Yage Letters

The Yage Letters are a collection of writings by writers William Burroughs and Malcolm DeVore documenting their experiences and explorations with yage (ayahuasca), a powerful traditional South American plant medicine used for spiritual and therapeutic purposes. The letters detail their journeys into the Amazon rainforest, their encounters with indigenous rituals, and their reflections on the substance’s effects on perception and consciousness. This work offers insights into the cultural significance of yage, the personal transformations experienced, and the broader context of Western curiosity about indigenous practices related to altered states of consciousness.