Psychedelics & Culture
Table of Contents
Psychedelic use can be traced to various parts of the world and the beginning of human history while their prohibition is a historically unusual phenomena.
Psychedelics have been intertwined with human culture for millennia, playing vital roles in spirituality, healing, social cohesion and ecological stewardship across the globe. From ancient shamanistic rituals to the cultural revolutions of the 20th century, psychedelics have continuously shaped human experiences, values, and social structures. The rich cultural history of psychedelics—from their sacred roles in ancient traditions to their impact on modern societies—reveals how these substances have facilitated profound connections to ourselves, each other, and the natural world.
Human history has become too much a matter of dogma taught by 'professionals' in ivory towers as though it's all fact. Actually, much of human history is up for grabs. The further back you go, the more that the history that's taught in the schools and universities begins to look like some kind of faerie story.
— Graham Hancock
Ancient Mysteries
Throughout history, psychedelics have played a key role in shaping human civilization, spiritual practices, and cultural traditions. These substances were revered not only for their capacity to provide personal insight and healing but also for their ability to serve as a bridge between the mundane and the divine. These historical roots help us see how ancient civilizations used psychedelic plants and fungi to cultivate a deeper connection to the cosmos, community, self and divinity.
In ancient Greece, the Eleusinian Mysteries stand as one of history's most enigmatic spiritual ceremonies. Held annually for nearly two millennia, these rituals were centred around Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, and Persephone, her daughter, and celebrated themes of death, rebirth, and the renewal of life. Participants consumed kykeon, a potion scholars believe may have contained psychoactive substances derived from ergot, a fungus similar to LSD. This sacred rite promised initiates a deeper spiritual understanding and direct experience of the divine, offering a sense of rebirth and transformation. It was not just a personal journey but also a vital communal practice, shaping Greek culture’s spiritual and societal life.
Across the ocean, similar reverence for psychedelic substances was observed among the Pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica. The Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec peoples held elaborate ceremonies involving naturally occurring psychedelics such as peyote, psilocybin mushrooms, and ololiuhqui seeds, which contain LSA (lysergic acid amide). These substances were used not only to induce altered states of consciousness but to connect with the sacred, guide the community, and facilitate healing. Rituals involving were profound communal experiences, bringing participants closer to their gods and providing an avenue for healing, spiritual growth, and understanding their place in the cosmos.
The Eleusinian and Mesoamerican rituals illustrate the role psychedelics played in ancient cultures for spiritual connection, cultural identity, and collective cohesion. These practices helped forge a direct link between individuals and the greater mysteries of existence, emphasizing the interconnectedness between the personal, communal and ecological. They also reflect an innate human drive—a drive to explore beyond the ordinary, seek meaning, and nurture a deeper relationship with the divine and the natural world.
The mushrooms have power because they are the flesh of God. And those that believe are healed. Those that do not believe are not healed.
— María Sabina
Shamanism
Shamanistic traditions across the globe have long recognized the profound impact of psychedelics on spirituality, healing, and community. These ancient rituals, deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of numerous societies, utilized natural psychedelics not only for holistic healing but also for expanding the mind and spirit, guiding social and ecological practices to maintain social and ecological harmony.
Ayahuasca in the Amazon
In the vast stretches of the Amazon rainforest, shamans have used ayahuasca—a brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine combined with other psychoactive plants—for centuries. This sacred brew induces deep altered states of consciousness, allowing shamans to journey beyond ordinary perception. The visions and insights experienced during ayahuasca ceremonies are believed to be direct communications with the spirits of the natural world—guiding not only individual healing but also communal decisions related to health, conflict, and the stewardship of nature.
Ayahuasca rituals are conducted with great care, involving songs known as icaros, rhythmic chanting, and the guidance of an experienced shaman who serves as the bridge between the physical and spiritual realms. The visions experienced during these rituals are perceived as messages from plant and animal spirits, often offering profound insights into the interconnection of life. In this context, ayahuasca is far more than a medicinal tool; it is a spiritual compass, a gateway to the wisdom of the jungle, reinforcing a reverence for the interconnected web of all life.
Peyote in North America
In North America, indigenous tribes such as the Huichol, Navajo, and the members of the Native American Church have long revered peyote—a small cactus containing the psychoactive alkaloid mescaline. The peyote ceremonies, steeped in cultural and spiritual significance, have been used for thousands of years as a sacred practice to foster healing, enhance spiritual insight, and maintain harmony within the community. These ceremonies often involve chanting, drumming, and prayer, held in communal settings under the guidance of an elder or a spiritual leader.
