Psychedelic Cults and Outlaw Churches: LSD, Cannabis, and Spiritual Sacraments in Underground America

The use of psychoactive drugs in the search for higher consciousness has been revived in North America by religious sects and spiritual groups. Mike Marinacci presents a comprehensive tour of these groups, exploring their leaders, beliefs, practices, and conflicts with law enforcement and public opinion. The book includes personal interviews and anecdotes about religious psychonauts, rare photos, and illustrations, revealing their spiritual and cultural influence from the 1960s to the present day.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2023
Publisher: Inner Traditions Bear and Company

For thousands of years, human beings have explored the depths of their consciousness through the use of hallucinogenic plants and fungi. While these practices diminished with the rise of organized religion, the last century has witnessed a resurgence of entheogen-based spirituality in North America. This fascinating journey takes us through a comprehensive exploration of religious sects and spiritual groups that utilize entheogens and psychoactive drugs in their pursuit of higher consciousness, mystical insight, and spiritual enlightenment.

Mike Marinacci, in his book, delves deep into the lives of these captivating leaders, tracing the origins of their unconventional beliefs and the controversial practices of their congregants. From the Native American Church's legal battle over their peyote rituals to the infamous cannabis-sex temple known as the Psychedelic Venus Church, Marinacci uncovers the tragic end of the LSD-therapy cult known as the Church of Naturalism and several other major groups and temples of psychedelic spirituality.

In addition to these prominent organizations, Marinacci also presents an encyclopedic survey of dozens of minor groups, many of which have remained undocumented in authoritative sources. Through personal interviews and anecdotes, he shares the strange and outrageous adventures of religious psychonauts, providing rare photos and illustrations to enhance our understanding of their spiritual and cultural influence.

This extensively researched study spans from the 1960s to the present day, shedding light on the profound spiritual and cultural impact of these underground psychedelic religious groups in the United States. It serves as a testament to the enduring human quest for transcendence and the power of alternative beliefs to shape our world.

Weight: 622g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781644117071