For all of human time we’ve been
bound to the systems of Nature—as it should be, because we are Nature. But
we are creatures of Nature who, by a mixed blessing, have developed intellect, and with it a sense of our
own importance that makes us
imagine that we’re separate, and that we function above and apart from the
mysterious intelligence of the natural world. Unfortunately, that self-centered
illusion and its rigid constructs of "reality" are the very source of
our collective and individual woes. I am separate from this world and its
mysteries…woe is my idea of me.
Modern medicine, particularly in
the field of pharmacology, has grown into a vast industry that services the
whole range of human aches and pains—from injuries and diseases, to existential
anxiety and despair—by furthering this illusion of separateness with
"scientific" solutions, counterattacks, and means of managing our
pain and depression. Yet, even in this misguided scientific sense, our true
path to healing is leading us back to an authentic 'magical' natural reality; to
an intuitive science of magical dimensions, and a natural recovery that can
deliver us from the downward spiral of our own “superiority.”
When Albert Hofmann, a Swiss
research scientist, accidentally happened upon the psychoactive effects of LSD
in 1943, he didn't discover a popular way for hippies to "tune in, turn
on, and drop out," instead he rediscovered a means to engage humanity's
most enduring and effective "alternative" medical solutions. These
were approaches of profound therapeutic potential to a variety of ailments,
because they didn't only treat the surface aspects of an illness or condition,
but the source of the dysfunction at its deepest, what you may call psychic and
spiritual origins.
At that time, there was a great deal of
excitement around the discovery of psychoactive compounds, as researchers began
exploring their efficacy as pharmacological tools for analytical psychotherapy.
Hofmann (who went on to isolate and name psilocybin), and other pioneers
of the field, like the German, Louis Lewin, began 'discovering'
naturally occurring entheogenic agents, like mescaline (peyote cactus), "sacred
datura" (Jimson weed), Ibogaine
(from the iboga plant), and DMT
(ayahuasca), and to synthesize other euphoric and empathogenic agents,
like MDMA (ecstasy), opening
the doors to their possible therapeutic applications.
This was nothing new to the oldest
cultures among us. The unique effectiveness of these naturally-occurring agents
in opening the human psyche to transformation was (and is) appropriately venerated
and employed by indigenous shamen ("witch doctors") through
the entirety of human history. They are considered to be plant teachers, sacred
gifts to humanity from the gods; and human beings are quite literally wired
for their use. When administered judiciously and appropriately, these generally
non-toxic, non-addictive agents of change inspire action along neural pathways
unique to what are known as "mystic" experiences of profound
religious, or spiritual realization, and are almost miraculously
effective in the treatment of many of our most painful human conditions—particularly
those that engage our feelings or fears (in other words, all of them).
The English psychiatrist, Humphry
Osmond (who even invented the term, psychedelic), while seeking to find
the link between these new "psychotomimetic" substances and
various states of psychosis, began giving experimental dosages of LSD to
hopeless alcoholics, but instead of simply showing a similarity between drug-induced
psychic states and destructive alcohol psychosis, the experiment produced an
entirely unexpected result. The alcoholics did something they could never do
before—they quit drinking. Through the magic of their therapeutically induced
mystical experiences, they had discovered a power in their life that was
greater, and more beneficially medicinal, to them than alcohol could ever be.
(This is the basic principle behind the 12-Step recovery movement started by
Alcoholics Anonymous, whose primary creator, Bill Wilson, was one of Dr.
Humphry's patients.)
Humphry had changed the direction
of treatment of psychiatric disorders from "aversive
counter-conditioning" to psychopharmacological therapeutic mysticism.
Western medicine was being merged back into shamanic healing.
But, as is the practice with our
predominant institutions of politics, science, business, and militarism, whose
power has been largely derived from the perpetuation of false solutions, the
discovery of the magical effectiveness of these sacred substances led only to
the desire to control them, analyze them, exploit them, or weaponize them.
Applying that twisted reason resulted in their suppression and criminalization.
The studies were halted in the early '60s. The solutions were redefined as
"problems." The naturally divine was officially proclaimed as
socially evil, and, using the over-zealous recreational misuse and
proselytizing of a handful of irresponsible experimenters as justification, all
of these sacred substances were classified as "Schedule 1, Controlled
Substances," the classification of the most dangerous, and addictive substances known to
society. Meanwhile, the truly most damaging and addictive substances, like
nicotine and alcohol, for example, remain completely unscheduled, and
their abuses marketed and profited from. Funny how that works, ain't it?
In the same way we are rapidly
returning to the realization that the sun, the wind, and the tides are clearer,
cleaner, more naturally effective providers of power, and that unprocessed,
organic, naturally-grown foods are better providers of our real nutritional
needs, we are finally being returned to a place of divine sanity, where these
totally natural solutions to some of our healthcare crises are finally being
reconsidered, and more importantly, funded for research efforts.
A new school of medicinal
psychedelic research, focusing on therapeutic 'mystical' states engendered by
carefully administered and mediated doses of psychoactive drugs, is
demonstrating the amazing effectiveness of these treatments in the most
pernicious cases of 'terminal diagnosis anxiety,' depression, alcoholism, and
addiction; or what one of the movements younger proponents, Dr. Stephen Ross of
the NYU Psilocybin Project, terms: "Orders of spiritual distress."
