http://www.gnosticmedia.com/
There's a lot in this video that will cause a stir, but for the most part I thought some of you might enjoy it.
-AM
I read a book by Terrance McKenna called "Food of the Gods" about the same subject. It was an attempt to link the origins of human consciousness to hallucinogenic mushrooms. Interesting theories.
I liked it for the most part, and agree with him that there is a correspondence with the way religious mythology described astrological patterns, and go as far as believing that ancient religions had shamanic plants as their revelatory vehicles, but where he lost me is when it seemed that (and this could just be my perception, please correct me if I'm wrong) what the author seems to be doing is shifting the 'divine avatar' away from the human vehicle (God as man) and assigning it to the mushroom vehicle. It comes down to taking down personality cult worship and turning into mushroom worship. That's where he lost me.
The way I understood the first part was a linking between Jesus and the sun with his 'as above so below' idea or 'as on earth as is in heaven'. He was linking a lot of what is said in the bible with incidents that are astrologically significant. In conjunction with the voice of Allegro (original translator of the dead sea scrolls) it raises the initial idea that the bible is to be taken metaphorically rather than literally; "What we are dealing with here is myth, not history. So why do these myths come about?".
Psychedelic mushrooms and compounds are a very interesting topic. DMT is the most hallucinogenic compound known to man. In terms of the experience, arguably the most powerful. It is a natural chemical released from the pineal gland in the brain during birth, death and dreaming. To me, these are very pinnacle points of the human psyche experience and a vast frontier that needs to be explored. Quite simply, with such claims they really have to be studied and understood. Too much curiosity has risen to just abandon experimental consumption. There has been lobbying for years to legalise testing of the hallucinogenic compounds. Personally I think the government is treading carefully because it doesn't want another hippie outbreak demanding human values during time of 'terror'.
He is basically linking Christ with actually being the mushroom. I'm not sure whether he still gives credence to the idea that Jesus, as a man, existed or not. For the most part I think the video actually tried to entertain the idea that the mushroom was Christ, or some kind of medium to that form of consciousness more to the point. So the mushroom is sacred in that case, but it is not the God itself. Psychedelic mushrooms, metaphorically, are almost becoming to 2012 believers what steroids are to bodybuilders. Controversial and fast impacting. Terrence Mckenna said 'It's not that I'm advocating the psychedelics, I just understand the immediacy necessary to our current situation." Not sure whether 2012 and Mr Olympia can be tied :lol:
It's an interesting theory. Mckenna really seems to be the head honcho in this field of ideas. His language is beautiful and so easy to understand. Makes short work of 'difficult' concepts. I've got 'The Archaic Revival' and 'The invisible landscape'. Love reading his material.
-AM
The chemical is the focus. With the mushrooms, it is Psyllicibin, or whatever. Naturally occuring in your body is another and that was extracted from corpses in the times of the Mayan and that is . . . Melatonin. That is made from the Seratonin excreted from the pineal gland. Everybody makes it to allow the brain light to shut down so they can sleep. The Mayans had made a chemical that mimicks Melatonin. Their civilization disappeared and the ancestors of the race remained which was the natives of the land. Some started using Peyote and other naturally occuring things like tobacco and some say marijuana. But, the chemical now that has caused much trouble in the Eastern world, especially areas around Turkey, Iran, and Iraq is poppy. You can see by looking at where the people are going and what has happened to every civilization that uses chemicals for any means that the use of anything that has to be introduced physically to your body will kill you and your civilization. Liquor is no different. Cigarettes are worse. Pot is like the happy way to remove yourself from the parade of generations.
I guess it's live it up for tommorrow we die!
I guess what I was trying to say is that even though I liked the fact that it analyzed christian mythology the way most anthropologists analyze any other religious mythology, but what I didn't like it is that it was trying to replace anthropocentric worship with vegetable worship. I just thought I'd clarify. When I said 'he lost me' I didn't mean I didn't understand, I meant I stopped buying it.
Interesting point.
When the term 'worship' is used to describe something in modern society, many turn away from those sets of beliefs immediately. I suppose the cultural gap between us and indigenous tribes leaves us perplexed at the reasons for plant worship. Psychedelic compounds were central to shamanistic practices and thus of very high importance to the tribe. Plants also had medicinal uses that tribes would utilize. It becomes easier to see why the tribe would put the mushroom on a pedestal.
I think the hardest part to grasp is really how what we consider to be hallucinations to somehow being linked to religious experiences. During the time of the hippies (psychedelic users), we had a call to protect the environment, self-expression and for everyone to love each other. Seems a little odd just coming from a plant.
The documentary stirs some curiosity in the study of psychedelics, more so than it does connecting religion with them.
-AM
I agree with much of what Terrence McKenna has to say. I experience much of what he talks about without the use of... well, supplements. I always thought everyone did for the longest time, so I never talked to anyone about it. I just thought it was normal. But things like synesthesia don't happen to everyone, apparently.
*sings* "You can learn a lot of things from the flowers..."