Wisdom
Recommended Readings
An Interview With Dennis McKenna
In June, I had the great fortune to have a phone call with Dennis McKenna to discuss connecting with mushrooms, how psychedelics can heal, symbiosis, and civil disobedience. Dennis McKenna’s research has focused on the interdisciplinary study of Amazonian ethnopharmacology and plant hallucinogens. He has conducted extensive ethnobotanical fieldwork in the Peruvian, Colombian, and Brazilian
Mushroom Foraging
The first time I plucked a mushroom from the earth with intention was during a mushroom foraging walk led by a mycology group local to my area. I knew enough to understand that if I was to begin a relationship with the wild fungi around me, I would need guides who knew what it meant
Stalking the Wild Cordyceps at MycoFest
August is here, for me that means MycoFest. MycoFest is our annual Mushroom & Arts Festival the first weekend of August every year here in Central Pennsylvania. MycoFest has held its significance in regards to stalking the wild Cordyceps since the beginning in 2015. Cordyceps season is in full swing for us Central Pennsylvanians during
Recent Knowledge
Aquarius Full Moon: Uniting in Love + Kindness
Photo by Robert Mapplethorpe August 15, 2019 — The Aquarius Full Moon arrives on Thursday at 5:29am Pacific Time, directly opposite Venus in Leo. Love is a key theme, within our personal relationships, friend groups, and communities. With Mercury trining Chiron and square to Uranus, we’re having breakthroughs in our communication, learning to say what
CBD Isolate vs Full Spectrum: Key Differences
With so types of CBD oil, you may feel overwhelmed when choosing a product. Two key terms that are often found on labels are: “full spectrum” and “CBD isolate.” Beyond just indicating a level of bioavailability, these two words are used to specify what kind of CBD is in a product, and how it will
The Lionsgate Portal: A Gateway To Our Hearts And Higher Realms
Green Lion Devouring the Sun, from an alchemical and Rosicrucian compendium, ca. 1760 The Lionsgate Portal opens July 26 to August 12, with its peak occurring on August 8. High frequencies of light are pouring in from the Sun and the star Sirius, bringing the opportunity for spiritual awakening and heart expansion. 8/8 is also
The Alchemist’s Kitchen Book Club: The Illustrated Herbiary
In Maia Toll’s The Illustrated Herbiary, the plants and herbs come alive with color, ritual, and poetry. The symbolism of plants has fascinated us for centuries and in this magical book we are welcomed in to connect and learn more about these beings with leaves, roots, flowers, and fruits. Each plant is paired with an
Ancient History of Cannabis Use
Though cannabis is becoming a newly accepted part of our culture, there’s nothing new about cannabis—in fact, it’s ancient. With so many myths and misunderstandings surrounding cannabis, few of us are familiar with its widespread human use across continents and millennia. The fascinating, multidimensional history of cannabis predates the 1960s and the American hippy, the
Leo New Moon: Breaking Into Joy
The Leo New Moon arrives on Wednesday at 8:11pm Pacific Time, officially closing the eclipse portal. In the midst of a heavy period of karmic purification, we’re jolting into playfulness, romance, and authentic expression. We’re finally seeing the possibility of ‘what could be’ as we continue to release ‘what was.’ Via Ethereal Culture. Leo is
Best Way to Find Your Perfect CBD Dosage
The popularity of CBD is on the rise for its potential benefits for an array of ailments. Packaging and bottles give recommended serving sizes, however one size does not fit all when it comes to CBD dosage. Everyone will react slightly differently to CBD just as they do medications and supplements. So, how do you
CBD News Update: September Edition
News and research about cannabis is emerging at a rapid pace and it can be hard to keep up! Here we’ve started compiling the most relevant findings and CBD news from the past month to keep you updated. Stay tuned for more each month! DEA Expands Scientific and Medical Research for Marijuana The Drug Enforcement
CBD Isolate vs Full Spectrum: Key Differences
With so types of CBD oil, you may feel overwhelmed when choosing a product. Two key terms that are often found on labels are: “full spectrum” and “CBD isolate.” Beyond just indicating a level of bioavailability, these two words are used to specify what kind of CBD is in a product, and how it will
Sources to Learn More About Mushrooms
Curious about learning more about mushrooms? Check out these resources below! Heffter Research Institute The Heffter Research Institute promotes research of the highest scientific quality with the classic hallucinogens and related compounds (sometimes called psychedelics) in order to contribute to a greater understanding of the mind leading to the improvement of the human condition, and
The Magic of Mushrooms
As some of the first dwellers on planet earth, reaching twenty feet in height over 60 million years ago, mushrooms remain the more mysterious cousins to our plant allies. They make their homes in the hollows of trees and at the foot of woodland springs, sometimes popping up and retreating to the cool tilthy soil
