Psychedelic Medicines and the Nature of Mind and Consciousness

Psychedelics produce powerful effects on the mind, including the intensification of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions and the loosening of psychological defenses. As chemicals, psychedelics probe connections between brain physiology and consciousness, among the most interesting and mysterious arenas in contemporary science. 

As plant and fungal-medicine teachers, psychedelics have been used for millennia by Indigenous cultures to amplify connections between mind and world. Modern science has been researching psychedelics for 150 years. Just 70 years ago, psychedelics were one of the driving forces in the early days of biological psychiatry. 

However, the popular use of some of these substances in the 1960s contributed to severe legal regulation, halting research and public discussion. Interest in psychedelics has now returned to mainstream science, accompanied by a great deal of enthusiasm and media attention. In the context of this rush to pull these powerful medicines into the framework of biomedical science and commercial healthcare, we will pause to take an expansive look at what these plant and fungal spirit beings have to teach about the nature of mind and reality.

In this workshop, we will:

• Learn about the historical uses, botanical characteristics, chemistry, and place in contemporary culture of various plant medicines.
• Reflect on how best to meet the current information flood about psychedelic medicines and their use.
• Explore relevant mind states through experiential mindfulness exercises and meditations.

Join us for this incredible workshop led by two of Esalen’s longtime and celebrated scholar-practitioners.