Mystery of Being

In the article Psychedelic Society one of the initial points made by McKenna is the idea that “our beliefs have grown obsolete and should be put aside.” I first thought well that’s silly and I decided to look up the definition of belief. Merriam-Webster dictionary says that belief is 1: a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing. After reflecting on this, I concluded that McKenna may be on to something… It is not that we shouldn’t believe in something, but we need to consider varying points of view so we are not hindered by our ideology.

Further on in the article he talks about the “ontological conceptions of reality and the notion that they have to be remade.” My question is “Who decides?” Society can agree on very few things, how could we decide on a new order of reality? As I continued to read, McKenna’s statement became clearer the idea that we should take responsibility of ourselves and actions seemed to be the underlying message. . Each one of us needs to let go of the thoughts and ideas that may be holding us captive to a particular ideologies.

As we, within ourselves, begin to reconstruct our thoughts, we need to consider science (the state of knowing). McKenna writes “Science can be demolished in thirty seconds.” This may be true however; I believe that science and experience are both necessary elements to transform ourselves. McKenna further describes that no transformation of society can be done without psychedelics – Really?

Bad Boys – Bad Boys

I really enjoyed the Law Enforcement article! Because of the infiltration of man-made drugs into our society I think it has forced the hand of lawmakers and drug officials. I am not saying that is right or wrong, I am on the fence. Sterling reverences that our religious tolerance is often limited - I agree. That is true of all religions. We can’t have society member sacrificing people in mall parking lots but, faiths should have the freedom to practice even if that involves entheogens. However, the no one would agree where to draw the line. People would, as some do now, use religion to contrive some twisted form of worship in order to have experience an altered state.

Yikes that’s hot!

Both articles and the Pearce reading discuss the voyage of discovery. Pearce said that “every scientific statement must remain tentative forever.” I agree, but we need a starting point in order to continue on our voyage of discovery.

I loved the story about the discovery of the planet Neptune and Bodes’s Law of 1772 – how cool is that?
I think it is a positive step that we are looking for cracks in “truths” only then will we grow and learn the meaningful patterns in reality.

The concept of fire walking a fascinating! Why are some individuals unharmed and others brought to the cusp of death and others cruise through the fire unscathed? Much like Pearce, I must believe in fire walking because I cannot reason it out. . .