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Found 24 results

  1. -RC-

    Harvesting caapi?

    Hi all, I have some questions around the harvesting of banesteriopsis caapi vine. What is the process involved in harvesting the vine? Do people only cut it back so far? Is the material then dried? If so how? What thickness is a go/no go? Do people generally keep leaves and all, or just vine? Any info around this would be greatly illuminating. Cheers, RC
  2. The award-winning documentary, ‘From Shock to Awe’ shines light on the use of cutting-edge psychedelic medicines to treat mental illness in war veterans. The Australian Psychedelic Society (APS) is premiering the documentary across Australia with a panel of guest speakers, thanks to sponsorship from Vasudhara, Psychedelic Research in Science & Medicine (PRISM) and Aadii Mesh Foundation. BACKGROUND In 2018, an alarming report published by the Department of Veterans Affairs shows the impact of service on the mental health of veterans, with 46 percent of veterans who left the Australian Defence Force (ADF) experiencing a mental disorder within 5 years. The most common problem is anxiety, with one in three veterans saying they experienced symptoms. The other common illnesses were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 18 percent), panic attacks (17 percent) and depression (12 percent). Suicide also represents a major issue, with one in five veterans experiencing suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts. For males under 30, the completed suicide rates of veterans who left service are 17 percent above the national average (graph taken from the ABC). PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINES - A NEW FRONTIER IN MENTAL HEALTH After more than 50 years of dormancy, a new psychedelic revolution is taking place. Initial studies show that psychedelic drugs, including ayahuasca (traditional amazonian brew), psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and MDMA have profound effects in alleviating mental illness. They also work in a vastly different manner to traditional psychiatric medications. Neuroscientist, Dr Dean Wright states that “Traditional psychiatric medications, such as antidepressants require daily use, have many side-effects, and are not much more efficacious than placebo. In contrast, psychedelic therapies require between one and three doses in total, with effects lasting up to four years after the final dose.” St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and Psychedelic Research in Science & Medicine (PRISM) have launched an Australian first clinical trial using psilocybin to treat anxiety and depression associated with a terminal illness. In the USA, MDMA-therapy for PTSD has been designated a “breakthrough treatment” by the FDA. It appears imminent that these therapies will be approved as medicines. FROM SHOCK TO AWE The film follows veterans, Matt Kahl and Mike Cooley, through their challenging post-war lives, shattered by the trauma of war. It also explores the impact on their wives, Aimee and Brooke. The vets struggle with anxiety, fear, depression, anger, unable to find equilibrium with society and with their families. After confronting death multiple times, our heroes set out on a journey to treat their mental illness with Ayahuasca and MDMA. “I tried everything...all the medications, EMDR, exposure therapy, talk therapy, group therapy and the truth is, none of it worked. It was ruining my family,” says Veteran Matt Kahl. Brooke Cooley goes further stating, “Ayahuasca and MDMA saved me, my husband and my family. Had psychedelic therapy not come into our lives, not only would Mike and I be divorced, but there is a solid chance that one or both of us wouldn’t be alive.” FILM SCREENING & PANEL DISCUSSION The Australian Psychedelic Society will host the Australian premier screening of ‘From Shock to Awe’ across 5 cities. Following the film there will be a Q&A with Mitch Schultz, the film’s Transmedia Producer and Major Steve McDonald, an Australian war veteran who utilised psychedelic medicines to successfully treat his depression and PTSD. EVENT DETAILS BYRON BAY: Sunday August 18th, 2.30pm The Byron Theatre Facebook event Tickets = $30/$25 concession BRISBANE: Saturday 24th August, 1.30pm Kindler Theatre, QUT, Brisbane Facebook event. Tickets = $20-$25 ADELAIDE: Saturday 31st August, 2.30pm Mercury Theatre, 13 Morphett St, Adelaide Facebook event Tickets = $20-$25 SYDNEY: Saturday 7th September, 12.30pm Giant Dwarf, 199 Cleveland St, Redfern Facebook event Tickets = $20-$30 MELBOURNE Saturday 14th September, 12.30pm The State Library Theatrette, Melbourne Facebook event Tickets = $20-$25