Following the lead of past
pioneers, like Drs. Stanislav Grof, Bill Richards, and Walter Pahnke at the
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, and leading to studies at Johns Hopkins,
led by Dr. Roland Griffiths, Dr. Ross detailed the results of all the studies
at a talk given recently at The New York Open Center's Art of Dying
Conference. The results are pretty far out, man.
In controlled experiments, 80% of
patients suffering from depression and profound end-of-life anxieties caused by
terminal cancer diagnoses (mostly mature women with breast cancer, who had no
prior experience with psychedelics), reported dramatic increases in
well-being. Zero patients reported little or no improvement. What's
more, 70% of patients called it "one of the top five most important life
experiences" they'd ever had, right up there with the birth of a
child, or the death of a parent. And to top it off, unlike the comparatively
short-lived benefits of other treatments, the effects—foremost among them being
a new and profound sense of relief and understanding, and feelings of
acceptance and unity—do not wear off over time.
This realization of a new
reality, of a previously unperceived dimension of spiritual healing,
appears to engender a permanent psychic shift for the better. And often, these
remarkable healings can take place after just one treatment session.
So what’s really at work here?
Let's go back to the top, where I suggested that our rigid model of the world
and our own self-importance is the underlying cause of all of our troubles.
Psychedelics reproduce, or invoke, a mystical, spiritual experience that can
smash apart those delusional constraints—the rigid, demanding models of the
'real' world that we, as imperfect natural creatures, can never hope to live up
to. They break through the patient's victimized ego, and reveal to them the
absolute unity of all life, and the nature and purpose of their very source,
which is Love. In the light of this transcendent realization, the
patient's new spiritual mentality allows an entirely different, healthier
vision of their life and circumstances. Perceptions change, emotions rise, and
life takes on new and profound meaning. Fear and depression lose their power –
for good.
“Psychedelics
are not a substitute for faith. They are a door to authentic faith, born of
encountering directly the sacred dimension of everyday experience.”
Rick Doblin, Multidisciplinary
Association for Psychedelic Studies
At last, this return to a ‘new,’
natural reality, and means of eliciting mystical experience to find health and
balance is happening all over. From the street clinics of Vancouver, to the
Peruvian “traditional medicine” recovery community Takiwasi, Ayahuasca, or
DMT has been used in the therapeutic treatment of addicts and alcoholics with
great success. Skillfully mediated doses open patients up, introducing them to
an extra-dimensional spirituality that can gently expose the simple realities
of their life experience, and let them deal with their problems. Living from
that transcendent power, their substance abuse is rendered completely
unnecessary.
MDMA (ecstasy) is being studied as
an agent of terminal relief for cancer patients at Harvard; and is being used
very successfully in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, where the
drug inspires feelings of trust and acceptance sufficient to allow the
reexamination of the events that were the cause of the original trauma. More
progress can be made in one day, than could be made in weeks of traditional
therapy.
These are only a couple examples of
the efficacy of psychedelics in treating life’s existential dis-eases. A quick
visit to the website of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic
Studies (MAPS) can supply you with lots of information about ongoing studies
and their remarkable results, as well as events, publications, items in the
news, and even the opportunity to support these very worthwhile causes.
…[Mescalito]
changes everything…he teaches us the right way to live. He helps and protects
those who know him.”
Don
Juan Matus, A Separate Reality
As a kid growing up in the Sixties on the outskirts of San
Diego near the Mexican border (and having read plenty of Carlos Castaneda), I
had my opportunities to experiment with various psychedelics, and—always in the
cradle of nature—I took them. I continued through an eventful (often very painful)
life, survived three near death experiences, and ultimately became a dedicated
meditator. Aside from all that, I’m a very normal guy, I promise. I’ve
personally found that those three types of experiences: psychedelics, NDEs, and
meditation, all share some spiritually-curative (extra-dimensional) aspects of
recovery and healing:
·
They teach the unity and connectedness of our shared
consciousness.
·
One is given a true sense of reverence, and the sacredness
of Life.
·
One becomes fully aware of the existence of an ultimate
reality, beyond our everyday lives (Love).
·
One becomes much more positive, joyful, and loving.
·
Time and space are transcended, with everything distilled
within each moment.
Now, I don’t recommend that everyone
run out and take drugs—these are sacred substances and experiences that require
a responsible approach—proper dosage, and skilled mediation. And, naturally, I
can’t recommend having three near death experiences, either, as happened to
yours truly. But if you want to realize this spiritual dimension where healing
and wholeness are always alive, take my advice and just meditate on it. If that doesn’t quite do it, consider a sacred
teacher. It may really just take one moment of divine clarity to heal a
lifetime of pain.
“Give
us one free miracle, and we’ll explain the rest.”
Terrence
McKenna
Read about this and much more in: How to Get to Heaven (Without Really Dying), Wisdom From a Near-Death Survivor from Llewellyn Worldwide available direct on this page, or online. The first book: How to Survive Life (and Death), A Guide To Happiness In This World and Beyond is available the same ways – but ask for it it at your local bookstore!
"The naturally divine was officially proclaimed as socially evil..."
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