I attended the Qualia Psychedelic Science Summit in Mexico City, Nov. 29-30th, 2024. I was excited to go and looked forward to taking a psychedelic vibe check in Mexico. After spending two full days listening to speakers and panels, I picked up on some trends and ideas running through the United States’ neighbor, south of the border. Here’s a recap of the event and its themes.
Clash of Civilizations
Mexico and the United States are yin and yang in a variety of ways. The psychedelics field highlights the stark contrast of night and day between the countries. In the United States, science pushes psychedelic progress. Meanwhile, in Mexico, ancient indigenous traditions provide psychedelic momentum.
The West pushes psychedelic progress with science while lacking a psychedelic cultural lineage. The only Native Americans who lay claim to any psychedelic custom are members of the Native American Church. The Native American Church was founded in the 20th century, thanks in part to the last Comanche chief, Quannah Parker, who was introduced to peyote in the late 19th century. So, what little indigenous, psychedelic culture exists in the United States doesn’t have Mexico’s rich, profound history and traditions.
On the other hand, civilizations like the Aztecs, Maya, and Olmecs drive psychedelic culture in Mexico. Even lesser-known indigenous races deserve psychedelic high honors. The Huicholes revere peyote, and Maria Sabina of the Mazatec, who introduced psilocybin to the West, also contribute to Mexico’s robust and timeless psychedelic legacy. For the most part, Mexico approaches the psychedelic revival from the opposite end of the spectrum from an indigenous, spiritual framework.
Science is beginning to make advances in Mexico. Dr. Raúl Iván Escamilla Orozco, Dr. Rodrigo Domínguez-Millán, and Dr. Joyce Braverman all spoke at the summit, representing Mexico’s psychedelic scientific advancement. However, Mexico has a lot of catching up to do regarding scientific progress north of the border. On the flip side, the United States has plenty of ground to make up regarding the spiritual and mystical aspect of the psychedelic equation.
How will these psychedelic poles engage, interact, and influence each other in the coming years? Science and spirituality are leaning into each other for a racy kiss in our current era. Much like the television show The X-Files, the tension between Mulder (the mystic) and Scully (the scientist) is increasing.
How will the United States and Mexico form the Tao or “the way?” The tao is the line between yin and yang representing cosmic or universal balance. How will Mexico and the United States hold hands going forward into the psychedelic future?
One thing is for sure. Mexico’s psychedelic profile will continue to grow and gain more influence over the next decade. Qualia billed the summit as the first of its kind in Mexico. On January 30th, 2025, the first international medical symposium for psychedelic-assisted therapy arrives in Mexico City, featuring Bessel van der Kolk and Rick Doblin. There’s more to Mexico than just cruises, beaches and Coronas.
Clash of Civilizations Part II
One of the speakers referred to Mexico as “the cradle of psychedelics.” Although maybe Peru could disagree, Mexico’s psychedelic prominence is hard to argue. Between psilocybin, peyote and Bufo alvarius, Mexico lays claim to a psychedelic culture that is second to none.
The summit did a fine job sharing the spotlight with indigenous voices and traditions. Three Mexican shamans shared their indigenous traditions. Mazatec shaman Alejandrina discussed psilocybin. Shaman Samuel, with ties to the Hohokam community, talked about Bufo alvarius and shaman Sergio represented the Huicholes and shared his peyote wisdom. But why do these rich psychedelic traditions exist in numerous countries outside the West?
Wheal may have provided the answer. He noted that most countries around the world that have embraced alcohol have marginalized psychedelic traditions. A giant light bulb exploded over my head. There are a few exceptions.
Egypt dabbled in both psychedelics and alcohol. Yet the biggest exception might be Mexico. Although Mexico possesses a profound psychedelic culture, there’s no shortage of alcoholic enjoyment in the country. You don’t need to look further than Mexican memes and reels online to see it for yourself. Oxxo, the Mexican equivalent of 7-11, holds particular status in the country for attending to citizens’ thirst needs. Besides psychedelics, irony is rich in Mexico, too.
Perhaps the clash between alcohol and psychedelics continuing for millennia seeks resolution. How will Western countries embracing alcohol reconcile psychedelic marginalization? It’s a tricky proposition.
You’ll often hear in the conscious community that alcohol is a “low-vibration” substance. I agree, and I still like a beer or two on occasion. After day one of the summit, I was dying of thirst and whispered to a fellow attendee that I was in desperate need of a beer. Without pause, I noted that conscious community icon Alan Watts was quite the drinker. Can psychedelics disentangle our complicated relationship with alcohol? We’ll see.
Clash of Civilizations III
The elephant in the room during the summit was socioeconomic barriers to psychedelic entry. The cost of attending was well out of reach for the everyday Mexican. The event was also held in Condesa, which is one of the swankiest neighborhoods not only in Mexico City, but all of Mexico. One of the other ritzy neighborhoods on par with Condesa is Roma, which is adjacent to Condesa.
Condesa has been getting flooded with Americans and digital nomads in recent years, seeking a lower cost of living. Condesa in many ways feels quite similar to American neighborhoods; like Lincoln Park in Chicago for example. Bistros, terraces, cafes, craft breweries and boutiques cover the area, with signs and menus in English no less. How does the psychedelic revival square the circle of providing access to all while operating in financial and economic realities?
For thousands of years, the community shaman provided pro bono services. I was told by a summit attendee that shamans who work on a donation basis can still be found around Mexico without too much difficulty. He also said that these shamans tend to be the best, and not practitioners or facilitators with a concocted name.
“Luna Starseed” may not be the best person offering psychedelic services? On the contrary, a shaman who you’ve never heard of, and doesn’t have a website or any digital presence, might be the best.
We all have a right to survive, if not thrive, in our current economic and financial system. Without a doubt, psychedelic work provides invaluable richness to the communities it serves, like healing and meaningful work; both things that are in low supply in our era. However, awkward and uncomfortable realities exist.
How does the psychedelic revival preserve its egalitarian legacy? Graham Hancock often speaks of everyone’s right to sovereignty over their own consciousness. But how do we provide access to all when cost preempts psychedelic access to the people who need it most? This doesn’t just pertain to events, it goes for psychedelic therapy and retreats as well. This is a complex and slippery problem with no easy solution in sight.
Although contentious, spiritual anarchism comes to mind. Spiritual anarchism is the concept that you’re the only authority in your journey for truth. If someone can’t afford the journey, then does the authority still exist or not?
Salud!
That’s the Spanish word used for a toast. Salud to Qualia for putting on a high quality, and well-produced event. Above all, salud to Mexico for protecting its Indigenous, psychedelic traditions and its effort to be the Mulder to the West’s Scully. Without Mexico, we’d be biased toward looking at psychedelics through a single lens, and I hope we know that the number of lenses to view psychedelics through are infinite.
Speaking of vision improvement, don’t take your eye off of Mexico’s psychedelic revival. Mexico is ascending and high vibrations abound. You may consider making a psychedelic run for the border if your spirit calls.
