Sacred Space Holder Program
Become a Skilled Psychonaut!🧙♂️
We believe all of us should have the skills at our disposal to hold safe, psychedelic space for ourselves and our loved ones.
Currently, countless programs are popping up left and right, focusing on training skilled psychotherapists in clinical settings or multi-year programs diving deep into ancestral indigenous use.
Often these programs are focused on professionals and come at a steep ticket price. We’ve created this program for making this deeply powerful information accessible to psychonauts from all facets walks of life.
With this program, we intend to provide psychonauts and, particularly, sacred mushroom enthusiasts with the tools to work with, support, and share the medicine to the best of their capacity.
While the course will reference harm-minimization and medical (therapeutic) use, the intention is to provide you with an excellent grounding in what we could call the ‘Sacred Mushroom operating manual.’
- Get the most out of your psychedelic experiences by exploring the psychedelic space with preparation and confidence 💪
- Discover the role played by psychedelics in the Euro-American cultural story🧙♂️
- Understand how to make the experience flow easily. Blend and blur the boundaries - This is all one experience 🌌
- Learn how to create a ceremony that is practical and personal to you!✨
- 6 Days of Magic, Psychedelic Education and Connection 🎓
Live, Learn and Grow in Paradise
Tzununa, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Sacred Space Holder Program
The program will provide you with techniques for navigating psychedelic space and equip you with tools to support others in their journeys. Drawing on the latest insights from psychedelic science combined with ancient ceremonial methods our approach will include breathwork, bodywork, mythology, music and a touch of magic!
Education Vacation Destination
We are located in the Guatemalan Highlands, the heartland of ancient Mayan Civilization. You will learn to work with altered states while experiencing the indigenous culture here at Lake Atitlan. This is an uniquely inspiring learning environment.
Make Authentic Connections
Become a node in the mycelial network. Collaboration is the foundation of our learning environment. The more meaningful connections there are in a network, the stronger it is. By learning together with everyone, you weave yourself into a global web and form bonds that last.
Holistic Lifestyle
It's fun to live and learn together if we keep ourselves healthy and centered. Healthy food, yoga, qi-gong, sauna, swimming, walks in nature and meditation are some of the holistic lifestyle elements that help to keep our inner and outer space activated.
What You Will Learn
A solid foundation of practical Psychedelic skills
- Theoretical and Practical Preparation & Ceremony Design
- Psychedelic Substance - history, mystery, chemistry and culture
- Screening processes for journey participants
- Support people as they begin or deepen their psychedelic journey
- Techniques for navigating psychedelic space
- Embodied integration and preparation practices
- Learn by sharing skills and experiences with fellow guides
- Ethical issues and confidentiality
- Become part of a community of practice
- Get guided by world-class Space Holders and develop your own unique style
Sacred Mycology
What is the Sacred Mycology movement?
Sacred mycology is about creating meaning and purpose in our lives with the help of mushrooms.
It’s about learning to interact and listen to nature’s wisdom within and around us.
This wisdom has the potential to help us heal and regenerate ourselves and our environment.
Sacred mushrooms can inspire us to find purpose and a deeply meaningful existence while living here on earth.
We envision a global culture that is educated, conscious, and tolerant towards psychedelic medicines and the people who use them.
Cultures Connecting through Ceremony
We shall sit together, people from many different lands and cultures, sharing our space, our experiences, and our questions.
This is a chance for you to connect more deeply with the mycelial network of those who practice the art and science of working with sacred earth medicines.
We will demonstrate ways of holding psychedelic space, learn from techniques of ancient lineages inspired by indigenous wisdom, and discuss findings from the cutting edge of psychedelic science.
We will travel through the landscape of the sacred lake of the Mayan people and through the inner worlds of deep ceremonial practice. We hope you can join us on this journey!
WAITLIST ONLY!
For an optimal learning experience we have limited the group size to 16 students.
To assure our limited spots are available to a diverse range of people, we have decided to work with an application form.
After your application has been accepted by the Fungi Academy Family you are able to secure your spot by paying a $500, non-refundable deposit.
The deposit needs to be paid within 7 days of your acceptance before your spot will be given to the person next in line.
*This price includes accommodation in a dorm or camping. Limited private accommodation is available for an extra fee first come first serve.
