Project 2: Systems & Patterns-Entheogens

Project 2 Research: Systems and Patterns     

           

Entheogens: A Complex System

    Psychotropic plants or entheogens have had a role in human history to open doors into a “greater understanding of the universe” (Danaan 124). Entheogens are hallucinogens or other psychoactive substance believed to cause a spiritual or mystical experience similar to those in traditional shamanic rituals (Blom 172). Even the word “entheogen” is translated from Greek to “inducing a god within”. Around 1979 American classical scholar Carl Anton Paul Ruck introduced the term entheogen as an alternative for terms such as “hallucinogen”, “psychotic”, and “psychedelic” (Blom 172).  Specifically the term entheogen is used in association with a religious or spiritual intention as opposed to recreation. Some examples of traditional entheogens are ayahuasea, mescaline, cannabis, peyote, lucinogenic mushrooms, opium, ibogaine, salvia, and even tobacco.  

             Entheogens have been used for spiritual and healing reasons for thousands of years in rituals among various ethnic groups. Such groups include those of the upper Amazon area and in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil as well as other indigenous groups (Myers 120).  In addition evidence of entheogen use is found in ancient cultures such as the Egyptians, Mycenaean, Ancient Greek, Vedic, Maya, Inca, and the Aztec cultures  (Rodda, Becky, and Tinsley). There have been many test studies done regarding various entheogen used specifically with these group, but the ‘ultimate entheogen’ is Ayahuasca brew. The benefits of Ayahuasca are divided into three main categories, which are physical healing, emotion healing and moral growth, and mystical or visionary insight. Ayahuasca is a very potent concoction causing the user to throw up at some point, which cleanses the entire body system. Mysteriously the brew has the ability to clean out ones intestinal track as well as the rest of one’s being including emotional stress and difficulties. Historically non-Indians or whites and mestizos became interested in Ayahuasca for its ability to treat jungle illnesses instead of its spiritual side effects (Myers 121).  Myers concludes, “Ayahuasca encourages self awareness and self knowledge, its teaches a universal ethical code, and ultimately, it offers direct personal contact with higher facets of human consciousness and what one would describe as a real and direct contact with the divine” (122).

        Rise of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) caused a decline in entheogen use in some area, usually less indigenous. In Greek ceremonies, particularly the Eleusian Mysteries, and in the Early Modern Age during the infamous witch hunts, practitioners of entheogenic rites were condemned (Rodda, Becky, and Tinsley 87). Most entheogens are not known to have long-term effects, but there is speculation that ones releasing neurotrasnmitters can affect one chemically unbalanced. In other words those with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are not suggested to take certain entheogens because the chemicals released could cause further imbalance. Although entheogens have been used for thousands of years it didn’t receive extensive scientific attention from Western Science until the early 20^th century.  These studies included several observatory journals as well as the invention of LSD, which was used for psychotherapeutic applications rather than spiritual context (Rodda, Becky, and Tinsley 89). Most entheogens are legally band among most countries, but in others are available in small doses legally. The idea of moderate, controlled doses of entheogens, though not in spiritual context, has been accepted by many European countries.

       The Voice of the Earth: The Path of Green Spirituality is a book, which focuses on the spiritual and healing effects nature has to offer.  Within this book there is an entire chapter dedicated to the ‘energy of the entheogen’ explaining how entheogens work on a natural, spiritual level.  Entheogens stimulate the body via their chemical properties, but also through ‘energies’ that include your mind, body, and the plant’s growing conditions. The author Clea Danaan explains that all plants carry in its cells subatomic packets of energy from the soil it was grown in, the mood of the grower, the water it was given, etc. all leading up to meeting the consumer’s history, intention, feelings, and thoughts (120). In other words the experience derived from the plants is not only affected by the mood of the user, but also the way the plant was nourished. Therefore entheogens through their growth combined with a consumer’s being causes a dynamic, changing, phenomenon, which is classified as a complex system.  

Works Cited

Blom, Jan Dirk. A dictionary of hallucinations. New York: Springer, 2010. Print.

Danaan, Clea. Voices of the earth: the path of green spirituality. Woodbury, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications, 2009. Print.

Myers, Luke A.. Gnostic Visions Uncovering the Greatest Secret of the Ancient World.. n/a: iUniverse, Incorporated, 2011. Print.

Rodda, Becky, and Suzanne L. Tinsley. Pharmacology. Boca Raton: BarCharts, Inc., 2008. Print.