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.
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
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
Ayahuasca, Science, and Shamanism
Carlos Tanner has been immersed in the study of ayahuasca and plant medicine in the Amazon Rainforest since 2003, founding the Ayahuasca Foundation in 2009 in Iquitos, Peru. Through the foundation, he organizes healing retreats and educational courses led by indigenous curanderos, aiding participants in addressing conditions from depression to cancer while deepening understanding of Amazonian ancestral traditions. Since 2017, the foundation has collaborated with Onaya Science on research into ayahuasca’s therapeutic effects, yielding over a dozen published articles that demonstrate significant reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, and other health challenges.
Blog
The Symbiotic Revolution: Dennis McKenna on Reclaiming Natural Psychedelics
Ethnopharmacology Field Guide · Psychedelics & Consciousness Psychedelics Ecology By McKenna Academy 11 min read A symbiotic revolution, in Dennis McKenna’s telling, begins with a quietly subversive idea: that the medicines we most need are not locked inside a patent or a clinical trial, but growing in the wild, waiting to renew an alliance with our […]
