New Orleans March Spore: The Future of Psychedelics

*Evolver.net, MAPS, the Beckley Foundation, & Brainwaving present *
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*Evolver Spores: The Future of Psychedelics*
*Thursday,March 18th*
For millennia, cultures around the world expanded minds and visions with 
“teacher plants” – what we commonly know today as psychedelics. The 
widespread popularity of LSD during the 1960s awakened the Western psyche to 
these powerful substances, ushering in a period of wild experimentation that 
revolutionized art and music, inspired social movements, and opened new 
vistas of possibility for psychotherapy. But a swift backlash from the 
establishment made psychedelics illegal, repressing and marginalizing them 
as “dangerous drugs.”
Today, there is new potential for psychedelics to be reintroduced into 
mainstream culture, not as drastic catalysts of social upheaval but as tools 
that can help people overcome serious problems, explore mystical 
experiences, find inspiration, and understand more about consciousness and 
the brain. Psychedelic research with human subjects is underway again after 
a 35-year blockade, thanks to the efforts of non-profit organizations like 
MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and the Beckley 
Foundation. Prominent newspapers and magazines are giving these substances 
another look, acknowledging their potential for therapeutic and spiritual 
breakthroughs if used with care. At the same time, the worldwide resurgence 
of interest in indigenous shamanism indicates a deeper maturity and respect 
emerging toward these ancient sacraments.
In this Spore, we will explore and discuss the exciting new frontiers for 
psychedelics in our modern culture, as both scientifically verified 
medicines and intentional tools for personal development.
James Oroc will be giving a talk entitled Entheogens, Consciousness, and exploring the Foundations of Reality. You'll have a chance to ask him questions and then we will have another lively group discussion
James Oroc is an author,extreme sports journalist, and art car builder. His book Tryptamine Palace: A Journey From Burning Man to the Akashic Field has been gathering rave reviews since it's publication. He has been on panels with Daniel Pinchbeck and Alex Grey among others.