Ritual Hallucinogens of the Maya

Miguel F. Torres miftorres@hotmail.com

National Academy of Geography and History of Guatemala

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Universidad del Valle

2016 AMSMIC Meeting, Antigua Guatemala, January 21, 2016 Association of Medical School Microbiology and Immunology Chairs

FLAAR

Welcome to Antigua Guatemala, Central America

Hallucinogens: Substances that cause mental

mistakes in the perception

of the senses, not founded

in an objective reality.

Imaginary perception.

SACRED PLANTS

Teonancatl:

Psilocybe spp.

Hallucinogens

Peyote:

Lophophora williamsii

cacto

Psychodisleptic =

Illumination

ENTHEOGENS: Substances that enable

the encounter of God

within ourselves. Wasson, 1963.

Natural Hallucinogens: Ritual use in the life of people of all countries in all times.

Found in the origin of all religions.

Ethnomycology: multidisciplinary study of the relation

between fungi and men through different cultures

Russia, River Yanisei paintings

Tassili Cave, Capsian culture

Algeria, Sahara,

antiquity 7,000 years

Prehistory

R. Gordon Wasson (1898-1986)

A. Hofmann G. Wasson

V. Pavlovna

Mara Sabina

Founder of Ethnomycology.

Banker, amateur mycologist, prolific author and researcher.

In 1926 he married the Russian pediatrician Valentina Pavlovna.

They collected references of

fungi and folklore.

"Mycophilic" or "mycophobe".

1955 Mazatec Sierra ritual, he is famous for Mara Sabina.

1963 he proposed "entheogen" (Soma).

Bernard Lowy Mycological Herbarium (LSUM)

Ethnomycological legacy of

Dr. Bernard Lowy

LOWY, B. Hallucinogenic mushrooms in Guatemala

Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, 9 (2): 123-125, 1977.

Psilocybe

mexicana

COGNODISLEPTICS

Stimulate imagination Alter memory Enhance sensations and fantasies

Ergot: Claviceps purpurea Ololiuhqui: Ipomoea violacea

Jos Luis Daz, Las Plantas Mgicas y la Conciencia Visionaria, Arqueologa Mexicana.

Demeter, Persephone and Triptolemus

The Road to Eleusis, 1978. Wasson, Hofmann y Ruck

Greece

Claviceps purpurea Fungi Demter, Persfone, hongos

Eleusis

Ixion

In Eleusis, the ritual of initiation was carried out.

The initiation into the sacred mysteries included a sacred drink called Ambrosia.

Ambrosia was prepared with barley parasitized by C. purpurea.

It produced powerful hallucinations due to alkaloids

ergonovine and lysergic acid

or LSD.

Sclerotium

or cornezuelo

The Shaman They are chosen to access sacred areas.

The Shaman specializes in ecstasy.

His soul leaves the body to ascend to heaven or down to hell.

The shaman uses natural drugs for the soul to leave the body.

The Shaman dominates the spirits of nature and communicates with

the dead.

Mircea Eliade, Shamanism, 1960.

Siberia

Mesoamerica

Kamchatka, Siberia

Amanita muscaria

Fino-ugric shaman woman

India Gordon Wasson (1969) found that "Soma"

described in the Rig Veda, a red sacred plant

plant without vegetal structure used to

prepare the entheogenic drink, was the

mushroom Amanita muscaria.

Amanita muscaria in prehispanic Mesoamerica

MESOAMERICA: cultural area borders

Maya area

Prehispanic purpecha sculpture Buttons of A. muscaria Amanita muscaria

Skull = death

The Maya of Mesoamerica

"It was the planets brightest indigenous people" (Sylvanus Morley, 1947) They excelled in the sciences (astronomy, mathematics, medicine).

They excelled in the arts (architecture, sculpture, painting, ceramics).

