Psychedelics are a unique class of substances that commonly produce profound psychological and
mystical experiences. Psychedelics have been shown to produce mystical experiences, similar to the
kind of experiences reported in all major religious traditions. The experiences are characterized by
strong feelings of unity, loving compassion and a reduction of the obsessive focus on the self so
prevalent in modern culture.
Psychedelics have been administered as sacraments since ancient times. Psilocybin mushrooms, with
53 known species in Mexico, is the most important and diverse group of sacred mushrooms used by
Mexican indigenous cultures. In our retreats, we work with Rogelio Robles, indigenous shaman and
follow in the footsteps of this tradition. Our participants are invited to participate in the ritual.
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a group of fungi that contain
psilocybin which turns into psilocin upon ingestion. Mexico is by far the richest country in psilocybin
fungi. Psychedelics such as psilocybin enter the brain via the same receptors as serotonin, the body’s
“feel good” hormone. Serotonin helps control body functions such as sleep, sexual desire and
psychological states such as satisfaction, happiness and optimism.
The most cutting-edge research indicates that the psilocybin has a powerful effect on the Default
Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is a grouping of interconnected brain regions characterized by
increased temporal coherence. The DMN solidifies over time, it is less strongly developed and rigid in
children, for example. While the DMN has an important role to play in providing structure and giving
a coherent sense of adults, it seems as if can grow to rigid, prohibiting adults from experiencing the
beauty and the magic of being alive, a sensation they had when they were children.
Read more clinical studies on the effects of psilocybin:
