Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground

by Rachel Harris

WISDOM FROM THE WOMEN HEALERS OF THE PSYCHEDELIC UNDERGROUND

The use of entheogens, or psychedelics, is out of the closet today. LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and other medicines once associated only with the counterculture are now being legally studied for their healing properties. But as Rachel Harris shows, the underground use and study of psychedelics by women dates back to the Eleusinian Mysteries of ancient Greece.

Harris interviews the modern women elders carrying on this tradition to gather their hard-won wisdom of experience. Any listener interested in inspiration, healing, and enlightenment will find here a wonder-filled narrative packed with provocative and perhaps life-changing insight.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology, Medicine

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2023

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting intro to the women who have been tending to the psychedelic underground. Found myself yearning for more of their voices, stories, and wisdom shared in this book. It felt like their voices were a dipping of the toe into a lake and I was seeking a whole body swim into their sacred work.

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so many clients in therapy who are doing journeys with plant medicine, so I wanted to do a deeper dive into the spiritual and healing aspects of plant medicine like Ayahuasca, peyote, and psilocybin mushrooms. I learned quite a bit about journeys, respecting the cultures where the medicine comes from, and the importance of having a guide who has spent the time in learning the medicine and having mentors who teach for long periods of time. It’s difficult to put into words the thoughts I have in reading this book, but I have heard from some of my veterans ways in which it helped them.However, I have also had veterans and friends who did not have a guide, or they were with someone who was too inexperienced,: and the results were retraumatizing and in one case it went dark very quickly and this vet made a serious suicide attempt.

I remain cautious and curious about the use of plant medicine/psychedelics in healing and am looking forward to more research being done. I also appreciate that for hundreds of years these plants have been used by the indigenous people in various ways and there is a wisdom there that I would love to hear and learn from.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 A beautiful book, reflecting on the importance of centering & learning from women practicing psychedelic healing in the underground as psychedelics take center stage in modern science & psychotherapy. She explores numinous mystical experiences & how they heal, transform, and prepare us for death. Important read, especially for therapists like myself interested in pursuing training in psychedelics.

[Kendra Chubbuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for fun. The author is a dear friend of mine. I'm looking forward to reading this book. I've had to look up a few words, but I have to say it was an interesting read about strong women elders who work and serve as underground psychedelic guides. I learned a lot about the use of psychedelics, mushrooms, LSD, psilocybin, etc. from reading this book. I didn't know anything. The women Rachel interviewed were incredible and fearless and their stories were just amazing. These women elders from the psychedelic underground have thousands of hours of experience with entheogens via their own journeys and guiding others. Their role in guiding entheogenic journeys has no real counterpoint in our current Western world. They are not therapists, but they are therapeutic. Most of them don't have graduate degrees, they are neither researcher nor medical professionals. They are not ministers, as they do not belong toa religious organization, but their work is sacred. These women were truly interesting! Some places in the book I had to re-read a few paragraphs as they were very "Deep." I also liked Rachel's stories about the Island, knowing her personally I knew exactly who she was talking about and I loved what she had to say about herself too! Great job, Rachel!

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanting to learn more about plant medicines and those who guide these journeys. The first half was about these women elders and guides but offered little in terms of their own journeys and personal work - perhaps in an effort to protect their privacy. The second half switches the focus - and consists of a lot of quotes by other spiritual leaders, medicine people and psychedelic practitioners. She also spends a lot of time kind of mocking herself- which was odd as she seems to have a lot of experience with journeying - particularly with Aya. A quick read and good starter for those who might be curious about plant healing and journeying and other realms.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The great irony of the book is that Dr. Harris frequently emphasizes how important it is we learn from these women elders, yet gives us so little of their voices. Too much of the book focuses on interpreting their experiences and teachings through the writings of academic men. I can't help but feel so much was lost between the interviews and what actually made it to page. That being said, Dr. Harris is a proficient writer and the book was very informative about perspectives on psychedelic medicines.

[Max Healy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable throughout, with a lot of interesting if obvious interviews from psychedelic guides. Harris has a bad habit of repeatedly mentioning her own limitations, as though her own issue with skepticism vs. belief is relevant to the reader. It was refreshing at first, but the way she repeatedly brings it up gets pretty annoying.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - an important read in a time where psychedelics are taking the spotlight in the psychotherapy world, this book highlights the voices of experienced female elders who have been doing this underground sacred work for years.

[Miki Mitayn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I will return to for its exquisite articulation of the subtle but profound experiences of psychedelic journeying. Honest, profound. The author's integrity shines. The women she has interviewed are brilliant.

[Rolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting insights, but a little abstract in its writing style for my taste.

[Alaina Favret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but I had trouble suspending my disbelief enough to really appreciate the content of this book.

[Patrick Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book! Inspiring, deeply researched and quite moving.

Heard a podcast interview with the author and loved her approach to the topic and unique perspectives embraced in this project, so bought the book. Have gifted it to 4 people - such a lovely survey, including many deep dives, personal anecdotes and provocative questions. Highly recommended if you find the topic of psychedelic healing and/or growth of interest.

[Theresa Jump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harris’ decades of experience lends to a successful capture of nuances not easily expressed. I particularly enjoyed ‘Chapter 5 – Visionary Realms’. I would read this again.