Jesus, Marx, and Spiritual Economics

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Thousands of people poured through the exit gates of Flushing Meadows. I kept staring through the fence at those 70,000 fold-out chairs glistening under the massive house lights and flanked by two enormous video screens. Why had I come here? I wondered, looking out at all those seats. What did I think I could possibly find at Billy Graham’s Last Crusade? The ailing preacher had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and he had come to New York City, media capital of the world, to kick off his last evangelical tour.

I had recently undergone some unexpected mystical openings of my own, ones that surprisingly involved Jesus. So I wanted to see if these Christians knew something that I didn’t, and also what might be behind America’s rising fundamentalism that was now preventing gays from getting married in various states. Billy spoke in a weak, but graceful baritone voice, giving a brief sermon on the well-known tale of Nicodemus and the need to be “born again.” The speech lacked a certain depth and passion and glancing at the massive infrastructure in front of me, it just didn’t seem worth the $6.8 million needed to put the whole thing on. As uniformed men packed up the evening’s offerings into armored trucks, I wondered what would have happened if those funds had been spent on issues Jesus actually cared about, like feeding the poor and healing the sick.

I eventually turned my back on the scene and walked over to the Queens’ Unisphere, where kids were splashing away under the140-foot statue of the globe. A twenty-piece band of accordions, drums, trombones, and other instruments played swanky, modernized versions of Israeli classics not too far away. I walked over to find bearded men, many in fishing type hats, dancing with attractive women. The women wore light, comfortable clothes, somehow looking funky, contemporary and traditional with their beads, satchels and bonnets. One of the men came over with his wife to talk.

“What did you think of the sermon?” I asked them.

“Well, Billy understood part of being born again,” said the bearded man. “But I think it’s also about coming out of the womb of selfishness, coming out of darkness and into the light. It’s when you stop only caring for yourself and shed Christ-like compassion on the rest of the world.”

“Who are you guys?” I asked, and the man handed me a brochure explaining that they were The Twelve Tribes.”

“We have communities across the globe,” he said. “We think Karl Marx had it right, except he forgot about spirit. Our communities work together for a common goal. We resemble the early Christian church, before it got greedy with money and power.”

The two of them introduced themselves. They had taken on unpronounceable Hebrew names that I unsuccessfully tried to remember.

“We live on a farm in Vermont,” the woman explained. “There’s a whole community of us trying to grow organic food and live sustainably."

“What’s a typical day like for you up there?” I asked, as I’d been dreaming of living in an intentional community for several years.

“We get up each morning and have a prayer with our breakfast and then we dance,” he said. “We work hard on the farm, but it’s also fun. At night, there’s dinner and more dancing. Sometimes we have skits, music or performances, or just talk about how we’re feeling or questions we might have."

“We try to live like Yahshua,” his wife added. “We hold our brothers and sisters’ hands with love in our hearts.”

Yahshua, as I learned, was Jesus’ Hebrew name, literally meaning “Yahweh’s Salvation.” They had each taken on Hebrew names to be more like Yahshua.

They saw me eyeing the dancing. The music was hot and lively, decadently surreal and bawdy for a group of Marxist Christians. I wanted to jump in but felt shy about it until one of the brothers in the circle grabbed my hand and pulled me in. He showed me the moves. “Step, step, snap, snap, snap.” He kept holding my hand and we stepped and snapped our way through that song and the next and the next. When the band called it a night, I picked up a conversation with him. He told me of his Twelve Tribes community in California — his relationship to the land, the crops, the goats, the living spirit of his world. He mentioned how this reverence was the exact opposite of Monsanto and other agribusiness giants who’d sue farmers if their genetically modified seeds blew into their fields. Mystical and political, I was already infatuated with their tribe.

I walked back with the musicians to their bus. One of them, a black man, told me how he had been a Mormon in southern Missouri, but the Mormon Church just wasn’t doing it for him. He’d been a drinker, philanderer, gambler, and after a serious drunk-driving accident, he was ready to devote his life to God but wasn’t sure how. He came upon one of the Twelve Tribes’ flyers and came to a meeting. “They treated each other like equals with real love and respect. I couldn’t believe that reality could be like this. You know, Christians talk about living like Jesus, but it’s always after he’s come back. These guys are actually doing it right now.”

