Ethics at Mind Lumen

Mind Lumen is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit making ethics observable, measurable, and auditable in psychedelics and mental health. The definitions below are Mind Lumen's canonical wording for its key terms.

By Neil Gehani. Published . Last reviewed .

Key Terms

Mind Lumen
Mind Lumen is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit making ethics observable, measurable, and auditable in psychedelics and mental health.
Ethical Reputation System (ERS)
The Ethical Reputation System (ERS) is Mind Lumen's independent third-party certification system for ethical practice across the psychedelic ecosystem. It is built on five pillars: ethics certification, an Ethics Certification Score, structured feedback, randomized audits, and adjudication.
Ethics Certification Score
A quantifiable score from 1 to 100 that expresses how ethical a provider is, based on observable criteria assessed by independent evaluators. Its purpose is to elevate the most ethical providers, and it is not a binary ethical or unethical label or a crowdsourced review.
Mind Lumen Ethics Certification
Annual certification for six provider types: Facilitators, Therapists, Clinics, Retreats, Training Programs, and Digital Apps. Certification criteria include open-source and open-science principles in product development, research, and training materials.
Structured Feedback
Feedback collected through specific, objective criteria instead of open-ended reviews that are subject to gaming. The criteria prevent euphoria-biased ratings and produce meaningful, actionable feedback.
Randomized Audits
Independent verification beyond self-reporting. Randomized audits help providers maintain ethical standards continuously, not just at certification time.
Adjudication
Transparent yet privacy-preserving conflict resolution. When ethical concerns arise, a structured process aims for fair outcomes for both seekers and providers.
Independent Certifier
A certifier with no provider conflicts of interest. Mind Lumen does not facilitate journeys, sell medicine, or take referral fees.
Observable Ethics
Ethics made visible through clear criteria that are independently verified.
Measurable Ethics
Ethics expressed as quantifiable scores from 1 to 100, without provider conflicts of interest.
Auditable Ethics
Ethics checked through randomized independent verification rather than self-reporting.
Cognitive Liberty
The inherent right of every person to explore their own consciousness without needing permission. It also means having the agency to know what you are consuming.
Lumara
Lumara is Mind Lumen's service delivery arm that administers the ethics certification program and matches seekers with certified providers.

Recognition

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, EIN 99-4112585 Source
  • Flourish Demo Day, San Francisco, August 2025 Source
  • Aligned organization: Chacruna (Indigenous reciprocity and cultural preservation) Source
  • Aligned organization: Usona Institute (open science and research transparency) Source

Founder credentials

Sources