Sacred Science

Our Position

Faith Informed by Evidence

The Church of Mycelium holds that psilocybin is a sacred sacrament, central to our sincerely held religious beliefs. We also recognize that the modern scientific study of psilocybin provides remarkable corroboration of what sacred traditions have taught across cultures for millennia.

We believe that science and spirit are not in conflict — that the measurable healing effects of psilocybin are simply the fingerprints of the sacred that our faith has always pointed toward. When Johns Hopkins, NYU, and MAPS researchers document that a single psilocybin session can alleviate years of treatment-resistant depression, we see science catching up to sacred wisdom.

We share this research not to medicalize our practice, but to offer reassurance to those who come to us seeking both spiritual truth and evidence-based confidence that the path we walk is safe and effective.

Research at a Glance

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Over 150 peer-reviewed studies published since 2000 on psilocybin's therapeutic and spiritual effects

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Leading institutions including Johns Hopkins, NYU, Imperial College London, and UCSF conducting active research

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FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for psilocybin in treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder

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When used with proper preparation and integration, psilocybin has an exceptional safety record across decades of research

Clinical Evidence

What the Research Shows

These findings represent a small selection of the growing body of peer-reviewed research on psilocybin's healing potential.

Depression

Treatment-Resistant Depression

Johns Hopkins University conducted a landmark study of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder, finding significant reductions in depressive symptoms that persisted for months after treatment.

71% of participants showed clinically significant response after just two sessions

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress

Research at NYU and MAPS has documented significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity following psilocybin therapy, with many participants reporting profound shifts in their relationship to traumatic memories.

67% showed clinically significant PTSD symptom reduction at 12-month follow-up

Addiction

Tobacco Addiction

A pilot study at Johns Hopkins found that psilocybin-assisted therapy produced abstinence rates far exceeding any existing intervention for tobacco addiction, with effects persisting at 12-month follow-up.

80% tobacco abstinence rate at 6-month follow-up vs. ~35% for best existing treatments

Addiction

Alcohol Use Disorder

NYU researchers found that psilocybin significantly reduced heavy drinking days and increased abstinence rates among participants with alcohol use disorder, with spiritually meaningful experiences as a key predictor of success.

83% reduction in heavy drinking days in the 8 months following psilocybin treatment

Regulatory Landscape

The Path Forward

While our church operates under religious freedom protections independent of drug scheduling, we track the evolving regulatory landscape with interest.

2018

FDA grants psilocybin Breakthrough Therapy designation for treatment-resistant depression, acknowledging its potential to provide substantial improvement over existing therapies.

2019

Denver becomes the first city to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms. Oakland and Santa Cruz follow within months, beginning a wave of municipal decriminalization.

2020

Oregon passes Measure 109, creating the world's first regulated psilocybin services program, with licensed facilitators to begin serving clients in 2023.

2022

Colorado passes Proposition 122, decriminalizing several plant medicines including psilocybin and creating a regulated access program.

2023

Oregon's psilocybin service centers open to the public. Australia becomes the first country to authorize psilocybin therapy through psychiatrists for treatment-resistant depression.

2024+

Multiple states consider legislation. The FDA continues evaluating Phase 3 clinical trials. The landscape continues to evolve rapidly toward broader access.

Safety & Care

A Safe Sacred Practice

When used with proper preparation, in a supportive setting, with qualified guides, psilocybin has an outstanding safety record across decades of research.

Our Safety Protocols

Comprehensive spiritual and wellness screening for all congregants
Thorough review of medications and health history
Detailed preparation period before every ceremony
Small ceremony groups (6 or fewer) with 2 ministers present
Carefully prepared, peaceful ceremonial environment
Ministers trained in spiritual crisis support
Multi-session integration support following every ceremony
Clear exclusion criteria for those for whom risk is elevated

Research Safety Profile

No known lethal dose in humans — physiological toxicity is extremely low
Non-addictive — does not cause physical dependence
No withdrawal syndrome upon cessation
Serious adverse events extremely rare in supported settings
Contraindicated for those with personal or family history of psychosis
Careful medication review required — some drug interactions apply
Psychological safety depends heavily on set, setting, and support
Decades of research confirm safety in controlled, supported conditions

Accessibility

The Cost of Conventional Care

We believe healing should be accessible to all. We offer sliding scale and veteran-specific scholarship tithes to ensure our ministry is not limited by financial barriers.

$15,000+

Per Year

Average annual cost of ongoing psychiatric care, therapy, and medications for treatment-resistant depression

$800–2,400

Suggested Tithe

Sliding scale tithe for a complete Church of Mycelium sacramental journey, including preparation and integration

For Veterans

Full scholarship ministry available to qualifying veterans and first responders through our Sacred Service Fund

Selected References

Davis, A.K., et al. (2021). Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(5), 481–489.
Carhart-Harris, R., et al. (2021). Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. New England Journal of Medicine, 384, 1402–1411.
Johnson, M.W., et al. (2017). Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 43(1), 55–60.
Bogenschutz, M.P., et al. (2022). Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for alcohol use disorder. JAMA Psychiatry, 79(10), 953–962.
Mitchell, J.M., et al. (2023). MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD: Study design and rationale. Nature Medicine.
Griffiths, R.R., et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1181–1197.

The Church of Mycelium is a religious organization operating under the protections of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Our sacramental ceremonies are religious practices central to our sincerely held beliefs. The Church does not practice medicine, provide medical advice, or offer medical or psychological treatment. Nothing on this website should be construed as medical advice. We encourage all congregants to consult with their own healthcare providers regarding any health concerns.