Gnosis: The Not-So Secret History of Jesus

Gnosis: The Not-So Secret History of Jesus

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[The Electric Jesus] • By popular request, I’m attempting to convert my Electric Jesus presentation into a book. Here’s my first shot at the first chapter.

I always begin “The Electric Jesus” workshops with a simple, yet extremely revealing visualization about our life-long journey of acquiring knowledge in the West.

Let’s start by taking a look back at your first day of school. Perhaps your parents packed you a sack lunch, tied your shoelaces, buttoned up that yellow rain jacket and then walked you to the bus or drove you to that strange large building with lots of windows. Remember your preschool or kindergarten teachers and how they trained you on the basics of the alphabet? You learned the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic. The stakes escalated as you went through each grade. There was telling time, cursive, the national anthem, fractals, history, even a little earth science. The hormones eventually kicked in at middle school or junior high and you embarked on new adventures involving facts, dates, and important events. Algebra turned into quadratic equations, which morphed into trigonometry and possibly calculus. Perhaps you went to college and sat through lectures, labs, novels, tests, papers, even a thesis or two. You might have gone on to do post-grad work acquiring various degrees and doctorates. And after years and years of study, from adolescence to adulthood, did a heroic teacher or professor ever set down the chalk or turn off the overhead projector, look your class square in the eye and say something like this?

“Look guys, we teach you all these things but none of us really have a clue what’s going on. Here we are, six billion humans, living on a bluish green sphere we call Earth. We’re a little speck spinning through an unimaginably vast cosmos, and none of us can even answer the most basic questions of our lives: Who are we? Where did we come from? Where we are going? And what is the purpose of this fourteen-billion-year experiment we call the universe?”

In my workshops, I’ll occasional hear tales of a Socratically wise teacher who had the gumption to admit that all we know is that we really know nothing. But by and large, there seemed to be a gaping blind spot, active denial, and severe intellectual arrogance with our educational systems and institutions towards understanding the actual world we live in every day. With all the cost, time, resources, and energy it takes to put our youth through this extended learning process, our students invariably come out of it full of information but knowing very little at all.

Fortunately, in our Western culture there is a Christian tradition (actually many diverse traditions, as we’ll soon learn) that believes it is our birthright to learn the answers to these crucial questions about our own existence. According to this tradition, we only need the perseverance, guidance, openness, love, and spirit (pneuma) to find the Truth we’ve always (although sometimes unknowingly) been looking for. From the evidence, it appears that they understood the most fundamental wisdom we could ever obtain in our lifetime — knowing who we truly are! These wise spiritual seekers and teachers of have been called “The Gnostics.”

The word gnosis means “knowledge through direct experience or personal revelation.” It’s not something you can be told from a teacher, minister, or politician, nor can it be learned from a newspaper or book, or even the global mind of the Internet. It’s something you must experience first hand. There’s nobody who can do it for you, and there’s absolutely no exception. For instance, I can tell you that Paris is the capital of France. It has a population of about ten million people. The city boasts wide attractive avenues with some classy old buildings. Its residents like croissants and cafes and they still generally smoke too much for their own good. I can tell you all these things but the only way to truly know Paris is to have actually been there and experienced it yourself. The same goes for higher states of consciousness, or “the kingdom of heaven,” as Jesus would put it. And it’s the same for knowing ourselves and our own true nature.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus makes a rather remarkable promise: “There is nothing hidden that won’t be brought to light nor anything secret that won’t be revealed” (4:21). According to him, all the secrets and mysteries of God, the universe, and our own origins don’t have to be guessed at or alluded to, but will actually be known to us in time. And just as importantly, these mysteries would, quite literally I believe, be brought to “light,” which is a concept we’ll be expanding on throughout this book.

According to the ancient Gnostics, nearly all of the citizens of “Spaceship Earth” have fallen into a chronic case of cosmic ignorance, which they described as “forgetfulness,” “drunkenness,” or “sleep.” We are lost in the world of illusion and have forgotten our true origins beyond the material world. The Buddhists and Hindus called this the veil of Maya, Plato called this the shadows of the cave, and Neo mainstreamed the concept by calling it “The Matrix” on wide screen theaters around the world.

So who were these Gnostics, and how were they able to break through this veil to “wake up?” A mistake I often witness is that people tend to separate Christians from Gnostics, as if they were two distinct groups, but the evidence overwhelmingly shows that the earliest Christians were, indeed, Gnostics. They were one and the same. (In fact the label “Gnostic” was created by academics in the later part of the 20th Century.)

