We cultivate harmony with nature through educational programs, ethnobiological exploration and engagement with indigenous wisdom
the
Living Library
For the those who know Nature is trying to say something.
A community and Living Library for serious explorers of plants, fungi, psychedelics, traditional medicines, and consciousness.
Founding membership now open
Our vision is to be a catalyst in creating an awakened world where all species thrive in symbiotic harmony.
We offer symposia, courses and retreats where people share, learn and inspire positive change on our planet and in their own lives.
programs
ESPD60
ESPD60 brings together leading voices in ethnopharmacology, consciousness research, indigenous knowledge, and publishing for an intimate dialogue and exchange.
Living Library
The Living Library — a curated collection of courses, live webinars, and community access that brings lineage‑informed plant, psychedelics, fungal, and consciousness study into one living library. Join a private learning community, attend regular live events, and access a growing archive of deep, practice‑focused content.
When the ceremony doesn’t end.
Organized with the support of the McKenna Academy, join us for a comprehensive online educational seminar that brings together a diverse panel of experts to examine the complex phenomenon of psychosis in psychedelic experiences.
Wisdom of the Leaf Coca Summit
The McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, in collaboration with Wade Davis, hosted the Wisdom of the Leaf Coca Summit during February 3 – 7, 2025 at the breathtaking Willka T’ika retreat center, nestled in the Sacred Valley of Peru.
Biognosis
Renovation of a precious herbarium in Iquitos, Peru which houses 150,000 specimens.
ESPD55
Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs hosted at St. Giles House 2022
ESPD50
Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs hosted at Tyringham Hall 2017.
Ripples of Change: Symbiosis Symposium
The Ripples of Change: Symbiosis Symposium brought together a group of passionate global voices actively engaged in creating awareness on the topic of symbiosis instead of competition.
“The entire biospheric community of species is conscious, and seeks to advance the evolution of consciousness through collaboration and symbiosis.”
Dennis McKenna Ph.D.
President and Principal Founder
Videos
Biognosis film trailer
The McKenna Academy embarks on a journey for the preservation, revival and empowerment of the wisdom of life that only the Amazon holds — woven into its unique biocultural diversity.
Podcast
The Medicine Modern Science Forgot
Kat Maier, RH (AHG).PA has been a practicing herbalist for over forty years. She is the founder and director of Sacred Plant Traditions, LLC in Charlottesville, VA. She served as President of the Board of United Plant Savers and received their first Medicinal Plant Conservation Award. As a clinical herbalist she has taught at medical schools, Naturopathic symposiums and internationally at herbal conferences. As a former Peace Corps volunteer in Chile, coupled with her training as a Physician’s Assistant, she weaves the language of biomedicine with traditional energetic systems and wisdom. Kat served on the Admissions Committee for American Herbalist Guild (AHG) for professional membership for over ten years She is the founder of Botanica Mobile Clinic, which offers support to mental health and at-risk community members at no cost. Kat is the co-author of Bush Medicine of San Salvador Island, Bahamas, and the author of Energetic Herbalism: A Guide to Sacred Plant Traditions, Integrating Elements of Vitalism, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine. This book won the 2022 Gold Medal Nautilus Award.
Blog
Ibogaine and the Iboga Plant: Bwiti Sacrament to Addiction Science
Ethnopharmacology Field Guide Adapted from the research of Kenneth Alper, MD 10 min read Ibogaine is a monoterpene indole alkaloid that occurs in the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, a shrub of West Central Africa whose scrapings have been eaten as a sacrament of the Bwiti religion for several centuries. Outside Africa the same alkaloid took […]
