Showing posts with label hallucinogens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hallucinogens. Show all posts

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Jesus Christ took mystery cult drugs?

Painting of Jesus and his young Apostles smoking  (Generative AI | Magnific)
Dr. Ammon Hillman found abundant evidence Jesus used drugs to see "God"
The Chemical Muse (Hillman)
Classicist and Christian theologian Dr. Ammon Hillman says the historical Jesus took many entheogenic drugs as part of the mystery cult he formed with his very young apostles. This was in keeping with a long imperial Greek and Roman practice of mystery school initiations, like the famous Eleusinian Mysteries many great Western thinkers like Aristotle participated in for mystic visions, divine knowledge, and esoteric understanding.

So Jesus got high in Gethsemane and other places around ancient Palestine?

The Secret Eleusinian Mystery Cult (School) for drug initiation
Eleusinian Mysteries initiation: Plaque Campana, Initiation aux mystères d'Eleusis (Louvre)
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Cult worship of the Goddess Demeter
The Eleusinian rites, ceremonies, and beliefs, like those of other "mystery schools," were kept secret on pain of death and consistently preserved from antiquity [6].

For the initiated, the rebirth of the Greek Goddess Persephone symbolized the eternity of life that flows from generation to generation, and they believed that they would have a reward in the afterlife [7, 8].

There are many paintings and pieces of pottery that depict various aspects of these Mysteries. Since the Mysteries involved visions and conjuring of an afterlife, some modern scholars believe that the power and longevity of the Eleusinian Mysteries -- a consistent set of rites, ceremonies, and experiences that spanned two millennia -- came from psychedelic/entheogenic drugs [9, 10].

The name of the town, Eleusis, seems to be pre-Greek and is likely a counterpart with Elysium and the Goddess Eileithyia [11].

Drug-induced mysticism
ETYMOLOGY: Eleusinian Mysteries (Greek Ἐλευσίνια Μυστήρια) was the name of the "mysteries" [occult, esoteric knowledges] of the City of Eleusis.

The name of the City Eleusis was established before ancient Greece, likely related to the Goddess Eileithyia [12]. Her name Ἐλυσία ("Elysia") in Laconia and Messene probably relates her with the month Eleusinios and Eleusis [13], but this is debated [14].

The Ancient Greek word from which English "mystery" derives, mystḗrion (μυστήριον), means "mystery or secret rite" [15] and is related to the verb myéō (μυέω), which means "(I) teach, initiate into the mysteries" [16], and the noun mýstēs (μύστης), which means "one initiated" [17].

The word mystikós (μυστικός), source of the English word "mystic," means "connected with the mysteries" or "private," "secret" (as in Modern Greek) [18]. More

Friday, May 22, 2026

Arroyo Secodelic Fest, Open Mic Poetry LA

Welcome to the first unofficial day of summer, which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day in LA

How can I start to awaken in a big city?
What is a psychedelic? It is a "mind manifesting" compound, like an entheogen that brings out the divine from within. What is an Arroyo Seco? It is a dry river bed. What is an Arroyo Secodelic?

ARROYO SECODELIC FESTIVAL (arroyosecodelic.com) May 22–25, 2026: Highland Park, Los Angeles, all ages with 60+ bands across six walkable venues along famous Figueroa Street with FREE and paid admission shows. See arroyosecodelic.com for details. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Memorial Day weekend). Tickets are available as 4-Day Passes to all shows in all venues. See individual schedule for full lineup by day, appearing mostly at the Lodge Room, De La Playa Records, Oblivion Indoor, and Highland Park Ebell, all orbiting Kinship Yoga on Fig.
WHAT HAPPENED?

One day ASF may bet as big as Brokecella
KXLU and KCRW were on top of it. In addition to a mixed bag of indie artists, there were three or four punk giants: FEAR, Adolescents, Alice Bag (now Juanita), and Mike Watt (now without Minutemen)...what, no Exene Cervenka's X? But exciting acts like Death Valley Girls, Cameron Romance, and the Silverados were on hand to keep things lively. Now it's Monday, aka Bad Memory Day, and everyone is converging on the Lodge to catch Adolescents on a rare foray beyond the Orange Curtain to Competition City L.A. Why?

Highland Park is rock 'n roll paradise. Arroyo Secodelic Festival is a 4-day music fest in Highland Park, May 22-25, 2026, featuring a frenetic and fuzzy array of rock 'n roll artists spanning generations — including three of Southern California's finest first wave punk bands: Lee Ving's FEAR, OC royalty Adolescents, and pioneering punk bassist Mike Watt as well as San Francisco power pop icons Flamin' Groovies and LA rockers Strawberry Fuzz, Levitation Room, The Warlocks, and Death Valley Girls.