Grear Jaguar Pyramid, Tikal

Maya hieroglyphic writing

Unique in America

Complex rituals and human sacrifice

Dominant priestly caste Owner of knowledge of ritual entheogens

The Ah Men was the priest or doctor that treated

diseases physical and psychological. For psychosomatic

illnesses he used ritual entheogens.

Culto al tiempo

Lengthy mathematical calculations Carving stelae every 20 years (Katun)

Cult of Time

Goddess of suicide: Dresden Codex, p. 53 Wife of the god of death Chamer. Committing suicide was a honorable

practice before suffering humiliation, sickness or misfortune.

Ixtab accompanied the souls of suicide to a special paradise.

Self-decapitation Impossible to perform

Cut of the carotid artery

K1230

Self-sacrifice: auto-decapitation Indication of use of potent hallucinogens

Castillo Vase, Popol Vuh Museum, Guatemala. Northern Lowlands. Late Classic (600-900 A.D.)

A masterpiece of Mayan art. It presents mythological figures and fellow spirits.

Enema syringe

FLAAR, www.Maya-archaeology.org

The WAHIS where familiar spirits, represented powers

of Maya kings produced spells and sickness.

The Altar de Sacrificios Maya vase Depicts the self-suicide ritual of an accompanying lady.

Bird-jaguar dancer

in Underworld

Self-

sacrifice

Botanical, zoological and

mycological Maya hallucinogens

Ritual Hallucinogens of the Maya

Amanita muscaria Psilocybe mexicana and others

Bufo marinus

Ipomoea violacea

Turbina corymbosa

Nymphaea ampla

Nicotiana

rustica

The Balch: sacred alcoholic drink, honey/bark of the balch tree

Balch tree

Lonchocarpus spp. Fermentacin de aguamiel Collecting wild honey Fermentation water/honey

Balch vase and enema syringe Maya intoxicated with balch

Lacandon

Balch, insects and water lily jaguar Balch drink was prepared with fermented honey from

stingless bees and added hallucinogens.

Hallucinogenic Maya Enemas Great absorbtion through the anal mucosa; avoid the mouth

Nymphaea ampla Mesoamerican white water lily

FLAAR, www.Maya-ethnobotany.org

Nymphaea ampla in Maya art

Limit symbol of the underworld.

Contains sedative alkaloids: nupharin and nymphaein

Underwater dance of the Maize God

Nymphaea ampla in Mayan art

Limit symbol of the underworld.

Contains sedative alkaloids: nupharin and nymphaein

FLAAR, www.Maya-ethnobotany.org

Royal water lily-fish emblem. The power of control of sacred

agriculture and fish farming for food production: corn.

Bufotenina

Bufo marinus: hallucinogenic venom

Toads in maya vessels Bufotenin

Possible aditives to

the balch enema:

1. Peyote?

2. Toad venom?

3. Fungi?

2.

3. 1.

Itzamn main God ritual under the influence of hallucinogens administered by

enemas. The priest "red toothy" directs the ceremony from his throne.

Unknown plant Coe 1978 The Lords of the Underworld

Lacandon smoking

Nicotiana rustica Old God smoking

Smoking of rustic tobacco a pre-Hispanic tradition of gods and mortals

Pharmacological action of hallucinogens

Temporary replacement of the neurotransmitter serotonin or 5-

hydroxytryptamine (mental wellness hormone) in the synapses receptors

by molecular similarity. The function of serotonin is inhibitory; high levels

give a sense of well-being and decreased anxiety and sadness.

The "free" passage of nerve impulses causes severe hallucinations.

Serotonin

Psilocibin Psilocin Bufotenin LSD

DESCRIPTION OF THE HALLUCINATIONS CAUSED

BY FUNGI OF THE GENUS Psilocybe:

(Psychodysleptic effect = "enlightenment")

1. Colored visual hallucinations

2. Ecstasy

3. Loss of time/space perception

4. Inner peace

5. Introspection

6. Past memory

7. Universal love

8. Union with Nature

9. Feel part of the Cosmos

Adapted from: Guzmn (1959); Ludwig (1969); Dobkin de Rios (1974).

