Ancient Societies That Used Psychedelics

Throughout human history, psychedelics have played a significant role in shaping the entire world. From religion, to art, to culture, from the jungles of South America, to the Temples in ancient Greece, mind altering substances have been revered as a tool for spiritual enlightenment, healing and connecting with the Gods themselves. Let's take a trip through time together and explore the fascinating ancient societies that used psychedelics. 

Mesoamerican Civilizations: Tripping with the Gods

The Aztecs: Magic Mushrooms and Divine Visions

The Aztecs were quite strange, but their favourite hobbies weren't limited to human sacrifice and building pyramids, they were also pretty hardcore psychonauts. Their psychedelic of choice was psilocybin mushrooms, which they named "teonanácatl," which quite poetically translates to “flesh of the gods”.

Magic mushrooms were considered sacred and were used primarily in religious and divinatory rituals. Aztec priests and nobles would munch on them to commune with their deities, gain prophetic visions, and probably make those human sacrifices seem like a good idea. 

The use of these mushrooms was so integral to Aztec culture that they even had a god of hallucinogenic plants, Xochipilli. This "Prince of Flowers" was associated with creativity, pleasure, and altered states of consciousness. Imagine having an entire patron deity for your psychedelic experiences!

Spanish chroniclers described these mushroom rituals with a mix of fascination and horror. One account tells of Aztec nobles tripping for days, having visions of wars, deaths, and other cheery subjects. It was basically ancient Mesoamerican Netflix, but with a lot more gods and geometry.

The Mayans: Balché and Psychedelic Art

Not to be outdone by their neighbours, The Mayans were using psychedelics over a thousand years before the Aztecs. They even had their own psychedelic brew called balché. This concoction was made from the bark of a tree (Lonchocarpus longistylus) and often spiked with other psychoactive plants for an extra kick. It was like the original Four Loko, but with more spiritual enlightenment and less regret.

Balché was used in rituals to connect with the spirit world and gain divine wisdom. The Mayans believed it could open portals to other dimensions and allow communication with ancestors and gods. It was their window into the spirit world.

The influence of these psychedelic experiences is clear to see in Mayan art. Their intricate stone carvings, colourful murals, and elaborate pottery often feature complex geometric patterns, anthropomorphic creatures, and scenes of transformation that scream "inspired by psychedelics." Some researchers even suggest that certain Mayan glyphs might represent specific hallucinogenic plants, crazy right?

South American Cultures: Shamanic Journeys

The Incas: Cacti and Mountain Spirits

Moving further south, we find the Incas getting high in the high Andes. Their psychedelic of choice was the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi), a plant that contains mescaline, the same psychoactive compound found in peyote.

The Incas used San Pedro in shamanic healing rituals and religious ceremonies. They believed it could help them communicate with mountain spirits, or apus, who were thought to control weather, crops, and pretty much everything else important to life in the Andes.

Incan shamans would prepare the cactus by slicing and boiling it into a bitter brew. Participants in these ceremonies would drink the concoction and then embark on vision quests, seeking wisdom, healing, and a cosmic connection with Pachamama (Mother Earth).

Amazonian Tribes: Ayahuasca Adventures

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, various indigenous tribes have been brewing up ayahuasca for centuries. This potent psychedelic cocktail is made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of the Psychotria viridis shrub, creating a powerful DMT-containing mixture.

Ayahuasca ceremonies are typically led by experienced shamans who act as spiritual guides. These rituals are used for healing, divination, and connecting with the spirit world. Participants often report profound insights, emotional breakthroughs, and encounters with spirits or otherworldly entities.

However, it's not all rainbows and spiritual enlightenment. Ayahuasca is known for making you puke your guts out. This purging is considered a crucial part of the cleansing process, both physically and spiritually.

The use of ayahuasca has gained popularity in recent years, with "ayahuasca tourism" becoming a thing. Now, people from all over the world travel to the Amazon to participate in ceremonies, seeking healing, self-discovery, or just a really intense trip.

Ancient Egypt: Lotus Eaters and Trippy Hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptians weren't just about building massive pyramids and mummifying their dead - they were probably tripping balls too. Enter the blue lotus flower (Nymphaea caerulea), a water lily that's suspected to have psychoactive properties.

This beautiful bloom shows up everywhere in Egyptian art, from tomb paintings to temple carvings. It was closely associated with the sun god Ra and played a role in creation myths. But it wasn't just for looking pretty - the Egyptians used it in perfumes, medicines, and possibly as a recreational drug.

Some Egyptologists believe that the blue lotus was used in religious ceremonies to induce trance-like states and visions. They'd steep the flowers in wine or other alcoholic beverages, creating a potent cocktail that was part aphrodisiac, part psychedelic. 

The evidence for psychedelic use doesn't stop there. Some hieroglyphs and paintings feature imagery that looks suspiciously like psychedelic visions. We're talking bizarre human-animal hybrids, cosmic journeys, and transformations. Maybe that explains why they were so obsessed with cats - everything looks cooler when you're tripping, especially those things.

