Trying to make sense out of these strange times? Psychedelic pioneer and enthnopharmacologist Dennis McKenna calls this global planetary transition a time of metamorphosis, and how COVID, climate change, psychedelics, and sacred plant medicines are “messengers from Gaia” telling us to wake up. He calls plant medicines the neurotransmitters of the Gaian mind.

In this conversation, Dennis McKenna explores how the growing interest in psychedelics and sacred plant medicines in Western mainstream culture is a highly complex, and double edge sword with many pros and cons. 

We explore our symbiotic relationship with plants, how ayahuasca acts as a natural antidepressant, how psychedelics may allow us to perceive the quantum realm of reality, the complex issues of cultural appropriation, God and religion, and more. 

Dennis McKenna touches on (Jump to section)

13:23 Dennis offers his macro perspective on these strange times we’re living through touching on COVID, climate change. 

17:14 A time of chaos and transition.

18:18 On climate change.

22:00 COVID & plant medicines as a messenger from Gaia. 

23:00 “Ayahuasca is one of the greatest medicines we have”

26:30 The decriminalization of plant medicines

32:30 Our symbiotic relationship with plants, the default mode network and how psychedelics help us step out of our frame of reference to perceive reality differently. 

37:50 Can psychedelics help us to understand the quantum nature of reality? 

46:45 The pharmacology of Ayahuasca and how it acts as a natural antidepressant. 

56:00 Difference between psilocybin and ayahuasca for therapeutic use in the West.

58:20 Dennis’ take on cultural appropriation

1:10:45 What ayahuasca has taught Dennis

1:12:41 Dennis’ take on God and Religion

1:16:27 Can plant medicines help support our evolutionary leap in consciousness?

1:23:24 What Dennis is creating with the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy

1:26:00 Music - “The Story of You” by Satsang

Featured Musician

Satsang: www.satsangmovement.com 

Synergetic Press

Thank you to Synergetic Press for making this episode possible. Synergetic Press prints paradigm-shifting books on ecology, sustainability, cultural anthropology, consciousness, and psychedelics.

Get 30% off on all books printed by Synergetic Press including books on psychedelics with discount code LAURADAWN30

Unlimited Sciences

Help support Unlimited Sciences to fund psychedelic research: go to www.unlimitedsciences.org

Click here to access the full episode transcript and list of resources