Haarlem · ICPR Week · June 2026
Kanna Ceremonial Evenings
With Indigenous Khoisan Knowledge Keeper Gershan Lombard
Flyer Kanna Ceremony
Gershan in his Treehouse in Cape Town, SA
Gershan Lombard
About Gershan Lombard Click Me
Gershan Lombard, known as FreeMan LoTS, is a musician, Sound Weaver, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, and qualified Breathwork Practitioner carrying the lineage of the Khoisan Bushman people of Southern Africa.
For years he has travelled the world, performing and deepening his Shamanic practice, searching for the place where ancient knowing and modern expression could meet. What he does now is the answer to that search.
As a Sound Weaver, Gershan blends trance-inducing music with electronic instrumentation, creating soundscapes that open something in people they didn't know needed opening. His work extends well beyond the music into full ceremony, drawing on indigenous traditions passed down through generations.
At the heart of his practice is Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum), an ancient Bushman plant medicine used for centuries for healing, clarity, and connection. Combined with breathwork and sound, Kanna has the potential to truly alter the trajectory of a person's wellbeing and life.
This is not a performance you watch. It is an experience you enter.
On the 4th, 5th and 6th June of 2026, alongside ICPR week 2026 in Haarlem, three small, independent evening gatherings will take place with Gershan Lombard, a Khoisan Indigenous Knowledge Keeper from South Africa. He will be our host, together with herbal alchemist Matthew Gabriel, working with kanna, breathwork and live music.
These gatherings are not affiliated with OPEN/ICPR. This is not a medical treatment but a unique immersive experience in Indigenous ceremonial practice. These events are organised and hosted by Elanx B.V. Eline Berghmans will be present in an organisational and hosting role only.
About Eline Berghmans Click Me
Eline Berghmans is a psychiatrist based in Maastricht and the founder of Psyspace, an independent practice focused on ADHD, neurodivergence and trauma-informed care for adults with complex presentations. Her work sits at the crossroads of psychiatry, somatic processes and relational medicine, shaped by years of experience across hospital, community and private settings.
In her practice, Eline takes a neurodiversity-affirming stance: psychiatric symptoms are understood as meaningful responses to someone's life history, nervous-system patterns and context, not simply as isolated diagnoses to be managed. Beyond her clinical work, she is actively engaged with emerging psychedelic-assisted therapy frameworks in Europe and collaborates with international colleagues working around plant medicine, embodiment and integrative mental health.
The ceremonies and 1-on-1 sessions described on this page are independently organised by Elanx B.V. as a new, separate initiative. They are not part of Psyspace B.V. or of Eline's psychiatric practice, and they do not constitute psychiatric, psychological, psychotherapeutic or medical treatment. These gatherings are also independent from, and not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the OPEN Foundation or ICPR. Participation is experiential in nature and subject to screening and safety review by the organisers.
Matthew Gabriel
About Matthew Gabriel Click Me
Matthew Gabriel is an initiated herbal practitioner from South Africa, nutritional consultant, and founder of Vee/Ra Botanical Blends, a herbal company focused on nervous-system-friendly wellbeing. For over seven years he has worked with traditional South African plant preparations in both ceremonial and everyday contexts, exploring how plant allies can support people through stress, fatigue and transitions. A key plant in his practice is sceletium (Sceletium tortuosum), which he combines with embodiment practices and nutritional support. His gentle, down-to-earth approach invites people to slow down, reconnect with their baseline and weave respectful, realistic plant rituals into daily life.
1-on-1 sessions Click Me
There will also be a limited number of 1:1 sessions with Gershan (breathwork, sound, kanna) and with Matthew (herbal guidance, embodiment‑oriented coaching, and nutritional perspectives from his traditional practice background). These sessions are intended as opportunities for personal reflection rather than as any form of therapy or treatment.
Dates, location & 1:1 sessions
Evening gatherings
Thursday 4 June 2026 (invite only — max 10 participants)
Friday 5 June 2026 (max 15 participants)
Saturday 6 June 2026 (max 15 participants)
Approximately 19:00 – 23:00
Central Haarlem (exact address shared after confirmation)
Language: English
Optional 1:1 daytime sessions
A very limited number of 1:1 daytime sessions with Gershan will be available during the ICPR days in Haarlem, as well as independent consultations with Matthew, who works with plant medicine.
These are ceremonial sessions focused on music, presence and Indigenous practice — not psychotherapy or medical treatment.
Who is this for?
Clinicians, therapists, researchers and other professionals attending ICPR (or in the area) and those who feel called to experience Indigenous ceremonial practice with kanna.
