol. Before this chapter of my life began, I’d never taken any drugs apart from those prescribed to me by a doctor. I live in Melbourne and I don’t even drink coffee.

Yet today, my life revolves around psychedelics — heavily stigmatized substances still illegal in this country and most others across the world.

I get it. This huge shift is likely confusing to you and it’s one I’d like to outline here in the hope it provides a deeper understanding of why I co-founded Mind Medicine Australia (MMA).

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