You don’t often hear this in Sunday school, but Christianity comes from a very deep spiritual lineage known as the mystery schools. These were ancient mystical initiatory religions where seekers would pass through various rites of passage as they matured on their spiritual path. At first, those on the outer circle would be taught that the religious stories they were told really happened, but as they progressed into the esoteric inner knowledge (gnosis), they would learn that these tales served as an allegory for their own spiritual journey and process, and mimicked the rites and rituals they’d encounter along the way. The most common rites of the mystery schools play out in the drama of Jesus’ own story. There’s a baptism (spiritual cleansing), a eucharist (communion), an anointing (“Christ” means “the anointed one”), and the death and resurrection ritual, something every mature initiate would eventually go through.

Jesus tells us himself about these secret teachings when talking to the disciples:

“You have been given the secret to heaven, but to those outside everything is presented in parables so that they may look with eyes wide open but never quite see, and may listen with ears attuned but never quite understand. Otherwise, they might turn around and find forgiveness” — Mark 4:12.

As Jesus constantly reminds us, we are not witnessing the present moment correctly, because if we did, we would see through the fog of illusion, find forgiveness, and remember who we truly are. Those of us on the “outside” have not been adequately trained by the inner mysteries to see the greater reality around us, so we must learn through enigmatic allegories until we complete the various stages of gnosis. “Jesus said, ‘It is to those who are worthy of my Mysteries that I tell my Mysteries'” (The Gospel of Thomas).

The mystery schools were strewn across the lands of the Mediterranean and are thought to have originated in Egypt centuries before Jesus made his messianic debut in Nazareth. Each of these schools prominently featured “a dying and resurrecting godman.” In Egypt they revered Osirus and Horus, in Greece it was Dionysus, in Syria Adonis, in Asia Minor Attis, in Persia (and later Rome) Mithras. The similarities amongst these mythic figures are uncanny. Most of them were born on December 25 (around the winter solstice) to a virgin in humble surroundings (a manger or a cave) with a star in the Eastern sky. They grew up to be spiritual masters with twelve disciples, performing miracles, turning water into wine, giving baptisms and communions, and then dying for three days before making a glorious comeback. Often, they were referred to as “the son of the lamb,” “son of God,” “king of kings,” “the light of the world,” and “the alpha and the omega.” [1]

“Son of God” is actually derived from “sun of God,” as the mystery schools carefully marked astrological events, especially the precession of the equinoxes. The twelve tribes represent the twelve constellations in the zodiac and Jesus, Mithras, Dionysus and the other “godmen” symbolize the sun, which eventually passes through each of the signs. On December 25, the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius, aligns with the three brightest stars in Orion’s Belt, which are called “The Three Kings,” pointing directly at the sunrise. The Virgin (Mary in our case) is the constellation Virgo, who was also referred to as “The House of Bread” (she holds a sheaf of wheat). She represents the autumn months, which diminish and later give birth to the sun’s reawakening. The little legendary town of Bethlehem literally means “House of Bread.”

As winter comes in, the sun falls further south in the horizon until reaching its lowest point at the winter solstice on December 22nd. There, it appears to die for three days (stops moving) directly under the Southern Cross constellation until it rises again on December 25, bringing in more light to our world each day. The sun’s resurrection wasn’t fully celebrated until it reached fruition during the spring equinox, or what we call Easter today. Those “crown of thorns” are thought to represent the sun’s vibrant rays. Given the subtle, yet powerful spiritual/energy forces the mystery schools were working with (which we’ll discuss in greater detail), it’s no surprise that their spiritual heroes were symbolized by the continual nuclear fusion process of our glowing sun.

Different mystery school figures represent different ages of the Zodiac, each of which lasts about 2,150 years. Mithras kills the bull as we move away from Taurus into the age of Aries (the ram), then Jesus comes along with baskets full of fish to usher in the age of Pisces. When the disciples ask where the next Passover will be, Jesus says, “Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water… Follow him into the house where he entereth in.” Any novice astrologer will recognize the water bearer as Aquarius. When we hear of “the end of the world” in the New Testament, it actually translates as “the end of the age,” which isn’t that terrifying when you realize that the authors are poetically marking the change in the star calendar, and perhaps new energies coming in and affecting our planet. [2]

Given the astrological significance of the southern cross, it’s not surprising that depictions of crucifixion were popular in the mystery schools. A famous second to third century talisman (see image above) depicts a figure that looks suspiciously like Jesus crucified on a cross, but is surprisingly labeled “Orpheus becomes a Bacchoi.” Orpheus was a prophet in the Dionysian mysteries and a Bocchoi was an enlightened disciple who had completed the stages of initiation. (The first depiction of Jesus on the cross wouldn’t show up until at least 200 years later.) Around the same time as the talisman, a Roman graffiti artist drew a bizarre picture on the back of a Roman pillar when the authorities weren’t looking. This ancient “tag” featured a donkey being crucified on the cross, symbolizing the rite of dying to one’s lower nature in order to ascend to the higher self. Bible students will immediately recognize this as being reminiscent of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem, revealing in allegory how we can master our own animalistic nature.