In the parking lot, we came across the most amazing double-decker bus I’d ever seen. It was red with white racing stripes, multiple sunroof windows and a retro fifties look that Buddy Holly might have cruised in. This belonged to the Twelve Tribes and they asked me if I wanted to hop on board. The inside had varnished wood paneling with cushions and lamps. The folks in the bus immediately served us cups of mate tea. The captain of the ship, Sholom, noticed me admiring its fortitude and how expensive it all must’ve been.

“We own a café upstate in Ithaca,” Sholom explained. “We work like capitalists, but divide the money like communists. It’s like a vow of poverty. None of us have money, but we have an abundance of everything.”

Sholom spoke in a raspy captain’s voice. He had long, pulled-back black hair, a matching wiry beard, and looked ready to end his stint on shore leave. He read us some poetry he’d written and then talked of all the shows and festivals they’d been to – Phish, the Dead, the Rainbow Gathering, and now Billy Graham. Two Hispanic guitarists were aboard. They had just met the Twelve Tribes that night and were eager to join the community. I was impressed to see how easygoing the members were about converting others. They didn't push or force any dogma. They simply acted through example, inviting you to join along if you wished. This magnetized people to them. The bus had all the races, ages, and genders and they all got along so lovingly. Sholom invited me to visit their community upstate in Ithaca, and as strange as it was, I knew that I would pay them a visit. Was this the intentional community I’d been searching for?

A few months later I found myself on a Greyhound bus heading up to the Twelve Tribe’s enclave in Ithaca, New York. Stemming from the Jesus Movement in the 70’s, the Twelve Tribes had built a couple of dozen communities around the globe to reconnect with spirit, each other, and the earth. But I had serous doubts that they could actually pull this off. I had lived in former Eastern Block countries and had seen the tragic toll of what happens when Marxist ideology gets tweaked and twisted by human nature. And I had to admit I felt a great deal of trepidation regarding my weekend stay with the followers of “Yahshua.”

Sholom, the captain of the Buddy Holly bus, picked me up at the bus station in his car. He quickly allayed my worries of receiving “Yahshua lectures” by talking about all the sites in Ithaca, the café the Tribes owned, and how lots of the townsfolk thought them radicals, communists, whackos, or rich bastards as they owned a big house, a couple businesses and several cars.

“Think about it,” he said in a melodious, whiskey-sounding voice. “We all share our resources. There are fifty of us, but we only need one lawnmower, one dishwasher and a few cars. We save money on everything and that lets us invest in our community. Some people are jealous. They’re stuck in this work/survival rut, suffering from the isolation that our society imposes.”

Sholom directed our conversation from consumerism to oil consumption and all the unnecessary wars that it fosters.

“If you think about it, war fulfills a spiritual need. It gives people’s lives meaning. They can look down the barrel of an enemy and don’t have to fight the war inside themselves. But as Jesus said, “Blessed be the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”

I had never been to Ithaca before and was delighted to find it a quaint little college town, not so presumptuous as its Ivy League jewel, Cornell University, perched on the hill. Sholom pulled into a beautiful German-looking mansion with white paint, brown trimming and dozens of triangular gables poking up. He explained that this “mansion” had actually been a fitness center they’d bought a few years ago with their shared resources. He led me to a dorm room where the single men slept. The two Hispanic musicians I’d met from the bus at the Billy Graham Crusade had already joined the community and appeared to be having the time of their lives. They proudly introduced themselves by their newly acquired Hebrew names, Derush Zachar and Chetz Bara. Chetz Bara was especially excited today. All of his worldly possessions had arrived at the house and I got to witness the amazing alchemical process of an object transforming from a “mine” to an “ours.” The kids paraded in Chetz’s remote control airplanes, happy that they could all now share in the fun. I asked Chetz if he didn’t mind losing his bank account and his home furnishings, but he cheerily said this was the rich life he’d always been looking for.

At six o’clock, the shofar blew loudly through the hallways and I joined the community’s fifty brothers and sisters for the Shabbat’s opening ceremonies. They gathered in a large circle, wooden chairs all around, in a revamped gymnasium. Members of “the Body,” as they called themselves, had stripped off the gym mirrors, put in wood paneling and hung up Middle Eastern tapestries to make the communal room complete. In accordance with their traditions, the men wore khakis, sandals, and comfortable hemp shirts. They all had beards and long hair, which was held back by headbands, representing the kingdom awaiting them. The women donned loose flowing skirts, similar shirts, and scarves over their heads. In the circle, one person would spontaneously start singing a song that he or she liked. The pianist, drummers and guitar players would kick in as various members jumped up for Israeli folk dancing with the entire community singing and clapping along. Partners constantly switched, small circles formed, rotated, then broke and reassembled, as everybody joyously danced with everybody else.

