The modern world has inherited a precious legacy from the ethnobotanicallore of the indigenous peoples of South America, not only in terms of the Ayahuasca brew but also, indirectly, of the DMT molecule itself. Whether "plant" or "molecular" teacher, this drug can reveal regions not normally experienced in day-to-day reality, help people discover a fuller sense of awe and wonder at the world, and facilitate insights into their own personal lives. These insights may help both the individual and societies as a whole transcend fundamental issues and challenges and ultimately help make the world a more harmonious place in which to live. Whatever its future role, DMT has been and will continue to constitute a prized and specialized instrument within the consciousness-modifying toolbox of humankind.