Even if you’ve never been to church, I’m sure you’ll recognize the
following inscription: “He who will not eat of my body and drink of my
blood, so that he will be made one with me and I with him, the same
shall not know salvation.” This familiar reference to the communion
appears on a Mithraic temple. The mysteries of Mithra were around
centuries before our favorite resurrecting “godman” hit the religious
circuit in Galilee. Here’s a common prayer in Mithraic services: “Be good of cheer, sacred band of Initiates, your God has risen from the dead. His pains and sufferings shall be your salvation.” The Mithra mysteries were spread across the Roman Empire and you’ll find temples in London and up north at Hadrian’s Wall where Roman soldiers were stationed. The Vatican itself sits on top of a destroyed Mithraic temple, where initiates once shared a meal of wine and bread celebrating their redeemer, born on December 25th, who died for three days before coming back to life. [3]

While we’re shedding light on forgotten history, I’d like to take a moment and make up for what I call “2,000 years of really bad translations.” Let’s start off with that all-important Christian word “savior.” It’s a Greek term, soter, meaning “bestower of health,” or even better, “one who makes whole.” Jesus heals throughout the New Testament but what are his miraculous techniques? Some evidence might be found when he comes across a woman “with a flow of 12 years” who reaches out and touches his garments. “The power drains out of him,” for which Jesus turns around, gives the thumbs up, and says, “Your faith has healed you.”

But how could the power drain out of Jesus? And what is this power? Could it be that he was using the same power that moves the whole cosmos? Was he vibrating at a higher level and like a supreme Reiki master, did he heal her by passing on these higher frequencies? Jesus constantly gives “hands-on healings” throughout the gospels, often telling us “be opened” when cleaning out the energy channels and clearing out sickness. As a true soter, Jesus actively utilizes the powerful healing properties of unconditional love and forgiveness to help make us whole with ourselves, one another, and the divine.

To continue our discussion of really bad translations, I’d like to tackle that extremely loaded word we call “sin.” The term harmatia comes from Greek archery, and quite literally means “missing the mark.” But wait, you say, this word isn’t riddled with the shame and guilt that the televangelists lay on us before asking for our credit card information? You’re right, it’s just a word describing our journey home. Sometimes we fall off target, then we have to realign and get on the road again. That’s how we stumble through the darkness of illusion and eventually find our way back to the light.

So it seems highly unlikely that you would go to hell for “missing the mark,” or at least not that place of eternal damnation that sidewalk preachers rage about. The translation for hell actually comes from the word Gehena, which was a place in Israel where trash was burned. A spiritual master like Jesus understood the laws of karma and knew that if you do bad things, you might, metaphorically speaking, end up in a trash dump for a while until you figure things out. How many of us have been in Gehena at some point in our lives? And I’m sure for some of us, it felt like an eternity. Of course, we could “repent” to improve our situation, especially since the Greek word metanoia simply means to “change one’s mind” or better yet, “to have a change of consciousness,” which can happen quite easily when you meet a higher vibrational being like Jesus. I’ve had the fortune of meeting several fairly enlightened people in my lifetime, and can honestly say I left their presence with a changed sense of consciousness.

And what about that fabled goateed guy with the red pointy tail? The term “Satan” comes from the Hebrew word for “adversary.” In our minds and mythologies, we’ve built Old Scratch up to be a wily demon tempting us into horrible corruption, but those on the path will recognize the real adversary to us reaching our destination of true knowing. It’s the ego/personality attachment to this world of illusion, or as the Gnostics called it — the eidolon, that we must overcome in order to experience our higher self. Once we’ve accomplished that through years of spiritual alchemy, we can then “resurrect” (anastasis), literally “rise from sleep,” to become fully awake and aware beings in the cosmic dream.[4]

The Buddha’s ears might be heating up right as you read this, as his name also means “The Awakened One.” Could Jesus and Buddha be pointing towards the same direct experience? Might Jesus’ “Kindgom of Heaven” be the same as Buddha’s “Ultimate Reality?” I had my suspicions.

During “The Electric Jesus” workshops, I always give a little pop quiz. And I admit it’s a bit of a trick, but here it goes… What is the earliest Christian gospel that we know of?… Matthew perhaps? Even though it’s placed first in the Bible, it wasn’t written until 80 – 90 AD. Then how about Mark, you may ask? Good guess. It’s the oldest of the canonical gospels (60 – 70 AD) but there’s another gospel even older than that and it happens to be one of the most poetic and compelling spiritual texts in the world, right on par with The Tao Te Ching and The Bhagavad Gita. We call it The Gospel of Thomas (40 AD). The text is known as a “secret sayings gospel” and you’ll find many of these sayings conveniently inserted into the narrative of the canonical scriptures.

