Psychedelic Culture

In order to better cope with the pressures and stresses of the current day, modern psychology is anxiously seeking to find new therapies to address the increasing disorders within the human psyche. In the process new fields of research, such as humanistic and transpersonal psychology, curiously appear to borrow more and more from the wisdom of the ages. This volume, containing eighteen articles by noteworthy expositors of the perennial philosophy such as Huston Smith, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and Frithjof Schuon, presents the spiritual psychology of the wisdom traditions as a much-needed antidote to the current impasse in modern psychology.

Some Endorsements for Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy:

“[Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy] is more than an anthology. It is a wisely crafted collection of classic and contemporary scholarship noting that what many are seeking is what has always been, a perennial philosophy, that remains foundational. As one of the authors, Tage Lindbom, properly notes, ‘Secularization is a fish in troubled waters.’ This book claims the waters and is essential reading for all those who may have forgotten or are simply ignorant of the rich foundation provided by the perennial philosophy.”
—Ralph W. Hood, Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, past president of the Psychology of Religion division of the American Psychological Association, co-founder of The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion and co-author of The Psychology of Religion

“A necessary and bracing critique of the assumptions and limitations of contemporary Western psychology, this generous volume is also a passionate call and learned guide towards a truer perspective that embraces man's spiritual nature.”
—Gabor Maté, M.D., and author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction

“Knowing the nature of the mind is perhaps the most difficult undertaking, especially in today’s world. To comprehend the nature of mind one needs to turn to the domain of religion and spirituality. Yet the truth of the mind and its complexity cannot explicitly be defined in words. Inner or transcendent wisdom sees the mind’s own nature without the duality of the seer. Suchness (tathatā) of mind is only experiential and not expressible. The words used to describe thought are themselves a product of thought, which is conditioned and limited. Thus, differences and contradictions are unavoidable. Therefore, a comparative study of different viewpoints and commentaries is immensely important to awaken the inner intelligence to see the mind as it is. Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy: Studies in Comparative Religion edited by Samuel Bendeck Sotillos is an outstanding effort in this direction.”
—Samdhong Rinpoche, former Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, author of Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World: Tibetan Buddhism and Today’s World

“The rise of psychology has impacted the study and practice of spirituality, the experiences and attitudes relevant to ultimate human values that transcend ordinary behavior. Each chapter of this remarkable book demonstrates this interaction in a unique and provocative way. But rather than using psychology to reduce and ‘psychologize’ spiritual topics, its authors demonstrate how directives from the spiritual traditions can enhance and even illuminate the enduring importance of psychology in the 21st century.”
—Stanley Krippner, Saybrook University, co-author of Spiritual Dimensions of Healing

“The work at hand is a thinking and debating man’s delight. If you have any interest at all in attempting to include an educated and enlightened view of man’s higher functions in your purview of the world, you will learn from and enjoy this collection of essays. If you already have some knowledge in this area, brace yourself: you may see some of your favorites sharply criticized. A thought-provoking work.”
—Bruce W. Scotton, University of California, San Francisco, co-editor of Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology

“This book, superbly edited by Samuel Bendeck Sotillos, is a masterful critique of the field of psychology and its loss of the sacred ground in which it once was rooted. It offers depth psychologists an opportunity to contemplate timeless truths echoed through the centuries by perennial philosophers who have always claimed psyche is subordinate to Spirit. Although ignored in depth psychology’s early years due to prejudice and lack of understanding, this is a message today’s psychotherapists must take seriously. Human beings need a deeper and wider transpersonal vision of who and what we are, which the saints and sages of the world’s spiritual traditions have always pointed to. In psychotherapy with a therapist committed to such a vision, patients penetrate into their unconscious depths and not infrequently awaken to the Ground of all Being. Their suffering itself occurred because they had turned away from Spirit. Above all, this volume passionately calls upon depth psychology to remember its origin in the perennial wisdom at the core of the great religions. There is something of a polemic in these pages. It deserves to be considered by depth psychologists of all persuasions.”
—Bryan Wittine, Transpersonal psychologist and Jungian psychoanalyst

“This anthology from Samuel Bendeck Sotillos is a must reference for anyone who is interested in psychology and its relationship to spirituality, and in developing an inclusive dialogue between disciplines that favor an integral outlook on the person and his or her potential. Selections in this anthology will inspire us to reexamine the metaphysical underpinnings of psychology, and remind us how important it is to rise above science’s attempt to reduce the human being to an epistemic object.”
—Sangeetha Menon, National Institute of Advanced Studies (Bangalore, India), Board Member of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA), author of The Beyond Experience: Consciousness in Bhagavad Gita

