Sitaramaya Sita is a spiritual herbalist, pusangera, and plant wisdom practitioner formally trained in the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition.
Santa was a Mushroom-Eating Shaman
Santa Claus exists in many cultures, and his roots are not only pagan. The original Santa might have been an amanita muscaria mushroom shaman.
Excerpt from Ayahuasca Shamanism in the Amazon and Beyond
With Chacruna Institute, we present an excerpt from the book Ayahuasca Shamanism in the Amazon and Beyond that explores the rise of ayahuasca tourism.
Arts / Body / Guides / Music / Psyche / Psychedelics / Science / Shamanism / Transformation
The Tradition and Science of Music during a Trip
We explore the traditional role music plays in ceremony, the science of music, and how to create the perfect playlist for your next trip.
Shaman on a Mission to Defeat Putin
A shaman is marching 8,000 kilometers to expel Putin, who he believes is a manifestation of dark forces, in order to save Russian from ruin.
Rebirth of an Ancient Calling: The Modern Medicine Woman
In today’s world that is spellbound to the seductive wonders of technology and industry, the modern medicine woman casts her own spell. Hers is a spell that leads the suffering out of despair.
Culture / Psyche / Shamanism / Spirituality
The Keeper of the Fire: Shamanic Initiation
The growing spiritual movement and neo-shamanic community are hotly debating a number of questions, such as: What is the role and relevancy of shamanism in our modern world? Who is a shaman? What function must a person perform to be called a shaman?
Mazatec Mushroom Usage: Notes on Approach, Setting and Species for Curious Psilonauts
A look at traditional Mazatec psilocybin mushroom usage, and a comparison to the cliniical therapeutic approach, with an examination of the Mazatec setting and species used in veladas.
An Encounter with Ayahuasca Sorcery
In the literature on South American indigenous and mestizo curanderismo, particularly in relation to ayahuasca, I found that harmful attacks by malevolent practitioners using invisible “darts” are widely reported. Perhaps as many as 50 percent of illnesses are said to be caused by such sorcery.
Arts / Lit / Psychology / Shamanism
The Exorcism of William Burroughs: A Dialogue Between Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg
In March of 1992, William S. Burroughs underwent an exorcism — a healing ceremony led by Diné shaman Melvin Betsellie. Allen Ginsberg was visiting at the time and sat in on the ceremony. What follows is transcribed excerpts of 16 hours of recorded conversation between Burroughs and Ginsberg after the ceremony.
