Connecting with the Unseen: Traditional Use of Psychoactive Plants on Turtle Island
The use of plants that affect human consciousness dates back thousands of years to the earliest gathering of human society into tribes, clans, sects, and other cultural organizations. Over the millennia, people discovered, used, and shared ever-increasing knowledge of psychoactive plants and fungi and their effects on the human body, mind, and spirit.
Bear Medicine in Ute Culture
The Ute nation, rooted in the expansive lands of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, is rich with traditions, mythology, and a profound connection to the natural world. Central to Ute culture is the bear, which holds a significant place in Ute folklore, herbal medicine, and as a symbol of strength and healing. In this article, we will explore the bear's role as the first Healer in Ute culture, delve into Ute bear mythology, and discuss specific wild herbs closely associated with the bear.