Between Worlds: The Psychedelic Heritage of Halloween & Death Festivals with Darren Le Baron

** This is a live online session. If you cannot attend on the scheduled event, you can still purchase a ticket and access the recording, which will be available for a limited time to all ticket holders.**

As we enter the season when cultures worldwide believe the veil between physical and ancestral realm dissolves, prompting many traditions to set aside time to honour and celebrate this unique connection with our ancestors. Join Darren Le Baron as he delves into the rich historical tapestry and esoteric significance behind Halloween and other seasonal death festivals across cultures, exploring their intricate and often overlooked connections to psychedelic traditions.

From the vibrant altars of Día de los Muertos in Mexico to the rhythmic celebrations of Gede Fete, the Festival of the Ancestors in Haiti, to Pagan gatherings across Europe and the shadowy rituals of secret societies throughout history—what connects these diverse traditions?

There are rites and timeless emblems representing the cyclical nature of death, the eternal connection to ancestry, the transformative promise of resurrection, and the mysterious realm of spirits known as the spirit realm.

Long before Halloween manifested in its contemporary commercialised form as we know it today, cultures worldwide developed and meticulously preserved these sacred rites, elaborate artistic expressions, and ceremonial traditions as vehicles to commune with realms beyond the veil of ordinary perception, honouring ancestral spirits and exploring the boundaries between worlds visible and invisible.

Throughout this presentation, Darren will methodically uncover and thoughtfully interpret the lost, forgotten, and deliberately obscured meanings concealed within this rich tapestry of death symbolism, while drawing compelling and evidence-based connections to the historical use of psychedelics in spiritual practices across numerous cultures and time periods.

Expect a fascinating and illuminating night of:

• Arcane tales from across continents spanning millennia, and ancient symbolic systems decoded for the here and now
• Detailed insights into ancient rituals, examining the tools, techniques, and transformative objectives utilised
• Reflections on the universal human experiences of death, the nature of consciousness across different states of being, and diverse cultural conceptions of the afterlife

SPEAKER

Darren Le Baron

Darren Le Baron is an educator specialising in mycology and psychedelic research, and is based between the UK and the Caribbean. 

Known around the world for his Shroomshop Master classes and mushroom educational programs, he is a keen cultivator and teacher. His achievements include launching the UK's first accredited Mycology and Mushroom Cultivation course for schools and young people in 2021, providing hands-on experience to empower school children and at-risk youth.

A respected voice in the global psychedelic community, Darren is a regular speaker at major conferences and festivals including Breaking Convention, All Things Fungi, Ozora, and Lightning in a Bottle. Through his work with The Psychedelic Society and other organizations, he continues to inform and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to cope with social challenges and contribute to community development as well as self-improvement in an innovative, creative, culturally-aware style.

@darren_le_baron

OUR TEAM

Carlotta Artuso

Carlotta is an Event Coordinator at The Psychedelic Society, with a deep passion for nature, personal and collective growth, mystical experiences and food (Italian roots play a big role here!).

Psychedelics have profoundly transformed her life, opening her mind to new perspectives and deeper self-awareness, allowing her to break free from the 9-5 grind and to launch her own PR and Events company -  Carlotta PR.

She believes in their potential to heal and transform, and she's passionate about advocating for their safe, intentional use to inspire positive change and open new pathways of consciousness. 

 @carlotta.artuso

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