  3. Hi All, I'm new to ethnobotany and to this community, and am trying my hand at growing some caapi and viridis, I've got a few varieties of each. I'm in Melbourne and have set up a greenhouse. My temps range from 14 - 36c and humidity from 60 - 80%, I've lined the inside with 70% UV block shade cloth, and some lattice for the vines to climb. All the plants are still in pots, when the weather warms up a bit I will transplant the caapi into the ground. I'm getting some good growth from my caapi's, but I've got a problem with ?aphids (see pic attached) I tried some appropriately diluted eco oil on one of the caapi plants, but it killed off all the new shoots and baby leaves. I've ordered some Green Lacewing bugs in the hope they will get the problem under control. In the meantime I'm just manually cleaning the leaves and squishing the bugs between my finger, but I can't get into all the little nooks and crannies. Does anyone have any other suggestions to get rid of these things? My Vidiris on the other hand are showing no signs of growth. I've got Chacruna and UDV. I know they are slow growers, and I didn't have my greenhouse setup when I got them, so they had to endure some very cold nights, I'm worried the cold stunted them. The leaves they have look healthy enough, but no new growth. I'm working on getting some Nexus and DW10 variants, in the hope they will be a bit faster growing, and more cold tolerant - and can go straight into a nice cushy greenhouse. Any suggestions of breathing some life into my Vidiris? This is what I've put together so far on each plant; Caapi; Sun: Part Shade Cold: Variant dependent - die at 4c, like min 15c night temps and day temps of 24c for growth Soil: Humus Rich, moist, well draining soil - needs root space (prefers ground not pot) Water: Thirsty plant - can be watered daily Fertilizer: Plant is a heavy nitrogen feeder - Fish Emulsifer pH: 5.5 Humidity: Likes 90% Pruning Info: 50g / 1ft long 1" thick section. At end of growing season, not from the bottom 3ft of plant. Vidiris: Sun: 70% shade Cold: Doesn't tolerate well Soil: Loam Rich, moist, well draining soil Fertilizer: Seaweed - Maxicrop pH: 5.5 Humidity: Likes Pruning Info: 50g fresh weight of mature leaves at sunset Does that seem about right? I really appreciate any feedback or tips to help me along the first few steps of this beautiful journey. Cheers!
  4. Hey Folks, Up for cheap grabs are at least two 10 year old B. Caapi Vines....My property is going to market soon and I guarantee my plants will be torn out and the block leveled. So a rare offer to anyone willing to come and harvest VINES, ROOTS and ALL. My health is poor including a bad back so I am unable to assist much with their removal but I can provide garden tools required and cold drinks/amenities etc. I took the photos below of just the very bases of the vines one of which stretches 30 odd foot up a Liquid Amber tree...There are Meters of thick Vine (Black and Yellow) here and as I said, take the roots and all. I also have Narrow Leaf Khat trees on this property which can be removed if you are willing. Not pictured are the 10 year old Psychotria bushes that hedge the Vines...All of it must go to one of you rather than the dump. Normally I wouldn't ask for money for such plants but alas, health issues cost money even with our system. I recall foot long lengths of vine going for $60 each in 2009 by a regular member everyone knows, you wont pay anywhere near that rate.....you will walk away with meters of the stuff and whatever other things that pique your interest. Countless cuttings could be taken, but who in their right mind would be offering Roots and all B. Caapi? Make me an offer before or after you inspect the Vines and trees...Let me know if you want more photos and I'll take some. NORTHSIDE BRISBANE (Near Airport) PICK UP ONLY.
  5. Hi friends, i have a caapi vine taking over my green house but have no intentions of using it in the near future . i have been wondering if there is any use for dried leaf and stem or is all the goodness lost when dried?
  6. I planted some B caapi seeds sourced from Europe (unknown vendor, not communicative) and would like to identify the strain (or species) if possible. There is a larger leaf plant which looks like a typical caapi to me. Several of these grew and quickly. Then there is a plant with smaller leaves which is taking much longer to grow but still looks like a caapi. Variation within species or different? Then there is a random imposter which I can't identify. Could be anything but I'm interested to ID it. Maybe a tropical tree seedling from existing soil? Time will tell. Any info from experienced growers is appreciated.
  7. Hey Folks, Have you checked out this cool ayahuasca science course yet? It's especially interesting if you're into the neuroscience and psychology of ayahuasca. http://courses.kahpi.net/courses/ayahuasca-science/
  8. Good morning SAB community; I have B. caapi v tucunaca plants available, 15$ and 25$ + postage. (Can arrange for local meet up seq) Also a couple cielo... Trades for e.sinica or sick* cacti considered... Pm if interested :-)
  9. Cool short video on ayahuasca neuroscience and shamanism. [media]
  10. Im wondering if anyone has like gone to the Amazon and participated in ayahuasca ceromonies and got to know the plant spirits. Theres much written about aya, but basically nothing on chacruna. Im interested in terms of strength and vibration mainly, and would like to know if chacruna is more masculine feminine or androgynous. Any information would be appreciated.
