The Psychedelic Universe

This course provides an in-depth exploration of psychedelic consciousness across space, time, and culture. In this two-week summer course, we will analyze the imbrication of psychedelic drugs and human culture. The program starts by exploring the use of psychoactive substances in the mystery cults of the ancient world, moving across indigenous societies and the major world religions into the postwar hippie culture and the later boom in ayahuasca tourism, finally culminating in today's “Psychedelic Renaissance”.

Special attention is placed on filling in the gaps within the emerging field of psychedelic science, which has neglected the deep historical interconnections between psychedelics, culture, and religion from pre-history to the present day. This program offers learners from various backgrounds something they cannot find anywhere else: a comprehensive examination of psychedelics across time, space, and cultures.