Shamanic Exstasy: Chemical Entheogens and their role in shamanic healing.

It is not just a so-called "mis-understanding of chemistry" that raises the organic / synthetic dichotomy aesthetic ... but the very fact that modern chemistry, and even psychology came about only to make up for lost inherent intuition ... and that any/all of this "biting off the Tree of Knowledge" ... has only taken us further out of Eden ...

Not any more philosophical that practical ... in the sense that virtually any /all required Entheogenic potential is already and fully found in organic sources.

Reinventing the wheel .. using a square ... 'merely unnecessary ... like any fictional attempt to represent reality ... a mere human novelty .. only to degree there is not real time entrainment with "ever-present" reality .. in all of it's non-synthetic organic -to cosmic indigenous sentience.

All man made attempts to "replicate creation" but take him further "out of Eden" .. less and less able to fully appreciate was has actual "presence"

People will pay millions for a painting of a landscape .. when there will always be greater true time entrainment potential in immediate proximity to the landscape itself.

It it capturing the moment any more than loosing it ?

Why bother ... {non-judgmental}

Most suggested social value seems to be in chemical availability and standardization of dose ... which if we weren't so "humanistically" removed
{laboratory} ... from the "back yard" potential .. well our intuitive prowess would easily have evolved and super-ceded any such experimental need ....

We would have saved ourselves time and resources ... and become all the more wiser.

I have never heard of MDMA being used to perform healings on people, so thank you for sharing your experience to inform my world. MDMA is so healing because it provides access to the parts that have been closed off due to lack of love. It can help one to reach parts of one's self, one's ancestry, and one's world where normally no light treads. So much deep pain can be unlocked and processed with it. For this reason I think it is very important to be in a setting where anything that is coming up can be given proper attention. I think if used in a more party atmosphere an individual may have the tendency to not engage in that process, which is a wasted opportunity to permanently clear blockages in the heart chakra. However, I feel there have been positive benefits to people using MDMA in only a party way. I have known people who have used MDMA in this way and find their hearts to be quite open, although perhaps not as healed as they could have been. To reiterate, I think MDMA is best used to approach pain, not hide from it. Although MDMA is often used by two or more persons at once, I think there can be benefit to using it alone with a sober sitter, as then the person can completely focus on his or her unfolding process. This probably goes without saying, but it is ideal to have MDMA that is synthesized correctly and is free of speed or whatever silliness people mix it with.

I think we are in the process of creating shamanic traditions to be used with these chemicals. I think of Stan Grof who discovered a transparent shamanic model to be used with LSD and through his work charted the realms of the human unconscious. My aim is to find the shamanic traditions, new or old, that are useful and practical. Absorbing parts of a culture that I do not belong to feels contrived.

"It is my hope that more and more people will discover that the spirit of the shaman can be found beneath that great cedar tree with a head full of molecule."
Beautiful. Much love to you and your healing work.

"Spinning in circles / Walking a straight line." - Trey Anastasio

Shamanism is all about ecstasy... and today there is so much to choose from. I think it comes down to intention.

First, the depth of the shamanic path is not one of having a party with a chemical, natural or not... It is a commitment to a path of being, healing and creating a world in balance with the self, spirit and community. But what is disheartening to me in this age is everyone wants the experience (ensophia or entheo) and are willing to pay thousands and trape to great lengths and distances to get what as Dorothy found was in her back yard... and on top of that rarely does this comodification of the experience mean that there is a depth to the work and a committed path to walk on. At the end of it, then these same individuals will run off saying they are shaman, healers or whatever to participate in expanding the comodification process. Talk about shallow... talk about why natives worry about their culture being stolen...

Second, with real commitment and discipline on the shamanic path, it does not matter what chemical, natural or not, one does... or what ceremony or walk. All of life for the shaman is the shamanic path. I find plant allies in the tobacco (non-abuse), dandelion root, red clover, fugi, bear root, sage, sweet grass... and hundreds of other plant spirits.... to say nothing of all the standard naturals which alter ones awareness to journey in other worlds.... and the chemical ones as well. Mid way through my studies with an elder I had the chance to journey in the woods with a lab chemical... and what an integration that was of 2000 years of history and awareness of our imbalances with the earth...so natural! so aware...so sacred... so everything when you walk the shamanic path, warrior of spirit, is a sacred medicine.

As to whether this is accepted by the dominant paradigm... sorry I am not looking for this. The shaman lives at the edge of the village, often far away at the edge of many worlds. That's their job. And as shaman accept that our perception and awareness can't be accepted by the dominant... Unless asked for. Then the shaman steps in and helps tweak the direction the village, individual, society is going in. As my elder used to say, answer nothing if not asked, give nothing if not given to... This was not to keep secret, but rather to keep sacred the avenues of awareness and it was to aid the village in being responsible for the request. And one trip does not a shaman make.

