Food Of The Gods: A Radical History of Plants, Psychedelics and Human Evolution

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McKenna does deserve applause for his positive vision and affirmation of the value of expansion of consciousness. When thinking about drugs, we tend to focus on episodes of intoxication, but many drugs are normally used in sub threshold or maintenance doses; coffee and tobacco are obvious examples in our culture. They allowed human beings to leap ahead of other species, and it was mostly women, the plant gatherers of society, who did this. It flits back and forth between western society and shamanism, and their differences in the way of drug use.

It may be true, as he asserts, that in small doses they help with visual acuity, while in large doses they help dissolve one’s ego and foster a sense of community.

He further asserts that humans should be free to use mind-expanding substances, like those of our ancestors, and for many of the same reasons, if only we could break free from the power structures that prevent us from living our lives to the fullest. Founders of sects could find many inspirations by getting high and getting in contact with whatever their already damaged, possibly already mentally ill and sober voice-hearing and vision seeing, minds wanted to imagine. In 1906 the Pure Food and Drugs Act was passed; it made Cocaine and Heroin illegal and set the stage for the legally sanctioned suppression of the synthetic and addictive compounds found in the opium poppy and the coca bush.

Attempting to distinguish between habits and addictions does damage to the insoluble confluence of mental and physical energies that shape the behavior of each of us.The fact that these plants are strictly prohibited and culturally discouraged without any serious reasons related to health tells me that these things have the potential/ability to destroy/transform the assumptions upon which our culture is based. Greek wines are sometimes described as requiring many dilutions before they could be drunk with comfort.

To those who find themselves asking lifes more philosophical questions, think for themselves, have an interest within psychoactive substances, wonder where we come from and challenge the norm then this is a book for you. just because of its effects on the mood or the hallucinations or, most probably, as many animals do, instinctively with a not understood sense or if certain health problems occur and they have memorized the cure.He has added to their shared knowledge of rituals his own efforts to preserve the plants used in these ceremonies.