Tripping the Trail of Ghosts: Psychedelics and the Afterlife Journey in Native American Mound Cultures

Tripping the Trail of Ghosts explores the use of psychoactive plants in the spiritual rites and practices of the Mississippian mound-building cultures in the Southeastern United States. The book focuses on archaeological and historical evidence regarding Native American beliefs and traditions about the journey beyond death, often referred to as the “Trail of Ghosts” or “Path of Souls” within Indigenous communities in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Missouri, and beyond.

In this work, P.D. Newman examines how ancient ritualists understood naturally occurring substances in plants and how they induced altered states of consciousness during initiatory rites, spirit journeys, and attempts to connect with ancestors. He provides evidence and insights about the ceremonial use of native flora such as black nightshade, desert tobacco, morning glory, and various mushrooms.

In learning about indigeneity, my primary interest in reading this book is to learn about the myths and stories of Native peoples, rooted in their reverence for the natural world. Newman has conducted extensive research on the use of hallucinogenic compounds in ceremonial contexts and shares his findings. His writing reflects a genuine veneration for Indigenous traditions and belief systems.

The book discusses the role of entheogens in long-lost and often misunderstood healing and shamanic rituals. Newman delves into the symbolism and significance of the large earthwork mounds along the Mississippi Valley, which hold keys to understanding our ancestors’ beliefs about death and the afterlife.