What is Entheogens?
Entheogens are psychoactive substances, usually of plant origin, ingested to produce an expanded state of consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes, particularly experiences described as contact with spiritual realms or the divine. The category includes naturally occurring compounds such as psilocybin in mushrooms, DMT in ayahuasca, and mescaline in peyote, as well as synthetic analogs used in similar contexts. The term may be used synonymously with psychedelics or hallucinogens, or chosen to contrast with recreational use of the same drugs.
The word distinguishes sacred, ritualized use from other contexts. The term hallucinogen was deemed inappropriate due to its etymological relationship to delirium and insanity, while psychedelic was seen as problematic because of its associations with 1960s pop culture and psychosis.
Origins & lineage
The term entheogen was coined in 1979 by J. Bigwood et al., though Jonathan Ott is credited with coining the term in collaboration with classicist Carl Ruck. In the original paper, the word was meant to refer to mind-altering and vision-producing substances used historically to induce states of shamanic and ecstatic possession, particularly in support of theories that ancient religion began with consumption of psychoactive plants or fungi.
However, the substances themselves have far deeper roots. Peyote has been used for at least 5,700 years by Native Americans in Mexico. Mushroom stone artifacts found in Guatemala and southeastern Mexico date mushroom worship as far back as 1000 B.C.E. Hemp seeds discovered by archaeologists at Pazyryk suggest early ceremonial practices by the Scythians occurred during the 5th to 2nd century BCE, confirming previous historical reports by Herodotus. Archaeological studies have found evidence of San Pedro cactus use going back two thousand years, to Moche culture, Nazca culture, and Chavín culture.
In 1955, R. Gordon Wasson rediscovered the use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms among indigenous peoples in Oaxaca, Mexico; his 1957 Life magazine report on the nighttime mushroom ceremony of curandera María Sabina sparked a revival of public interest in entheogenic practices.
How it’s practiced
Traditional uses of ayahuasca in South America, psilocybin mushrooms in Mesoamerica, and peyote in North America often involve carefully controlled ceremonial contexts that emphasize the sacred and transformative nature of the entheogenic experience. The Native American Church incorporates peyote in its religious ceremonies, while indigenous Amazonian cultures use ayahuasca in shamanic rituals.
Ceremonies vary by tradition but often feature specific preparation protocols, communal settings, trained facilitators, and integration of cosmological or theological frameworks. The modern canonical form of ayahuasca is made from the vine Banisteriopsis caapi and a plant, Psychotria viridis, containing the potent psychedelic DMT. Participants typically fast before ceremonies, consume the substance under guidance, and report experiences ranging from vivid visual imagery to encounters with entities, ancestors, or gods.
Entheogens today
Contemporary seekers encounter entheogens in several contexts: indigenous ceremonies (where accessible and appropriate), neo-shamanic retreats, religious organizations such as União do Vegetal and Santo Daime, which received U.S. Supreme Court protection for ayahuasca use in 2006, and increasingly in clinical research settings.
In recent decades, entheogens have experienced a resurgence in academic and clinical research; preliminary clinical research indicates that substances such as psilocybin and MDMA may be useful in treating mental health conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. Cities across the United States are decriminalizing entheogens, though these measures do not legalize commercial activity or override federal law. Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 in 2022, decriminalizing personal possession, use, and home cultivation of psilocybin, psilocyn, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline for adults 21 and older.
Several plants central to entheogenic religions are threatened by overharvesting and habitat loss; peyote is a slow-growing cactus that can take 7–12 years to mature, and wild populations have been declining sharply.
Common misconceptions
Entheogens are not inherently safe. While safety profiles vary, all psychoactive substances carry risk, particularly for individuals with certain mental health conditions or without proper guidance and setting.
Entheogens are not universally legal for spiritual use. Most entheogens remain classified as Schedule I substances under U.S. federal law, with exemptions that apply only narrowly; the Native American Church secured protection for peyote in 1994, and União do Vegetal received ayahuasca protection in 2006. These victories remain limited to specific established groups.
The term does not imply only natural substances. The original 1979 paper explicitly made room for synthetic substances as entheogens in a looser sense, though contemporary usage often emphasizes naturally occurring compounds.
Entheogenic experiences do not guarantee spiritual insight. Set (mindset), setting (environment), intention, preparation, and integration all shape whether such experiences prove meaningful or destabilizing.
How to begin
Those interested in understanding entheogens should begin with scholarship rather than direct experience. Foundational texts include Jonathan Ott’s Pharmacotheon (1993), which documents traditional uses across cultures; The Road to Eleusis by R. Gordon Wasson, Albert Hofmann, and Carl Ruck, which examines the Eleusinian Mysteries; and contemporary research published by institutions like Johns Hopkins and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).
For those considering ceremonial participation, prioritize contexts with: clear lineage and training of facilitators, cultural appropriateness and consent (particularly for indigenous traditions), established safety protocols, and integration support. Legal status varies significantly by jurisdiction and religious affiliation; consult legal resources and consider religious exemptions where applicable. Avoid recreational contexts, unvetted facilitators, and any setting that promises specific outcomes or discourages medical transparency.