Peyote is not simply a tool for personal introspection; it is deeply embedded in communal tradition and connection. Participants often report profound experiences of unity, connection to ancestors, and communication with spiritual entities. These insights are not only crucial for personal transformation but are also used to foster communal well-being and social cohesion. Through these sacred rituals, peyote is seen as a teacher—a means to understand the cosmic balance, guiding individuals in their relationship with themselves, their community, and the natural world.
Amanita Muscaria in Siberia
In the harsh climates of Siberia, shamans of various indigenous groups, such as the Evenki, have used Amanita muscaria (fly agaric mushrooms) for millennia to transcend ordinary states of consciousness and interact with the spirit world. Amanita muscaria, with its distinctive red cap and white spots, is often associated with shamanic traditions where it was used in ceremonies to resolve community disputes, access divine guidance, and perform healing rituals.
The mushrooms allowed shamans to travel beyond the physical realm, providing insights believed to be messages from the spirit world. The shaman would enter a trance state, often accompanied by rhythmic drumming, during which they were said to communicate with spirits, ancestors, and nature deities. This trance journey was seen as essential for acquiring wisdom, diagnosing illnesses, and providing counsel on community issues—demonstrating the critical role psychedelics played in both individual healing and communal guidance.
Universality of Shamanistic Practices
The common thread across these shamanistic traditions is the belief that psychedelics serve as sacred tools that facilitate direct communication with the spiritual world. These substances provide an experiential understanding of the profound interconnectedness between humans, nature, and the cosmos. In these contexts, psychedelics are not recreational substances; they are sacraments—integral components of cultural identity, spiritual practice, and ecological stewardship.
Shamanism underscores a universal respect for psychedelics as tools for spiritual discovery, community cohesion, and ecological balance. These practices demonstrate a holistic approach to health and well-being—one that does not separate the individual from the community or the natural world, but instead sees all elements as part of an interdependent whole.
By integrating these ancient shamanistic wisdoms, contemporary psychedelic science can deepen its understanding of the substances, the nature of reality and the human condition. Psychedelics are not merely tools of historical significance; they are keys to address modern challenges in mental health, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. In re-engaging with ancient practices, modern society has an opportunity to rediscover perspectives that value the interconnection of all life which are critically needed in an age of disconnection and ecological crisis.
The spiritual atrophying of contemporary culture may be due in large measure to its loss of sensitivity to processes in the collective unconscious.
— Terence McKenna
Colonization
The arrival of Europeans in the Americas in the 1500s marked a dramatic turning point in the cultural landscape. Many of the indigenous peoples who inhabited these lands had long embraced psychedelics such as peyote and mushrooms as sacred tools for healing, spiritual connection, and communal rituals. However, the arrival of colonizers introduced new religious ideologies, power structures, and forms of control that clashed violently with these practices.
Suppression & Survival
Colonizers viewed indigenous rituals involving psychedelic substances through a lens of fear, misunderstanding, and prejudice. The ceremonial use of sacred plants like peyote and psilocybin mushrooms was considered heretical and demonic, posing a direct threat to the spread of Christianity and the control that colonizers sought to impose over native populations. In response, colonial authorities launched systematic campaigns to eradicate these practices. Indigenous rituals were banned, sacred ceremonies were criminalized, and those who continued these traditions faced severe punishment.
The Spanish conquistadors, for instance, viewed the Aztec use of teonanácatl—meaning "flesh of the gods," a term used for psilocybin mushrooms—as a form of idolatry that needed to be eradicated to make way for Christianity. Rituals involving psychedelic substances were seen as a direct challenge to Christian doctrine and colonial authority, leading to the violent suppression of these ancient practices. The rich tapestry of sacred knowledge surrounding psychedelic plants was forced underground, as indigenous peoples continued their rituals in secret, resisting both cultural and spiritual colonization.
Despite the brutal repression, many indigenous groups found ways to preserve their sacred traditions, albeit in secrecy. This underground survival allowed these ancient practices to persist over centuries, preserving the sacred relationship with these substances that connected them to the divine and their natural world. For example, the Huichol people of Mexico managed to maintain their peyote ceremonies despite intense persecution. These ceremonies remain a vital part of their cultural and spiritual life today, representing both an act of resilience and a commitment to preserving their ancestral knowledge.
The impact of colonization on the ritual use of psychedelics extends far beyond the Americas. The suppression of these sacred practices mirrored colonial efforts in many parts of the world, from Africa to Asia, where traditional spiritual and healing practices involving psychoactive substances were also banned. The prohibition of these substances and the criminalization of their use have contributed to a lingering stigma around psychedelics, one that has persisted even into modern times.
The Path Forward
The colonial suppression of indigenous psychedelic use had long-lasting consequences, severing many communities from their traditional healing practices and contributing to the stigmatization of psychedelics in Western society. It wasn't until the 20th century that psychedelic substances began to re-emerge in the public consciousness, largely thanks to the efforts of researchers and adventurers seeking to understand their spiritual and therapeutic potential.
