Diving Deep with Dr. Dennis McKenna, Ph.D.

Dennis McKenna’s prolific career in ethnopharmacology, botany, and psychedelic science spans a wide variety of disciplines, avenues, and countries. He has given numerous lectures on topics ranging from plant medicines, to consciousness, to spirituality, to pharmacology, and has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers and written books, including “The Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna”, and “The Invisible Landscape” with his brother Terence. He has also organized conferences, served as principle investigator for various research projects related to ayahuasca and other plant medicines, served as professor of Botanical Medicines and Ethnopharmacology, and conducted extensive fieldwork in the Peruvian, Colombian, and Brazilian Amazon. You can read his full bio here.

Dr. McKenna’s advisory role to Soltara and extensive knowledge of psychedelics and plant medicines has informed our mission of spreading high quality information about these healing modalities. As such, we are excited and honored to be hosting Dr. McKenna for a special week of integrative medicine work, November 10 – 17, 2019. Offering a series of lectures and workshops as adjuncts to ayahuasca ceremony, Dr. McKenna will weave his scientific and cultural understanding of ayahuasca, psychedelics, consciousness, science, and spirituality throughout the week, providing an opportunity for participants to dive deeply into the world of holistic healing, from both an objective and experiential perspective.

Guests will embark on a journey of self- and world-discovery, as Dr. McKenna takes us through topics such as:

• Climbing the Vine: 45 Years of Ayahuasca: Ayahuasca has been the focus of my professional research in Ethnopharmacology since I first came to Peru in 1981 to conduct fieldwork for my doctoral thesis at the University of British Columbia. Since then it has become integrated into my own spiritual practice while continuing to remain important to me as a subject for scientific investigation. I can honestly say that my most interesting travels and personal adventures as a scientist and human being have been due to ayahuasca. In this workshop, I will share some of these personal reminiscences plus a brief overview of some of the science behind this mysterious medicine.
• Origins of the Imagination: Speculations on the Antiquity of Consciousness: No one knows for sure when consciousness first emerged in our species but we can speculate about the environmental and evolutionary forces that contributed to it. One major factor was the controlled use of fire, which stimulated the migration from arboreal to savannah environments, and vastly expanded nutritional options, contributing to omnivory. Fire also provided the fundamental tools needed for pharmacology and chemistry. Migration into savannah environments would also have brought ancient hominids into contact with Psilocybin mushrooms that co-existed in this environment as symbionts on ungulate species that were also major food sources for the hominids. Accidental or deliberate ingestion of these species may have been a catalyst for the emergence of cognition, symbolic thought, and language. The fossil record is incomplete, but we find evidence of human consciousness in the artifacts that show evidence of abstract thinking and internal visualization.
• What is not Patented is Prohibited: The Exploitation, Ownership, and Criminalization of Nature: Indigenous people have accumulated an intricate and deeply-rooted knowledge of their biological environment. Historically, outside nations have come in and utilized this knowledge and plants for their own purposes, benefiting greatly from them but with little to no reciprocity for the indigenous stewards of such knowledge. As a result, there is a current cultural clash between modern nations and those who have maintained the ecological habitats and knowledge of these plants. This talk discusses the history, current issues and concerns surrounding indigenous knowledge, intellectual property rights, and “biopiracy” – the theft of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources.

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Join us November 10 – 17, 2019 for a week of integrative medicine work and deep spiritual healing, combining the time-honored practices of traditional Shipibo shamanism with an in-depth look at some of the most fascinating topics facing humanity today.

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With the myriad of information out there, it can be difficult to determine where and how to start. Our goal at Soltara is to flip the script, bringing the expertise to you in an accessible, informed way, grounded in the spirit of cultural awareness and tradition.

Your stay at Soltara includes:

• 4 ayahuasca ceremonies with highly-experienced Peruvian female & male Shipibo healers
• Multiple lectures and workshops led by Dr. McKenna throughout the week, followed by Q&A sessions
• The opportunity to share stories, experiences, and ceremonies with Dr. McKenna throughout the week
• Intimate group sizes (maximum capacity 20 guests) with individualized attention from healers during ceremony
• High facilitator-to-guest ratio with skilled facilitators who have combined decades of experience working in ceremony and helping guests through the healing process
• Your own copy of our integration book, The Hero’s Journal, which assists you as you begin your own Hero’s Journey (published by Soltara in collaboration with clinical psychologists, this book follows a psychological treatment framework adapted to the ayahuasca experience and includes beautiful art and self-guided tools to empower you in your medicine and integration journey)
• One-on-one consultations with our healers (and translator)
• On-site integration workshops and sharing circles
• All meals in our conscious cuisine kitchen, prepared fresh daily from organic, pesticide-free, local sources in an ayahuasca-friendly manner
• Transportation to and from the pick-up location near SJO airport (details in your confirmation email and on our travel logistics page)
• Yoga classes for all levels throughout your stay
• Pranayama breathwork and meditation sessions
• Floral baths with medicinal plants lovingly prepared by our healers
• Nature immersion and multiple walking trails in one of the most abundant & biodiverse regions on the planet
• Access to our creative space for music, art, writing, and dance
• Access to our private on-site pool
• Air-conditioning in all rooms
• High-speed WiFi (although we encourage all guests to disconnect as much as possible!)
• Lifetime 10% discount for all return visits
• Participation in our premiere integration program and community with a highly qualified integration support team
• Access to two semi-private beaches with gentle waters along the gorgeous Gulf of Nicoya

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Our week-long program is designed for your optimal ease and comfort, so you can free your mind to focus fully on yourself and your experience.

We look forward to supporting you.

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