This gospel starts off with a startling, jaw-dropping promise: “Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death.” You only have to read a few lines further down to find another impossible line: “Heaven is inside and outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living father.”

Once again, forgiveness, heaven, and knowledge of our true self does not exist in cloud nine far above; it’s right here inside us and around us, just waiting to be explored. Jesus goes on to tell Thomas, “I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring that I have tended.” Could it be that Thomas obtained a similar spiritual mastery as Jesus, and might that “bubbling spring” refer to waves of energy that were passed from teacher to initiate in energetic transmissions that maintained the spiritual lineage of these esoteric traditions? Moving water has often been a symbol of energetic waves or transmission. Just look at the rite of baptism, which Jesus executes with “fire and spirit.”

Perhaps the most mystically complex saying in the whole gospel is the following lines: “When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one… then you will enter the kingdom of heaven.” In this passage, Jesus becomes a yogic guru, advising us in a spiritual alchemy that unites the polarities and duality of the universe in order to discover our divine origins and go back home. It’s a mastery that seems logically impossible, and only the magic of divine gnosis can bring us to this kind of realization.

Along with Thomas, an enormously diverse number of Gnostic gospels and sacred texts flowed through the numerous Christian mystery schools, some of which can still be ready today. There’s The Gospel of Mary, Philip, Judas, Secret James, Secret John, The Gospel of Truth, Act of Peter, Pistis Sophia, Dialogue of the Savior, Tripartite Tractate, and the lists goes on and on. If you’re curious about the best way to sink your teeth into these vast tomes, I’d start with Thomas for the wealth of sayings, then Philip for the sacred rites and rituals of the Christian initiates, then Mary to prove that a girl can do everything Jesus can. If you’d like to bone up on the basic history and beliefs of the Gnostics, I highly recommend starting off with Elaine Pagels’ concise academic study in The Gnostic Gospels, then delve into the rich and expansive The Jesus Mysteries by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy.

If early Christianity was extremely diverse with dozens of gospels and various Gnostic traditions spread across the Middle East, you might be asking yourself, “What happened to change all this?” Like most of the problems in history, we may be able to pin this one to the horrors of war. With the Roman Empire smashing Jerusalem and its Second Temple in 70 AD, the whole region was in violent tumult. The Romans considered secret or hidden societies dangerous hotbeds of rebellion and Christians, with their radical hero figure, found themselves at the top of this list. Members of the Christian mysteries joined the mass exodus out of the country to avoid persecution while many of the initiation schools fractured into pieces. (A similar tragic situation is happening to the Mandeans, the last remaining Gnostic lineage, who are being persecuted due to the war in Iraq.)

Initiates were spread far and wide and those who no longer could experience the deeper mysteries and inner gnosis started up “Literalist Churches,” which taught the Jesus story as absolute historical fact rather than allegorical representation. The remaining Gnostic circles called these rigid churches “Imitation Churches,” as they did not teach the real meaning of the mystery traditions — “the Christ within.” Literalist Christianity began to rise in places like Rome and France, where they encountered a good deal of persecution from the Roman power structure. But in a sad touch of historical irony, leaders of these new literalist churches became heretic hunters attacking those who still carried the inner teachings of their own religion.

In the second century AD, Irenaeus, the infamous bishop of Lyon, wrote the rather uptight Against Heresies to discredit those he saw as his Gnostic opponents. This work almost single-handedly shaped the Orthodox faith and set forth nearly 2,000 years of very lame behavior by what would become the Catholic hierarchy. Suddenly the word heresy (from the Greek haeresis, meaning “choosing”) was mainlined and used at will to attack and deny any teachings that did not fit in with the growing institutions of power. The drafting of Against Heresies was a serious turning point in the history of Christianity, the moment when the once more popular inner traditions lost traction to the growing Literalist Church. Irenaeus immediately began a crusade to narrow the diverse wealth of Christian texts to a paltry four stories. [5]

As the number of Christians multiplied in Roman lands, a power-hungry Emperor Constantine switched the state religion to this mass movement, uniting Rome under “one God, one religion,” and yes, one emperor. In 325 he oversaw the Council of Nicaea, where Literalist Church leaders completed Irenaeus’ dull vision of wiping out all Christian written knowledge to a slim few texts. This is what we now call The New Testament.