Ancient Greece: Mysteries and Oracles

The Eleusinian Mysteries: Secret Psychedelic Ceremonies

In ancient Greece, the coolest club to be part of was the Eleusinian Mysteries. These secretive initiation rites were held annually for around 2000 years, which is a pretty impressive run for any festival. 

The highlight of the Mysteries was drinking a special brew called kykeon. While the exact recipe was kept secret (ancient Greeks were good at keeping their mouths shut), some scholars believe it contained psychedelic ingredients. The leading theory is that it was made with ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and contains compounds similar to LSD.

Participants in these ceremonies reported life-changing experiences, profound insights into the nature of reality, and encounters with the divine. Picture an ancient Greek version of Burning Man, but with more togas and fewer fire-spinning hipsters.

The experience was so powerful that it attracted some of the greatest minds of the ancient world, including Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero. Imagine if today's top philosophers and scientists were all gathering annually for a massive psychedelic ceremony. TED Talks would never be the same.

The Oracle at Delphi: High Priestess or Just High?

Let's talk about the Oracle at Delphi. Pythia, the high priestess who served as the oracle, was one of the most powerful women in the ancient world. Kings, generals, and common folk alike would come to seek her advice on everything from war strategies to love lives.

But how did she get her prophetic powers? Some theories suggest that the Pythia may have been huffing some serious fumes. The temple of Apollo at Delphi was built over a geologic fault that released ethylene gas, which can induce trance-like states and hallucinations.

So, was the Pythia genuinely communing with Apollo, or was she just really, really high? Either way, her influence on Greek culture and politics was enormous. It's like if the world's leaders today were basing their decisions on the advice of a perpetually stoned fortune teller. On second thought, that might explain a few things...

Siberian Shamanic Cultures: Magical Mushroom Journeys

Let's take a trip to the frozen forests of Siberia, where shamans have been getting high on mushrooms for thousands of years, more specifically Amanita muscaria, the iconic red and white spotted mushrooms that look like they jumped straight out of a Super Mario game.

Siberian shamans used these funky fungi in their rituals to communicate with the spirit world and gain mystical knowledge. They believed that the mushrooms allowed them to travel to other realms, shape-shift into animals, and understand the language of nature.

The use of these mushrooms was so ingrained in their culture that some anthropologists believe it influenced their mythology and religious symbolism. For example, some Siberian cultures have stories about flying reindeer - sound familiar? Some researchers think this might be linked to the sensation of flying often reported during Amanita muscaria trips. So next Christmas, when you see Santa and his flying reindeer, remember - it might be more than just holiday magic at work.

Interestingly, shamans would often drink the urine of someone who had consumed the mushrooms, as the psychoactive compounds become more potent after being processed by the body. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "getting pissed," doesn't it?

The Influence of Ancient Psychedelic Use on Modern Times

Fast forward to the 20th century, and suddenly these ancient psychedelic practices are making a comeback.

The 1960s saw a psychedelic renaissance that would make the ancient Aztecs proud. Suddenly, everyone from suburban housewives to Harvard professors was turning on, tuning in, and dropping out. LSD became the chemical key to the doors of perception, and people were diving through those doors headfirst.

But it wasn't all peace, love, and groovy patterns. The powers that be got a bit freaked out by all this consciousness expansion and slammed those doors shut. Psychedelics were outlawed and research ground to a halt.

Fast forward again to today, and psychedelics are having another moment in the sun. But this time, it's not just about expanding your mind - it's about healing it too. Scientists in lab coats are discovering what shamans in feather headdresses have known for millennia: these substances can have profound therapeutic effects.

From treating depression with ketamine to using psilocybin for end-of-life anxiety, the medical potential of psychedelics is being explored with all the rigour of modern science. 

And let's not forget about the revival of traditional psychedelic practices. Ayahuasca retreats in the Amazon are becoming as common as yoga retreats in Bali. People are seeking out peyote ceremonies, vision quests, and mushroom journeys.

Conclusion: Lessons from the Ancients

So what can we learn from our psychedelic ancestors? Well, for starters, humans have been altering their consciousness since we figured out how to stand upright. It seems the desire to explore the far reaches of our minds is as fundamental as our need for food, shelter, and funny cat videos.

By studying these ancient practices, we're not just learning about history - we're learning about ourselves. These substances have shaped religions, influenced art, and possibly even played a role in the evolution of human consciousness. It's like finding out that the history of civilization is actually one long, strange trip.

Of course, we'll probably skip the human sacrifice parts of those Aztec rituals. Some traditions are better left in the past, along mullets… just saying.

As we continue to explore the potential of psychedelics in modern contexts, from treating PTSD to facilitating personal growth, the wisdom of our ancestors serves as both a guide and a reminder. These substances have the power to profoundly impact human consciousness and culture - for better or worse.

So remember, stay curious, stay safe, and happy travels.