Bernard Lowy Mycological Herbarium (LSUM)

Ethnomycological legacy of

Dr. Bernard Lowy

LOWY, B. Hallucinogenic mushrooms in Guatemala

Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, 9 (2): 123-125, 1977.

Psilocybe

mexicana

Species of Psilocybe mushrooms

described in Guatemala: 1. Psilocybe mexicana pajaritos 2. Psilocybe cubensis San Isidro

Singer y Smith (1958) & Bernard Lowy (1977)

Native species utilized by Maya and Aztecs Miguel Torres (1983) & Gastn Guzmn (1983)

Exotic species, spores in

cattle came in galleons.

Psilocybe zapotecorum

Only one record: Sierra

de las Minas, Zacapa.

Psilocybe cyanescens

Two records: Sta. Elena

Barillas and Cobn.

Evening with hallucinogenic mushrooms: cure for schizophrenia

Dr. Teruo Miyanishi, ethnopsychiatrist, Wakayama University

He made psychiatric longitudinal studies (1971-1978) among the Mazatec and Lacandon. He diagnosed several cases of schizophrenia, and documented his local cure with hallucinogenic Psilocybe mushrooms.

Mayan archaeological evidence of mycolatry

1. Paintings: in the codices

2. Stone sculptures: Mushroom stones

Amanita muscaria in the Codex of Madrid (Lowy, 1972)

LOWY, B. Mushroom Symbolism in Maya Codices

Mycologia, 64:816-821,1972.

Totonicapn, Guatemala. Foto: Rubn Mayorga

A. muscaria var. flavivolvata / var. muscaria Cimi=death

Ethnomycology in the Dresden Codex 1,250 A.D.

(Lowy, 1972) Descending gods in hallucinatory state

Zoomorphic deity, inverted Amanita muscaria

LOWY, B.

Mushroom Symbolism in Maya

Codices

Mycologia, 64:816-821,1972

Representations of fungi in Mexican codices

Codex Vindobonensis Mexicanus I

(Mixtec) Quetzalcatl instructs nine deities

in the origin and use of sacred mushrooms.

Codex Magliabechiano (Aztec).

The person eats ritually

sacred mushrooms in pairs.

The God takes his head with claw.

Fray Bernardino de Sahagn demonized "teonanctl fungi.

Tepantitla, Teotihuacn

Pilzintli: Aztec deity of hallucinogenic mushrooms

In the Codex Borgia, Aztec Young male deity Descending from the sky Surrounded by "disembodied eyes" Fungi in pairs

Reminiscent:

Convent of La Concepcin, Antigua

Tonantzintla

Aquatic procession, Amatitln Lake

Lowy, B. Amanita muscaria and the

Thunderbolt Legend in Guatemala and Mexico.

Mycologia, 66 (1): 188-191, 1974.

Amanita muscaria: kakulj = thunderbolt (kiche ) yuyo de rayo or yuy chuac in Chiapas

Chac: god of rain

and thunder

The red mushroom grows where

the thunderbolt strikes the earth.

Itzel ocox = "mushroom of devil"

Dresden Codex page 74

,

Madrid Codex page 13

Sacred fungi and Maximn (local deity) Tzutuhil oral tradition, Santiago Atitln, Guatemala

Erythrina

berteroana

The prophet Francisco Sojuel received

Inspiration from magic mushrooms for

carving ritual mask of "Palo whistle"

Palo de pito

Vivian de Torres and Dr. Gastn Guzmn

Turbina corymbosa

Reminiscent of Turbina corymbosa in the spiral columns of

seventeenth century portal of San Francisco church, Antigua

According to Donald B. Lawrence, in Wasson 1980

Murals in San Cristbal el Alto church, Totonicapn, Guatemala

Reminiscent of Turbina corymbosa and Ipomoea violacea Ololiuhqui seeds with LSD

Mayan Mushroom Stones

Pre-Hispanic art typical of Guatemala

Mushroom Stones Sculptural art typical of the southern Maya area,

mainly in the highlands and southern coast of

Guatemala, especially Kaminaljuy.