Now imagine, this would be the equivalent of free-minded Americans handing over their Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, the Federalist Papers — the whole basis of our civil liberties — back to King George in England and saying, “Hey, could you edit these and get back to us?” Of course, many of the most inspiring, liberating, and empowering spiritual texts never saw the light of day in the “old boys club” back in Nicaea. And after completing his long business trip, the now Christian ruler Constantine celebrated his return home by immediately killing both his wife and son. He then remained unbaptized until his deathbed so that he could continue his murderous ways and still secure box seats in heaven.

In 391 Emperor Theodosius passed an edict to close all “pagan” temples and burn their books. Christians hordes set out on murderous rampages smashing all traces of the spiritual traditions from which their religion had blossomed. The last of the Gnostic circles were annihilated, as were libraries, temples, texts, and the spiritual gnosis that had been passed down throughout the ages. By 410 AD the Roman Empire had nearly torn itself apart and the Visigoths strolled in to finish the job. Only eighty-five years after the Council of Nicaea, the Dark Ages had begun.

But, as the old adage states, “Nothing lasts, but nothing is lost.” In December 1945, as the world was ending its darkest and most destructive period to date, an Egyptian peasant named Mohammed Ali Samman was digging for fertilizer around some limestone caves near the village of Nag Hammadi when he came across a sealed earthenware jar. He feared an evil djin (genie) might be inside, but eventually opened the jar in hopes to discover lost riches. Disappointment set in as twelve raggedy leather bound codices fell out of the jar. He had no idea of the priceless treasure laying at his feet. In its 1,200 pages, The Nag Hammadi Library, held dozens of sacred texts that had been hidden away for the last 1,600 years. In it were numerous Gnostic gospels and treatises that had been lost to the brutal dustbin of time. Mohammed brought them home where his mother stayed warm by feeding pages of those ancient texts to her fireplace.

Fortunately, they didn’t all get burned into ash and these lost texts can now be enjoyed by anyone with access to Wikipedia, Amazon.com, or a local bookstore: There’s fifty-two in all including: The Gospel of Thomas, Secret James, The Gospel of Philip, The Origin of the World, The Gospel of Truth, The Exegesis on the Soul, Secret John, The Three Steles of Seth, The Gospel of the Egyptians, The Prayer of the Apostle Paul, The Tripartite Tractate, and The Sophia of Jesus. As you can see from these numerous titles, early Christianity was an extremely rich, open, and inclusive tradition when it came to gnosis. The Nag Hammadi Library even includes texts from the Corpus Hermeticum and Plato’s Republic.

To conclude, I have to say that I’ve been absolutely amazed by how many people are awakening to a greater vision themselves and the cosmos, whether through spontaneous openings or engaging in serious spiritual endeavors. Mass transformation of human consciousness seems to be increasing exponentially all around us as record numbers of seekers practice the techniques of yoga, Reiki, Thai Chi, meditation, and much more. While we embark on this noble journey, it’s important to integrate the traditions we grew up with and not just push them away, especially if we want to become whole. As Jesus says in The Gospel of Thomas, “If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”

Regardless of your religious upbringing or current practices, Christianity is within all of us. It’s in our language, our laws, our mores, our sexuality, even our calendar, deeply influencing our entire perspective on the world. The gnosis of these newly discovered texts provide a mystical bridge between our own unfolding personal transformation and the cultural forces that ground us and identify us in our shared reality. They offer a place to heal, forgive, and embrace our religious traditions while clearing up the mistranslations and misunderstandings of the past. We no longer are limited to looking toward the exotic East for knowledge of the deeper mysteries in life. Like Dorothy, we can click our heels three times, and discover we’ve actually been there all along.

 

1. Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy, The Jesus Mysteries (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999), 1-26

2. Peter Joseph, Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007), http://zeitgeistmovie.com, Part 2

1. Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy, The Jesus Mysteries (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999), 1-3

4. Richard Smoley, Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition (Monterey, MA: Bma Studios), Discs 1-2 on audio-book

5. J. Michael Matkin, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to The Gnostic Gospels (Indianapolis: Watermill Books, 2005) 23-24)

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Read to learn all about DMT vape pens including: what to know when vaping, what to expect when purchasing a DMT cartridge, and vaping safely.

DMT Resources
This article is a comprehensive DMT resource providing extensive information from studies, books, documentaries, and more. Check it out!

Differentiating DMT and Near-Death Experiences
Some say there are similarities between a DMT trip and death. Read our guide on differentiating DMT and near-death experiences to find out.

DMT Research from 1956 to the Edge of Time
From a representative sample of a suitably psychedelic crowd, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who couldn’t tell you all about Albert Hofmann’s enchanted bicycle ride after swallowing what turned out to be a massive dose of LSD. Far fewer, however, could tell you much about the world’s first DMT trip.

The Ultimate Guide to DMT Pricing
Check out our ultimate guide on DMT pricing to learn what to expect when purchasing DMT for your first time.

