Historical and Living Traditions of Psychedelics

Mesoamerican Plant and Fungal Medicines in Current and Historical Use

This workshop provides an overview of current and historical use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms and other plant medicines in southern Mexico. We will describe pre-Conquest plant medicine use based on surviving records and artifacts, as well as the living traditions of Mazatec and other indigenous groups. We will assess contemporary practices and worldviews. Material will include emphasis on current and historical use of plant and fungal medicines in indigenous Mesoamerican cultures.

Course Objectives:
Summarize historical, traditional, and contemporary practices and applications of entheogenic animals, fungi, and plants in Mesoamerica.

Miscellaneous Plant and Fungal Medicines in Current and Historical Use

We will briefly discuss atypical and complex psychedelic plant and fungal medicines not discussed in other courses. We will identify Iboga, Salvia, and Mescaline-containing cacti as psychedelic medicines with longstanding traditional and contemporary practices and applications. Material will include emphasis on current and historical use of plant and fungal medicines in indigenous cultures.

Course Objectives:
Summarize historical, traditional, and contemporary entheogenic practices and applications relating to Iboga, Amanita mushrooms, and cannabis.

Eastern Origins I

This course covers the relevant history of entheogenic use in Asia and includes the following topics:

-Proto-Indo-European culture
-Iranian & India fire worship
-NW India from 2500BCE to 500CE; including the use of soma and amrita as well as Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu
-Secret Tibetan knowledge of Psilocybe mushrooms
-Central Asia: Origin and spread of *Proto-Indo-Europeans c. 3000BCE.

Eastern Origins II

This course continues to cover the relevant history of entheogenic use in Asia and include the following topics:

-Siberian shamans use of Amanita muscaria
-Ancient Chinese legends of Lin Chi (literally means “magic mushroom”)
-Psilocybe species used by various Buddhists cultures
-Hints of Amanita muscaria in Shintoism and legends of Kobo Daishi

Modern Era

This course will cover the historically significant events regarding psychedelics from the 19th century to present.

Topics will include:
-The Western discovery and synthesis of mescaline, LSD, and DMT
-The first wave of psychedelic research in the 1950's and 60's
-The Hippy counterculture
-The Controlled Substance Act and the War on Drugs
-The rise of MDMA and the creation of MAPS
-Highlights of the cultural impact of more research on psychedelics

Western Origins

This course will provide a survey of psychedelics from pre-history to the Renaissance period through a primarily Western perspective.

Topics covered will include:
- Terrence McKenna's stoned-ape hypothesis
- Eleusinian mysteries
- The pagan-Christian continuity hypothesis with a psychedelic twist
- Evidence of entheogen use in early Christianity up to the Inquisition period
- Entheogen use in pre-Christian Europe

Synaptic Institute