Rob Ó Cobhtaigh - Imbas Forosnai: Evidence for the ancestral Irish use of psilocybin ...

Imbas forosnai is presented as a potential ancestral Irish shamanic ritual involving sensory deprivation and the consumption of psilocybin-containing mushrooms. This practice appears to have evolved within the broader Celtic shamanic framework of the British Isles, with historical accounts documenting the filidh or poets seeking visionary knowledge through trances. Ancient archaeological sites, such as the Newgrange passage tomb, provide circumstantial evidence for this cultural practice through specific iconography and seasonal alignments. Parallels exist with other indigenous traditions, such as Chavín de Huántar in Peru, where similar structures and art suggest widespread cultural integration of entheogenic substances. The historical record demonstrates that this indigenous culture was often suppressed by colonial forces and religious institutionalization to maintain control, leading to the deliberate concealment of these ancient practices.