This collection of short essays examines the place of women in the history of psychedelics.

While some of the subjects are pioneers in their own right, the authors in this collection go beyond merely adding women to the past in psychedelic history, exploring some of the significant ways that women have contributed to psychedelic knowledge.

Blending historical and anthropological approaches with a series of captivating interviews, this collection taps into women’s networks around the world throughout the 20th century. It reveals some of the sophisticated and creative ways women have influenced our understanding of psychedelics and how they will continue to protect these stories as we face our psychedelic future. Our collection intentionally moves beyond an American set of stories, teasing out networks in Latin America. This collection brings together authors from the Chacruna Institute and Chacruna Latinamérica to engage readers in conversations that move across time and place throughout the Americas. It is the first of its kind to balance non-English contributions through translation of stories exploring different cultural contexts outside the United States, where women have contributed to this enduring history.

Erika Dyck is a historian of health, medicine, and Canadian society at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research has concentrated on the history of mental health, institutionalization, and experimentation.
 

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“This book is an opportunity for us to weave the rich wisdom of hidden voices back into the tapestry of our psychedelic world.” —Amanda Feilding, Founder and Director of The Beckley Foundation

“You had me at ‘Heroines of Mescaline!’ I love everything about this book. Psychedelic pioneers deserve praise. Celebrate these women, learn their history, and teach your children.” —Julie Holland, MD, author of Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, from Soul to Psychedelics

“An incredible homage and historical account: Women and Psychedelics is a staunch reminder that women throughout time, especially Indigenous women, built the robust mycelium and mycorrhizal networks that the psychedelic industry flourishes on today. We owe the celebrated women herein our acknowledgment and gratitude for their dedication,

perseverance, and nurturing.” —Jennifer Chesak, author of The Psilocybin Handbook for Women: How Magic Mushrooms, Psychedelic Therapy, and Microdosing Can Benefit Your Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Health

“The stories in this collection introduce us to women of power and significance who have largely remained unseen in the glare of current psychedelic enthusiasm. The distinctive perspectives, cosmologies, social roles, and sacred (and often secret) practices that are represented here catalog a remarkable geographic, linguistic, cultural, and temporal range of feminine knowledge and influence.” —Maria Mangini, PhD, FNP

“Women and Psychedelics gives us a comprehensive overview of women’s unique insight into the potential of psychedelics and expanded states of consciousness. We meet women from different cultures, different times in history, and different traditions, each one offering a personal perspective on the use of psychedelics. The women’s stories are inspirational and visionary for everyone interested in how psychedelics can inform our current times. I hope someday we don’t need a book like this that highlights women’s contributions throughout the history of psychedelic medicines. But at this point in time, we very much need exactly this book, Uncovering Invisible Voices.” —Rachel Harris, PhD, author of Listening to Ayahuasca: New Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Anxiety and Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground