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Certificate in Entheogen Ministry
The Entheogen Ministry Certificate program provides a space for people of faith to train in the use of psychedelics and help propagate conversation about these altered states of consciousness in a religious context.
About the Program
The adjective “entheos” translates to English as “full of the god, inspired, possessed.” The Greeks used it as praise for poets and other artists. “Genesthai” means “to come into being.” Thus, an entheogen is a substance that causes one to become inspired or to experience feelings of inspiration, often in a religious or spiritual manner.
As the field of psychedelics grows, the moral and ethical concerns at the core of religious and spiritual ministry are not being addressed. Spiritual bypassing and a history of colonization have hampered the ways in which practitioners and thought leaders in the psychedelic renaissance imagine this work and its potential.
Starr King’s commitment to educating to counter oppression provides a framework with which to explore the world of psychedelics, entheogens, and plant medicine. A framework that acknowledges both the traditional holders of this sacred knowledge and the current oppressive reality of the war on drugs and its disproportionate onus on people of color and the poor.
This online certification program is for those who already have a graduate degree, as well as current Starr King students. It includes a mix of coursework, fieldwork, supervision, and lectures. Those who earn a Certificate in Entheogen Ministry from Starr King will have familiarity with the rituals, history, and science of entheogenic work in the United States and be prepared to enter psychedelic conversations as chaplains, ministers, and community leaders.
See our course descriptions or get tuition information.
Requirements
The Certificate in Entheogen Ministry is a 14-credit program to be completed within one year. The prerequisite for admission is the Educating to Counter Oppressions (ECO) Core course at Starr King, which is available to take in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Students may take ECO and Sacred and the Substance 1 concurrently. During January Intersession, students should have their medicine journey either with a guide in a sanctioned location or in a study.
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Sample Courses
- Deep Listening
- Illness, Health, and Healing
- Multi-Religious Core Theory and Method
- Clinical Pastoral Education
- Eco-Ministry
- Transformative Ritual Craft
- Adult Faith Development
- Depth Psychology for Chaplains
- Queer Liberation Theologies
Psychedelics and the Seminary Lecture Series
Professor Ayize Jama-Everett of Starr King’s Sacred and the Substance course has led two Psychedelics and the Seminary lecture series (2022 & 2023). During these lectures, he interviews some of the top writers, practitioners, and religious leaders in the psychedelic movement. Watch two of these lectures below:
Brian C. Muraresku:
Starr King Graduate Roundtable:
Questions? Contact us at admissions@sksm.edu.