Emma Wilson
Shamans in South America have been using hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms for thousands of years for sacred and medicinal purposes. The use of psilocybin mushrooms, in particular, has been documented in archaeological findings, with evidence of their consumption dating back thousands of years. Psilocybin mushrooms are known for their psychoactive properties and have been used by shamans to induce altered states of consciousness, connect with the spirit world, and facilitate healing. While the use of these mushrooms was discouraged by Catholic missionaries after the Spanish conquest, their consumption persists in certain remote areas, with modern-day shamans continuing to utilise them in their ceremonies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shamanic practices | Ancient, dating back to at least 30,000 years ago |
| Shamanic trance | Interaction with sacred entities, ancestors, or spirits |
| Shamanic healing | Incorporation of plant medicine, altered states of consciousness |
| Sacred mushrooms | Express themselves through the shaman's words, chants |
| Mazatec shamanism | Psilocybe mushrooms, Morning Glory, Sky Pastora |
| Ancient medicinal plants | Erythroxylum coca (cocaine), mushrooms (psilocin) |
| Ayahuasca | Psychoactive substances, valued by shamans across South America |
| Psilocybin mushrooms | Used in shamanic ceremonies in Mexico |
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Mazatec shamanism
Mazatec shamans are known for their ritual use of psychoactive substances, particularly psilocybin mushrooms, morning glory seeds, and Salvia divinorum (diviner's sage). These substances are believed to induce altered states of consciousness, enabling shamans to enter into ecstatic trances and interact with sacred entities, ancestors, or spirits of nature. The mushrooms, in particular, are considered conscious entities that communicate wisdom and facilitate healing.
The path to becoming a Mazatec shaman often involves a gradual initiation process that may include visionary experiences, spiritual callings, or selection by divine beings through dreams, unexplained illnesses, or spiritual inheritance. Some shamans are born into their role, while others are chosen by existing shamans or sacred forces, such as the mushrooms themselves. Initiates undergo rigorous training that encompasses ritual speech, knowledge of medicinal plants, and navigating altered states of consciousness.
Mazatec veladas ceremonies are highly structured nighttime rituals led by a shaman. These rituals are often conducted in dark, quiet environments, adorned with candles, incense, flowers, and Catholic imagery. The use of these elements parallels the "Set, Setting, and Dose" concept in modern psychedelic medicine. During veladas, shamans prepare a ritual table or altar representing sacred geography. The ritual language used during the trance is rich in metaphor and symbolic imagery, serving as a tool for communication with the sacred entities.
The wisdom of Mazatec shamans lies in their extensive knowledge of plants and their therapeutic properties. Maria Sabina, one of the most renowned Mazatec shamans, popularized the ritual use of psilocybin mushrooms among Westerners through her healing ceremonies. However, Mazatec shamans tend to be secretive about their practices, making it challenging to obtain detailed information about their traditions.
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Sacred mushrooms
Shamanic practices are ancient, with archaeologists suggesting they started at least 30,000 years ago. Shamans are defined as religious practitioners who interact directly with the spirit world to help their people. Shamans in each culture have their own practices and are known by different names, such as chayanyi, curanderos, or vegetalistas. Shamanic practices are found in indigenous groups all over the world, from Australia to the Arctic. The core of these practices involves altered states of consciousness (ASC), which can be induced through various rituals.
One example of a shamanic practice is the use of sacred mushrooms, which has been revealed by archaeological evidence to be a tradition in many cultures worldwide. The earliest evidence of mushroom consumption in shamanism was found in a cave painting in the Upper Tassili plateau of northern Algeria, dating back more than 5,000 years BC. Sacred mushrooms, specifically psilocybin mushrooms, have been used by native Central American people for healing divination and communion, and by Aztec spiritual leaders to communicate with spirits and their gods.
In Mazatec shamanism, psilocybe mushrooms hold special significance, along with Morning Glory and Sky Pastora. Maria Sabina, a well-known Mazatec shaman, described how she used these mushrooms to gain access to sacred entities and achieve healing:
> "I have talked to time, time is a giant snake, time is like a giant snake, where I neither saw its head nor its tail, but I could talk, we could talk, it is a giant snake that binds present, past, and future time."
The modern mushroom ceremony in the Mazatec tradition incorporates some Christian influences, with the mushrooms briefly placed on an altar in a church. The ceremony involves the shaman's chants and rhythmic clapping, and participants must be willing to surrender completely to the plant and allow it to guide their experience.
In addition to their spiritual and healing purposes, psilocybin mushrooms have also been studied for their potential therapeutic benefits. Research suggests that supervised administration of these mushrooms can help individuals quit addictions and treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Shamanic trance
In South America, shamans use botanical hallucinogens, such as ayahuasca, tobacco, and psilocybin mushrooms, to enter trance states. Ayahuasca is a brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, which is valued by shamans across the continent and considered an "ancient teacher" that transcends time. Tobacco, especially Nicotiana rustica and N. tabacum, is also commonly used in ritual intoxication, often in conjunction with other psychoactive plants.
