"Ordinary Mystics makes a level-headed case for religious freedom, for the right of ordinary people to practice without being treated as criminals. The freedom to seek the Sacred directly belongs to all of us."

—Rick Doblin, Founder & President, MAPS

"In Ordinary Mystics Matt Zemon points the way to the normalization of sincere religious practices that merit respect and the law's protection. I did not expect to see a book like this in my lifetime, and I am grateful that I have."

—William A. (Bill) Richards, author of Sacred Knowledge

"I cannot recommend this book on the sacred use of psilocybin mushrooms too highly. It is the richest, most comprehensive, and wisest discussion I have encountered on the safe use of this medicine in spiritual communities. A treasure for all practitioners."

—Christopher Bache, author of LSD and the Mind of the Universe

"Matt Zemon does something wondrous in this book: he makes the ineffable, effable. Ordinary Mystics is a helpful new gospel, beautifully written. Let it take you to church."

—Rev. Molly Phinney Baskette, UCC minister and author

"Staying changed long after the glow has worn off is a discipline, and we have spent centuries learning it. Ordinary Mystics gives these experiences a tradition patient enough to turn them into lasting change."

—Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, founder of Shefa

"Matt Zemon writes with the mind of a scholar and the heart of a minister. Ordinary Mystics shows the priest who is afraid of this, and the seeker who gave up on the church, that there was room for them all along. It is a brave and hopeful book about the future of faith in America."

—Hunt Priest, founder of Ligare and former Episcopal priest

"My fellow veterans need to know this kind of healing is real. They need to know they are not broken beyond repair. And they should not have to leave the country to find it. Ordinary Mystics needs to reach every veteran it can, before it is too late."

—Juliana Mercer, USMC Veteran, Healing Breakthrough

DISTRIBUTION & TRADE LOGISTICS

Available via Ingram with a 55% wholesale discount and fully returnable status.

Publishing October 1, 2026 across Hardcover, Paperback, E-book, and Audiobook formats.

Pre-launch trade infrastructure includes Edelweiss listing and IngramSpark Discovery Boost nomination.

ADVANCE REVIEWS & INDUSTRY VALIDATION

Trade review submissions completed with Kirkus and Midwest Book Review (Editor-in-Chief Jim Cox review expected mid-July). Publishers Weekly submission also completed.

Dedicated IBPA Library Eblast scheduled for July 28 in the Religion category.

Endorsements from Rick Doblin (MAPS), William Richards (Sacred Knowledge), Christopher Bache, and other religious and scholarly leaders. Additional endorsements expected before launch. Foreword by Bob Jesse, Convenor of the 

Council on Spiritual Practices.

MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN

Press release distribution begins week of July 20, targeting religious freedom and mainstream spiritual outlets.

Podcast media tour running August-September across shows focused on religion, contemplative traditions, and psychedelic research.

Author leverages an existing public platform: TEDx talk with 1M+ views and an active schedule of 100+ speaking events annually.

GRASSROOTS OUTREACH & DISCOVERY

Q4 2026 and Q1 2027 book tour targeting libraries, civic groups, and faith communities.

Strategic promotional partnerships leveraging the Council on Spiritual Practices and Chacruna Institute networks.

Curated advance reader team assembled through BookFunnel to provide launch-week reviews across Amazon and Goodreads.

Comparable titles: How to Change Your Mind (Pollan), Sacred Knowledge (Richards), and The Immortality Key (Muraresku).

AUTHOR AUTHORITY

Matt Zemon, DMin, MSc, is the Executive Director of the Council on Spiritual Practices. He holds a DMin from Pacific School of Religion and an MSc from King's College London. He is the author of five prior books on psychedelics.