“This anthology has some of the most discerning essays and reviews on spirituality and psychology, which provide much-needed care and caution to all those engaged in bringing them together or who wish to do so in future. Therefore, it is a must-read for all those who teach, research, consult, or study in such frontier areas as transpersonal psychology, states of consciousness, mind-body relation, holistic health, Indian psychology, and so on. It will be an invaluable textbook for courses in these and other related areas. I congratulate the editor of the book.”
—Kiran Kumar K. Salagame, University of Mysore (India), Board Member of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA), author of The Psychology of Meditation: A Contextual Approach

“One of the finest collections of essays on the Perennial Philosophy—a must-read for all psychologists who are engaged with spirituality and transpersonal psychology. The essays which critique modern psychology (including transpersonal psychology, and the framework of Carl Jung), in the light of the Perennial Philosophy are a revelation and make compelling reading. The book serves as a corrective to the excesses of modern psychology, and to this end Sotillos has done a commendable job. I for one will include the book in some of the graduate courses that I teach.”
—Suneet Varma, University of Delhi, co-editor of Foundations of Indian Psychology

“To its credit modern science by-and-large is becoming more cognizant of the essential connection between spirituality and psychological health and well-being and most of all its positive implications within the field of psychology. While there is ample data to document this in a plethora of academic journals and books, this new book Psychology and the Perennial Philosophy adds a novel contribution to the dialogue between psychology and spirituality, which captures many nuances that for the most part go unnoticed within these discussions, and last but not least, it provides a keen eye of discernment to understand this intricate relationship on a deeper level that is crucially needed. This work will be a valuable asset to students and long term mental health practitioners and professors alike who seek to better understand the relationship between psychology and spirituality.”
—Harold G. Koenig, Duke University, Director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, co-author of The Handbook of Religion and Health

From ecodelic triplit, the peyoteros’ sense of place, interspecies communication and animistic healing to ecocentric entheogenic rituals, psychedelic bioregionalism, biogenetic structuralist ecopsychology and transpersonal ecosophy – this special issue of the EJE explores the verdant intersection between neurobiology and botany, shamanism and animism, and psychology and ecology, fusing mind with Nature in a boiling cauldron full of entheogenic insight.

This paper investigates the relationship between psychoactive substances and so-called paranormal phenomena falling within the study of parapsychology. It is primarily concerned with extrasensory perception (ESP)—telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance—as well as out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and near-death experiences (NDEs). Psychokinesis (PK), aura vision, encounter experiences, and sleep paralysis only make a very limited contribution to this review as they are seldom related to psychoactive drugs within the parapsychological literature. The paper borrows widely, but by no means exhaustively, from parapsychology as well as transpersonal studies, anthropology, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and neurobiology, particularly neurochemistry. It is organized into neurochemical models of paranormal experience (section 1), field reports of intentional and spontaneous phenomena incorporating anthropological, historical and clinical cases, and personal accounts (section 2), surveys of paranormal belief and experience (section 3), experimental research (section 4), and a methodological critique of the experimental research with recommendations for further work (section 5).

A deep study of the magical aspects of ritual, both anthropological, social as wel a psychological. Various models about how rituals works, how the mind deals with magic, how rituals help to overcome time and space limitations, can help in transformation. The importance of rituals as social, transformational, but also as magical acts. New theories about ritual efficacy, the nature of time, and how the mind deals with rituals. Endorsed by prof. Stan Krippner and Prof. Cees Hamelink. 820 pages, totally original vision on ritual.

Several pilot studies have provided evidence supporting the potential of classic psychedelics like psilocybin in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). If larger trials confirm efficacy, classic psychedelic-assisted psy- chotherapy may eventually be integrated into existing addiction treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and medication-assisted therapies. Many individuals seeking treatment for SUDs also join twelve-step facilitation (TSF) programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which are among the most widely available and accessed treatments for alcohol use disorder worldwide. For such individuals, engaging in clas- sic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy could be seen as controversial, as members of AA/TSF programs have historically rejected medication-assisted treatments in favor of a pharmacotherapy-free approach. We argue that classic psychedelics and the subjective experiences they elicit may represent a special, more compatible case than conventional medications. In support of this claim, we describe Bill Wilson’s (the founder of AA) little known experiences with psychedelics and on this basis, we argue that aspects of classic psychedelic treatments could complement AA/TSF programs. We provide a review of clinical trials evaluating psychedelics in the context of SUDs and discuss their potential large-scale impact should they be ultimately integrated into AA/TSF.

