In this episode of Faces of Five, chad charles speaks with Laadaa, a Haida elder and lifelong student of healing, about the role 5-MeO-DMT played in a personal journey that spans more than three decades.
Rather than viewing medicine as a cure, Laadaa shares how 5-MeO-DMT acted as a catalyst—opening doors that allowed him to continue the deeper work of healing, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. Together, they explore collective trauma, Indigenous perspectives on wellness, the importance of personal responsibility, and why meaningful transformation requires far more than a single experience.
This conversation is a reflection on patience, perseverance, and the understanding that healing is not a destination, but a lifelong practice.
What We Discussed:
● How 5-MeO-DMT opened new pathways for healing
● Why medicine alone is not enough
● The importance of doing the work after ceremony● Ancestors, spirituality, and receiving guidance
● Collective trauma and Indigenous healing
● Shame, identity, and generational wounds
● Play, joy, and reconnecting with the inner child
● Acceptance, forgiveness, and personal growth
● Self-acceptance and finding a new relationship with oneself
● The experience of symbolic death during 5-MeO-DMT
● Medicine as a catalyst rather than a cure
● Discernment, readiness, and responsible medicine work
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chad charles is a practitioner, educator, and mentor specializing in 5-MeO-DMT. Since 2016, he has worked exclusively in this field, developing a practice-based understanding of these experiences through direct facilitation, practitioner training, and ongoing research. He works one-on-one with individuals in therapy-assisted contexts, supports people around the world through integration calls, and guides practitioners through mentorship and training. A large, detailed body of documented sessions since 2020 informs targeted research initiatives, with a focus on clarity, precision, and lived data. His private practice operates in Toronto and Montreal. Learn more at chadcharles.net
https://substack.com/@chadcharles5
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Timestamped Summary
00:00 – Reconnecting after years and reflecting on a lifelong healing journey
03:00 – How 5-MeO-DMT opened new pathways and opportunities
05:00 – Why healing requires action and commitment beyond the medicine
07:00 – Ancestors, spiritual guidance, and receiving support along the path
09:00 – Collective trauma, Indigenous healing, and personal responsibility
12:00 – Shame, generational wounds, and confronting difficult truths
13:00 – Remembering play, joy, and the importance of putting yourself first
16:00 – Struggling with acceptance while continuing to heal
18:00 – Self-acceptance, progress, and trusting the direction of life
20:00 – Conscious participation during 5-MeO-DMT and the experience of symbolic death
22:00 – Why medicine is a catalyst, not a cure
24:00 – Discernment, integrity, and not chasing medicine
28:00 – Guidance for those considering 5-MeO-DMT
29:00 – One-on-one work versus group ceremony
30:00 – Moving through darkness and finding what lies beyond