  11. Ok so ive been growing this Caapi vine in my front garden, but its grown pretty big. So i decided to move it to a larger property so that it could grow on the trees there. The plant didnt like being moved and we assumed it died. So we ripped it out and now ive got it in my backyard. My question is, how potent do you think it is? How many grams do you think would be needed to make a tea?
  12. Hey folks - long time no see. I have been very busy, and so not had much time for posting here (in fact I'm supposed to be at work right now). I've still been learning about plants as much as I can, although more native plants and useful plants. Here are some photos I thought you might enjoy of the wall paintings at the Eden Project (http://www.edenproject.com/) - drawn by two visiting curanderos. I hope everyone is well! Kind regards, -CBL
  13. Hi guys, This is a question for people who've actually tried ayahuasca. After many months of searching, I've finally been invited to an ayahuasca ceremony. However, after getting the invite (about two days later) some personal problems arose, and I now feel a bit down about them (and anxious here and there I guess). I live in Australia and that's where this session will be taking place. Australian ayahuasca sessions are different to the South American ceremonies in that there isn't a shaman who's singing Icaros and calling on the tree spirits to deliberately bring up negativity within you so you deal with it. There's ambient music playing (which I'm hoping will have a calming effect, conducive to spiritual exploration). There's a facilitator who basically ensures you're safe (who's usually completed an apprenticeship with a South American shaman), and leaves you alone in the circle to experience the ayahuasca without interference. In your experience, if you've had ayahuasca in this setting, should I be worried that my current (sad) state of mind may deliver me a nightmarish five-hour experience? I'm really mostly in this to finally see and feel the spirit realm for myself (beyond third dimension intuition) and to explore myself for spiritual growth. I know as part of this, negativity will be purged (and as I have mild OCD, I was expecting negativity anyway). But, should I avoid the whole thing for now if I'm feeling sad?
  14. This is old news, but I figured it might be worth sharing anyway. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20978-drug-hallucinations-look-real-in-the-brain.html A link to the original study is at the bottom of the article. What do you guys think? Not really that surprising, eh?
  15. The DVD is readying to go live: http://www.aya-awakenings.com/watch.html AYA: Awakenings is a documentary journey into the world and visions of Amazonian shamanism, adapted from the cult book 'Aya: a Shamanic Odyssey' by Rak Razam. As Razam sets out to document the booming business of Amazonian shamanism in the 21st century, he quickly finds himself caught up in a culture clash between the old world and the new. Braving a gringo trail of the soul, he uncovers a movement of ‘spiritual tourists’ coming from the West for a direct experience of the multi-dimensional reality shamanism connects one to. Central to this is ayahuasca – the “vine of souls” – a legal South American entheogenic plant medicine that has been used by Amazonian people for millennia to heal physical ailments and to cleanse and purify the spirit, connecting it to the web of life. Western seekers also experiment with smokable dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and the juxtaposition of these two sacraments, and the way they are used by Westerners, is a central theme of the film. In researching the mystery of ayahuasca, Razam undergoes his own shamanic initiation, undergoing numerous tests and trials in the jungle and the psychic landscapes the vine reveals. On the way he encounters a motley crew of characters, from rogue scientists that conduct DMT-brain scans on jungle psychonauts to indigenous and Western shamans that slowly unravel his cultured mind and reveal the magical landscape of the spirit world. And the more he drinks this potent jungle medicine the deeper it leads him: from the wet jungle where the ayahuasca vine grows and on into the raging heart of consciousness itself. His journey culminates in the Sacred Valley of the Andes, where secrets of the ancient Incas are revealed to him and the true nature of the global resurgence in shamanism is brought to light. By blending narration directly from the book with video footage, interviews with practicing curanderos, samples of traditional icaros or magic songs, photographs and cutting edge special effects, AYA: Awakenings reproduces the inner landscape of the visionary state in unprecedented detail, invoking an awakening in the viewer. Featuring the artwork of Pablo Amaringo, Andy Debrenardi and more; written by Rak Razam and directed by Tim Parish, video editing by Verb Studios, soundscapes by Lulu Madill and music by Shpongle, Tipper, Darpan, Lula Cruz, Syren and curanderos Norma Panduro, Guillermo Arevalo, Percy Garcia Lozano, Ron Wheelock and Kevin Furnas, this documentary charts the Global Shamanic Resurgence born in the jungles of Peru and reaching out to embrace the world.
  16. PositiveHAL

