Roots of Psychedelic Therapy: Shamanism, Ritual and Traditional Uses of Sacred Plants

The Roots of Psychedelic Therapy course offered by the Chacruna Institute is an introduction to the foundations of the use of sacred plants. Through lectures, students will explore topics such as shamanism in Amazonia, peyote use among the Wixárika, psilocybin use among the Mazatec, and iboga in Africa.

  • 50 Enrolled
  • All levels
  • Last updated Jan '23
  • English
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Course Description

The Roots of Psychedelic Therapy course offered by the Chacruna Institute is an introduction to the foundations of the use of sacred plants. Through lectures, students will explore topics such as shamanism in Amazonia, peyote use among the Wixárika, psilocybin use among the Mazatec, and iboga in Africa.

Additionally, students will learn about critical social issues such as globalization, tourism, cultural appropriation, commodification, patents, reciprocity, conservation, legality, ethics, sexual abuse, practitioner’s training, and more. The course seeks to create bridges between the worlds of ceremonies and psychedelic therapies and will help students to incorporate this knowledge into their professional practices and personal lives.

The course offers students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the expanding future of psychedelic plant medicines in ways that are equitable, safe, and just, and ways to give back to and honour the cultures from which these practices stem.

This course was last held in the Fall of 2022.

You will learn:

  • What is Bwiti?
  • Roles in Bwiti initiation/treatment
  • Instruments in Bwiti: ngombe, mogongo
  • What is an Nganga
    • Maboundi/Yombo
    • Maboundi/Yombo
  • Sustainability/reciprocity

You will learn:

  • History of the Fang tradition
  • Dissumba vs. Dissumba Fang
  • Ombwiri/Mbumbayano Fang
  • The kambo
  • State of Fang Bwiti in Gabon
  • Impact of Westerners coming to work with the sacred wood

You will learn:

  • History of the Missoko tradition
  • Various branches of Missoko initiation:
    • Miobe/Mioba
    • Ngonde Na Dipuma
    • Sengedia
  • The impact of logging on the tradition
  • What the future of Bwiti could look like in Gabon

You will learn:

  • History of Dissumba
  • Various branches of Dissumba initiation:
    • Abanji/Mabanji
    • Ilombo
    • Ombwiri
    • Ombudi
    • Loro
  • The ngombe (sacred harp)
  • Healing rituals involved in her tradition
  • Training to serve the wood
    • What does it involve?
    • How long does it take?

instructor-image

Tatayo

Instructor

About Instructor

Tatayo (“Fruit of the Wind”) first arrived in Gabon in 1971 at the age of 21 and became a Gabonese citizen. In 1979, he became the first white person to be initiated into the Bwiti Fang tradition in Gabon. In 1994, he was initiated into the Misokko tradition. As a guide for numerous expeditions and missions, including those of National Geographic, the BBC, and others, Tatayo is considered to have “opened the door” to westerners in Gabon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for start and finish dates/times. This course is currently being offered live and dates/times will change throughout the year.

$1100

This course includes

  • Lectures 16
  • Duration 10 Weeks
  • Skills All levels
  • Language English
  • Availability Past
  • Certificate CE
Roots of Psychedelic Therapy: Shamanism, Ritual and Traditional Uses of Sacred Plants Course Image