Psychedelic Ceremony: Psilocybin Mushroom Magic
Magic mushrooms, or Psilocybe Cubensis, are mushrooms we know and love for their psychoactive components psilocybin and psilocin. These psychedelic mushrooms have been used for their magical healing powers since the beginning of humankind—we can even find them displayed throughout art dating all the way back to 5,000 B.C. That is pretty groovy. Today, psilocybin
Sources to Learn More About Mushrooms
Curious about learning more about mushrooms? Check out these resources below! Heffter Research Institute The Heffter Research Institute promotes research of the highest scientific quality with the classic hallucinogens and related compounds (sometimes called psychedelics) in order to contribute to a greater understanding of the mind leading to the improvement of the human condition, and
Medicinal Mushrooms as Food Medicine
Medicinal mushrooms are having a moment! Or, rather, they’re reminding us that they’ve been here all along – supporting not just our health but – some would say – the evolution of our species. Of the some 270 different types of medicinal mushrooms, the world is largely focused on just about a dozen, which still
Introduction to Medicinal Mushrooms
Medicinal adaptogenic mushrooms are an ancient tonic medicine experiencing a much deserved revival in modern wellness culture and consciousness communities around the world. There are mushroom tinctures sold in wellness havens like The Alchemist’s Kitchen, and mushroom coffee blends for sale in Urban Outfitters demonstrating the popularity and the sheer curiosity people have about these
Astro-Herbal Calendar: Fall 2019
Image by Anna Pugh Astrology by Juliana McCarthy of Ethereal Culture. The suggested herbal remedies in this calendar are brought to you by medical astrologer Emily McDonald of Ethos Rising. September 23-December 21 Fall Zodiac Signs: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius Fall begins with the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Sun crosses the Earth’s equator, making day and night of
Pisces Full Moon: Dissolving Into Love
Image by Katherine Bradford September 13, 2019 — The Pisces Full Moon arrives on Friday at 9:35pm Pacific Time, eliciting a well of deep feelings, confusion, and sensitivity. The Moon is conjunct Neptune, square to Jupiter, and opposite the many planets falling in Virgo, clouding the Virgin’s usual lucidity and precision. On top of this, Mars
The Astrology of September 2019: The Beauty of Imperfection
We begin September on the heels of a Virgo New Moon, with five planets falling in practical Virgo—calling forth her extremes. In her most enlightened state, the Virgin represents service and healing, encouraging us to polish, refine, and strive toward spiritual perfection. When she’s out of balance, we might feel overly neurotic, anxious, or worried.
Reclaiming the Power of Santería
The practice and religion of Santería, like so many other spiritual practices before it, have been stigmatized and fetishized by our colonizers. In recent years as an active Latinx Brujx, there has been an accession within our communities and the energy is building. Santería’s deep roots flow within the veins of my mother, her mother
Nordic Herbs: Plants to Forage in the Fall
Fall is an exciting time for Nordic herbs. Foraging has been a long-loved Nordic activity, especially in September, when everything is brimming for harvest and the long dark winter fast approaches. As a Swedish folk magic practitioner, I tramp into the forest every year to find a bounty. In terms of foraging, I am a
The Alchemist’s Kitchen Book Club: The Stars Within You
There’s nothing like laying out a blanket on a roof or a field on a warm summer night, laying back, and looking up at the night sky. Beyond just being beautiful, the stars can tell us so much about ourselves and how we move through the world. They offer a map of our tendencies, responses,
Psychedelic Ceremony: Psilocybin Mushroom Magic
Magic mushrooms, or Psilocybe Cubensis, are mushrooms we know and love for their psychoactive components psilocybin and psilocin. These psychedelic mushrooms have been used for their magical healing powers since the beginning of humankind—we can even find them displayed throughout art dating all the way back to 5,000 B.C. That is pretty groovy. Today, psilocybin
Reclaiming the Power of Santería
The practice and religion of Santería, like so many other spiritual practices before it, have been stigmatized and fetishized by our colonizers. In recent years as an active Latinx Brujx, there has been an accession within our communities and the energy is building. Santería’s deep roots flow within the veins of my mother, her mother
Creating Earth Altars and Mandalas for Ritual and Prayer
Some of the greatest social gatherings and introspective musings occur around earth altars. Whether under a tree, around a fire, or gazing out across the sea, these special spaces conjure a unique magic about an area. Created within minutes or crafted over hours, they hone the creator into the cosmic rhythms of the earth as
