We cultivate harmony with nature through educational programs, ethnobiological exploration and engagement with indigenous wisdom
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
Ethnobotany Courses
Discover the living intelligence of plants with McKenna Academy’s Online Ethnobotany Courses. Led by world-renowned experts, these self-paced programs unite science, spirit, and culture—offering deep insights into plant medicine, shamanism, and human evolution. Gain lasting knowledge, cultural perspectives, and transformative wisdom, with lifetime access and certificates included.
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.
Mystery School
Mystery schools have been a cornerstone of learning for centuries, serving as institutions dedicated to the exploration of the inner self and spirituality.
“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
Podcast
Books, Human Creativity and “humble”, a Graphic Meditation Tool for Openness
OpticMystic a.k.a Hugo Amadeu is just a human fascinated by being alive. He intended to be an astrophysicist or an oceanographer but ended up studying graphic design and becoming a freelancer. He worked on DMT: The Spirit Molecule documentary film by Mitch Schultz, ESPD 50 book and later at the McKenna Academy. Currently, he is working with Namae Ntumae at CWays Home performing all sorts of media wizardry. He is also a sandwriter, musician, writer and terrific dishwasher. A bookworm from early age, his curiosity and passion for reading has made him a sort of accidental philosopher. A trance festival, more than 20 years ago, altered profoundly the course of his life and his hopes for the future. A few, yet, intense psychedelic experiences assured him that there is certainly more to the world than the eyes can see. Devout atheist with a profound feeling for the sacred, he will ignore the gods but embrace the spirits. There is something punk in his approach, an itchiness for authority and a refusal to compromise that arises from earnest questioning. He has written a graphic meditation called “Humble”. An exploration of ideas that reflect on openness, relativity and love as forms of approaching the self and the other(s).
Blog
What Can Ancient Plant Wisdom Teach Us About Healing in the Modern World?
Imagine walking through a dense rainforest with an indigenous elder who can identify hundreds of plants by sight, smell, and touch—knowing precisely which leaf can cure a fever, which root can ease pain, and which bark can purify water. This profound relationship between people and plants lies at the heart of ethnobotany, a fascinating interdisciplinary […]