Terence McKenna argued that sovereignty over one’s consciousness is the next great civil rights struggle after sexism, racism, and homophobia. “Coming out” about one’s psychedelic identity, interests, and/or experiences is an important part of redefining the public perception of psychedelics and of those who choose to experience their effects. Even non-using “allies” (comparable to LGBTQ allies) can join the conversation in supportive roles. In light of the shifting legal status of psychoactive plants and chemicals, what might it mean to identify as psychedelic in a post-prohibition world?

The objective of this thesis is to further comprehend the social world of people working with psychedelic substances today, whether for traditional, scientific, or experimental reasons. Moreover, it seeks to understand how identity and conflicts arise within this social world, how these are forged by the discourses guiding the practices and needs, and how that ultimately identifies and differentiates divergent actors. Through the qualitative research models of grounded theory and situational analysis, it will be shown how these identities, discourses, ideologies, practices, and needs, which characterize the different actors, directly influence the relationships of cooperation and conflict in the psychedelic social world. Finally, I offer a brief analysis on conflict resolution and cooperation dynamics happening today within the psychedelic arena.

Letcher, A. (2022, February). In the twinkling of an eye: A brief history of the magic mushroom. Invited talk for the Psychedelicacies Salon at the Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities & Last Tuesday Society (online), 10th February. Hosted and curated by David Luke & Maya Bracknell Watson.

https://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/event/in-the-twinkling-of-an-eye-by-andy-letcher-on-zoom/

Te study maps a unique theme of film history — the corpus of arthouse films produced by the pharmaceutical company Sandoz. Te Sandoz laboratories, founded in 1886, were the first to synthetize LSD and engaged in its research and production until as late as 1960s, the period during which the films under question were produced. Since the end of 1950s, the company even featured a specialized institution, Cinémathèque Sandoz, which was in charge of the production of specific artistic works with fine arts qualities. Ciné-mathèque Sandoz brought together a group of remarkable personalities –e.g., the man of letters and fine artist Henri Michaux, the director Éric Duvivier, the nephew of Julien Du- vivier, or the director Jean-Daniel Pollet — and thus created, from the both period and contemporary perspective, a unique platform for the production of arthouse films. Te study introduces an interdisciplinary exploration of the surprising, yet underresearched phenomenon of film history, which combines seemingly inconsistent fields, such as surre-alist film, pharmaceutical industry, the production of Henri Michaux, and the production of LSD.

The underground has always existed. There has always been information that was not popular with the establishment. Despite the efforts of those in power to hide certain knowledge from the people, certain advances in the creation and dissemination of media have allowed disparate views to enter the mainstream. From the Library of Alexandria (the first incarnation of the internet) to Gutenberg's creation of a system of disseminating information more quickly than scribes could dream of, with each increase in the speed and simplicity of freeing up information there has been a revolutionary change in science, the arts, philosophy and politics. The 20th century has witnessed several of these revolutionary advances in information sharing. With the advances in culture and the revolutions in the arts and sciences there has been a rise in the popularity of certain forms of underground literature. From the experimental and explosive literature of the Beatniks to the music of the hippies and beyond to the present day, underground art has been leaking into the mainstream collective unconscious at an exponentially increasing speed. The increasing popularity of independent and underground music, movies, zines and culture (or sub-culture) have created a separate world of information and ideas that are not part of the mainstream culture. Now with the internet anyone can make their ideas available to the world. This has created a new format for the spread of underground literature , news and art that would not be made available in the much less interactive mainstream media. The internet is a new medium not only for the spread of information and art but for networking these subcultures. It may be the tool that allows the subcultures to slowly spread to the mainstream, bridging the information gap created by the corporate free press and corporate advertainment. In Celtic society, the Bardic class, the poets and musicians, were assigned a place of great power Great rulers could be deposed by a properly phrased satiric verse, juvenal exposed the truth behind the myth in classical Roman society through poems that simply told it like it was. Since then, poets and artists have had an important effect upon the culture of the times. The artists are the critics of culture and the visionaries that open up possibilities for the future. In the past century, the underground literary tradition has taken up this vein in creating new possibilities for the future. As we enter the digital age, where information takes an even greater role in the formation of the present and future, the underground literary tradition will have an even more important role, and with the aid of the internet the ideas of the underground can be freely spread to the people. It was the age of the Red Scare. America was united in conformity and one of the major tools used to create this conformity was the new mass media. Hollywood and television served as powerful propaganda tools. The American way of life had been standardized. American values were uniform. Either you were American (a God-loving believer in free enterprise devoted to simple suburban life) or you were a commie pinko fag. The 50's was a frightening example of how easily America could become a fascist state. Blind patriotism and hatred of a common enemy were benchmarks of the age of Father Knows Best and McCarthy. Orson Welles and other thinkers ahead of their time were blacklisted and pushed to the fringes of the mainstream. Far below the mainstream, however, a group of revolutionary thinkers and artists were releasing information that would create an intellectual explosion and which influenced the underground of the following generations.

