Psychedelic Plants & Mushrooms through Native Eyes
As presented at the 2008 
World Psychedelic Forum

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Courtesy of: Psychonautica

Drawing from her fieldwork in Mexico and South America, the experienced ethnobotanist will share perspectives, stories and images from the worldview and ritual practices of indigenous people who live in respectful relationship to psychoactive species. Sacred medicines and humans are seen as part of an animated fabric of beings.

Part 1
The presentation will look into cultures that incorporate psilocybin mushrooms, Salvia divinorum, ayahuasca, peyote or tobacco into their ceremonies, with particular focus on the enduring traditions of the Mazatec people of Mexico. The relation of plants to mythology and the being of plant species. The healing power of Brugmansia, the religious practices/beliefs of the Mazatec. The mushroom culture of Huatla, R. Gordon Wasson, Maria Sabina, the healing industry and psychedelic mushroom trade in Mexico, healing objects for sale in Mexico, the hippy-tourist invasion of the 1960s. The different species of mushroom used in Mexico and the differences between them, shamanic husband/wife couples, uses of various types of tobacco by the Mazatec and the naming of tobacco species after saints, the cooperativeness of Psilocybe Cubensis, and use of Psilocybe Mexicana.

Part 2
Kathleen talks about the capacity of plants for absorbing and releasing energy, the journey drugs go on before they are consumed, the grow season of mushrooms in Mexico, the use of plant medicine for snake bites, how shamans discover appropriate healing plants, Mazatec use of Morning Glory, references to the virgin Mary in the names of plants, the possibility of Salvia Divinorum prohibition in the US, becoming personally acquainted with shamanic plants, different kinds of Salvia experience, Mazatec Salvia use and etiquette, the personality of Salvia Divinorum, smoking Salvia, safety precautions of Salvia use and the 'bolt-factor', contacting tribal ancestors and the morphogenetic field.

Psychonautica