The Emerald Grant Application
I'm a devoted listener of The Emerald podcast by Josh Schrei. From the first episode, I was mesmerized — it struck a deep, ancient chord within me. Since then, I've supported its creation with a monthly donation, gaining insight from both the podcast's storytelling and the referenced materials. I’ve also joined The Emerald study groups and I take part in The Mythic Body, a course led by Josh Schrei and his team. Discovering this work and this community has brought me deep joy. Today I submitted a project proposal for funding from The Emerald & Fetzer Institute grants. I share here the overview and rationale of the project I am intending to do.
Mythic Fungi of Eastern Europe: Reimagining the forgotten ceremonies in Slavic traditions
1. Project Overview
Objective: Through this project I seek to find historical and cultural traces of ceremonial psilocybin use in Eastern Europe and potentially reconstruct a more traditional framework for ceremonies in which the endemic psilocybe species (p. bohemica and p. moravica) are used. I would like to revive ceremonial structure grounded in ancient Slavic cultural context through connecting the entheogenic experience with storytelling of Slavic mythology. My objective is to use the syncretic approach to blend historical research and current psychedelic knowledge with the Slavic stories to recreate a spiritually grounded and animate ceremonial structure.
Why This Matters? Today, there is a growing interest in psilocybin as a tool for spiritual growth, healing, and exploration, particularly in Western contexts. Reviving culturally rooted practices that honor the local traditions, stories, and beliefs of Eastern European heritage can offer a more respectful and holistic approach to these experiences. By connecting modern individuals with indigenous spiritual frameworks and animistic worldviews, such practices can help people find a sense of cultural belonging and continuity that is often missing in Czech society due to past political regimes and geographical location 'on the crossroads of cultures'.
This revival of traditional practices aligns with a larger movement toward reclaiming indigenous and animistic wisdom that emphasizes our interconnection with nature. By drawing on Slavic mythology, animistic beliefs, and folklore, this project offers a means for people of Eastern European descent—and others interested in these traditions—to explore psilocybin within a sacred, culturally respectful container. This approach not only deepens the personal and spiritual impact of the experience but also promotes a revival of cultural belonging, and ecological consciousness.
2. Project Background and Rationale
Documented evidence of psilocybin or other entheogenic use in Slavic and Eastern European traditions is limited, as many ancient practices were either undocumented or intentionally suppressed over centuries due to Christianization and other cultural shifts. However, there are hints and folklore references that suggest entheogenic plants and fungi may have been used in ritual or spiritual contexts.
Known or Inferred Use of Entheogens in Slavic/Eastern European Traditions
1. Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric): The fly agaric mushroom, known for its psychoactive properties, was likely used in parts of Eastern Europe, especially in Siberia among indigenous groups, such as the Sami and Uralic people, who engaged in shamanic practices. This practice may have influenced Slavic cultures, particularly in northern and eastern regions.
2. Herbal Folk Medicine and Animism: Slavic folk practices have long involved herbalism, with plants used for medicinal and spiritual purposes. While psilocybin mushrooms aren’t specifically noted, many plants considered sacred or magical in Slavic traditions are thought to have mild psychoactive effects, supporting an animistic worldview in which plants, fungi, and the land itself were seen as alive and spiritually potent.
3. Mystical and Mythological Narratives: Slavic mythology and folklore frequently reference mystical journeys, interactions with the spirit world, and shapeshifting— common themes in cultures that use entheogens for spiritual purposes. While these practices aren't direct evidence of entheogen use, they suggest a worldview open to altered states and symbolic journeys that may have been enhanced by psychoactive substances. Eastern European mythology is filled with themes of transformation, encounters with otherworldly beings, and journeys to liminal spaces. Such narratives echo experiences that entheogens are known to catalyze, suggesting that these myths may have roots in altered states of consciousness. In this context, ritual use of psychedelics could have facilitated contact with these spiritual realms, supporting personal and communal exploration of mythic journeys and archetypal encounters.
Given the scarcity of direct records, this project would draw inspiration from these hints within Slavic culture and neighboring cultures, such as those in Baltic, Siberian, and Finno- Ugric regions. The neighboring practices often share similar animistic values and ritualistic elements, providing a broader cultural context for reconstructing a ceremony.
Why Slavic Mythology and Storytelling?
In all traditions around the world, mythology and storytelling have long served as vital tools for teaching, healing, and fostering a connection to the spirit world. Passed down through generations, Slavic myths and folktales embody local cultural values, moral lessons, and deep spiritual truths, making them powerful methods of imparting wisdom and fostering a sense of unity with the natural world. Mythology and storytelling enhance the experience within a ceremonial setting by:
1. Teaching and Moral Guidance: Slavic myths are often woven with lessons about human nature, resilience, and the balance of forces in the world. Tales of forest
spirits, house spirits, and nymphs teach us respect for nature and emphasize that all things are animated by spirit. These stories serve as guides to understanding the world and our place within it, offering wisdom about living harmoniously with nature and honoring the unseen.
2. Healing and Transformation: Storytelling in Slavic culture often involves journeys through mystical realms, encounters with spirits, and symbolic death and rebirth experiences. Myths like those of Koschei the Deathless or Baba Yaga can reflect personal transformation, symbolic of overcoming fear and embracing renewal. In a psilocybin ceremony, storytelling can support personal healing by connecting participants with these ancient symbols of transformation, helping them process and integrate their experiences through the lens of myth.
3. Connecting with the Spirit World: Slavic folklore views the natural world as alive and filled with spirits, from ancestors to the protectors of forests and rivers. Storytelling helps create a bridge to these realms, inviting participants to enter a state of openness to the presence of spirit in all things. Incorporating myths into the ceremony aligns with the animistic worldview of traditional Slavic culture, grounding the experience in reverence for the natural world and reinforcing the belief that humans, plants, animals, and spirits are deeply interconnected.
By integrating storytelling into the ceremony, the practice remains authentic to Slavic cultural values and adds layers of meaning and connection. This storytelling element transforms the ceremony into a journey through symbolic narratives, allowing participants to engage with ancestral wisdom and animistic spirituality in a way that is culturally rooted, healing, and deeply resonant.