Entheogenic Plant Sentience – A private symposium. Tyringham Hall, September 2015. (Curator and compère)

Video trailer for the event: https://vimeo.com/156248371

Anton Bilton, Dr David Luke & Rory Spowers
Introduction from the hosts and curators

Dr Graham St John
The Pineal Enigma: The Dazzling Life and Times of the ‘Spirit Gland’

Dr Dennis J. McKenna
Is DMT a Chemical Messenger from an Extraterrestrial Civilization?

Dr Jeremy Narby
Amazonian Perspectives on Invisible Entities

Peter Meyer
Concerning the Nature of the DMT Entities and their Relation to Us

Dr Erik Davis
How to Think about Weird Beings

Dr Ede Frecska
The Second Foundation of Knowledge, True Visions, and Plant Sentience

Dr Andrew Gallimore
The Neurobiology of Conscious Interaction with Alternate Realities and Their Inhabitants

Dr Rupert Sheldrake
Morphic Resonance, Psychedelic Experiences and Collective Memory

Dr Rick Strassman
The Nature of the DMT Beings: Perspectives and Prospects

Graham Hancock
Psychedelics, Entities, 'Dark Matter' and Parallel Dimensions

Dr Rick Strassman
The Nature of the DMT Beings: Perspectives and Prospects

Dr David Luke
Entheogenic plant sentience and DMT entities: A summary of what we think we know

Mark and I had a good relationship, however, we also had many bumps in the road and sometimes those bumps become mountains that you can no longer climb up or even try to. MDMA (or Ecstasy) melted the mountains so you could see the one you Love on the other side. It didn’t resolve the problems; it simply removed them completely. I saw Mark for the first time again. I saw him like the moment I first laid eyes on him seven years prior, actually I probably saw him even more clearly and more beautifully than I had ever seen him before. I absolutely had no doubt that he loved me completely and I him. It wasn’t based on what we did or didn’t do for one another; it was simply deep and abiding Love.

Este articulo esta enfocado en el uso de la secrecion psicoactiva del Bufo alvarius. Esta práctica que crece en popularidad actualmente lleva consigo riesgos y controversias, así que para amplificar el conocimiento sobre el uso tradicional de este preparado revisamos sistemáticamente los textos indizados por PubMED, Web of Science y Scopus. Posteriormente hicimos la reseña literaria y buscamos evidencia sobre el uso ritual de anuros en los códices precolombinos y libros de misioneros y conquistadores. Nuestros resultados demuestran que no existe evidencia literaria sobre la tradicion de uso ritual de Bufo alvarius. Los rituales organizados en el ultimo tiempo son productos basados en la invencion neo chamanica. EnglishThis article focuses on the use of Bufo alvariuspsychoactive secretions. This practice that is growing in popularity nowadayscarries with it risks and controversies. To amplify the knowledge about the traditional use of this preparation, we systematicallyreview the t...

Exploring Psychedelic Trance and Electronic Dance Music in Modern Culture investigates the expansive scope of Electronic Music Dance Culture (EMDC), the rise of Psychedelic Trance culture, and their relationship with new digital platforms. Drawing from perspectives in sociology, anthropology, psychology, aesthetics and the arts, religious studies, information technologies, multimedia communication, shamanism, and ritualism, this book also analyzes the impact of new technologies on individual and collective behaviors in cyberspace. This innovative reference source is ideal for use by academicians, researchers, upper-level students, practitioners, and theorists.

Main topics covered: EDMC, Alternative Culture, Electronic Music Festivals, Virtual Festivals, Ethnography, Music and Religion, Psychedelic Culture, Psytrance, Rave Culture (...)

