In its 8th year, EGA hosts an annual conference consisting of lectures, workshops, discussion panels, cinema, performance and art. The event hosts an array of speakers from across Australia and abroad, and aims to address the issues relating to drug use from social, cultural and traditional perspectives. The EGA-11 program will draw on the backgrounds of therapy, biology, pharmacology, psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, botany, visionary art, culture, politics, law and more, to provide a realistic context of the role drugs and altered states play in the modern world.

ABOUT THE ENTHEOGENESIS AUSTRALIS ASSOCIATION

Entheogenesis Australis (EGA) is a not-for-profit association that exists to create a supportive environment that fosters mature, open discussion about psychoactive plants and chemicals. We seek to explore ways to assess societal impacts and examine the positive applications of plant-based psychoactives and entheogens through our conferences and journal publications, our email announcement list and other psychedelic research initiatives.

Altered states of consciousness have long been a fundamental part of human culture, and as our world becomes increasingly fast-paced, alternative modes are becoming ever more significant and consciously explored. If you’ve ever asked yourself “Has the ‘War on Drugs’ created more problems than it tried to solve?” or “is MDMA really a more dangerous drug than alcohol?” – then EGA is the place for you.
Entheogenesis Australis is a collection of thinkers from all walks of life. We come together to share knowledge about sacred plants, alchemy and states of consciousness.

We hope you will join us on this exploration.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

EGA's Statement of Purpose can be downloaded here.

HISTORY OF ENTHEOGENESIS AUSTRALIS

Entheogenesis Australis (EGA) has grown organically over the years, starting out as a Victorian based ethnobotany interest group who were inspired by attending the Ethnobotanica conference - ethnobotanica.org - in Northern New South Wales in 2002. After this event, a small Victorian network develop and started holding mini ethnobotany meetings in Ringwood library. The meetings grew over the years and eventually underwent a formal transformation to become Entheogenesis Australis [EGA] in 2004. The first formal EGA conference, held at Ruby's Lounge in Belgrave, introduced us to a wider audience and move our internet more towards the lecture / panel / workshop format, also introducing arts, music and a spiritual dimension. In 2004 the current core group - Martin, Michael, Carl, Jonathan and Tim - came together and started to chart a more conscious and intentional direction, leading to incorporation as a non-profit association in 2008.

EGA currently holds an annual conference, alternating between an indoor event at the University of Melbourne, and a larger outdoor conference in Swanpool nestled in the beautiful Strathbogie Ranges in North East Victoria.

By 2009, a dedicated group of thirty part time volunteers were working on the annual conference, and EGA introduced an annual journal publication to supplement the conference presentations.

EGA launched an online Drug Policy discussion group in 2010. This is the first of such groups EGA wishes to establish to promote informed dialogue and information sharing. As EGA has grown so too has its commitment to providing a supportive environment for mature and open discussion about psychoactive plants and chemicals.

CONFERENCES [SO FAR]:

2003: Meetings in Ringwood Library, Melbourne

2004: Ruby's Niteclub, Melbourne

25-26 June 2005: Gumnet Camp, Grampians, Victoria

2-5 June 2006: Opoeia, Otways, Victoria

30 Nov - 3 Dec 2007: Strathbogie Outdoor Education Centre, Swanpool, Victoria

6 December 2008: Copland Theatre, University of Melbourne

6-9 November 2009: Strathbogie Outdoor Education Centre, Swanpool, Victoria

14 November 2009: Basement  Theatre, Spot Building, University of Melbourne

4-5 December 2010: Basement Theatre, Spot Building, University of Melbourne

2-5 December 2011: Strathbogie Outdoor Education Centre, Swanpool, Victoria