The contemporary resurgence of interest in psychedelics, often referred to as the "psychedelic renaissance," owes much to the resilience of the indigenous cultures that have protected and preserved their sacred practices. It is crucial for today's society to honor these traditions, ensuring that the renewed interest in psychedelics is rooted in respect, reciprocity, and an acknowledgment of the historical injustices that sought to erase them.
The legacy of colonization reminds us of the importance of cultural humility as we navigate the renewed exploration of these powerful substances. By learning from and collaborating with the indigenous cultures that have safeguarded these traditions, we can work towards a more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable integration of psychedelics into modern healing practices and cultural frameworks.
What you call God I call Nature, the Supreme intelligence that rules matter.
— Thomas Edison
The Psychedelic Renaissance
As ancient traditions and wisdom around psychedelics were driven underground by colonization, they remained largely hidden from the Western world for centuries. However, in the mid-20th century, the rediscovery of sacramental psychedelic use by Western society marked the beginning of a new chapter—one that would significantly shape the cultural and scientific landscape of psychedelics.
The Mushroom's Reintroduction
In the 1950s, R. Gordon Wasson, a banker-turned-ethnomycologist, ventured deep into the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, in search of the elusive magic mushrooms he had read about. His journey brought him to the small town of Huautla de Jiménez, where he met María Sabina, a revered Mazatec shaman. María Sabina introduced Wasson to the traditional use of psilocybin mushrooms in sacred ceremonies—a practice that had been preserved in secrecy for centuries due to colonial persecution.
Wasson’s experience with these "sacred mushrooms" was transformative, and he published an article about it in Life magazine in 1957. Titled "Seeking the Magic Mushroom," the article captured the imagination of the Western public and rekindled curiosity about these ancient substances. For many, Wasson's story was the spark that ignited the modern psychedelic movement, providing a glimpse into the profound, mystical experiences offered by these fungi.
However, this rediscovery had unintended consequences. Wasson’s publicization of Mazatec rituals brought throngs of Western seekers to María Sabina's doorstep. While some sought healing and spiritual insight, others arrived merely out of curiosity or in pursuit of a new "high." The influx of foreigners disrupted her community and drew unwanted attention from authorities. As a result, María Sabina’s reputation suffered, and she became estranged from her own people. The sacred practice of her community was exploited, and much of its deep cultural and spiritual context was lost in the process.
The Counterculture & Psychedelic Renaissance
The momentum sparked by Wasson’s journey catalyzed a broader cultural revolution in the 1960s. Psychedelics became synonymous with the countercultural movement that sought to reject conventional societal norms, challenge authority, and explore the untapped realms of consciousness. This era saw the rise of figures like Timothy Leary, Aldous Huxley, and Terence McKenna, who became prominent advocates for the transformative power of psychedelics. Their messages about "turning on, tuning in, and dropping out" reverberated throughout Western society, further fueling the cultural phenomenon.
During the 1960s, the use of psychedelics such as LSD spread rapidly, driven by the desire for new spiritual experiences, creative inspiration, and a deeper understanding of existence. Psychedelics were seen as tools for personal and societal transformation, capable of breaking down the rigid structures of Western industrial society and fostering a deeper connection to the self, others, and the environment. This counterculture embraced psychedelics as sacraments—substances that could expand consciousness, inspire revolutionary thought, and promote love and unity.
The psychedelic renaissance of the 1960s laid the foundation for a profound shift in Western attitudes toward spirituality, mental health, and well-being. However, this movement also drew the ire of governments and law enforcement agencies around the world. The widespread use of psychedelics and their association with anti-establishment sentiment contributed to their criminalization. In the early 1970s, psychedelics were banned in the United States and many other countries, forcing research to grind to a halt and pushing these substances back underground.
A Mixed Legacy
The rediscovery and cultural revolution of psychedelics in the mid-20th century brought these ancient substances back into Western awareness, bridging the gap between indigenous traditions and modern society. Yet, the consequences were both positive and negative. On the one hand, psychedelics became a source of inspiration for millions, catalyzing social change and driving new waves of interest in consciousness, spirituality, and healing. On the other hand, the often irresponsible use of these substances and the cultural appropriation of indigenous knowledge led to further stigmatization and repression, and in some cases, cultural harm.
It is important to respect the cultural origins of sacred substances to preserve their context and use them in ways that honour the traditions from which they emerged. As we move forward into a new era of psychedelic exploration, it is crucial to learn from the past—to balance curiosity and enthusiasm with humility, respect, and reverence for the cultures and communities that have long been in relationship with these ancient living organisms.
All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the human... the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.
— Chief Seattle