What's the big deal about these punks?
  • Forget "Amoeba." WELCOME TO REALITY: Blood so deep the horse must hold his head up high/ In the valley of decision one third of the world will die/ Beat your hoes and plows into axes and spears/ As the armies meet in a battle they predicted for years// (CHORUS) Let the weak say I'm a warrior/ Bring down the warriors/ Let the faithless regain faith/ Your faith is hopeless// The prophets and the psychics and the military agree/ Continual crisis leads us straight to World War III/ Roll out the red carpet let the Angel of Death ride in/ To the valley of decision let the mayhem begin// (CHORUS)// Apocalyptic madness two thirds of the world in sadness/ The other third is gone but sadness lingers on/ Crumbled cities and an aftermath of hate/ No way to stop them 'cause now its too late/ The Antichrist's mission's done/ The dead are the only lucky ones/ Are you ready?/ The picture's painted/ For the valley - the scene is set/ Of decision - make your decision/ For the valley it's too late/ Welcome welcome to reality/ Welcome welcome to reality/ Make a decision cause you've got no choice
The Festival takes place across multiple venues on Figueroa St. and beyond — The Lodge Room, Oblivion, Highland Park Ebell, Cheerio Collective, De La Playa Records, Blind Barber, North Figueroa Books, and a few pop ups and buskers. All Arroyo Secodelic shows are ALL AGES. 

Free poetry pre-show at Eagle Rock Library
Enter the Gateless Gate of Heightened Awareness into the magic Doors of Perception.

Blended (Mestizo) to Synthesis
Share original poems, songs, lyrics, spoken word, or just come listen. Each open mic performer will get 5 minutes for an original work. Sign up on arrival. Our FEATURED PERFORMER for National Poetry Month is Seven, who performs in Buddhist Sanskrit, Gaelic, English, and pre-Spanish (Nahuatl). An urban shaman and yogi with Native American roots (Kizh/Tongva), he won the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival chapbook and broadside contests,  among many other honors, and has been published in several anthologies and journals, including the library's very own The Stone Bird: Anthology. He was also a featured poet at L.A. Shakespeare Fest and LitFest Pasadena with the word troupe Poets in DistressOpen Mic Poetry | Los Angeles Public Library


RELATED ARTS EVENTS
Eagle Rock Branch - Los Angeles Public Library | Los Angeles CA | Facebook
  • Friday, May 22, Arroyo Secodelic Festival (runs until Monday, May 24) Arroyo Secodelic Festival — May 22–24, 2026 · Highland Park
  • Saturday, May 23 2:00 pm Miriam's Garden Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Branch Library
  • JBLZE (The Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Evening) Greek Theatre, LA
  • May 28, 4:00 pm REAB Traveling Symphony Series Presents: Symphony of Shared Stories Van Nuys Branch Library
  • May 29, 10:30 am REAB Traveling Symphony Presents: Collaborative Poetry with DSTL ARTS Fairfax Branch Library
  • May 30, 12 noon REAB Traveling Symphony Presents: Collaborative Poetry with DSTL ARTS Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Branch Library
  • May 30, 2:30 p.m. REAB Traveling Symphony Presents: Collaborative Poetry with DSTL ARTS Baldwin Hills Branch Library
  • June 9, 6:00 pm Poetry Open Mic Westwood Branch Library
  • ADA accommodations: (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to event. Para ajustes razonables según la ley de ADA, llama (213) 228-7430 al menos 72 horas antes del evento.
AwareProject.org for rethinking psychedelics (The Aware Project, Los Angeles)
(No Ads) Get rid of all bad energy, whole body cleansing, chakra healing | claim inner peace #1

Microdosing at the Psychedelic Institute, LA
Featuring punk legends FEAR ● Flamin' Groovies ● Adolescents ● Levitation Room ● Strawberry Fuzz ● Mike Watt & The Secondmen ● Juanita & Juan ● Untitled ● The Warlocks ● Death Valley Girls ● Flat Worms ● Valgur ● Toys That Kill ● Buckets ● Cinnamon ● The Darts ● Windows ● Cissi TV ● Op Ed ● Sun Atoms ● Baus ● Cameron Romance ● The Flamenco Souls ● Axxident ● Wave Decay ● and more...