Sacred Space Holder Program
December 3-9 2023-
Complete Sacred Space Holder Program
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Online Psychedelic Journeywork Course
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Extensive Workbook
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Food & Accommodation included*
Scholarship positions for this program have been filled 🙏🏼
Meet Your Facilitators
Julian Vayne
UK
Sacred Space Holder✨
Since childhood, Julian has been fascinated by magic, mysticism, and altered states of awareness.
Julian has explored many of the techniques humans have used to access the hidden dimensions of reality. He started group ceremonial practices at age 16 and has worked in ceremonies with practitioners from many traditions.
In the 1990s, Julian edited Britain’s best-selling pagan newspaper, Pagan Voice, and in 2001 he published one of the first books of the modern psychedelic renaissance, Pharmakon: Drugs and the Imagination.
In addition to using traditional sacred substances like Sacred Mushrooms in his practice, Julian’s work includes the first published account of the entheogenic ritual use of ketamine and several novel psychedelics.
Julian is the author of numerous books, essays, journals, and articles in both the academic and esoteric press. He sees his work as part of the process to re-imagine an earth-centered, curious, non-dogmatic spirituality. His practice is informed by the approach of chaos magic and lineages within Wicca and Uttarakaula Tantra.
Julian is a co-organizer of the psychedelic conference Breaking Convention and is a trustee of The Psychedelic Museum Project. As a founding member of the post-prohibition think tank, Julian holds a position on the Journal of Psychedelic Studies’ academic board. A regular speaker at conferences and workshop leader, Julian facilitates psychedelic ceremony and provides one-to-one psychedelic integration sessions and support.
He is the author of the celebrated book Getting Higher: The Manual of Psychedelic Ceremony.
Nikki Wyrd
UK
Sacred Space Holder✨
Karena Beana
USA
Cosmic Community Operator🌌
Karena has been a health blogger and influencer since she was 16. Her passion for wellness started at a young age when her parents grew ill due to poor lifestyle choices. When Instragram first released she jumped on board and decided to take the influencer route. She focused her time and energy into using this platform to spread positive and informative health and wellness tips that she learned through helping heal her parents from chronic diseases and illnesses.
She turned this passion into a career becoming 200hr+ Yoga Teacher, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach in 2016. As medicinal mushrooms became more popular online, she began to incorporate fungi into her practices and teachings, helping demystify and spread the magic of mushrooms
Jasper Degenaars
Netherlands
Fungal Facilitator🍄
Jasper is a first-grade mycophile. His love for mushroom cultivation started in the Netherlands after growing his first mushrooms from ‘Sacred Mushroom Grow kits.’ Baffled by the mystery of the process, he set out on a journey to learn more!
With 10+ years of mushroom growing experience and more than 2,000 students taught since 2019, Jasper has set out on a mission to make learning mushroom cultivation Easy, Fun, and Exciting!
This Myconaut did not fit in the traditional academic system, AT ALL. Yet, his thirst for knowledge carried him on a path of life-long learning. With the skillset of a self-taught teacher, he aims to make the art and science of mushroom cultivation accessible to everyone aspiring to be a citizen mycologist.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Guatemala City (GUA) is the nearest international airport.
Travelling Economically
You can either take a shared shuttle bus or a private shuttle to get to Panajachel (the biggest town on the lake). From Panajachel, you can take a Lancha (public boat) to Tzununa. In Tzununa, you will easily find a TukTuk driver who will happily take you to the Fungi Academy! (Locals know it as the Ashram).
Shuttles to Panajachel can be found here
Private shuttle or car
There are plenty of private options available to take you directly to Panajachel or Tzununa on Lake Atitlan. You can either arrange one yourself outside of the airport terminal or book one through an agency at the airport.
As our student, we can help you organise a private car to the Lake!
Antigua: A beautiful town not too far from the airport full of art, culture, and amazing food, all surrounded by epic volcanos, including Fuego, Acatenango and Pacaya. You can organise a tour to hike up Acatenango to get up close and personal with lava!
Maya Papaya is a beautiful and clean hostel with private and shared rooms. If you are looking for a spa getaway, we recommend Hotel Santo Domingo.
Our Restaurant list for foodies:
- Nana
- Kombu Ramen
- Toku Baru (epic falafel)
- Once Once (vegan)
- Porqué No?
