In this video, we hear from Eugenia Pineda Casimiro, indigenous Mazatec healer as she shares her knowledge, lineage-relationship and perspective on new generations learning to become guides. She touches on why she’s called to share her perspectives now, and explores what she sees as fundamental to holding this path with respect, highlighting the importance of commitment to this work beyond mere imitation. This is an excerpt of a longer video that will become available in the coming months.
Please note: It is the intention of the speaker that this be used exclusively for educational purposes within Gather Well Psychedelics based on relationship and reciprocity.
Any other use must be with explicit permission granted by Eugenia and Gather Well. Sharing, copying, recording, or any other use of these videos is unethical and strictly prohibited.
About Eugenia:
Eugenia Pineda Casimiro is a Mazateca healer from Huautla de Jiménez, Mexico who carries forward an ancestral lineage of ceremonial and healing work passed through generations of Mazatec curanderas. She is the fifth daughter of Julieta Casimiro Pineda and was raised immersed in her mother’s healing practice and spiritual tradition from early childhood. Eugenia later entered into a formal apprenticeship under her mother’s guidance, deepening her understanding of Mazatec ceremonial work with the sacred mushrooms and the responsibilities that come with carrying traditional knowledge.
For many years now, Eugenia has conducted her own ceremonial and healing work in Huautla, serving both local community members and respectful visitors who come seeking healing, guidance, and connection with the sacred mushroom tradition. Her work is marked by humility, discernment, spiritual depth, and a strong commitment to protecting the integrity of Mazatec ways of knowing during a time of growing global interest in these sacred medicines.
Relationship to Gather Well: Eugenia has generously chosen to share aspects of her wisdom and perspective through educational videos created specifically for GatherWell. This sharing is grounded in a long-standing relationship with Naama Thomas, a GatherWell founder. This relationship has been forged over decades and began with the relationship of their mothers respectively.
Eugenia represents one of GatherWell’s primary living lineage connections to the Indigenous roots of mushroom-guided healing work. GatherWell holds deep respect for Eugenia’s wisdom, strength, clarity of insight, and integrity in speaking about both her tradition and the complex cultural moment unfolding as psychedelic medicines increasingly enter Western awareness and institutional systems.
Respecting Indigenous knowledge guardians: GatherWell approaches Indigenous wisdom with care, discernment, and a commitment to non-extractive engagement. Eugenia has made clear that her image and words are not to be shared, commodified, used for promotion or used in any other ways outside of their intended context without her explicit permission. This is not a request, but an important boundary rooted in respect for Indigenous knowledge and consent. GatherWell takes this responsibility seriously and asks that anyone engaging with its materials from Eugenia uphold these boundaries with the same level of care and respect.