DMT Milking | Reality Sandwich
Indigenous cultures have used 5-MeO-DMT for centuries. With the surge in demand for psychedelic toad milk, is DMT Milking harming the frogs?

Why Does DMT Pervade Nature?
With the presence of DMT in nature everywhere – including human brains – why does it continue to baffle science?

DMT Substance Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to DMT has everything you want to know about this powerful psychedelic referred to as “the spirit molecule”.

DMT for Depression: Paving the Way for New Medicine
We’ve been waiting for an effective depression treatment. Studies show DMT for depression works even for treatment resistant patients.

Beating Addiction with DMT
Psychedelics have been studied for their help overcoming addiction. Read how DMT is helping addicts beat their substance abuse issues.

DMT Extraction: Behind the Scientific Process
Take a look at DMT extraction and the scientific process involved. Learn all you need to know including procedures and safety.

Microdosing DMT & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing DMT.

DMT Art: A Look Behind Visionary Creations
An entire genre of artwork is inspired by psychedelic trips with DMT. Read to learn about the entities and visions behind DMT art.

Changa vs. DMT: What You Need to Know
While similar (changa contains DMT), each drug has its own unique effect and feeling. Let’s compare and contrast changa vs DMT.

5-MeO-DMT Guide: Effects, Benefits, Safety, and Legality
5-Meo-DMT comes from the Sonora Desert toad. Here is everything you want to know about 5-Meo-DMT and how it compares to 4-AcO-DMT.

4-AcO-DMT Guide: Benefits, Effects, Safety, and Legality
This guide tells you everything about 4 AcO DMT & 5 MeO DMT, that belong to the tryptamine class, and are similar but slightly different to DMT.

How Much Does LSD Cost? When shopping around for that magical psychedelic substance, there can be many uncertainties when new to buying LSD. You may be wondering how much does LSD cost? In this article, we will discuss what to expect when purchasing LSD on the black market, what forms LSD is sold in, and the standard breakdown of buying LSD in quantity.   Navy Use of LSD on the Dark Web The dark web is increasingly popular for purchasing illegal substances. The US Navy has now noticed this trend with their staff. Read to learn more.   Having Sex on LSD: What You Need to Know Can you have sex on LSD? Read our guide to learn everything about sex on acid, from lowered inhibitions to LSD users quotes on sex while tripping.   A Drug That Switches off an LSD Trip A pharmaceutical company is developing an “off-switch” drug for an LSD trip, in the case that a bad trip can happen. Some would say there is no such thing.   Queen of Hearts: An Interview with Liz Elliot on Tim Leary and LSD The history of psychedelia, particularly the British experience, has been almost totally written by men. Of the women involved, especially those who were in the thick of it, little has been written either by or about them. A notable exception is Liz Elliot.   LSD Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety LSD, Lysergic acid diethylamide, or just acid is one of the most important psychedelics ever discovered. What did history teach us?   Microdosing LSD & Common Dosage Explained Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing LSD.   LSD Resources Curious to learn more about LSD? This guide includes comprehensive LSD resources containing books, studies and more.   LSD as a Spiritual Aid There is common consent that the evolution of mankind is paralleled by the increase and expansion of consciousness. From the described process of how consciousness originates and develops, it becomes evident that its growth depends on its faculty of perception. Therefore every means of improving this faculty should be used.   Legendary LSD Blotter Art: A Hidden Craftsmanship Have you ever heard of LSD blotter art? Explore the trippy world of LSD art and some of the top artists of LSD blotter art.   LSD and Exercise: Does it Work? LSD and exercise? Learn why high-performing athletes are taking hits of LSD to improve their overall potential.   Jan Bastiaans Treated Holocaust Survivors with LSD Dutch psychiatrist, Jan Bastiaans administered LSD-assisted therapy to survivors of the Holocaust. A true war hero and pioneer of psychedelic-therapy.   LSD and Spiritual Awakening I give thanks for LSD, which provided the opening that led me to India in 1971 and brought me to Neem Karoli Baba, known as Maharajji. Maharajji is described by the Indians as a “knower of hearts.”   How LSD is Made: Everything You Need to Know Ever wonder how to make LSD? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how LSD is made.   How to Store LSD: Best Practices Learn the best way to store LSD, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long LSD lasts when stored.   Bicycle Day: The Discovery of LSD Every year on April 19th, psychonauts join forces to celebrate Bicycle Day. Learn about the famous day when Albert Hoffman first discovered the effects of LSD.   Cary Grant: A Hollywood Legend On LSD Cary Grant was a famous actor during the 1930’s-60’s But did you know Grant experimented with LSD? Read our guide to learn more.   Albert Hofmann: LSD — My Problem Child Learn about Albert Hofmann and his discovery of LSD, along with the story of Bicycle Day and why it marks a historic milestone.   Babies are High: What Does LSD Do To Your Brain What do LSD and babies have in common? Researchers at the Imperial College in London discover that an adult’s brain on LSD looks like a baby’s brain.   1P LSD: Effects, Benefits, Safety Explained 1P LSD is an analogue of LSD and homologue of ALD-25. Here is everything you want to know about 1P LSD and how it compares to LSD.   Francis Crick, DNA & LSD Type ‘Francis Crick LSD’ into Google, and the result will be 30,000 links. Many sites claim that Crick (one of the two men responsible for discovering the structure of DNA), was either under the influence of LSD at the time of his revelation or used the drug to help with his thought processes during his research. Is this true?   What Happens If You Overdose on LSD? A recent article presented three individuals who overdosed on LSD. Though the experience was unpleasant, the outcomes were remarkably positive.