Afterward, various members would stand up and say what they were thankful for, lessons they had learned that week, anecdotes from the Bible, and greetings for the guests they’d invited to join them in the Shabbat. Nobody gave sermons or lectured. Each member of the community was considered a priest, including the women. They were all a studious bunch, taking copious notes on comments made by their fellow brothers and sisters.

One of the most ear-catching comments was when a member talked about the Lords’ prayer. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.’ I was thinking how nations are like kingdoms, kingdoms that we co-create. Now how do we go about creating a kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven?” he asked us. “What’s the most important thing in a kingdom?”

I didn’t know but the Tribe members instantly had a response.

“The children,” was the chorus.

“The children,” he repeated. “It’s important that they give and share freely, that we bring them up to truly love one another without fear, anger and hate.”

When everyone had finished talking, we hopped on our feet and came together in a tight little circle. As their custom, the men held their hands in the air. It didn't seem fair but the women were expected to keep their hands at their sides while various members called out elated, rapid-fire thanks, praising Abba (“Father” in Hebrew) before serving the evening meal.

We ate in the back courtyard under a large circus-like tent. Candles had been lit on all small round tables. The meal was very hearty and healthy — homemade spelt bread, a garden salad, and a vegetarian pasta dish. The Twelve Tribes had invited various guests and people in need to join in the communal meal. I talked to several members and learned how they had tried it all — transcendental meditation, psychedelics, shamanism — searching for answers when they finally came upon the Twelve Tribes and their path to God. While these stories were inspiring, I was also disappointed to hear the community's general condescension to the other spiritual traditions. Just because these roads didn't work out for them didn't mean that they weren't valid for someone else.

The best part of the evening was spent helping the kids clean up. There were no whimpers or complaints as they happily pitched in to help. They were giving, loving, friendly, funny, whip smart, and very natural in themselves. And they loved to tell great stories. As a former teacher who’d instructed kids from many different countries, I immediately found them to be the most well-adapted kids I’d ever met. And it made sense. They were loved, supported, and cared for by the nice little kingdom that had been created for them. As Sholom put it, “We parents have to work on it. After all, we were brought up in that system of competition. But for these kids, it’s just their natural way. They already know how to love, give, and share.”

After cleaning up, there was more music and dancing and storytelling before we all hit the hay. When I arrived at the men’s dormitory, I found a wicker basket of fruit on my mattress with a note welcoming me to the community. A warm, loving feeling swept throughout my being and I considered that this might one day be my home.

The next morning, I ate breakfast with the rest of “the Body” and then Sholom offered to walk me to the café. It was a sunny day and he took me by the Cascadilla Creek towards downtown. Sholom was a poet by trade and we talked about the Beats, Naropa University in Boulder, and our connections with both. He knew most of the Beats, had performed with many of them, but in the end none of that really satisfied his longings. He talked about his quest into Daoism, his wife’s query into religion and how none of that provided the answers they were looking for. Sholom had written a couple of books and he wanted to start another on the Israeli Essenes, who had grown weary of the corruption at the Temple in Jerusalem and headed to the rocky hills overlooking the Dead Sea to experience a truer, purer communion with God. Sholom was studying them when his wife found the Twelve Tribes. At first, there was no way Sholom was going to follow her example and join the Body. However, seeing the essence in their practice, he decided to write a book about them instead of the Essenes. Then it happened. He began to experience God through their path. It was an authentic, ecstatic, satisfying experience that kept with him all the time. It even saw him through the most trying time of his life, watching his wife succumb to cancer. Much like her teacher Yahshua, she didn’t “see death when it came.” She was beyond it mentally, spiritually, accepting this natural transition with composure and grace.