Bear Awareness: Questions and Answers on Taming Your Wild Mind

Bear Awareness: Taming Mind
British Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm (trained in the Thai Forest Tradition and abbot of Buddhist Society of Western Australia) has 4.6 out of 5 stars (with 85 reviews) for this book.

He is the bestselling author of Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? and one of the world’s most beloved Theravada Buddhist monks because of his sense of humor.

In Bear Awareness, Ajahn Brahm answers meditators’ questions, actual questions from students of meditation––questions readers may have wondered about as well.

Hi, y'all! Feed your head like Grace says.
While most sati or mindfulness meditation teachers praise the benefits of "bare awareness," Ajahn Brahm teaches bear awareness.
 
He helps us make friends with the scary things that come up on the cushion, and he shows how to lift the mood with a well-placed stuffed teddy or a well-timed pun.
 
The intimacy of the question-and-answer format provides a fresh experience of learning from a Western master meditator who studied with the awakened Thai master Ajahn Chah.

Author: British Abbot Ajahn Brahm (BSWA)
Whether he is urging readers to fly Buddha Air (as we sit back and relax on our way to nirvana), giving tips for dealing with panic attacks or depression, or extolling the bliss (piti) of meditation that is better than sex, he gives us permission to enjoy our lives and our practice. More

Monday, January 26, 2026

Psychedelic microdosing over 50 (1/28)

(The Unfiltered Mic) Bill Burr tripped after 50. Why the 1970s were the scariest time to be a kid

Microdosing Over 50
Hi, I'm Bree A.
Microdosing psychedelics (entheogens) is the practice of consuming very low, sub-perceptual doses of a psychedelic substance—such as psilocybin-containing magic mushrooms, LSD, mescaline, or ayahuasca—designed to support subtle yet meaningful mental shifts without producing a full psychedelic experience [or loss of control].

For adults over 50, microdosing has gained interest as a potential tool for navigating life transitions, supporting cognitive vitality, enhancing emotional resilience, and improving overall quality of life.

Many Americans at this stage report benefits such as improved mood, reduced anxiety, reduced depression, relief from chronic pain and inflammation, better sleep, increased creativity, and a renewed sense of purpose and connection as they mature.

This introductory session explores how microdosing may support healthy aging while emphasizing intention, safety, and integration. Participants will learn:
  • How to choose an appropriate microdose for body and life stage
  • Typical microdose ranges and schedules for beginners
  • Ways microdosing may support mood, cognition, creativity, and well-being over 50
  • How to safely and legally navigate access to modern healing modalities
  • Best practices and safety guidelines to maximize benefits and minimize risks

Where? 📍
Tickets available via link: 🎟
GUIDE
: Guzel Gjenasaj is a Ceremonialist, Midlife Midwife, Reiki Master, Medicine Guide, and Spiritual Mentor. She guides women through transformative psychedelic journeys, sweat lodges, and fire ceremonies, integrating somatics, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual practice to support healing, empowerment, and deep reconnection to self, spirit, and purpose.
Feel free to send me (Guide Guzel or Host Bree Alspektor) a message on Meetup: Microdosing over 50, Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 7:00 PM or email me any questions at programs@psychedelic-awakening.com

Friday, December 26, 2025

A Magic Mushroom Christmas: Tripping


Why we got it wrong: Fly Agaric 101: The Magical Mushroom (Amanita muscaria)
 
(StoneAgeMan) This is the Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), aka the mushroom from Super Mario Brothers. It’s famous, yet I think the general consensus is that no one should ever eat it, never. That’s probably the safest thing to do, but it has been used for thousands of years by our ancestors.

CONTENTS
  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 1:03 - The legend of Santa Claus and Amanita urine
  • 2:21 - Mushroom hunt
  • 2:52 - Mushroom time-lapses
  • 2:42 - When are changes updated?
  • 3:06 - Amanita and mycorrhizal associations
  • 3:52 - Identification of Amanita muscaria.
  • 5:17 - Amanita chemistry
  • 6:20 - Decarboxylation
  • 7:07 - What the mushroom does
  • 8:11 - Conclusions
Big thanks to all current and future patrons who are helping fund this science and filmmaking outreach via Patreon: bit.ly/2Sfmkph. "Amanita Dreamer" can be found at: amanitadreamer.net. (Big thanks to her help in this series). Remember to follow on Instagram: untamedscience.

Amanita, Fliegenpilz (wiki)
Ever wonder, "Is Amanita muscaria psychedelic?" The short answer is yes. Also known as the Fly agaric mushroom, it has psychoactive properties that can alter perception and mood. This intriguing fungus interacts with brain and body to produce unique effects. The answer about it being psychedelic is more nuanced.

