The Entheogen Re-Evolution

by Stephen Shaw

It seems the world turns really slowly. Humans tend to favor evolution not revolution. A few thousand years ago, many ancient cultures displayed advanced knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, calendars, architecture, and construction (for example, the Maya in Mesoamerica). Modern humans tend to ‘rediscover’ and ‘reinvent’ technologies.

When it comes to psycho-emotional healing and spiritual transcendence, the ancient cultures were far ahead of our current knowledge-base and techniques. We are like spiritual children, excitedly rediscovering mystical mescaline (e.g. San Pedro cactus in Peru and peyote in Mexico) and powerful DMT (e.g. ayahuasca in Brazil and Peru). Today it seems everyone is flocking to the South American jungle in search of shamanic healing.

As discussed in my latest book, The Fractal Key, numerous and diverse entheogens are spread around the entire planet. They have been used across the globe for millennia in indigenous shamanic healing practices. There is nothing new under the sun. From the psychoactive blue lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) and mandrake herb (Mandragora officinarum) used by the Egyptians, to the white water lily (Nymphaea ampla), sacred mushrooms (Psilocybe mexicana and Psilocybe semperviva) and extensive psychedelic pharmacopoeia used by the Maya and their predecessors, to the ergot-based LSD-like potion called kykeon that was consumed at the Eleusinian Mysteries in Greece, to the secretive soma in India, to the iboga (Tabernanthe iboga) coming-of-age rituals initiated in Central Africa, to the psychoactive brew ayahuasca (a blend of the MAO-inhibiting vine Banisteriopsis caapi and the DMT-laden leafy plant Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana) of the Amazonian Indians.

For those of you new to this world, psychedelic means ‘mind-manifesting’ and entheogen means ‘meeting the divine within.’ Entheogen is the preferred term as it denotes the sacredness of the journeys. These natural catalysts facilitate profound psycho-emotional healing and retune your awareness to the vast array of multi-dimensional consciousness.

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