We had reached the Cascadilla Gorge with its first little waterfall. Sholom looked at his watch and saw that we needed to quicken our pace. He put his arm around me and talked of the intelligence and beauty of nature, the Big Bang, quantum physics, and the complicated poetry of DNA. His arm kept around me and I suddenly realized that this was becoming a father-son type thing. I was now in my thirties and perhaps too old for that, but growing up with a loving, but somewhat absent father, I was moved by this gesture and truly loving it. I could see myself hanging out with Sholom and having these fantastic conversations for a long time to come.

When we reached The Commons, Ithaca’s main pedestrian mall, I felt a little uncomfortable walking in public with a man dressed in traditional Hebrew regalia. It was a little like hanging out with an Italian who insisted on wearing a Roman toga, just to commemorate the good old days. But Sholom was a popular figure in these parts and several vagrants greeted him as if he were a local celebrity. Sholom invited them all to dinner and then whispered to me.

“There needs to be a home for the lonely. That’s the problem with America. We don’t have that in our society.”

Several of the Tribes members were waiting outside their café, The Mate Factor, when Sholom and I arrived. The cafe was closed for the Sabbath, which meant the community took a huge financial hit by missing the most trafficked day of the week. I wondered why they just didn’t hire someone else to run the show on Saturdays but there seemed to be a deeper spiritual intention going on. The kids were excited to get inside and grab juices and other cold drinks. Sholom opened the door for me, saying, “This is eternity. Welcome home.” He made me a tasty iced “mate late” while explaining how time wasn’t what we thought it to be. “Yahshua was there in the beginning, at the Garden of Eden, on the cross, and here with us today. The eternal is always here. And The Bible is just a guidebook. Living the life of Yahshua is the important thing. We’re disciples ourselves. People could write testaments about what we’re saying right now.”

One of the more prodigious kids gave me a tour of the café. It was an intricate affair of plants, vines, and beautifully varnished wood taken from a nearby barn. This was definitely a café built by carpenters. The place had an organic, jungly feel and I imagined we were right back in Eden. The kid explained that the Twelve Tribes had a community in Brazil that harvested mate. In Ithaca, they ran the café, packaged and sold mate to distributors, managed a construction company, as well as manufactured and sold shoes. This allowed them to support all their members, build the “Buddy Holly bus” as well as take trips to the various festivals and other outings. The community had a “needs committee” that bought all clothes, toiletries, and other necessities for its members. An older woman, Shoshona, interjected saying, “Can you imagine a world where all your needs are met, a world where you can solely focus on what you were divinely created to do?”

Her words stopped me in my tracks. It’s not often someone says something you’ve been seeking your whole life. Ever since I could remember, I’d always had my back against the wall financially. My parents constantly struggled with making the mortgage and paying the electric bills. I’d been working undesirable jobs since I was eleven and even throughout my twenties, it was a real challenge after long commutes from uninspiring jobs just to squeeze in a few hours of joy and magic into life. I’d always felt there was a better world out there; one where you got to spend time exploring who you are and what this great mystery of a universe is really about. And here the Twelve Tribes were already doing it — creating time to share stories, play music, connect, and enjoy the richness of life. My impossible dream was being lived out right in front of me.

We all arrived back at the house in time for the six o’clock shofar call. The members fell back in their circle, singing and dancing Israeli songs. This was the big night of Shabbat and they hosted an extended go around, sharing thoughts, praises, and anecdotes before bringing out a large stemmed glass filled to the rim with wine. Chetz Baru had just been baptized and he was ecstatic as this was his first week sharing in “the breaking of the bread.” It was his honor to pass around “the victory cup.” Every member of the community had to consider if they’d served Christ well that week, shedding universal love to their brothers and sisters in the world. It was a profound moment watching these strong-minded adults humbly accept the cup to their lips or honestly admit they hadn’t lived up to their Christ-like potential.

Many members took this opportunity to apologize for trespasses they’d made against other members in the Body and the community lovingly forgave them. It was such an honest, open, and forthcoming way of handling personal issues, which explained how fifty people managed to live so cooperatively under one roof. They truly were a “Body” and needed all its various parts to function well. Half the cup was full when they had finished and Sholom commented that there was much grace not utilized this week, but that they could make up for it over the next one. This little ceremony shattered my ideas on money as I suddenly realized this was how they measured wealth within their community.