This unique event features a variety of panel discussions and presentations from leading figures in the field, focused on cutting-edge topics in areas of psychedelic research, including: therapeutic application and integration; issues of diversity, equity, and access; women in psychedelic and healing spaces; and psychedelics, spirituality, and the future of religion.

https://retreat.pacifica.edu/psychedelia/

others • Explores DMT beings, plant sentience, interspecies communication, discarnate consciousness, dialoguing with the divine, the pineal gland, the Amazonian shamanic perspective on Invisible Entities, and the science behind hallucinations Encounters with apparently sentient beings are reported by half of all first time users of the naturally occurring psychedelic DMT, yet the question of DMT beings and plant sentience, interspecies communication, discarnate consciousness, and perhaps even dialoguing with the divine has never been systematically explored. In September 2015, ten of the world's leading luminaries noted for exploring the mysterious compound DMT (dimethyltryptamine) gathered with other researchers at Tyringham Hall in England to discuss the subject. Over three days, they pooled their expertise from a wide range of subjects-archaeology, anthropology, religious studies, psychology, neuroscience, chemistry, and psychopharmacology, to name a few-to explore the notion of "entheogenic plant sentience" and the role of DMT as a conduit between Spirit and Matter. Offering cutting-edge insights into this visionary domain, this book distills the potent exchange of ideas that occurred at Tyringham Hall, including presentations and discussions on DMT entities , the pineal gland that houses the Spirit Molecule, the possibility of DMT as a chemical messenger from an extraterrestrial civilization, the Amazonian shamanic perspective on Invisible Entities, morphic resonance, and the science behind hallucinations. Contributors to the talks and discussions include many leading thinkers in this field, including among many others. David Luke, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Greenwich and a guest lecturer at the University of Northhampton. He has published over 100 academic papers on tran-spersonal experiences and altered states of consciousness and regularly gives public lectures and conference presentations. A cofounder and director of Breaking Convention, a biennial international conference on psychedelic research, he lives in East Sussex, England. Rory Spowers is an ecological writer, filmmaker, and author. He is the founder of The Web of Hope, a UK charity and ecological education resource, and the creative director for the Tyringham Initiative. He lives in Ibiza, Spain.

Mike Jay (31st January, 2012) - High society: Mind-altering drugs in history and culture. The Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness Salon, The Institute of Ecotechnics, October Gallery, Bloomsbury, London. (Host and compère)

Video of lecture here:
https://vimeo.com/38102089

Drawing on themes and images from the exhibition he curated at the Wellcome gallery in 2010-11, Mike will survey humanity's engagement with psychoactive plants and chemicals and explore why 'drugs' have developed such a controversial image in the modern West.

Wprowadzenie do pop psychedelii - hybrydy sztuki, mody i marketingu, która stała się popularna pod koniec lat 60. na skutek absorpcji kultury psychedelicznej przez mainstream. Omówienie reprezentacji w filmie autorskim, filmie gatunkowym, kinie eksploatacji, muzyce i reklamie.

Psychedelic drugs are making a comeback. In the mid-twentieth century, scientists actively studied the potential of drugs like LSD and psilocybin for treating mental health problems. After a decades-long hiatus, researchers are once again testing how effective these drugs are in relieving symptoms for a wide variety of psychiatric conditions, from depression and obsessive–compulsive disorder to posttraumatic stress disorder and substance addiction. In Acid Revival, Danielle Giffort examines how this new generation of researchers and their allies are working to rehabilitate psychedelic drugs and to usher in a new era of psychedelic medicine.

As this team of researchers and mental health professionals revive the field of psychedelic science, they are haunted by the past and by one person in particular: psychedelic evangelist Timothy Leary. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews with people working on scientific psychedelia, Giffort shows how today’s researchers tell stories about Leary as an “impure” scientist and perform his antithesis to address a series of lingering dilemmas that threaten to rupture their budding legitimacy. Acid Revival presents new information about the so-called psychedelic renaissance and highlights the cultural work involved with the reassembly of dormant areas of medical science.

This colorful and accessible history of the rise, fall, and reemergence of psychedelic medicine is infused with intriguing narratives and personalities—a story for popular science aficionados as well as for scholars of the history of science and medicine.

Julian Vayne  (29th September, 2010) – Drugs and Magic: The Chemicals of Chaos. The Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness Salon, The Institute of Ecotechnics, October Gallery, Bloomsbury, London. (Host and compère)

In this talk entitled 'The Chemicals of Chaos' Julian will introduce the heady brew that is bubbling in the cauldron of his next literary work. By exploring the Book of Nature, and privileging direct experience over scriptural knowledge, the magician, the artist and the scientist are all engaged in a radical project. This project is political dynamite, hence the necessity for secrecy and conspiratorial action. Chaos magic is an expression of this same drive for direct illumination, aiming as it does for gnosis through practices culled from many different spiritual traditions. The use of psychoactive chemicals are one such technique for plugging directly into the numinous that obviate the need for gods, guides or gurus, and this may be why both left and right wing governments want to see them banned.
So come and join in a mystical tour that starts in prehistory, shadows the story of the Knights Templar, hides in the Invisible College and finally bursts into view with the discovery of LSD. You have nothing to loose but your mind...