When we take these fundamental disciplines of shamanism and then try to study, transition them into a super organization or movement, then they can't fit the structure that the dominant paradigm has. The shaman stops being shaman and becomes doctor with all the accepted structures, and limitations, insurance etc which go with that process.

These are my initial thoughts... but it's well worth the time to really commit to and become a shaman... but don't think that the village will/should accept that path.. they souldn't.

Peace and Creation

http://www.ravencircle.mosaicglobe.com/

I agree with the idea that it would be unwise to over look or toss out human made entheogenic substances simply because they are man made. On the other hand I could never see them on the same level or even in the same context as the naturally evolved plant teachers. In this modern world where psychological treatments have uses for such chemical substances I would say that their value should be seen from the perspective of those that find them helpful. Personally though I find no use for them but I would never say that it should be that way for others.

I would like to say though, that to state them as having a shamanic value to me is a bit too much of a generalization of the term "shamanic". I know, I know, we can debate the definitions of words and etymologies. The difficulty I see is that we are talking about a word that is a westernized translation of an indigenous language. Translating indigenous languages into English basically requires putting lager and deeper multidimensional concepts into one or two words phrases. That's why often it's helpful to speak in metaphors in order to get English to convey the deeper meaning of ancient languages. I'm suggesting that by assigning the word shamanic a deeper meaning we may be able to stay closer to the original indigenous concept.

I would like see the term shamanic refer to a much more deeply integrated practice and not refer to simply mind altering or entheogenic experiences.

To say its simply referring to one who knows is not enough without defining the nature of the knowledge. Shamanic in my definition would refer to a specific type of knowledge and not just knowledge in general. Shamanic knowledge then would be different from scholarly knowledge.

The main difference I see is in the connectivity and dimensional nature of the knowledge source.

On a pathway to gain scholarly knowledge one can read a book or chose various other forms of learning from recorded data.

In order to access shamanic knowledge one must tap into much larger integrated fields of consciousness.

Similarly this same concept applies to the debate about synthesized chemical entheogens verses the naturally evolved plant teachers. Even though one who is using a man made chemical entheogen can tap into higher states of consciousness the substance it self does can not share the same level of connection. In comparison to a natural plant entheogen which is by its nature directly integrated into a higher field of consciousness. So to me the difference is in the refinement of connection.

Myself I go quite a bit further than that even. My experience has convinced me that we are dealing directly with extraordinarily advanced and enlightened pandimensional entities that have chosen to live in this world as plants. They have evolved intricate ways of communicating with others through direct biochemical brain/mind connections.

I had a great conversation with John Lash back in July of 2008 for my podcast The Chronicles of the Psychonautilus. We discussed in depth our ideas on psychonautics and also this very topic as well. Some of you may find it interesting.

http://the-psychonautilus.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2008-07-12T02_23_12-07_...

http://the-psychonautilus.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2008-07-14T15_02_03-07_...

Maybe you read me wrong. I didn't say anything about what others can or cannot do. I said specifically that "to me" I find a big difference in the quality and the refinement of the connection. In my experience the source, in these cases, does matter. Ability to discern subtleties also has an effect on the quality of experience. I've reached very similar and even deeper levels of consciousness without any substance at all so I am certainly not saying that one "cannot" reach very high states of consciousness with the vehicle of their choice. My first and foremost preferred vehicle is the pure potential of the mind. The plane goes where the pilot takes it.

It's just that the best pilot training that I've had has always come from plants.

I mean a moped and a Ducati are both motorbikes but if given the choice I'm going to go for the Ducati. I would chose a high speed internet connection over a dial up too. I've tried them all and in "my considerable experience" I've noticed a huge differences in the depth, the complexity and the spectrum of experience. Sure it could just be me but from my many conversations with very experienced others I have found that very many people do agree with this assessment. As I am sure that you have found many who will agree with your assessment too. That's great, to each his own.

First off awesome blog! There are some differences between the chemical and natural trips, they each do something completely different in the brain. I guess it would be to long to post here so i'll just link to a blog.

http://www.evolver.net/user/pod4/blog/my_astral_tv_just_picked_pbs_stati...

Money-a symbol for the efficient distribution of human energy.

My point of suggestion was not about any so-called potential synthetics themselves may have .. usually related to "problematic" man-made states to begin with ... as we only even discuss synthesis to the degree organic sensibility is lost.

In other words if all of us were brought up in a culture that openly embraced, peyote, mushrooms etc. not a one of us would ever even had to think of chemical folly as each of us would have found "fullness" / "wholeness" in relation to "All That Is" .. there being nothing new under the synthetic sun ... so to speak.