Then the members moved towards the back room for the breaking of the bread. This was apparently the highlight of the whole show, as they reenacted the last supper each week. Only baptized members could attend the ceremony. Two of the brothers made the sacrifice to forgo the ritual and drive me back to the café for an amazing glazed chicken dinner with steamed broccoli. The two of them were kind and generous throughout the meal but they pushed a little too desperately in trying to convince me to join the Body. I recalled Sholom's words about the Twelve Tribes providing a home for the lonely. Listening to these two, I realized that this was their last stop, that they had nowhere else to go, which may have been the case with many members of the community. But to be honest, that wasn't too far from where I was at. I had never felt that I really fit in to our agreed- upon capitalist society.

When I arrived back at the dormitories, Chetz Bara was wide awake and his cheeks were all aglow. He excitedly told me how he’d felt the spirit of God in the breaking of the bread, that this ceremony was just like being back there with the original twelve apostles. I was happy for Chetz but also felt a sliver of jealously.

I woke up that Sunday with a touch of melancholy in my heart knowing it would be my last day with the Twelve Tribes for a while. After the Sunday morning teaching, Sholom decided to show me beautiful Ithaca Falls before I caught the bus back home. We rode bikes through the town, discussing string theory and the vibrational healing powers of prayer. These prayers, he said, were more necessary than ever as the whole world was now in very deep trouble. We parked our bikes and walked down to the wide falls and sat near the still water below.

Sholom admired the scene for awhile and then asked, “So, what do you think of the Twelve Tribes? Are you considering joining us?”

This, I knew, was the time to bring up the one thing that had been bothering me the whole weekend.

“Does it just have to be Jesus, or could I embrace other traditions as well?”

“Well…” Sholom thought about it. “As I was telling you before, I’ve tried it all — Judaism, Daoism, poetry. Think of Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman — all that transcendental philosophy and where did it get them? Right back where Whitman’s poetry started, 'In the dust of the road.'”

“I understand what you’re saying but I feel love still exists as an essence, even if we call it amour, ahav, or laska. Maybe it’s the same with God. It’s a universal essence we all experience and the different religions are just various translations of it.”

Sholom scratched his beard, pondering my words. “It’s like Yahshua says, ‘Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ What I treasure are human beings. There’s so much suffering in the world. What’s helped? Governments? Religions? Economics? You’ve seen what the Twelve Tribes does. We provide a home for the lonely. Who else does that?”

“Other spiritual communities must provide that kind of support.”

“Is Buddha stopping wars in Iraq?” Sholom raised his voice. "Are Shiva and Krishna going to end global oppression and racism?”

“I just think there may be more pieces to this puzzle than you think.”

“But the Twelve Tribes works!” Sholom yelled at me. He caught himself and grew quiet for a few moments.

Sholom sighed out over the river, shaking his head, knowing I'd made my decision. We sat there for half an hour without saying a word. The disappointment was palpable, hanging like a murky cloud between us. I felt awful, like the prodigal son telling his father he would not be coming into the family business. I had truly enjoyed my stay at the Twelve Tribes but I now knew that I could never become a member of the Body. I’d willingly forfeit my worldly possessions, and even lose the jeans and T-shirts to put on their traditional wear, but the one thing I couldn’t give up were my spiritual attachments. Since my recent mystical awakenings, I’d come to love Buddhist philosophy, Sufi dancing, shamanic journeys, kundalini meditations and the rest. Each one was its own poetic adventure to the eternal and I just couldn’t let and surrender myself entirely to Jesus. I wanted a spiritual community more than anything, but not if it meant lying to myself.

Time was running short and we eventually hopped on our bikes and rode back without saying a word. I grabbed my bags and found several of the Tribes members waiting in a car to accompany me to the bus station. Sholom drove us there in silence. He helped me carry my bags to the lower compartment of the bus. As I was about to step inside, he pulled me into his strong belly and gave me a huge captain’s hug. “Goodbye, my friend,” he said. “I’ll miss you.” We nodded our final farewells and the members waved until the bus pulled out of site. The Greyhound rumbled on and I absently gazed out the window, thinking of the events that weekend and how much they’d already enriched my life. This was an early training for my forthcoming intentional community. And I no longer had to imagine futuristic eco-villages and far-off utopias to picture how humans could work together, giving, loving and sharing in a peaceful way. People were already out there doing it and if I ever had my doubts, all I had to do was think of the time I spent with the Twelve Tribes.

Image: "chalice and bread_2554" by hoyasmeg on Flickr, courtesy of Creative Commons Licensing.

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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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