- Caoba Farms (organic farm-to-table)
- Valhalla Macadamia Farms (homemade macadamia products)
Guatemala City: The location of the nearest International Airport. Hostel Villa Toscana has been recommended by our students who arrive late in the evening or want to stay close to the airport for an early flight.
Lake Atitlan: There is plenty to do on this beautiful Lake! Amazing sunrise hikes, climbing volcanos, swimming or paddle-boarding out on the lake, yoga, ecstatic dance, ceremonies, open mic nights, and so much more! You can take courses in Spanish, permaculture at Atitlan Organics or herbalism at Casa Curativa. You will find lots of variety in Tzununa, San Marcos or the other communities around the lake. Lush, Picnic, Maya Moon, and Eagles Nest, are all beautiful spaces to stay in before or after the course.
Other places to see: The ancient ruins of Tikal, the wonderous pools of Semuc Champey, the surfy town of El Paredon, or the jungly beaches of Livingstone… Guatemala is beautiful, ancient and wild!
For more accommodation options, you can check out Airbnb and Booking.com
Our course price includes shared accommodation in one of our neighbours’ rustic but comfy dormitories or in a tent.
Private accommodation, in a room or a teepee, is available for an additional fee, though it is limited and on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you requested private accommodation and are successful, you will receive an email from us confirming the additional fee.
Please let us know if you snore or are a loud sleeper – we will make arrangements to ensure everybody gets a good night’s sleep!
Accommodation begins on December 3rd and ends on December 9th
If you plan to arrive a few days early, you must let us know so we can confirm if there is availability to accommodate you before the course (there will be an additional fee for extra nights). Otherwise, you will need to find your own accommodation until the course starts.
Check-in time is 11 am, and check-out time is 12 pm.
Our own amazing jungle property is close to a river, filled with bananas, avocados, dragon fruit, zapotes and all the following amenities:
- Wi-Fi (sometimes spotty)
- Shared bathrooms and showers (hot water can be irregular in the jungle)
- Sauna
- Yoga Shala
- Library
- Hammocks
- Firepit
- In-house cinema
- Communal guitars, drums and ngoni
There is NO smoking, drinking or meat allowed on our property.
Yes! All our meals are vegetarian by default (we get happy chicken eggs from our neighbours’ permaculture properties), and our in-house chef has no problems catering to your needs!
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Allergies
- Paleo
- Keto
There is no drinking, smoking or meat allowed on the property.
On the first day of the course, only dinner will be served. On the closing day only breakfast will be served.
Please let us know your preference, and we will make sure your belly and body are healthy and happy!
This year we are introducing our new Decompression Package! For an additional fee, you will be able to stay at Fungi Academy for some extra nights to relax and integrate after the course with accommodation, some meals, mind-body classes, massage, sauna and more!
Let us know if this is something you are interested in!
It is also possible that you could be able to stay on as a short-term resident after the course. However, we cannot guarantee your spot until you have arrived at the Academy and we’ve gotten to know each other! If you’re interested in this possibility, make sure to notify us when you arrive!
Guatemala is wild and free! You are coming on an adventure, there will be bugs, the dirt roads are windy and we cannot predict the weather – Come prepared!
It is recommended that you bring a mask (for cultivation), headlamp, walking shoes, toiletries, reusable water bottle, journal/notebook, swimsuit, sweater/rain jacket. It can get wet and cold in the afternoons. Ladies are recommended to bring reusable products, although it is not mandatory.
Yes! There are dogs and cats at Fungi Academy (future new furry friends for you!). If you have allergies, please let us know as soon as you can so we can place you in an appropriate room.
The currency of Guatemala is Quetzal. Currency exchange is available at the airport, any banks, and in some local markets in Lake Atitlan. There is also an ATM machine in San Marcos, the neighbouring town. Please come prepared with some cash, as there will not be much time to visit an ATM once the course has started!
Absolutely not!
If you want to become a psychedelic therapist, then you have to go through proper training. This program is made for people wanting to get more out of their personal experience. We will cover basic peer-to-peer psychedelic support on how to be the best co-journeyer for your loved ones. When it comes to becoming a “shaman” it’s better to search for people who have a lineage of doing it.
There are no more covid restrictions! You can enter Guatemala without a mask, test, or vaccination.