People with a grounded personal practice who want to reflect on ethics, decolonisation and reciprocity in psychedelic-adjacent work.
Disclaimer
Participation is exclusively available to individuals free from medical, psychiatric, or pharmacological contra-indications or interactions with Sceletium tortuosum (kanna), including but not limited to concurrent use of serotonergic medications, cardiovascular conditions, or pre-existing psychiatric conditions that may be exacerbated by participation. A non-exhaustive overview of known contra-indications and applicable safety guidelines shall be provided to applicants following submission of their application. It remains the sole responsibility of each prospective participant to ascertain, in consultation with their own qualified healthcare provider, whether participation is suitable given their individual circumstances.
Eline Berghmans shall be present exclusively in the capacity of organiser and host. She does not act, and shall not be deemed to act, as a treating physician, psychiatrist, or healthcare provider during the event. No individual medical, psychiatric, or pharmacological advice, diagnosis, or treatment will be provided.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions Click here
Is this the same as the "African XTC" kanna I see in smartshops?
No. The sceletium Gershan and Matthew work with is prepared in traditional, low-dose fermented blends, used in a contained, ceremonial setting to support nervous-system regulation and rest. Commercial “party kanna” products are often marketed for strong, MDMA-like effects at stimulating doses, which is a very different intention and risk profile.
Does sceletium have a laxative effect?
Digestive upset can occur in some people, but in the gentle dosing and formats used here it is uncommon and usually mild if it appears at all. Taking sceletium with food and moving slowly with dose helps the body integrate it without being pushed.
Is there a comedown?
Not in the way people might know from stimulants. In clinical and traditional use, sceletium is more associated with a soft landing. People often feel a bit quieter and ready to rest, rather than wired or depleted afterwards.
Can I combine sceletium with my medication?
Some medications (especially serotonergic antidepressants and certain psychiatric or neurological drugs) may interact with sceletium, so it’s important to review this carefully. Before the session, Matthew and Gershan will go through a short intake to check your current meds, health history and sensitivities, and if there is any doubt you’ll be asked to discuss it with your prescribing clinician first or to attend without sceletium.
Is this therapy or medical treatment?
No. This is a ceremonial and experiential gathering. These sessions do not replace care from a doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist. No individual medical, psychiatric, or pharmacological advice, diagnosis, or treatment will be provided.
Is this affiliated with ICPR / OPEN Foundation?
No. These gatherings are independently organised and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to OPEN Foundation or ICPR.
What about safety / contra-indications?
Applicants who are a potential fit will receive a non-exhaustive overview of known contra-indications and applicable safety guidelines after submitting the form, and before participation is confirmed.
Will there be photography or recording?
No photography or recording during the ceremony.
What happens after I submit the interest form?
You’ll receive further details, including practical information and the health & safety questionnaire. Participation is only confirmed after review.
Contribution
These gatherings are organised without a profit motive, but the real costs of bringing Gershan and Matthew from South Africa to The Netherlands to bring their ancient knowledge need to be covered by a modest contribution.
Evening gathering June 5 and 6
€195
per person, per evening
max. 15 participants each night
Evening gathering June 4
€245
per person, invite only
max. 10 participants
1:1 daytime session with Gershan
€280
per session
very limited availability
1:1 daytime session with Matthew
€150
His sessions are independent and can be followed up online afterwards
If the contribution is a genuine barrier for you, you can indicate this in the form. A small number of reduced-fee places may be available, prioritised for people for whom this work is relevant but financially difficult at this moment.
If this resonates with you – as a professional, practitioner, or curious human – you can read more about the context, safety considerations, and the intended audience for these evenings, and share your interest via the form below. Participation is confirmed only after a short screening process to ensure that this ceremonial setting is appropriate for you.
Apply to the interest list
If this resonates with you and you want to grab this exceptional chance, apply below. You'll then receive further details, including the full list of contra-indications and practical information.
Disclaimer
Legal disclaimer
These gatherings are independently organised by Elanx B.V. and are experiential and ceremonial in nature – they are not medical, psychiatric, psychological or psychotherapeutic treatment, and no individual medical, psychiatric, or pharmacological advice is provided. They are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to OPEN Foundation or ICPR. Any information shared in preparation forms is used solely to assess whether participation in this ceremonial context is appropriate and safe.
A separate privacy notice explains how personal and health‑related information is handled, stored, and protected in line with EU/EEA data‑protection law; a link to this notice is provided on the application form.