Fungi are everywhere, acting as agents of multi-dimensional transformation, on physical, psychological and spiritual levels. You don’t have to go out into the forest to find fungi, they are in our bodies, spores are in the air, they are a part of the food we eat. They are so intrinsic to our existence that many don’t even notice them, but people all over the world have been co-evolving with Fungi for millennia. When we connect with these symbiotic processes consciously and build skill around developing these relationships, including within our own ancestry, we unlock the potential for larger scale multi-dimensional transformation on social, cultural, psychological and ecological levels.
--Maya Elson
--Maya Elson
What is Mycopsychology?
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The concept is constantly evolving, and may mean something different to different people. Here are some working definitions:
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It is up to each of us to discover our own gifts, and find our ecological niche in our communities, and our work in the world. By connecting with the wisdom of Fungi, we can open portals of connection to our entire ecosystem, and find both the support and wisdom we need to discover our potential.
Where does this term come from?
Coined and developed by Maya Elson, Mycopsychology seeks to put language, methodologies and practice into something that has been carried out by humans (and other beings) for millennia. After personally witnessing the incredible therapeutic potential of nature connection, Maya began studying Ecopsychology. Ecopsychology has many facets, from Equine Therapy, to Horticultural Therapy, Mycopsychology seeks to expand the toolkit of those working with nature to heal and regenerate. When we collectively align our own "inner work" with our work in the world, we can instigate regeneration and revolution in places where transformation is needed the most.
Drawing from their experience with Mycoremediation, Outdoor Education, Ecopsychology, Rite of Passage work, and Mushroom Foraging, Maya has developed a set of practices, experiences and workshops that she hopes will contribute to the larger ecosystem of healing our relationship with the Earth.
Drawing from their experience with Mycoremediation, Outdoor Education, Ecopsychology, Rite of Passage work, and Mushroom Foraging, Maya has developed a set of practices, experiences and workshops that she hopes will contribute to the larger ecosystem of healing our relationship with the Earth.
Sooo.... What about magic mushrooms?
First of all, all mushrooms are magic!* Psychoactive Fungi hold incredible potential for supporting inner and societal transformation, and can be used in conjunction with Mycopsychology. However, they are certainly not always an appropriate, helpful and/or necessary tool for practicing Mycopsychology.
*If you define magic as something we don't have a scientific explanation for, there is quite a bit of that in the Mycological realm. We are just beginning to get a sense of the biological mechanisms and complex ecological functions of Fungi.
*If you define magic as something we don't have a scientific explanation for, there is quite a bit of that in the Mycological realm. We are just beginning to get a sense of the biological mechanisms and complex ecological functions of Fungi.
ABOUT MAYA:
Maya Elson is a teacher, naturalist, mycologist, organizer and lover of the wild. Maya was the Executive Director of CoRenewal from 2016-2021, where she works to enact effective and just solutions to environmental and social crises by working in collaboration with fungi. She is the co-founder and Program Coordinator of the Post Fire Biofiltration Initiative, an effort and experiment using fungi to prevent toxins from burned homes from entering waterways. Maya is one of the founding members of the Radical Mycology network, and has started Applied Mycology groups in Olympia, WA and the San Francisco Bay area. She’s worked as a campaign organizer with a number of climate justice and wilderness defense struggles over many years. Since 2006, Maya has been spent supporting youth in finding their place in their ecological and human communities by working with Wild Child Santa Cruz, Gaia Passages, and other programs. She has been regularly leading mushroom foraging trips for adults for over 4 years. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Ecopsychology, and weaves together human and ecological remediation through her work teaching Mycopermaculture, Fungal Biology, Mycorenewal and Mushroom Identification.