Maria Sabina and Her Mazatec Mushroom Velada

Description

María Sabina and Her Mushroom Velada by R. Gordon Wasson is a landmark ethnographic account of the Mazatec curandera who became the central figure in the Western rediscovery of sacred mushroom rituals in Mexico. Through careful documentation and personal narrative, Wasson introduces readers to the velada, a nocturnal healing ceremony in which psilocybin mushrooms are consumed to invoke divine guidance and insight.

The text includes original Mazatec chants, translated and a otated, that reveal the poetic and spiritual dimensions of María Sabina s work as a healer and seer. More than a study of ethnobotany or shamanism, this work stands as a testament to the deep cultural and sacred roots of entheogenic plant use. It remains essential reading for those exploring the intersection of indigenous wisdom, visionary experience, and the modern psychedelic movement.

Author

R. Gordon Wasson, George Cowan, Florence Cowan, and Willard Rhodes

Author Info

R. Gordon Wasson (1898 ?1986) was a pioneering ethnomycologist whose work helped introduce the sacred use of psychoactive mushrooms to a global audience.

Originally a vice president at J. P. Morgan, Wasson s scholarly passion led him to investigate the religious and cultural roles of fungi across civilizations.

His collaboration with his wife Valentina Pavlovna Wasson resulted in foundational texts that bridged scientific curiosity with cultural sensitivity. Best known for his 1957 Life magazine article Seeking the Magic Mushroom, ? Wasson s later writings deepened the academic and spiritual dimensions of entheogenic research.

His respectful relationship with María Sabina and his efforts to preserve her legacy have left a lasting impact on the study of psychedelics, indigenous knowledge systems, and the spiritual potential of plant sacraments.
ISBN-13

978-0151572045

Publisher

Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

Publication Date

1975

Edition

1st

Binding

Hardcover

Condition

Used – Very Good (With Cassettes and Musical Score, No Slip)

Page Count

281 Pages