Contemporary Uses of Psychoactive Mushrooms in the Mazatec Highlands of Oaxaca, Mexico: Diversity, Knowledge and Healing

Among the Mazatec of Mexico, the Chjota Chjine (wise ones) use Psilocybe mushrooms to communicate with spirits, diagnose imbalances causing illness, and restore health and well-being. These practices are embedded in a system of ecological and cosmological balance, also seeking rain and guiding souls. Mushroom-inspired songs carry messages from the spiritual world, and healing occurs through this sacred language. Today, rites vary, including those led by wise ones, family and community ceremonies, and forms adapted for foreigners. Common structures involve preparation and purification—special diets and sexual abstinence—for healer, patient, and family. The patient must attend to what mushrooms reveal about mistakes leading to illness and commit to change. Dreams integrate ritual experiences and knowledge.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The chapter presents an intercultural dialogue of knowledge production regarding psilocybin mushroom use among the Mazatec, a highly significant entheogenic practice of Mexico. The Chota Chjine, the wise ones, use Psilocybe mushrooms to mediate connections with the world of spirits to determine what disruptions of balance have led to illness and how to restore health and well-being. The Chjota Chjine, the wise ones, are part of a system of ecological and cosmological balances, seeking rain for crops, as well as the successful transit of the souls of the departed. The conduit for dialogue with the sacred beings and healing is through the mushroom-inspired songs of the wise one’s voice carrying the message from the spiritual world. The Chjota Chjine also heals through the power of this sacred language. Today there are many types of mushroom rites, including those lead by the wise ones, familial and community rites, and new forms developed to accommodate foreigners. The chapter details the common structures of the Mazatec rites, beginning with the preparation and purification necessary for healer and the patient and family, focused on special diets and sexual abstinence. The patient’s central role in the healing requires attention to what the mushrooms reveal as the mistakes that led to illness, and a commitment to change the conditions necessary to overcome illness. Dreams are an important form of integration of ritual experiences and knowledge.