As William Blake's work stretches beyond its textual realm and transcends the time and place of its creation, it finds a home in 1960s America's music scene, where its popular reception and transformation by artists such as Jim Morrison and Allen Ginsberg needs further investigation. The spirit of rebellion, as well as the visionary and hallucinatory character of the English bard's poetry has proven to be an endless source of inspiration for stars such as Morrison, who named his famous counter-culture band " The Doors " after a Blakean quote from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, referring to the opening towards the Infinite. Another notable transmedia adaptation is that of Allen Ginsberg, a self-proclaimed Blake disciple who trusted that the only way to reach true poetry was through music. Consequently, he set the Songs of Innocence and of Experience to music and released them as an album, giving them a contemporary voice and sound. This paper will present a different, less examined facet of four American psychedelic songs – The Doors' " Break on Through " and " End of the Night " , as well as Allen Ginsberg's " The Sick Rose " and " Ah! Sunflower " – by using David Bolter and Richard Grusin's concept of remediation, as it appears in their work Remediation: Understanding New Media (2000). However, instead of applying remediation to the online realm, its double logic of immediacy and hypermediacy will be helpful in analysing the re-embodiment of poetry into music. If the latter is present in the musicians' mediation by their production companies, performances, album covers, textual information, as well as the imprint of the music industry that supports them, the concept of immediacy is rendered rather differently. While Jim Morrison completely integrates William Blake's lines into his song and brings the listener closer to the experience, as if personally having gone through the journey beyond the doors of perception, Allen Ginsberg erases his compositional input by maintaining he could reach Blake's intention and render the songs in the way they had been originally sung by their author.

The paper discusses how the term "mysticism" entered the discourse on hallucinogens. This is followed by an examination of the conceptualization of mysticism by important representatives of the psychedelic movement, such as Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) and Timothy Leary (1920-1996). Filter theory is presented as a central doctrine shaping the psychedelic movement. The second part addresses the debate on the relationship between drug experience and mystical experience, focusing on Walter N. Pahnke (1931-1971), Robert C. Zaehner (1913-1974), and Frits Staal (1930-2012).

El rock progresivo fue un estilo muy versátil originado en Inglaterra a finales de los 60 y caracterizado, principalmente, por la complejidad formal, la fusión estilística, la destreza instrumental y un acercamiento a las músicas académicas. España no fue ajena a esta estética, articulando una escena propia que integraba tanto los patrones más arquetípicos de la estética anglosajona como novedosos elementos autóctonos procedentes, en su mayoría, de la música tradicional. En el presente artículo se realiza un pormenorizado estudio de las características del rock progresivo en la España de los 70, partiendo del análisis musical como metodología principal, situando el fenómeno en su contexto cultural y determinando la importancia de un repertorio que aún hoy continúa vigente.

Progressive rock is a very versatile style that originated in England at the end of the 1960s and is mainly characterised by formal complexity, stylistic fusion, instrumental dexterity and its closer relationship to art music. Spain was not indifferent to this aesthetic, presenting its own version of the most archetypal patterns of both the Anglo-Saxon aesthetic and local elements, most of which were taken from traditional music. In this article the author conducts an in-depth study of the characteristics of progressive rock in Spain during the 1970s, using music analysis as its main methodology, setting the phenomenon in its cultural context and determining the importance of a repertory that still prevails today.

This article explores some of the myriad connections between geometric visuals, magic, and altered states of consciousness, more specifically looking at the colocation of geometric visuals and experiences of intermediary beings. The main focus here is on how geometric visuals relate to the consciousness experiments and magical practices of American author William Burroughs (1914–1997) and his Swiss-English collaborator Brion Gysin (1916–1986). Such an analysis will also dive into the broader intellectual currents that influenced Burroughs and Gysin’s uses of geometry, yielding more abstract conceptions of how geometry relates to altered states of consciousness and intermediary beings. Furthermore, understanding how geometric manipulation of the mind works has important consequences for multiple fields outside of the history of esotericism, including market-oriented disciplines like architecture and industrial design. As such, this essay proposes that the historical study of esotericism can promote and conduct itself as an interdisciplinary space that communicates the value of its data to market-oriented fields through “material approaches” to religion à la Birgit Meyer.