The Ayahuasca Experience
Ayahuasca is both a medicine and a visionary aid. You can employ ayahuasca for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repair, and you can engage with the power of ayahuasca for deeper insight and realization. If you consider attainment of knowledge in the broadest perspective, you can say that at all times, ayahuasca heals.

 

Trippy Talk: Meet Ayahuasca with Sitaramaya Sita and PlantTeachers
Sitaramaya Sita is a spiritual herbalist, pusangera, and plant wisdom practitioner formally trained in the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition.

 

The Therapeutic Value of Ayahuasca
My best description of the impact of ayahuasca is that it’s a rocket boost to psychospiritual growth and unfolding, my professional specialty during my thirty-five years of private practice.

 

Microdosing Ayahuasca: Common Dosage Explained
What is ayahuasca made of and what is considered a microdose? Explore insights with an experienced Peruvian brewmaster and learn more about this practice.

 

Ayahuasca Makes Neuron Babies in Your Brain
Researchers from Beckley/Sant Pau Research Program have shared the latest findings in their study on the effects of ayahuasca on neurogenesis.

 

The Fatimiya Sufi Order and Ayahuasca
In this interview, the founder of the Fatimiya Sufi Order,  N. Wahid Azal, discusses the history and uses of plant medicines in Islamic and pre-Islamic mystery schools.

 

Consideration Ayahuasca for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research indicates that ayahuasca mimics mechanisms of currently accepted treatments for PTSD. In order to understand the implications of ayahuasca treatment, we need to understand how PTSD develops.

 

Brainwaves on Ayahuasca: A Waking Dream State
In a study researchers shared discoveries showing ingredients found in Ayahuasca impact the brainwaves causing a “waking dream” state.

 

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a pro cannabis Peruvian Shaman.

 

Ayahuasca Retreat 101: Everything You Need to Know to Brave the Brew
Ayahuasca has been known to be a powerful medicinal substance for millennia. However, until recently, it was only found in the jungle. Word of its deeply healing and cleansing properties has begun to spread across the world as many modern, Western individuals are seeking spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. More ayahuasca retreat centers are emerging in the Amazon and worldwide to meet the demand.

 

Ayahuasca Helps with Grief
A new study published in psychopharmacology found that ayahuasca helped those suffering from the loss of a loved one up to a year after treatment.

 

Ayahuasca Benefits: Clinical Improvements for Six Months
Ayahuasca benefits can last six months according to studies. Read here to learn about the clinical improvements from drinking the brew.

 

Ayahuasca Culture: Indigenous, Western, And The Future
Ayahuasca has been use for generations in the Amazon. With the rise of retreats and the brew leaving the rainforest how is ayahuasca culture changing?

 

Ayahuasca Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
The Amazonian brew, Ayahuasca has a long history and wide use. Read our guide to learn all about the tea from its beginnings up to modern-day interest.

 

Ayahuasca and the Godhead: An Interview with Wahid Azal of the Fatimiya Sufi Order
Wahid Azal, a Sufi mystic of The Fatimiya Sufi Order and an Islamic scholar, talks about entheogens, Sufism, mythology, and metaphysics.

 

Ayahuasca and the Feminine: Women’s Roles, Healing, Retreats, and More
Ayahuasca is lovingly called “grandmother” or “mother” by many. Just how feminine is the brew? Read to learn all about women and ayahuasca.

What Is the Standard of Care for Ketamine Treatments?
Ketamine therapy is on the rise in light of its powerful results for treatment-resistant depression. But, what is the current standard of care for ketamine? Read to find out.

What Is Dissociation and How Does Ketamine Create It?
Dissociation can take on multiple forms. So, what is dissociation like and how does ketamine create it? Read to find out.

Having Sex on Ketamine: Getting Physical on a Dissociative
Curious about what it could feel like to have sex on a dissociate? Find out all the answers in our guide to sex on ketamine.