    Ayahuasca Tourism

    Found this interesting article from an equally interesting website. copied and pasted from this link: http://www.realitysandwich.com/will_real_ayahuasca_tourists_please_stand Having drunk in nearly 25 Ayahuasca ceremonies with four different shamans from three different countries on two different continents, I still do not feel capable of defining exactly what makes an Ayahuasca ceremony "medicinal" or "authentic." But I'm also convinced that I've never met an official "Ayahuasca tourist." To me, the conversation about Ayahuasca tourism is usually a cloaked conversation about what constitutes a reverent psychedelic experience verses a recreational one. It's an important conversation. Psychedelics have always been profoundly enlightening for me and hardly ever what I would call "fun." Though I've had my share of psychedelic giggles, for the most part my "trips" have been sobering, painful and transformational. I remember the first night I ever tried a psychedelic. At the time I was addicted to morphine and methadone, was a habitual drinker and was living a sexually promiscuous lifestyle. One evening a friend brought mescalin for us to try at my apartment in Chicago. Far from "getting high," I was taken on an intensely psycho-therapeutic journey. As the evening progressed I saw religious confusion and rebellion on my bookshelves, bursting with colors. I saw anger littered through my compact disc collection. I saw fear of my father in my toiletries. I saw drug addiction and sadness in the mirror, under my eyes, in the roots of my hair, in my dried skin and how it felt to touch my stomach and my liver. Everything was intelligent. Everything meant something. Everything was symbolic, like a small flame was given to me and a voice was calling to me, whispering, believe in yourself and wake up. It was only several months after my psychedelic awakening that I locked myself into my bathroom to withdraw from methadone and morphine for the last time. Despite terrible nightmares and terrible fevers, my intention was clear: I want to be healthy again. Something far bigger than me had given me a vision during my mescaline journey, and I would never be the same again. After quitting drugs cold turkey, I spent months researching the indigenous cultures that used psychedelic plants for healing and ceremony. During my research one evening in graduate school, I stumbled across a National Geographic television program that filmed an Ayahuasca ceremony at a lodge down river from Iquitos, Peru. That same night I decided that I would travel to the Amazon Jungle to drink Ayahausca. I arrived in Iquitos, Peru some five months later and drank Ayahausca three times in the jungle. During my first three ceremonies I experienced universal oneness, I saw and spoke to Jesus, and I puked out enough drug residue to fill several puke buckets. Compared to who I was before I went to Peru, I have been relatively happy and entirely sober ever since. In my opinion, if somebody is using Ayahuasca to heal and to grow, in order to bring more love to our planet, then, to me, it is "beneficial" and "medicinal." To me the important thing to remember is that good intentions usually dwarf small details and denominational quarrels. So on one level, my answer to the tourist question is simple: I haven't ever met an Ayahuasca tourist. I've met a lot of people with good intentions. I choose to see things that way. However, on another level, there are many tensions about Ayahuasca and psychedelic medicines that are worth talking about. It's in my opinion that most of our differences in the Ayahuasca world come from what assumptions we make about Ayahuasca or psychedelic medicine itself. The first of these assumptions is that Ayahuasca is a purely benevolent medicine. In other words, we believe that simply drinking Ayahuasca, under any circumstances, guarantees growth and healing because Ayahuasca is medicinal by nature. The extreme example of this generalization, one that has frustrated and even angered many devoted to the medicinal use of Ayahuasca, occurs when all psychedelics are referred to as "medicine." Many of us flash on the vision of some naked guy at Burning Man yelling out, "I'm tripping balls on this killer medicine, dude!" But if you've worked with Ayahausca in the jungle and screamed or puked your way through a childhood molestation sequence, then it's possible that something inside of you might react by saying, "It is not all medicine." Because those who have had deeply intensive healing sessions with Ayahuasca or any psychedelic medicine know that healing work can be terrifying and difficult. On the other hand, sometimes people who are regularly involved with the ceremonial and ritual use of Ayahuasca can be holier-than-thou about other forms of psychedelic use. The extreme example of this generalization comes when you meet people who will not attend Burning Man on principle. Well that's just a hedonistic hippy parade. That's just rebellious and childish. There is no tradition. That's not sacred! The tension between these two groups of people is never clear cut. It's impossible to say who's "authentically shamanic" and who is "posing." We can never define what makes something healing or medicinal, whether or not a shaman and ceremony are necessary, etc., but we don't give up the conversation. Tension always seems to arise whenever there is a mention of words like "unceremonious," or "medicine," and phrases like "Ayahuasca tourists." So what do we do about our tribal conflict? In the old days if the tribe were divided, it would be a good time for a story around the fire. So here's a story that might help shed some light on the tension. * * * This past April I went on a Reality Sandwich field trip to Peru. The 2008 Curandero Seminar, hosted by U.S. native Carlos Tanner, featured five different Ayahuasca shamans and a variety of interactive study sessions, including a handful of Ayahuasca ceremonies. The day before leaving to the jungle to cover the conference for Reality Sandwich, I had spoken at The Ayahuasca Monologues in Manhattan. After sharing my visionary Ayahuasca story, I was greeted by a former alumni