Graham Hancock (26th May, 2009) – Supernatural: Did psychedelic experiences make our ancestors human? The Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness Salon, The Institute of Ecotechnics, October Gallery, Bloomsbury, London. (Host and compère)

Modern technological societies value only the alert, problem-solving state of consciousness, and have demonised trance states brought on by the consumption of psychedelic drugs. But in his book Supernatural, the background to his talk at the October Gallery, Graham Hancock presents staggering new information that experiences induced by plant hallucinogens may have played a vital role in the evolution of our species – opening our ancestors to supernatural realms and making us truly human for the first time. It all happened very recently.

Less than 50,000 years ago mankind had no art, no religion, no sophisticated symbolism, no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic and electrifying change, described by scientists as ‘the greatest riddle in human history’, all the skills and qualities that we value most highly in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though bestowed on us by hidden powers. In his lecture, Graham Hancock sets out to investigate this mysterious ‘before-and-after moment’ and to discover the truth about the influences that shaped the modern human mind. His quest takes him on a journey of adventure and detection from the stunningly beautiful painted caves of prehistoric France, Spain and Italy to remote rock shelters in the mountains of South Africa where he finds a treasure trove of extraordinary Stone Age art.

He uncovers clues that lead him to travel to the depths of the Amazon rainforest to drink the powerful plant hallucinogen Ayahuasca with Indian shamans, whose paintings contain images of ‘supernatural beings’ identical to the animal-human hybrids depicted in prehistoric caves and rock shelters. And Western laboratory volunteers placed experimentally under the influence of hallucinogens such as mescaline, psilocybin and LSD also report visionary encounters with exactly the same beings. Scientists at the cutting edge of consciousness research have begun to consider the possibility that such hallucinations may be real perceptions of other ‘dimensions’.

Could it be that the human brain is not just a generator of consciousness, but also a receiver of consciousness, and could the ‘supernaturals’ first depicted in the painted caves and rock shelters be the ancient teachers of mankind? This new approach strongly suggests that human evolution is not just the ‘blind’, ‘meaningless’ process that Darwin identified, but something else, more purposive and intelligent, that we have barely even begun to understand. By criminalising and demonising the consumption of psychedelic drugs it may even be that our societies are blocking off the next vital step in the evolution of our species.

Ibogaine is a hallucinogenic alkaloid, derived from Tabernanthe iboga, a plant unique to the rainforests of West Africa. Its traditional use as an epiphanic sacrament in local magico-religious practice inspired its appropriation by Western drug addicts by whom it is now hailed as both a catalyst of psychospiritual insight and an effective alleviator of cravings and withdrawal. While scientific and early clinical studies confirm its role in reducing physical withdrawal and craving, debate continues concerning the significance of its "visionary" properties. An analysis of many addicts' testimonies of recovery, however, places the visionary experience at center stage. I set out to understand mechanisms of transformation and healing, via a comparative phenomenological exploration of this experience, through the opposing lenses of psychoanalysis and cultural constructivism. I propose that at the heart of the healing encounter is a culturally shaped creative journey to an imaginal unspoilt state in personal or collective history. How this experience is recovered and integrated into life is critically considered. I argue a secular account is vital as the ibogaine scene strives toward social and medical legitimacy. If and how such a framework can sit alongside spontaneously emergent spiritual and religious idioms and experience will also be tentatively explored. k e y w o r d s : Ibogaine, social constructionism, psychoanalytic anthropology, phenomenology, neurophenomenology

Mike Crowley (30th October, 2012) - Stoned peacocks and blue-throated gods. The Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness Salon, The Institute of Ecotechnics, October Gallery, Bloomsbury, London. (Host and compère)


Video of lecture here:
https://vimeo.com/53116835

Drawing upon myth, folklore and Sanskrit word-play, Mike Crowley demonstrates that the peacock was used in both Hinduism and Buddhism as a symbol for psychedelic mushrooms, particularly those which bruise blue, such as Psilocybe cubensis. This hypothesis offers an explanation for the association of peacocks with amrita (the tantric psychedelic sacrament) and various deities (Amitabha, Mahamayuri, Janguli, et al.). It also may account for the curious name of a Shaiva monastic order known as matta-mayuri ("the intoxicated peacocks"). While this is the main focus of the talk, it may well provide a jumping-off point for other topics covered in the book Secret Drugs of Buddhism.

