Our first meeting back from the holiday IN OUR NEW FOREVER HOME at CCS < location.

Presentation Title: Entheogenic Mycolotry and Ethnomycology of Mesoamerica

As a subfield of Ethnobotany or Ethnobiology, Ethnomycology focuses on the roles and relationships of fungi within the human experience. Our current psychedelic renaissance owes a huge debt to ancient sacred practices held by numerous indigenous groups around the world. Mesoamerican cultures in particular and their associations with sacred mushrooms from the genus Psilocybe are both fascinating as well as mysterious, and hold an essential role in the evolution of Ethnomycology and psychedelic science. This talk will focus on indigenous Mesoamerican spiritual and cultural uses of entheogenic mushrooms, many from the genus Psilocybe. Much of my emphasis will explore past research done by R. Gordon and Valentina Wasson and other pioneers in Ethnomycology. We will also examine the importance of Maria Sabina, her sacred mushroom ceremony, and Velada.

Greg Sanchez

 Greg Sanchez knew nothing about mushrooms until 2004 when he wondered, “What do you do at a mushroom festival?”  After attending the Telluride Mushroom Festival that year, he found out, sparking a lasting fascination with and a deep passion for all things fungal. Greg is a high school Social Studies teacher in the Denver metro area and an active member of the Colorado Mycological Society, serving in various roles including CMS President in 2011, 2014, and 2022. Although he considers himself a generalist and amateur when it comes to mycology, his social science background brings him a special interest towards the human and cultural connections with mushrooms, mushroom people, and Ethnomycology.