The Mazatec shamans of Mexico are known for their ritual use of psilocybin mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms" or "holy children," which have psychedelic properties. The most famous Mazatec shaman was María Sabina (1894-1985), whose healing mushroom ceremonies, called veladas, attracted widespread attention and influenced scientific and countercultural interest in entheogens. During veladas, ceremonial elements such as rattles, drums, and incense are used alongside vocalizations to create a sonic landscape that supports the participant's journey and promotes healing.
The use of psilocybin mushrooms in shamanic practices dates back thousands of years, with archaeological evidence of mushroom stones in ritual contexts in Mesoamerica dating back to 3000 BC. Central American peoples such as the Aztecs also used hallucinogenic mushrooms for healing divination and communion, and to communicate with spirits and their gods.
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Ancient ayahuasca
The use of psilocybin mushrooms in shamanic practices has a long and complex history in South America. Archaeological evidence suggests that the use of psychoactive substances, including ayahuasca, has been prevalent in the region for at least 1,000 years.
A 2010 archaeological dig in Cueva del Chileno, Bolivia, led by anthropologist José Capriles, uncovered a leather ritual bag or bundle containing a fox-snout pouch. The pouch is believed to have belonged to a shaman and contained traces of bufotenine, benzoylecgonine (BZE), cocaine, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmine, and possibly psilocin, a component of psychedelic mushrooms. This discovery provides valuable insights into the ancient shamanic practices and medicinal plant knowledge of South American cultures.
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic brew valued by shamans across South America and considered an "ancient teacher" that transcends time. It is typically prepared by combining two plants: Banisteriopsis spp., which provides harmine, and Anadenanthera spp. or Psychotria viridis, which contributes N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT or N,N-DMT). When ingested, ayahuasca induces vivid, dynamic hallucinations and altered states of consciousness, enabling shamans to interact with the spirit world and gain knowledge about healing and divination.
In addition to ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms have also played a significant role in South American shamanic traditions. Mazatec shamanism, for example, incorporates the use of psilocybe mushrooms, Morning Glory, and Sky Pastora for their visionary and healing properties. Maria Sabina, a renowned Mazatec shaman, described how the mushrooms allowed her to communicate with sacred entities and access spiritual insights. The chants and rituals associated with mushroom ceremonies are believed to facilitate connection and self-healing for participants.
The use of psilocybin mushrooms in shamanic practices extends beyond South America, with archaeological evidence of mushroom consumption in shamanism dating back more than 5,000 years in northern Algeria. In Central America, native peoples and Aztec spiritual leaders utilized psilocybin mushrooms for healing and communication with spirits and gods. Despite historical discouragement by Catholic missionaries after the Spanish conquest, the use of psilocybin mushrooms persists in remote areas, and Western interest in their potential therapeutic benefits continues to grow.
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Plant medicines
Ayahuasca is a brew made from two plants: Banisteriopsis spp. and Anadenanthera spp. or Psychotria viridis. When combined, these plants create vivid, dynamic hallucinations that are valued by shamans for their ability to transcend time and provide spiritual insight. Ayahuasca has been used in Amazonian cultures for at least 1,000 years and is still popular today, with shamans offering ayahuasca ceremonies to curious practitioners.
Coca leaves, from which cocaine is derived, have also been used medicinally in South America for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found evidence of coca leaf use in a 1,000-year-old shamanic pouch from southwestern Bolivia. Coca leaves were likely used by shamans to prepare medicinal plants for administration, as well as for their stimulant and appetite-suppressing effects.
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, have been used by shamans in South and Central America for healing, divination, and communion with spirits. The earliest evidence of mushroom use in shamanism dates back to a cave painting in northern Algeria from more than 5,000 B.C. In modern times, psilocybin mushroom ceremonies are typically all-night séances that may include curing rituals, chants, and rhythmic clapping. Participants in these ceremonies must be willing to surrender completely to the plant and allow it to guide their experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, shamans in South America do take mushrooms. The use of psilocybin mushrooms is particularly common among shamans in South America.
Psilocybin mushrooms are hallucinogenic mushrooms that are used in shamanic practices for healing, divination, and communion. They are often referred to as "sacred mushrooms" and are considered to be a form of plant medicine.
In shamanic practices, psilocybin mushrooms are believed to facilitate communication with sacred entities, such as ancestors or spirits. The shaman may enter a trance state, during which they interact with these entities to discover the origin of an illness and provide relief to their patients.
The safety of psilocybin mushrooms depends on the context of their use. When administered in a supervised environment, they can be effective tools for treating addictions, PTSD, and other mental illnesses. However, it is important to approach their use with caution and respect, as they can induce powerful altered states of consciousness.