from the particular lodge I had been working at in Peru. When I told him about my trip to Peru to work with new shamans, at different lodges, he was shocked. "Be careful of all those witch doctors and the black magic down there," he said to me. By the time I reached Iquitos and greeted the other guests at the conference, I had formed an irrational fear in my head. Never having drank with any other shamans but those at my lodge of choice, I was afraid that I might get attacked by witchcraft in a ceremony, or that the mastery of the shamans and the strength of their mesa might not be sturdy enough to support me should I need help. Sitting in the sun on the veranda of a café overlooking the Uycayali river in Iquitos, I quickly formed judgments about each guest of the conference and the quality of the conference itself. "I mean, I hope this stuff works like I've read about. I want to leave my body and trip out." One young man from New York seemed like he had no idea what he was getting himself into. His only goal seemed to be "tripping out." I quickly assumed that his intentions were not good. Mechanically I began to form judgments about each one of the conference guests. Carlos Tanner's conference introduction furthered my opinion. "We couldn't get the hotel, so we're staying at a reservation park that has good bungalos." Only fourteen guests had arrived. The conference website had advertised nearly a hundred. Carlos and his master had a falling out regarding witchcraft, money, and the death of one of their patients. And the young conference staff, Carlos, an Aussie named Justin, and a young Brit named Ashley who was suffering from the venom of a brujo that had been hired to kill him, were scrambling to find a fifth shaman to replace Carlos's teacher. Because of the disorganization and the disintegration of my biggest expectations for journalistically covering an important shamanic conference for Reality Sandwich, I figured that the focus of my article would be to expose "Ayahuasca tourism" at its worst. I had also decided that I would not drink in any of the Ayahuasca ceremonies for fear of my life. However, as the week went by I befriended one of the conference guests, a psychiatrist from New York who had drank in nearly a hundred different ceremonies with a variety of shamans. One evening while we were sitting in the back of a crowded utility van driving back from the jungle to the city of Iquitos, he asked me, "You really think you'll be hurt if you drink?" "I just don't feel like this kind of Ayahuasca shamanism is good. These guys don't have integrity. Why should their shamans?" I said. "I've been just fine, Adam. Does that mean that I am under their spell? You came all the way down here. It doesn't seem objectively journalistic for you to formulate this opinion without at least trying it out. You can sit next to me in ceremony." Although I was still scared, somewhere a voice inside of me said, Get over yourself and drink in the last ceremony. Nothing bad will happen to you. The last ceremony was held at the Spirit of the Anaconda lodge with a shaman named Don Guillermo (a reputable shaman from Jan Kounen's Ayahuasca documentary, "Other Worlds"). Before the ceremony began I confessed my fear to the group, "I'm scared that I'm going to freak out again." Several hours into the ceremony I began to cry when I heard the vomiting and purging of other conference guests in the lodge. I heard small laughter and the sounds of people receiving healing all around me. In my mind's eye I saw each guest as a child, and I saw Carlos as a child. Then from the heavens I saw pink and purple and golden star dust falling onto each one of us; blessing us. I listened to the sounds of Don Guillermo's Icaros and began to feel sick to my stomach as I contemplated the way in which my fear had separated me from being present at the conference. Inside of my stomach I felt a heavy sensation begin to work its way up and out. I doubled over and dry heaved into my bucket. Although nothing physically left my body, in my visions I saw slimy yellow ooze pouring out of my mouth. I cried even more when I considered that my plan had been to return home and write a cynical story for the Reality Sandwich audience about "Ayahuasca tourism." I was going to say mean things about these people who were only doing their best. As I listened to each guest in the mesa purging, and as I continued to see each one of us as children, I said to myself, I don't know anything about anything. The next morning I apologized to Carlos. "I judged you and this conference," I said. "I'm sorry." "It's okay," he replied. "It's hard working with Ayahuasca. We're all just doing our best." "I'm sorry I didn't participate more," I said. "Don't blame yourself. This is exactly why you came down here. You came down to learn this lesson. You're welcome back next year. Write a great story for Reality Sandwich!" On the airplane ride home I thought, now this is a good story for me to write about. * * * So what does this have to do with psychedelic medicine and the tension between their sacred and non-sacred use? Everything, I think. Perhaps in the tension we feel between what constitutes sanctity and profanity, spiritually speaking, we should be careful to explore our personal history and not pretend to be objective when we can't be. If the conversation about Ayahuasca tourism and sacred psychedelic medicine is always concerned with such outward things like ceremonial candor, ritual procedure, rank and merit, then we will have failed in the same way many religions have failed. We will allow petty denominational differences and fear-based assumptions to divide us. As the avatar of my life's tradition says, "Take the plank from your own eye before you take the splinter from your brother's." We should stay balanced by remembering that ceremony and tradition are not always restrictive and elitist, while sanctity and healing are not always ceremonial or traditional. It's important that we learn to see the good intentions in each other, always. On the road of life, isn't everybody a tourist anyway? Originally published on Reality Sandwich, November 21, 2008.
  17. Horus