Special K: The Party Drug
Special K refers to Ketamine when used recreationally. Learn the trends as well as safety information around this substance.

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

Ketamine vs. Esketamine: 3 Important Differences Explained
Ketamine and esketamine are used to treat depression. But what’s the difference between them? Read to learn which one is right for you: ketamine vs. esketamine.

Guide to Ketamine Treatments: Understanding the New Approach
Ketamine is becoming more popular as more people are seeing its benefits. Is ketamine a fit? Read our guide for all you need to know about ketamine treatments.

Ketamine Treatment for Eating Disorders
Ketamine is becoming a promising treatment for various mental health conditions. Read to learn how individuals can use ketamine treatment for eating disorders.

Ketamine Resources, Studies, and Trusted Information
Curious to learn more about ketamine? This guide includes comprehensive ketamine resources containing books, studies and more.

Ketamine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to ketamine has everything you need to know about this “dissociative anesthetic” and how it is being studied for depression treatment.

Ketamine for Depression: A Mental Health Breakthrough
While antidepressants work for some, many others find no relief. Read to learn about the therapeutic uses of ketamine for depression.

Ketamine for Addiction: Treatments Offering Hope
New treatments are offering hope to individuals suffering from addiction diseases. Read to learn how ketamine for addiction is providing breakthrough results.

Microdosing Ketamine & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing ketamine.

How to Ease a Ketamine Comedown
Knowing what to expect when you come down from ketamine can help integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible.

How to Store Ketamine: Best Practices
Learn the best ways how to store ketamine, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long ketamine lasts when stored.

How To Buy Ketamine: Is There Legal Ketamine Online?
Learn exactly where it’s legal to buy ketamine, and if it’s possible to purchase legal ketamine on the internet.

How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
How long does ketamine stay in your system? Are there lasting effects on your body? Read to discover the answers!

How Ketamine is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make Ketamine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how Ketamine is made.

Colorado on Ketamine: First Responders Waiver Programs
Fallout continues after Elijah McClain. Despite opposing recommendations from some city council, Colorado State Health panel recommends the continued use of ketamine by medics for those demonstrating “excited delirium” or “extreme agitation”.

Types of Ketamine: Learn the Differences & Uses for Each
Learn about the different types of ketamine and what they are used for—and what type might be right for you. Read now to find out!

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

MDMA & Ecstasy Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to MDMA has everything you want to know about Ecstasy from how it was developed in 1912 to why it’s being studied today.

How To Get the Most out of Taking MDMA as a Couple
Taking MDMA as a couple can lead to exciting experiences. Read here to learn how to get the most of of this love drug in your relationship.

Common MDMA Dosage & Microdosing Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing MDMA.

Having Sex on MDMA: What You Need to Know
MDMA is known as the love drug… Read our guide to learn all about sex on MDMA and why it is beginning to makes its way into couple’s therapy.

How MDMA is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make MDMA? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how MDMA is made.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Explore the mechanics of hippie flipping and how to safely experiment.

How Cocaine is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make cocaine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how cocaine is made.

A Christmas Sweater with Santa and Cocaine
This week, Walmart came under fire for a “Let it Snow” Christmas sweater depicting Santa with lines of cocaine. Columbia is not merry about it.

Ultimate Cocaine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
This guide covers what you need to know about Cocaine, including common effects and uses, legality, safety precautions and top trends today.

NEWS: An FDA-Approved Cocaine Nasal Spray
The FDA approved a cocaine nasal spray called Numbrino, which has raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company, Lannett Company Inc., paid off the FDA..

The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Bioavailability
What is bioavailability and how can it affect the overall efficacy of a psychedelic substance? Read to learn more.

Cannabis Research Explains Sociability Behaviors
New research by Dr. Giovanni Marsicano shows social behavioral changes occur as a result of less energy available to the neurons. Read here to learn more.

The Cannabis Shaman
If recreational and medical use of marijuana is becoming accepted, can the spiritual use as well? Experiential journalist Rak Razam interviews Hamilton Souther, founder of the 420 Cannabis Shamanism movement…

Cannabis Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to Cannabis has everything you want to know about this popular substances that has psychedelic properties.

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a procannabis Peruvian Shaman.

CBD-Rich Cannabis Versus Single-Molecule CBD
A ground-breaking study has documented the superior therapeutic properties of whole plant Cannabis extract as compared to synthetic cannabidiol (CBD), challenging the medical-industrial complex’s notion that “crude” botanical preparations are less effective than single-molecule compounds.

Cannabis Has Always Been a Medicine
Modern science has already confirmed the efficacy of cannabis for most uses described in the ancient medical texts, but prohibitionists still claim that medical cannabis is “just a ruse.”

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