SacredPlants

Alchemy Sacred Secrets Revealed

SacredPlants — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:47:28 +0000

Much of Alchemy is misunderstood and shrouded in mystery within magical and fraternal orders, the goal of this documentary (2008) is to unravel some of the aspects which remain hidden behind conventional history.

Terence McKenna – Shamanic Approaches to the UFO

SacredPlants — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:56:59 +0000

The Alchemical Dream – Rebirth of the Great Work

SacredPlants — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:41:45 +0000

Terence McKenna relates some of the curious history of European alchemy, and the attempted creation of a religious utopia based on alchemical principles. Dressed as the famed Hermetic magician John Dee, McKenna strolls wistfully through the crumbling ruins and sweeping castle vistas of Eastern Europe discussing the lost secrets of alchemy. He gives us a tour of the last remaining alchemical laboratory in Heidelberg, and tells a fascinating story of political intrigue and bohemian experimentation in the 16th century.

Prague Gnosis

SacredPlants — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:30:21 +0000

Terence McKenna in dialogue with some of the foremost thinkers of the Global Consciousness movement today. Footage was shot on location in Prague, Czechoslovakia during the International Transpersonal Conference in June 1992. Terence engages in mind expanding conversations with Ram Dass, Angeles Arrien, Kenneth Ring, Rupert Sheldrake, Jill Purce, David White and Alexander Shulgin.

James Arthur: Mushrooms and Mankind

SacredPlants — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:20:25 +0000

James Arthur, one of the worlds leading experts in Ethnomycology, takes you on an exploration of symbolism from modern-day folk traditions to some of the most ancient religious writings known to mankind. The repression of human consciousness and sexuality does more harm to mankind than we could have possibly imagined. Why is it that these things are considered Taboo? The answers will amaze you!

One Step Beyond – The Sacred Mushroom (1961)

SacredPlants — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:37:01 +0000

John Newland along with doctors, and scientists took along a camera crew into the mountains of Mexico in search of the Sacred Mushroom. In one scene, a few “brujos” (native shaman) are encountered and agree to guide the party in a mushroom ceremony. In the next scene, John Newland is back in the states, and along with Dr. Andrija Puharich, several ESP tests are conducted on John before and after injesting the mushroom they call “X”.

One Step Beyond – The Sacred Mushroom (1961)

Paul Stamets speaks at the 1999 Psychoactivity Conference in Amsterdam

SacredPlants — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:26:04 +0000

Paul Stamets, author of numerous classic books on mycology including The Mushroom Cultivator and Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World, give a slide show demonstration at the 1999 Psychoactivity Conference in Amsterdam.

Heretical Visionary Sacraments Amongst the Ecclesiastical Elite

SacredPlants — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:18:48 +0000

“Heretical Visionary Sacraments Amongst the Ecclesiastical Elite” by Carl A. P. Ruck & Blaise Daniel Staples A talk presented to : The Italian Society for the Study of the States of Consciousness on August 30, 2003 at Perinaldo, Italy

Tribe – The Babongo

SacredPlants — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:09:18 +0000

BBC Documentary on the Babongo. The Babongo cultivate the drug Iboga for their ceremonies, and worship it as the source of spiritual knowledge. Some Bwiti scholars believe it is the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden. It comes from the bitter root of the Iboga tree, and is a powerful psycho-active drug – something like LSD, mescaline or amphetamines. Taking Iboga brings a sense of anxiety, extreme apprehension and visual hallucinations – effects which can be made stronger by darkness, ambience and suggestion. It makes you violently sick, can lead to a state of lethargy lasting four to five days and, in extreme doses, it can kill.

When Bwiti shamans eat Iboga, they are granted the power to see the future, heal the sick and speak with the dead. The Babongo use it as a stimulant before hunting and during initiation ceremonies. They believe that Iboga frees your soul to leave your body and go on a great journey, to speak with the spirits of animals and plants.

Shamanism – Other Worlds – Ayahuasca Documentary

SacredPlants — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:10:08 +0000

Ayahuasca is used largely as a religious sacrament. Those whose usage of ayahuasca is performed in non-traditional contexts often align themselves with the philosophies and cosmologies associated with ayahuasca shamanism, as practiced among indigenous peoples like the Urarina of Peruvian Amazonia. The religion Santo Daime uses it. While non-native users know of the spiritual applications of ayahuasca, a less well-known traditional usage focuses on the medicinal properties of ayahuasca. Its purgative properties are highly important (many refer to it as la purga, “the purge”). The intense vomiting and occasional diarrhea it induces can clear the body of worms and other tropical parasites, and harmala alkaloids themselves have been shown to be anthelmintic. Thus, this action is twofold; a direct action on the parasites by these harmala alkaloids (particularly harmine in ayahuasca) works to kill the parasites, and parasites are expelled through the increased intestinal motility that is caused by these alkaloids.