What is a safe dosage for first-time users? Are there risks or side effects associated with this mysterious entheogen. Guidance on preparing for an experience that is responsible use that understands the potential legal implications is also covered.

What is it, where does it come from?
Dude, it's totally grove if you prep set 'n setting
Amanita is often recognizable by its vibrant red cap with white spots and is a mushroom species native to temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

This fascinating fungus has a rich history tied to nature and culture because it is known for its psychoactive properties.

How does it affect brain and body?
Aware Project: rethinking psychedelics
It contains two primary active compounds, ibotenic acid and muscimol. These chemicals interact with the brain's neurotransmitters, specifically targeting the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors. This interaction can lead to various effects, including changes in perception, mood, and consciousness. Some may experience euphoria, a dream-like state, or heightened sensory experiences. More: magicdoze.com

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Psychedelic Cowboys: Shrooms in Old West


What did cowboys and hippies see in fungi?
(MSN/Footprints of The Frontier) Hidden beneath the legend of the Wild West lies a story few historians dare to tell -- the forgotten connection between cowboys and magic mushrooms.

What's that on those cowpies, Casey? - Shrooms!
As European settlers invaders, loggers, and ranchers spread westward, psilocybin mushrooms* flourished in their wake, sprouting in wood chips, cattle pastures [on dung], and mining camps across the frontier. While whisky fueled the saloons, some frontiersmen and Indigenous healers quietly turned to the “flesh of the gods” for vision, healing, and escape. These fungi spread along the same trails as the pioneers, forming a psychedelic undercurrent to the age of expansion. It’s a chapter of the American frontier buried by religion, shame, and time — until now.

"Magic" mushrooms?

Indoor cultivation of Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybin "magic mushrooms" (psilocybin-containing mushrooms, commonly known as shrooms [1]) are a type of entheogenic, psychedelic (mind-making), hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion [2].

The most potent species are members of genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens, but psilocybin has also been isolated from approximately a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina [2].

Psychedelic Gymnopilus luteoviridis
Among other cultural applications, magic mushrooms are used as spiritual medicine (early psychology) and foolishly as recreational drugs [2].

Shrooms were used ritualistically in pre-Columbian [before Columbus] Mexico, but claims of their widespread ancient use are largely exaggerated and shaped by modern idealization and ideology [3].

Natural occurrence
Natural occurrenceNon-psilocybe species of psilocybin mushroom include Pluteus salicinus, Gymnopilus luteoviridis, and Panaeolus cinctulus, formerly called Panaeolus subbalteatus. In a 2000 review on the worldwide distribution of psilocybin mushrooms... More

Friday, November 21, 2025

How magic mushrooms rewire brain


(North Spore) How scientists believe psilocybin (4-PO-DMT, dimethyltryptamine, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) rewires the human brain.

Could the same heightened experiences be achieved with stability and not freaking out?

This isn't about tripping b*lls but access to mind.
The body has a pineal gland, possibly the physical base of the mythical third or "divine eye," the dibba cakkhu in Buddhist psychological terms. The endogenous product it makes is DMT, the same active ingredient in entheogens, substances capable of bringing out (manifesting) the divine within. We as ordinary human beings have the capacity for divinity -- for being reborn as devas or even experiencing what brahmas experience all the time, namely, the Four Divine Abidings the Buddha recommended, and exhibiting the magical powers they customarily wield. One of these powers is extrasensory perception or the use of the divine senses.


Mind expansion for awareness

Try psychedelics. Access transcendence. | James Fadiman
(Big Think) Expert James Fadiman explains how psychedelics (entheogens) have the power to expand consciousness, enhance creativity, and deepen our connections to the world around us.
James Fadiman, a distinguished figure with over six decades in psychedelic research, examines the profound impact psychedelics have on consciousness, creativity, and connectivity. Fadiman shares insights into how these substances shift perception, offering perspectives that challenge and expand our understanding of reality.

Reduce activity in the DMN to pause ego-delusion

He also delves into the scientific underpinnings of psychedelics, their therapeutic potential, and the societal benefits of fostering deeper empathy and open-mindedness.

Highlighting the importance of integration post-experience, Fadiman sheds light on the transformative power of psychedelics to not only alter individual consciousness but also to enhance community bonds and personal relationships.

Through a focus on responsible use and the expansion of human awareness, Fadiman's expertise offers a compelling view into the capacity of psychedelics to redefine our interaction with the world and ourselves.

This video was created in partnership with Unlikely Collaborators.