What does Ouroboros even mean?
The Ouroboros is an ancient symbol, typically depicted as a snake or dragon devouring its own tail.
It first appeared in ancient Egyptian iconography in 1400 BCE- where it represented the sun’s cyclical journey and the regenerative power of the afterlife.
The Greeks later adopted the symbol, using it to convey ideas of wholeness, and associated it with alchemy,
Over milenea, Ouroboros took on broader philosophical meanings, signifying infinity, unity, and rebirth.
We chose the name Ouroboros because we see no better analogy for psychedelic therapy than rebirth through alchemy.
We also believe our project represents unity, and can help create new advances in mental health research that change how we see mental health and how we treat one another globally.
We are a registered UK non-profit dedicated to funding psychedelic research.
We do this primarily through immersive fundraising events, and philanthropic projects which you can take at here.
We also host educational workshops dedicated to psychedelic research advocacy, fostering responsible exploration of psychoactive substances, and promoting mental well-being.
Through education and community engagement, we aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate these experiences safely and meaningfully.
Meet the Directors
Dr Johanna Cormack
Founding Director
Dr Cormack holds dual PhDs in psychology and education and is globally recognised for her work in child feeding psychology. She created the Emotionally Aware Feeding (EAF) model, used widely to support children with eating difficulties. Currently enrolled in Exeter’s MSc in Psychedelics, she’s expanding her therapeutic work to explore trauma, attachment, and altered states. At Ouroboros, she leads research integration and guides projects rooted in compassion and developmental insight.
Catherine Powell
Founding Director
Cathy is a trauma-trained therapist and the visionary force behind The Ouroboros Foundation. With a background in integrative mental health and community advocacy, her leadership is rooted in creating spaces for emotional healing, relational depth, and inclusive transformation. Cathy co-founded the Foundation to promote grassroots psychedelic research, believing that personal reconnection and planetary regeneration are deeply interconnected. Her work reflects the cyclical wisdom of the Ouroboros: healing through renewal, rooted in compassion. She is currently enrolled in the University of Exeter’s MSc in Psychedelics, Mind, Medicine and Culture. Cathy also coordinates Ouroboros ‘Modern Mental Health Therapy Raffle programme.
Craig Whyte
Founding Director
Craig is a filmmaker, creative technologist, and Senior Technician, and Lecturer at the University of Plymouth. Craig’s creative practice is rooted in a fascination with affective storytelling—how sound, image, and rhythm can evoke deep emotional states and altered consciousness. His work in experimental cinema explores the emotional and psychedelic potential of storytelling and immersive visuals. At The Ouroboros Foundation, he leads visual media strategy, supports immersive event production, and contributes to the Foundation’s mission of bridging art, science, and spirit.
J. David Wood, RN
Founding Director
David is the Founding Director of The Ouroboros Foundation and The Ouroboros Project CIC, organisations dedicated to advancing community‑based psychedelic science, ecological reconnection, and public education. His work challenges the corporodelic model that currently dominates psychedelic research, advocating instead for approaches that honour relationality, ecology, and cultural coherence. Through Ouroboros, hin work endeavours ato build a long‑term philanthropic engine to support independent research, harm‑reduction education, and community‑centred integration practices.
Zephyr Wood
Founding Director
Zephyr Wood is a director of The Ouroboros Foundation and the Exeter Events Coordinator for the Psychedelic Society, working at the intersection of community engagement, psychedelic culture, and contemporary mental‑health discourse. She completed her BSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Wales, Bangor, and is a graduate of Exeter University’s inaugural Postgraduate Certificate in Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine, and Culture, awarded with distinction.
Her academic interests focus on animism and panpsychism as frameworks for understanding consciousness, relationality, and human–environment connections. Zephyr contributes to emerging interdisciplinary conversations in psychedelic studies by foregrounding cultural context, ecological awareness, and community‑rooted approaches to mental‑health innovation.
Through her work with the Psychedelic Society and The Ouroboros Foundation, she supports educational programming and event coordination, helping to advance EPIC’s mission of fostering rigorous, inclusive, and culturally informed dialogue on the future of psychedelics.
Our artist ambassadors
Meet the hall of fame: our artist ambassadors. These are individuals who contribute to our cause through artistic means. These include talented DJs, musicians and alternative artists, who kindly donate performances at our events.