In 1962, Naranjo was at Harvard as a visiting Fulbright scholar. Later he became an apprentice of Fritz Perls and part of the early Gestalt Therapy community. He became Carlos Castaneda's close friend and joined Leo Zeff's pioneering psychedelic therapy group (1965–66). These meetings resulted in Naranjo’s contribution of the use of harmaline, MDMA, and ibogaine. 

In the 1960s, Naranjo introduced ibogaine and harmaline into psychotherapy.

Richard Evans Schultes allowed Naranjo to make a special journey by canoe up the Amazon River to study yage (ayahuasca) with the South American Indians. He brought back samples of this drug and published the first scientific description of the effects of its active alkaloids

In 1969 he was sought out as a consultant for the Education Policy Research Center, created by Willis Harman at Stanford Research Institute. His report on psychological and spiritual techniques including the use of psychedelics later became his first book, The One Quest. 

The accidental death of his only son in 1970 marked a turning-point in his life. Naranjo set off on a six-month pilgrimage under the guidance of Oscar Ichazo at a spiritual retreat in the desert near Arica, Chile (which he considered the true beginning of his spiritual experience, contemplative life and inner guidance).

The world wide use of the Enneagram personality matrix traces its origin to Claudio. Oscar Ichazo had suggested the 9 point enneagram pattern as a model for spiritual practices. Claudio further expanded the conception of the enneagram as a psychological model that identified 9 types of fixations (or fundamental mental habituations) which are dominant in the establishment of the human personality.

After leaving Arica, he originated  the SAT (Seekers After Truth) Institute. The early years of the SAT Institute were implemented by a series of guest teachers, including Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Bob Hoffman (founder the Fisher/Hoffman & Quadrinity Process). The enneagram teachings were developed and disseminated as part of the SAT program. SAT developed into an international mystery school that continued until Claudia’s passing.

In 1976, Naranjo was a visiting professor at the Santa Cruz Campus of the University of California and intermittently at the California Institute of Intergral Studies. 

Towards the end of his life he was particularly interested in discerning which specific psychedelic session interventions were the most effective. His practical orientation was an inspiration for this program.

We honor his pioneering contributions and encourage you to explore his website (https://www.claudionaranjo.net) and to read his books to learn more about his foundational contributions to this space. May his memory be a blessing.