    Aya Awakenings

    Rak's movie is ready soon. All the special screenings seem like entertaining evenings for a SAB meet up. See you there at the Sydney one SYDNEY: Thursday 7th Feb @ the Auditorium, Paddington RSL 7-11pm. 90 minute film screening with introduction by writer and co-director Rak Razam, followed by an afterparty with special guests, the ayahuasca-inspired sounds of Hunter Lloyd (www.hunterlloyd.com). A community panel discussion also follows with Sydney Evolver and guest musician Ben Lee (http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/benlee), skyping in from L.A. to talk about ayahausca and the shamanic resurgence in the West in 2013 and beyond. $20 http://www.aya-awakenings.com/
  18. Savage Gardener

    Chacruna growing conditions

    Anyone care to share some advice regarding optimal growing conditions for the Psychotria Viridis "Shipibo" cutting I recently obtained? It is doing fine after potting up, I'm just wondering what others have found to be most successful from experience? My Caapi is going absolutely nuts! I keep them in a little greenhouse or under a pergola in partial sunlight during the day and take them both indoors at night to avoid any potential frost... Anyway, if any of that sounds wrong or if there is some better practices I'd love to hear from you! Thanks Stevie-leigh
  19. mindperformer

    Ethno-Artifacts

    Ayahuasca- bowl (clay) from the shipibo in Amazonia (with Yagé and Chacruná): Tree-needle- baskets from the Tarahumara in Mexico (with Oncidium cebolleta- bulb, Scirpus atrovirens- tuber and dried Peyote): Betelnut-cracker- antique (bronze) from India with betelnuts: Betel- chalk- repository (bone) from Southeast-Asia: Chillum from Ladakh (from old monk, wood with wire-cladding and metal in it): Old apothecary Coca-leaf- jar: Coffee-jug (Djabana, copper with silver)- antique from Axum- Ethiopia: Yarn-fancywork (Peyote-vision) from the Huichol (Mexico): Kava Kava- bowl from the Fiji- Islands (wood) with Kava Kava: Opiumpipe (wood and jade) and Opium-weights (bronze, antique, from Burma) in chicken-form: Hempfarmer-cap (woven) from Manali (a souvenir from the ancient origin of Hemp, the Himalaya): Shipibo- Schamanspipe (red wood) from the Amazon-rainforest: Coca-chewer- figure (clay) from Ecuador: And my particularly proud: A selfmade mush-stone from ONE piece soapstone. Model: a Maya-mushroom-stone, found in Guatemala, from 300 - 600 AD: Ayahuasca-fancywork from the Shipibo:
  20. Does anyone know of, or hold healing sessions or circles in Central Vic/Melbourne?
  21. Kodama

