The Elefsinian Mysteries: Mystery Cults & Psychedelic Rituals in Ancient Greece- Talk & Guided Visualisation

For nearly two thousand years, secret initiatory rites were held at Elefsis, outside Athens. The Mysteries of Elefsina, or the Eleusinian Mysteries, are frequently hyped as a defining example of ancient psychedelic initiatory ritual. Yet, more is known about what took place inside the Telesterion, the sacred initiation hall, than is often acknowledged. 

Many ancient writers were themselves initiated, leaving behind explicit accounts of what was seen and experienced. The very word Elefsis derives from the Greek for 'arrival,' and this was the place where the gods came to Earth and showed humanity how to live.

Scholars including Albert Hofmann, R. Gordon Wasson and Brian Muraresku have proposed that kykeon, a psychedelic ergot-based potion, was an essential part of the mystery rites. With similar compounds to LSD, kykeon could have been one of earliest ways humans begun experiencing a form of death before  dying. 

In this upcoming online event, author and dream guide Sarah Janes will take you on a journey to the Telesterion. She will share her extensive knowledge about the rites of Elefisus, including the history, the evidence and the enduring questions. She will also facilitate a  30-minute guided hypnagogic meditation to take you so you can partake in the rites yourself through the imaginal realm. 

A recording of the event and separate audio recording of the meditation will be sent to all ticket holders, as well as your very own recipe for making the kykeon.

About Sarah Janes

Sarah Janes is an English author, curator, and retreat leader based between Archaia Epidavros in Greece, Istanbul, Turkey, and England. Sarah's book: Initiation into Dream Mysteries: Drinking from the Pool of Mnemosyne explores the history and culture of dreaming. 

Sarah runs Dream Mysteries Retreats in Greece, where she takes dream pilgrims to sleep in ancient Hellenic sleep temples, mystery cult, and oracle sites. She regularly visits the site of the Elefsinian Mysteries with her groups and hosts a yearly retreat at the time of the Greater Mysteries of Elefsis (around the Autumn Equinox). 

Sarah also works at Esoteric Tours in Istanbul, curating niche tours in Anatolia, and she volunteers for the cultural centre New Hermopolis founded by Hermetic Philosopher Dr. Mervat Nasser in Egypt. She regularly collaborates with psychedelic, occult scientists including Prof. David Luke, Prof. Emily Selove, Dr. Pascal Michael, and Dr. Sam Gandy.

Sarah is currently working with members of the IASD (International Association for the Study of Dreams) on programming for the Delphic Dreaming Conference in Delphi, Greece in 2026. She is a regular guest on podcasts and at conferences. 

Sarah is host and creator of Explorers Egyptology , an Egyptology lecture series on YouTube. She was also co-host on Anthony Peake's popular Consciousness Hour series for several years and is now hosting a series of online panels for The Mysteries exploring a number of different philosophical, metaphysical, and spiritual subjects with practitioners, experts, researchers, historians, and scientists from all over the world.

Website: themysteries.org

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