National Exhibitions of Mushrooms Teachings of Dr. Gastn Guzmn from Mexico, since 1985.

Miguel Torres and Dr. Gastn Guzmn

Elaboration of the book Piedras-Hongo Kuniaki Ohi & Miguel F. Torres, editors.

Museum of Tobacco and Salt, Japan, 1994. SpanishJapanese. The first archaeological and interpretive catalog of these sculptures.

Miguel F. Torres Mother Yvonne

Sommerkamp

There are about 300 mushroom

stones, we studied about 200.

Volcanic stone rarely sandstone.

First studies on Mushroom Stones from Guatemala

1. Initially it was believed that they were phallic sculptures.

Phallic sculptures from Chucuito, Per Phallic sculptures, Temple of Sex, Uxmal, Mexico

2. First Mayan sculpture to be recognized as "mushroom stone", studied by the

Swiss ethnographer Carl Sapper in 1898. Reitberg Museum, Zurich, Switzerland.

This piece motivated Wasson to study the hallucinogenic mushrooms, Mexico, 1955.

The oldest mushroom stones Period: Middle Preclassic (1000 BC - 200 BC).

With human or animal figures.

The miniature mushroom stones from

Nottebohm collection; c. 2,500 years old

Normal size of mushroom

stones: 28-38 cm.

Stephan F. de Borhegyi. Miniature Mushroom Stones from Guatemala. American Antiquity, 26(4):498-504, 1961.

Hungarian archaeologist Stephan F. de Borhegyi described 9 mushroom stones,1960. Miniature (14 -18 cm.) Middle Preclassic period (1000-200 BC) from Kaminaljuy. They were found together with nine miniature grinding stones, probably used for

grinding the hallucinogenic mushrooms in the ritual.

They represented the nine underworlds, the nine lords of the night.

Zoomorphic Mushroom Stones Represent nahual animals (companion spirits).

According to Dobkin de Rios (1974) the presence of nahual animals and life-death

duality in the Mayan world are linked to the ritual use of hallucinogens.

Jaguar Coati Spider monkey Rabbit Toad

Felis onca Nasua narica Ateles geoffroy Sylvilagus floridanus Bufo marinus

Late Mushroom Stones Period: Late Classic (550 A.D. - 1000 A.D.)

Simple tripod base

The mushroom stones production ends c. 1000 A.D.

Classification according Ohi and Torres,

Piedras-Hongo, 1994.

What represented and what was the use

of Mushroom Stones?

Boletus edulis

Psilocybe mexicana

They represented fungi in general, both hallucinogenic and edible. They did not represent the thin Psilocybe mushrooms rather robust edible mushrooms. It is believed they were used in agricultural rituals to fool nature and promote rain. Nahual animals and shamans helped them in this task. Sometimes were offerings in human sacrifices related to the underworld.

The edible fungi from Guatemala Ancestral tradition: 70 species of edible mushrooms

Amanita caesarea

Hongo de San Juan

Some traditional edible fungi of Guatemala

Hongo de San Juan:

complex of Amanita caesarea

Anacates: Cantharellus cibarius

Sharas: Lactarius indigo

Pancita: Morchella esculenta

Lengua de venado: Hydnum repandum

Hongo de guachipiln: Pseudofistulina radicata

Morchella guatemalensis sp. nov.

First record for Mexico:

Laura Guzmn D, y Otilia Rodrguez. Boletn Instituto de

Botnica U.G. 1:471-475,1993.

Description of the new species:

Collected by Miguel F. Torres

for the first time in a forest of Quercus and

Cupressus in El Tejar, Chimaltenango,

Guatemala 1984.

A new species of Morchella.

Gastn Guzmn, Miguel F. Torres,

Logemann H., J. Argueta, I. Sommerkamp

Mycologia Helvetica 1 (6): 451 to 459.1985.