This chapter examines the relevance of multimedia technologies in Psychedelic Trance gatherings, exploring its technical, sensory and spiritual convergence. Technology devices have always been a part of our lives, from the first artefacts of early humanity to the most sophisticated of our era, where technology has taken control of some aspects of our lives. In the late twentieth century, a new stage of history characterized by the transformation of our material culture through mechanisms of a new technological paradigm started. We live in communion with all kinds of technologies that complement and extend us in most of our existential aspects, not only in a technical way but also a personal, emotional and even spiritual level. The electronic dance music and its relevance in modern cultures can be a reflexion of this reality, where new technologies and multimedia tools have awakened neo-ritual practices in Psychedelic Trance gatherings, evoking tribal experiences with shamanic foundations, and mediated by high-tech guide elements.

Draft bibliography for chapters 3 and 4 of a broader critique of psychedelic thought, continuing on from the 2010 book chapter "Seeing Snakes: on Delusion, Knowledge and the Drug Experience." Comments and suggestions welcome. Working abstracts to come.

Chapter 3:
Windows and Trapdoors:
Delusion, Epistemology and the Cognitive Impacts of Psychedelic Drug Use

Chapter 4:
The Peacock in the Mirror:
Altered States, Aesthetics and Creativity

ADDITIONS (15 August 2020, many thanks to Alan Piper)

Brian Pace "Lucy in the Sky with Nazis":
https://www.psymposia.com/magazine/lucy-in-the-sky-with-nazis-psychedelics-and-the-right-wing/

Alan Piper, "Strange Drugs Make for Strange Bedfellows"-
https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Drugs-Makes-Bedfellows-Psychedelics/dp/1514152517


Further additions (27 March 2021), concerning associations between users and advocates of psychedelic drugs, and extreme violent right wing groups and the January 6th 2021 insurrection in Washington, DC:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Angeli

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Nine_Angles

Not quite psychedelics; Nick Land, a 'continental philosopher,' and his amphetamines-inspired doctrine of violent political activism, is discussed in the article below.


Zack Beauchamp. "Accelerationism: the obscure idea inspiring white supremacist killers around the world. How a techno-capitalist philosophy morphed into a justification for murder. Updated Nov 18, 2019, 9:15am EST

https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/11/11/20882005/accelerationism-white-supremacy-christchurch

Jules Evans. "A Closer Look at the 'QAnon Shaman' Leading the Mob.' January 8th, 2021.

https://gen.medium.com/the-q-shaman-conspirituality-goes-rioting-on-capitol-hill-24bac5fc50e6


Addition 19 June 2021.

Shayla Love (interviewer),  "Do psychedelics just provide comforting delusions?" Interview with Chris Letheby. 9th June 2021.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7eb59/do-psychedelics-just-provide-comforting-delusions

Also note that Letheby's book appears in August 2021, not 2020, as stated in the draft bibliography.

It can be pre-ordered here:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/philosophy-of-psychedelics-9780198843122?cc=au&lang=en&

Addition: 27 June 2021.

Peter Sjöstedt-H. Noumentautics: Metaphysics, Meta-Ethics, Psychedelics. Essays by Peter Sjöstedt-H.Falmouth, Cornwall: Psychedelic Press, 2015.

A defense of the case for psychedelic enlightenment ("Myco-Metaphysics: a philosopher on magic mushrooms," pp.9-19), and absolute moral nihilism and rejection of the concept of moral progress ("Neo-Nihilism", pp. 75-98).

Author's website:

https://www.philosopher.eu/

Cosa resta di "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" a mezzo secolo dalla sua uscita? In che modo la Cloud Generation fruisce di questo capolavoro? Qual è il suo vero contenuto musicale? E ancora, è davvero l'apice della carriera dei Beatles e il disco più influente della storia? In occasione del suo cinquantesimo anniversario queste domande sono tornate alla ribalta, fra celebrazioni e riesami che spesso tuttavia cedono il passo al mito e alla nostalgia. Questo saggio nasce proprio per rispondere a tali quesiti attraverso un'approfondita analisi dell'album: i componenti elementari del linguaggio musicale (armonia, melodia, ritmo, ecc.) e quelli specifici della popular music (arrangiamento, registrazione, editing, produzione), le forme e gli stili, i testi. Il contributo dei singoli membri del gruppo e quello di George Martin; gli ingredienti realmente innovativi e quelli di continuità con il periodo precedente; il confronto con la musica del biennio 1966-'67; la Swinging London, l'LSD, l'India, e il loro vero impatto su sgt. pepper. Uno sguardo - e un ascolto - in profondità, al di là del mito, per comprendere e apprezzare l'essenza del più celebre disco di tutti i tempi, e capire quanto del suo messaggio arrivi ancora a noi: dal vinile a Spotify, dalla Summer of Love all'epoca dello streaming.