Hello Nexus!
I have very much enjoyed this forum in the past few months and decided to finally register. I like the respectful atmosphere and the great information that this site offers. Very much like the mycotopia forums, my other fave. Thanks to y'all, my initial changa experiments have went very well.
Aww I hate homework, but here goes with the dag gum essay.
The idea of self-sustainability has always inspired me. As a younger man there wasn't much I could do for creating a situation where I could create my own sustaining systems. I started out with recycling aluminum cans and other metal trash, building a tool collection, keeping an old truck on the road and such. It felt really good to turn trash (mine and others) into cash, and avoiding mechanics bills. So, I know I will never be a great conservationalist hero, saving forests and swamps from the greed, but I aim to be an inspiration for those around me to 'be aware' of the nature around us. So nowadays I heat my house primarily with wood that I split myself. The wood comes free from a tree service. These trees are typically problem trees, standing dead, victims of the emerald ash borer, and such. It feels good to avoid that gas bill with my own sweat equity. I recycle what I can at home and work (never know whats going to show up next in that dang dumpster). Gardening and composting have become engaging hobbies. Some goals are to pay off the mortgage in half its life, start a woodworking business (soon!), generate my own electricity (via listeroid burning cooking oil (later)), hunt a deer (eat the meat - tan the hide- use the bones for something- compost the rest- spread much seed for yummy deer food- respect the spirit), and much more. I love my wife, family, and friends. Life nowadays is very good.
One thing that was missing in my life till recent years was any sense of spirituality. I was raised athiest, and enjoyed the philosophical banter around that whole scene as a young man. These days I find myself so wanting of certain aspects of spiritual/religious practices and rituals, and to feel connection with something divine that I have renounced my athiesm due to its lack of, um, content. Belief in nothingness does not fulfill the innate human need of belonging or being part of something. So here I am, carte blanche, spiritually. I enjoy reading of the religious practices of all cultures, and have been digging on hindu and buddist thoughts as well as old time mid-east stuff. I also love tribal/animist lore. I especially love how many of the old texts tell of the human relationship to spiritual plants. Favorite subjects would be: soma/haoma likely contains s. rue (magic carpets!), Jesus and his annointing oil, the story of christmas (amanita), and the mana of the Israelites (shrooms of course). Changa, to me, feels like food for the soul, spiritual meat. Its showing me a spirituality that has aspects of -all- the religions I am familiar with, so to me, they are all just great. There is no one way. So perhaps I am finding my own way with help from the guiding post of the DMT-Nexus.
That thar is muh essay.
Much love Nexus
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