    "Other worlds" documentary

    A great documentary from a French man. It is about his experience with the the Shipibos people and ayahuasca, in the amazonian forest. It is a few years old (10?). But still so relevent. The director Jan Kounen has also done many fictional movies about completely different things. This one is just a testimony about his own experience that you can feel he really wanted to share. Also some interesting interviews of scientists. I couldn't find it on the forum so I thought some may be interested.
  22. Shamanistic

    Studies on Ayahuasca

    Hello all, I was browsing the interwebs and I found something which you might all enjoy. It is a issue of Anthropology of Consciousness dedicated entirely to Ayahuasca research and best of all you can view them all for free. But remember folks, DMT is as bad as heroine mmmkay. Here is a list of the publications; Special Ayahuasca Issue Introduction: Toward a Multidisciplinary Approach to Ayahuasca Studies (pages 1–5) Working with “La Medicina”: Elements of Healing in Contemporary Ayahuasca Rituals (pages 6–27) Healing with Plant Intelligence: A Report from Ayahuasca (pages 28–43) Ayahuasca as Antidepressant? Psychedelics and Styles of Reasoning in Psychiatry (pages 44–59) The Creative Cycle Processes Model of Spontaneous Imagery Narratives Applied to the Ayahuasca Shamanic Journey (pages 60–86) Ayahuasca Religions in Acre: Cultural Heritage in the Brazilian Borderlands (pages 87–102) Personal Report: Significance of Community in an Ayahuasca Jungle Dieta (pages 103–109) And here is where you can find them: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anoc.2012.23.issue-1/issuetoc Peace!
  23. In recent times, we have seen a profound change in the attitudes and beliefs in Ayahuasca users. From being an obscure shamanic experience the use of ayahuasca has become more widespread, and with it has come the influence of western culture and, in particluar, the religious aspect. At first, it was just a couple of christian groups tieing the vegetable experience to their beliefs, then much more publicly, scientists wrote about the visions, many of the visionaries putting down their experience to aliens or god. Just recently, we have had another member trying to create a small religious group to attempt to persuade the government to allow ayahuasca use for religious experience - subtly suggesting that those who weren't religious shouldn't use the medicine. And now we have the the gnostic groups - secretive, slightly masonic in their paranoia, and going hard up against the religious by suggesting that their interpretation of the visions is The Real Deal (Now give me some money). I see the situation developing just as Terence McKenna foretold, in a spiral of ever-increasing speed, reality destined to follow the same path each turn of the wheel but faster and faster, more fragmented and highly volatile. As the spin-offs from the ayahuasca users community continues, everyone must quickly pick a side or forever be left on the sidelines. We can't all be fence-sitters forever, that's what the old witch doctors thought, and look what happened to them! Fringe users, slightly mad, terrifying. It might be interesting to hold this poll several times leading up to the nexus popint at the end of 2012, just to see if we can see any changes in the way people are thinking as the religious ethos appears to spread faster and faster in to the community of the soul.
  24. Just heard an interview this morning on Triple J - Ben Lee's been delving into the world of ayahuasca. The interview will be up on the podcast later today. It was only a short interview, and Ben didn't go into that much detail.... it sounded like Tom and Alex didn't really know how to react when Lee started discussing ayahuasca. They did ask Ben if he had ever taken it, and Ben said yes; he had been working with Ayahuasca. Looks like Ben Lee also published a brief article on Ayahuasca when he was guest editing Magnet Magazine last year- http://www.magnetmag...-lee-ayahuasca/ There's a documentary showing on ABC1 tonight about the life of Ben Lee, at 9.30pm; I doubt there will be anything about aya in the doco... - haven't seen it yet myself... - still sounds interesting though! http://www.theaustra...l-1226257033009 Anyone checked out his latest album, Deeper into Dream?
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