thoughts on the book

[toadvenom]

I just finished reading the book on the Web site and found it very inspirational. It's funny how far we travel in search of answers. Peyote brought me to Arizona from New Jersey. Peyote operates much like Ayahuasca in that it purifies the body and teaches through a physical experience first which then opens into the realm of heart and spirit. It is truly healing medicine for the body, the heart, and the soul.

I particularly liked the reference to Shakespeare and Joyce and "the deeper meaning of the artist's quest for immortality." Wow. That really seems... possible. I wonder what this concept implies about the human being that was Jesus Christ. (Who, by the way, I don't believe actually died on the cross - the ultimate cosmic joke on the masses.) Who are we if we are not remembered?

I also enjoyed reading the reference to Francoise Barbira Freedman and how she had to end her apprenticeship because "From then on, if she continued learning, she would have to constantly protect herself from sorcerors and malevolent spirits by magical means." She was "in the game." I often wonder about my own psychedelic fear - is it possible that I don't know how to defend myself within the uncharted territory of my own psyche?

Lastly, the socio/economic/political commentary regarding the natives of South America and the evils that our materialistic/consumer societies inflict upon them so clearly demonstrates how out-of-balance we are. Humans no longer steward the Earth for future generations, but instead, consume it with such zeal as to render it almost completely fouled in our own life times. Plant teachers may be the only hope of illumination for the future of mankind on this planet. :D

[ October 22, 2002, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: toadvenom ]

[daniel]

Hey Toadvenom,

Thanks for posting your thoughts on the website. I hope you get a chance to read the whole book, as it goes into these issues at much greater depth.

[geekhorde]

Well, I've just finished reading it myself. And I was going to have it as my staff recommendation (I work at a bookstore) last month, but our Community Relations Manager was doing this Young Students Recommends type thing, so I didn't get to.

But, I get to put them up for this month. How cool is that?

And yeah, the book is quite good. Very thought provoking. I think it's an important work.

[alienmindscape]

I just finished the book, and I really dug it, especially the DMT stuff. Here's one of my favorite quotes:

"Personally, I don't think the pure DMT flash is a journey we should take too many times; it feels intuitively threatening. But certainly we are meant to go see for ourselves, at least once or twice. The fact is that the portal exists. Not to explore it would mean denying out heritage of human curiosity."

Also like the way the history of psychedelics (including the outlawing of LSD), philosophical and spiritual ideas, and global politics are interwoven with a personal memoir.

"Breaking Open the Head," is the most interesting, fun, and comprehensive book on psychedelics I've read since some of Terence McKenna's writings.

I thought there could have been more of serious interest in the salvia department, such as a recounting of Daniel Siebert's first time chewing salvia quid with friends, and all of them seeing long lashed little creatures coming out of the hills. But, I've done most my experimenting with salvia, so it's almost impossible to satisfy me with savlia accounts. Personally, I've had experiences which I subjectively felt were after death journeys, including being immersed in the azure void (every bit as terrifying as described in the Bardol Thodol), so, I was looking for something over-the-top on salvia, but it didn't come out as a first string psychedelic, so to speak.

Also don't know where Daniel gets his DPT, but I've never had anything like the reaction he had. Maybe I need to snort more of it, or combine with an MAOI.

I can't expect everyone to have the same reactions to the same chemicals, or have the same preferences and opportunities (or lack thereof) as I have.

In short, the book is really great. I've recommended it to several people (and on internet forums).