Psychoactive Plants of the ‘Middle East’

Written By Entheogenesis Australis

Snu Voogelbreinder

Mîr Haydar, miniature from Miraj Nameh manuscript, 1436

The region known today as the ‘Middle East’ has a rich history, birthing streams of culture, religion and civilisation that have helped form the modern world, and psychoactive plants have played a large role in the background.

Discussions around the use of psychoactive plants in the region are usually historical and focused mainly on their relation to Judeo-Christian scriptures and traditions. In this presentation, we will go further and explore other uses of plants and fungi amongst the diverse cultures of the region, both historic and contemporary.

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Snu Voogelbreinder
Snu Voogelbreinder

Snu Voogelbreinder is an independent ethnobotanical researcher and writer with a deep love of nature. His work brings together academic scholarship and esoteric knowledge, exploring the intersection of consciousness, culture, and psychoactive species.

He is the author of Garden of Eden: The Shamanic Use of Psychoactive Flora and Fauna, and the Study of Consciousness (2009), a comprehensive 500-page reference covering thousands of plant and animal species used in traditional and shamanic practices.

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Entheogenesis Australis

Entheogenesis Australis (EGA) is a charity using education to help grow the Australian ethnobotanical community and their gardens. We encourage knowledge-sharing on botanical research, conservation, medicinal plants, arts, and culture.

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