We’re living in a golden era of global mycology education, where fascination with fungi is spreading faster than ever. From kitchen grow kits to international conferences, the world is waking up to the importance of mushrooms, not just as organisms, but as teachers. Whether for ecological insight, medicinal potential, or spiritual exploration, people everywhere are diving into the fungal realm with passion and purpose.
I recently had the honor of speaking at the Sacred Mycology Summit, hosted by the visionary team at Fungi Academy. This gathering united educators, researchers, and fungi-lovers from around the world to share knowledge, skills, and stories.
As part of the summit, I taught my long-standing class, Agar Alchemy, which takes a deep dive into mushroom genetics and mycelial propagation. But beyond the science, it’s always been about the connection between spores, people, and ideas.
In this post, I’ll share reflections on that experience and my personal journey through global mycology education, offering a glimpse into how teaching fungi has transformed my life, and hopefully, inspired others to follow the mycelial thread.
Fungi Academy & the Sacred Mycology Summit: A Global Network of Spore-Sharing Wisdom
Fungi Academy began as an off-grid, fungi-focused learning community nestled in the highlands of Guatemala. What started as a passion project has grown into a globally recognized hub for mycology education, empowerment, and community. Their mission is simple but powerful: make learning about fungi accessible, grounded, and transformational.
This year, I was honored to be invited to speak at their annual Sacred Mycology Summit, a multi-day gathering that brought together educators, citizen scientists, spiritual explorers, and fungi lovers from every corner of the world. The summit offered an incredible lineup of classes, rituals, and conversations, all centered around the vast and sacred world of mushrooms.
Participating in this event reminded me just how potent community-driven knowledge sharing can be. In a world that often commodifies information, spaces like the Sacred Mycology Summit remind us that learning can be connective, playful, and deeply meaningful.
Agar Alchemy & the Heart of Global Mycology Education
At the Sacred Mycology Summit, I had the joy of sharing my signature class, Agar Alchemy, a fun, immersive experience I’ve been teaching for years to curious beginners and seasoned cultivators alike. At its core, this class is a celebration of the hidden intelligence of fungi and a gentle invitation to view them not as experiments, but as living beings with needs, preferences, and personalities.
Yes, we cover the science (and we do it well):
You’ll learn about spore anatomy, how those tiny specs carry nuclei, lipid droplets, germ pores, and everything needed for the journey ahead.
We talk about monokaryotic and dikaryotic mycelium, and what it actually means for mushrooms to “mate.”
You’ll explore clamp connections and septa, the tiny bridges of communication within the mycelial web.
But we also talk about relationship, how feeding your fungi with care and appropriate media (like malt extract, agar, gellan gum, or yeast extract) helps build strong mycelial microbiomes that lead to healthy, viable cultures.
In a world where information is often stripped of soul, Agar Alchemy brings the magic back into the method. It’s part science class, part story time, part global mycology education, and it’s a blast.
I’m so excited to be offering a free live class on May 16th at 7PM CST via Zoom. If this sounds like something up your alley, make sure to sign up before we run out of seats.
Why Global Mycology Education Matters More than Ever
Fungi are having a moment and it’s honestly about time. From the labs of psychedelic researchers to the forest floors of eco-activists and the altars of spiritual seekers, the mushroom kingdom is finally being recognized for what it is: a vital, intelligent force in our world.
The surge in psychedelic research is opening new doors for healing and mental health, while the study of fungi’s role in global ecosystems, breaking down matter, recycling nutrients, and building networks, reminds us that mycology isn’t niche science. It’s the blueprint for resilience.
At the intersection of science, sustainability, and spirit, mycology offers something rare: unity.
And that’s why global mycology education is so essential right now. We need more people learning from fungi, not just about them.
As an educator, I feel a deep responsibility to preserve and share fungal knowledge, especially when it comes to rare or landrace genetics that carry stories and traits shaped by time and place. This work isn’t just about spores on slides, it’s about protecting lineage, language, and potential.
Through Basidium Equilibrium, my mission goes beyond commerce. Yes, we offer high-integrity spores, but more than that, we’re here to equip researchers, educators, and curious minds with the tools and understanding to carry fungal wisdom forward.
Because in the end, fungi don’t just grow, they teach. And we’re here to help you listen.
A Personal Reflection: What This Journey Means to Me
Being invited to speak at global summits like the Sacred Mycology Summit is one of those full-circle moments that humbles and honors me. When I started this path back in 2015, I was just a curious soul with a microscope, a few spore prints, and a deep reverence for fungal life. I never imagined that one day I’d be teaching people around the world about spore anatomy, fungal intelligence, and the spirit of mycelium.
Watching Agar Alchemy grow into a global class, with students from every continent showing up with open hearts and sharp questions, has been one of the greatest joys of my work. This has truly become a gathering place for those who believe mushrooms have more to teach us than we’ve ever been told.
I’m so grateful to Fungi Academy for creating the kind of platform that nurtures open-source mycology and amplifies diverse voices in this growing field. We rise together, one spore at a time.
Start Your Own Mycology Journey: From Curiousity to Cultivation
This is more than a trend.
Global mycology education is a movement and you’re invited to be part of it.
If you’re feeling called to dive deeper into the world of fungi, I’d love to have you in the room. Join me for a free, live, 3-hour session of Agar Alchemy on May 16th at 7 PM CST. It’s open to all levels and packed with insight, laughter, and a whole lot of mushroom magic.
- Register now at basmycology.com
- Begin exploring our rare Psilocybe spores and research materials in our store
- Sign up for our newsletter to receive educational updates, events, and resources
Let this be the first (or next) step in your journey. The mycelium is already reaching for you.
