Plant Medicine: Indigenous Wisdom for a Troubled World

In this episode of Eco Justice Radio, we journey into the rich and ancient world of Indigenous plant medicine and ethnobotany. We feature excerpts from documentaries and lectures by renowned experts in the field. We explore the sacred use of peyote among Native American tribes and delve into the profound insights of Canadian botanist Wade Davis, Harvard professor Richard Evans Schultes, and the legendary psychonaut Terence McKenna.

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The Power of Plants: Ethnobotany and Spiritual Healing

In the words of Terence McKenna, since the rise of western monotheism the human experience has been marginalized. We have been told that we were unimportant in the cosmic drama when one considers the power of creation of the one God. But we now know as the global temperatures rise and glaciers melt from the burning of fossil fuels and the feedback mechanisms associated with the greenhouse effect: the impact of human culture on the Earth is massive. So how do we reverse the course of destruction created out of the human imagination? Some have postulated plant medicines learned from Indigenous societies of the Americas have a way to reintegrate humans into the processes of the Earth to heal the sickness and warming all around.

STORY: “Embrace of the Serpent” Film: Journey of Healing and Ethnobotany

In this show, we explore human symbiotic relationships with plants and chemicals in the sacred peyote medicine used by the Native American Church in the US and in societies in the mountains of Mexico. We look at the work of several ethnobotanists who also studied the plants and the rites associated with ayahuasca or yage in South America. Richard Evans Schultes and Terence McKenna researched the ancient human relationship with chemicals that would open the doorway to the divine, and perhaps a solution for saving our troubled world. This show aims to explore the powerful potential to replace abuse of illegal drugs with a shamanic understanding, insistence on community, reverence for nature, and increased self-awareness that can re-orient people to heal the fractured relationships with our communities and ecosystems.

STORY: Ghost Dance and Peyote Medicine: the Spirit World of the Caddo People

Traditional Use of Sacred Peyote

Peyote, a small cactus with psychoactive properties, has been used for centuries by indigenous peoples in Mexico and the southwestern United States for spiritual and medicinal purposes. The episode opens with a powerful documentary by Creed Spencer, “Sacred Peyote,” which sheds light on the deep spiritual significance of peyote in Native American culture. We hear from individuals who share their personal experiences and the transformative power of this sacred plant.

STORY: Wixárika/Huichol People: Protecting Sacred Lands of Mexico

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Healing the Land and People Through Peyote Ceremonies and Pilgrimages

Next, we listen to “Native Lens: Healing Through Peyote,” a poignant documentary featuring Amber Lehabe from the Dene Navajo Nation. Amber shares her family’s respectful approach to peyote and how it provided comfort and support during the difficult time of her father’s passing from Covid-19. Her heartfelt story underscores the importance of understanding and respecting indigenous practices and the profound healing potential of peyote.

We then travel to the Sierra Madre Oriental of northwest Mexico with Benedict Allen in “Peyote: The Last of the Medicine Men.” This segment takes us on a pilgrimage with the Wixárika or Huichol people, who journey to the desert of Wirikuta to communicate with their gods through the use of peyote. In Wixárika cosmology, the world is believed to have been created in Wirikuta. This annual pilgrimage is a testament to the enduring connection between the Huichol and their sacred traditions.

STORY: Pamparios: A Trip with the Huicholes to Collect Peyote

Ritual Uses of Ayahuasca

The episode also features an interview with the late Harvard professor Richard Evans Schultes, often referred to as the father of modern ethnobotany. Recorded in 1990, Schultes shares his experiences studying the medicinal and ritual uses of plants in the Amazon River Basin. His dedication to preserving Indigenous knowledge and his profound respect for the cultures he studied are truly inspiring.

STORY: The Devil’s Paradise of Terence McKenna’s ‘True Hallucinations’

Finally, we conclude with excerpts from Terence McKenna’s thought-provoking talk, “Culture is Your Operating System.” McKenna, a philosopher and writer known for his work on human consciousness and psychedelic drugs, discusses the transformative potential of plant medicines and the need to shed our cultural operating systems to reconnect with our true selves.

This episode of Eco Justice Radio is a profound exploration of the symbiotic relationship between humans and plants. It highlights the wisdom of Indigenous cultures and the potential of plant medicines to heal our fractured relationship with nature and each other. Tune in to learn more about the powerful traditions of peyote and the visionary insights of our featured experts.

Resources/Articles:
Sacred Peyote Short documentary
Creed Spencer Film
with Bryce Jarrett
Appearing: Lisa Aldred PhD
Hartford Stops Crow
Dennis Holds – Crow
Alexandra Witkin-New Holy PhD Montana State Univ

Link: https://youtu.be/9rYdgHx8yrw?si=HWYDh8USmEEezLvC

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Fred Wahpepah – About the Peyote Ceremony from 7 Circles Foundation

https://youtu.be/7qa6N7anaV8?si=bNKuyXo_aTUT1IOp

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Benedict Allen
Peyote the last of the medicine men – Huichol People of Mexico
https://www.benedictallen.com/

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Native Lens: Healing Through Peyote — Rocky Mountain PBS

Amber Lahabe Dine/Navajo

Video: https://youtu.be/Q7gR5oXARII?si=XxHb1OrkdAS5vTOu

Icaros: https://youtu.be/hS21jI7p3hQ?si=QzRvHyvk2jhDRJTi

Father of Modern Ethnobotany, Richard Evans Schultes Interview from 1990

https://youtu.be/1lxtn7zbQfw?si=Z_5UXi0IOG-ml8Xg

Terence McKenna Culture is Your Operating System
https://youtu.be/9c8an2XZ3MU?si=kEfa47NLkh8-mZND

Terence McKenna – Eros and the Eschaton
https://wilderutopia.com/performance/literary/terence-mckenna-on-shamanic-schizophrenia-and-cultural-healing/

Jack Eidt is an urban planner, environmental journalist, and climate organizer, as well as award-winning fiction writer. He is Co-Founder of SoCal 350 Climate Action and Executive Producer of EcoJustice Radio. He is also Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia [https://wilderutopia.com], a website dedicated to the question of Earth sustainability, finding society-level solutions to environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy needs.

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/
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Executive Producer and Host: Jack Eidt
Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats
Episode 225
Photo credit: Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

Updated 5 September 2024