Similar to how synthetic vitamins are only used to the degree we don't eat properly to begin with .. obtaining the full perspective of vitamin and minerals from organic sources.

It is as much a question of organic intuitive aesthetic as it is one of workability.
Like the inherent satisfaction one gets from gardening ... virtually irreplaceable by any other means.

Expecting the present humanistic world to return to it's organic-to cosmic roots is like asking someone at Burning Man not to bring any matches ... as our own secular inertia is obviously running the show.

My original comment, as all of my posts, are meant for those who are easily satisfied by only eating off the "tree of life" .. and there are a handful or two that frequently read and post here.

If one is not satisfied with what is organically available ... well how will that ever really be an argument for what is actually necessary for true planetary entrainment

... only time will tell ...

... in the decades to come we will more be able to see the long term aesthetics and sensibilities between the organic possibilities and the synthetic probabilities in the modes of our actual behavior.

There is no argument that spirit is always spirit, and that under any material, influence, good, bad, or indifferent ... there can be revelation ...

Visionary Shame

Unending worry ... ‘from those safe and secure
shaky-ground relish ... ‘magic ... abstract ... ‘obscure
Pragmatic puzzle ... ‘of forgotten faith
profession {s} of worth ... ‘all that one say’ eth

Plea-pausing pleasure ... ‘the murder of might ... {strength}
graceless ... ‘erratic ... confusing ‘but flight
Rip-roaring rigid ... ‘mindless ... at ease
‘flow-filling restful ... ‘unto death if you please

Bed-ridden flight plan ... ‘non-stop ... unbound
soar-sullen silence ... ‘internalized sound
As silly as wise ... ‘as somber as roar
‘all answers aside ... so far off shore

Balancing tilt ... ‘rocking chair flay … {aged}
so far no wiser ... ‘just more innocence stray
Lip-lizard jolt ... through Datura dirt ... {Castenada – Entheogenic }
“Mescalito” perturbed ... {Peyote deity} ... by the heartless that flirt ... {with disaster}

Earthen ‘ole sense ... of roots ever known
‘sky-flying martyr ... no measure shown
Essence re-arranged ... ‘each version a score ...
‘lords over all that is better ... ‘peasants who know only more

Pirate pizazz ... ‘slink-sliding sway
“cut-throat” most cordial ... when rum-stunk’ in gay
Scholar … ‘nor prince ... where lady-lore ly
passions prestige ... ‘affords by and by

Feel good till frozen ... ‘as moments undone
‘a softened-sore section ... of pearl-poison fun
A hard-hurting helping ... of hip-hanging sloth
to pamper … ‘or nurture ... fig leaf ... ‘nor cloth

Fixtures of fiction ... ‘courting-caught … ‘cry
selfless-cost glory ... ‘lost on the sly
Diagramed dirt ... ‘smoke signal confirmed ...
as Shaman of shame ... ‘danced away all to be learned

Pippalayana

Title Commentary:

"Visionary Shame" ... refers to lost wisdom of old … due to unqualified apprenticeship … the surrendering of the” Indigenous sense” for “modernization.

.

If you truly believe that the universe is merely chemical .. you are certainly welcome to that perspective.

There is no human that is the universe .. eyes or no eyes .. chemical processes tend to infatuate our more organic and indigenous sensibility in such regards .. such trippers wake up the next day after such "ravings" only to find more and more blindness .. hence the need for stronger and stronger extracts ... as is commonly seen ... never satisfaction in this way.

If those Shamans themselves are beginning to embrace such understandings then they are also welcome to such understandings. Give a Yogi opium and he will swear it helps his meditation.

I am at present 52 years old ... and to date ... there is not one chemical synthesis required for any material or spiritual benefit outside of what providential creation already more efficiently provides.

This is all I am saying ... there is no need to promote such things to me. All empirical research comes from sacrifice of intuition "by definition"

Those Shamans are no more free from the possibility of illusion than the rest of us in such regards.

This is not a judgment ... all cultures rise and fall as is the cyclic nature of things.

Modern humanistic influences are everywhere these days ... a sign of the times.

It is not a question of quantitative knowledge ... but merely qualitative aesthetic with the knowledge one has.

Enjoy your cultural experiment. I am glad you agree to "never" allow such to over ride the inherent perfection that already is, was, and will be.

Great article. As someone who has taken MDMA initially to enhance a musical experience, I have found that I've had the most profound insights into myself, my life and the processing of both good and bad emotions that come up while on the drug. I've been able to mentally 'let go' ,to bless and say good bye to people. This state has lasted beyond the 4 hours or so of a trip. It helps to align the mind in a way that I've never experienced in therapy or any other meditative practice. I used it sparingly but lovingly - thankful for the gift of transformation it has brought about in my life.