Indigenous psilocybin mushroom practices: An annotated bibliography

An annotated bibliography of 49 texts on Indigenous psilocybin mushroom practices curates academic works from anthropology, history, archaeology, ethnolinguistics, and ethnomycology. The selected books and articles foreground overlooked research and subject matter, covering contemporary practices and historical uses across cultural traditions in Mexico and other regions. The annotations provide brief summaries, contextualization, and critical appraisals, aiming to offer a diverse overview of research and an accessible resource for further exploration. The team of psychedelic researchers behind this bibliography hopes it will contribute to more nuanced dialogue around Indigenous people and practices in the context of the so-called psychedelic renaissance.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This annotated bibliography comprises 49 texts concerning psilocybin mushroom practices developed by Indigenous peoples. The books and articles have been selected for their academic rigor, relevance, and historical significance, and to foreground overlooked research and subject matter. This includes research on a plurality of contemporary practices and evidence of historical uses, from cultural traditions in Mexico and other regions of the world. The curated texts are sourced from various disciplines, including anthropology, history, archaeology, ethnolinguistics, and ethnomycology. Employing diverse methodological and analytical frameworks, the texts explore the diversity of ways Indigenous cultures have related with, utilized, and conceptualized psilocybin mushrooms and the effects occasioned by their consumption. The annotations include brief summaries of the texts, contextualization of the research, and more critical appraisals. The aim of this annotated bibliography is to offer the reader a diverse overview of the research to date and provide an accessible resource for further exploration of historical and contemporary Indigenous psilocybin practices. The team of psychedelic researchers behind this annotated bibliography hope it will contribute to more nuanced dialogue around Indigenous people and practices in the context of the so-called psychedelic renaissance.