Spirituality and art share a primordial connection dating back over 12,000 years to the Neolithic Revolution, when humans worldwide first began creating art in the form of cave paintings and carvings — artwork symbolic of their religious beliefs and worldviews. The creators of these spiritually charged artworks undoubtedly held special status within their communities—an archetypal role known by many names throughout human history and across cultures: *shaman, wizard, witch, mahāsiddha, ṛṣis, bruja/o, curandero/a,* or "artist."

The modern "artist as a practitioner" is someone who maintains this human tradition of serving as a bridge between the visible and the invisible—accessing spiritual dimensions through altered states of consciousness —in order to create art that promotes healing and spiritual development, confronts collective trauma, and inspires new perspectives on the world.

Psychedelic Sangha invites you to our upcoming conference, Psychedelic Buddhism 2026: "The Artist as Practitioner.” This year, we will examine the role of the modern artist as a spiritual practitioner and explore how Psychedelic Buddhism and art can help enhance awareness, foster compassion, and reveal the profound, non-dual nature of existence.

Last year, we held our inaugural conference, a historic event—the first conference entirely dedicated to Buddhism and Psychedelics. It drew more than 600 people, both online and in person (see [“Attitudes are shifting about Buddhism and Psychedelics”](https://www.lionsroar.com/conference-reveals-how-attitudes-are-shifting-about-buddhism-and-psychedelics/) by Matteo Pistono in Lion’s Roar).