How do you plan to garner this knowledge, how are you going to incorporate it into your skill set, the making of your life, the world?

It is hard to build upon one's knowledge and know-how just through quasi-scientific musing, even in a group. There is mentoring and each individual's take on shamanism, as well as more organized forms of theology and philosophy that have been countlessly mixed and matched and disseminated, especially beginning in the 60s where there was an explosion of swamiis, sages, healers, new age, self-styled poimandres, shepherders and con artists alike.. but there is little need for more of this as everyone is beginning to find their own meanings, as the collective aesthetic sense breaks down even further.

Thinking aloud.. I know what you mean about talking being transformative and visibly so in close friends. And especially about the smiling; you have the key. Hello and welcome.

Thank you so much for your comment and welcome Thymamai! I hope I answer you’re questions, let me know if I can further elucidate.
Personally I’m a book junkie, but I prefer to read from sources that are most alluded to as basic rational truths of our culture before others reference their ideas in secondary explications. My skill set is actually in animation and writing, so I try to sublimate my thoughts and ideas through my creative work, narrative in general is a category of interest to me as well, in my opinion all stories at their core are an externalization of a subjective event of self-realization. I agree that quasi-scientific ponderings wouldn’t lead to far with no logical backings (if you’re playing a “logical” game). Let me try to clarify my intentions. I suppose I’m coming from an angle where I’d like to prove my notions to both myself and others in the left brain form my (western) culture seems to prefer. I’m a student in art at the moment so perhaps this is also a form of mental balancing act. Anyway I think that we all have interests in subjects that we have the capacity to be passionate enough to research thoroughly in a specific area (or even several), sharing what we have learned I believe can push our level of awareness foreword as a group. For example I study in my spare time physics and philosophy, and have a friend who taught himself behavioral psychology, and another who loves discussing and learning about astrology. We haven’t done anything legitimate yet like publish our ideas, but our conversations about the relationships between these subjects are electric and exciting. So rather than a systematic deconstruction of topics and relabeling of an issue, we focus purely on the relationships between these/all things. No longer is it about finding “it” (whatever you’re looking for) but now experiencing it and seeing that we already are in the midst of it. (I apologize I’m aware that’s a rather figurative statement) a metaphor I can think of is, image you are a drop of water and instead of obsessing over what you are as a single drop of water “is”, you allow yourself to notice you’re relationship with the magnificence that is the entire body of water as a whole, no matter what it “is”. I think you’re also right that people are creating their own meaning and that we are in a really exciting time right now, I think a lot of it has to do with globalization. However I also think for some it will be difficult to make this unifying change, the aha moment I find unique to psychedelics and the beatific or mystic vision is like a giant switch being turned from the “me” to the “we” position that can be horrifying. Overwhelmingly beautiful too, but losing your *self* completely can be a lot to take. So what I’m attempting, or suggesting would be lending out knowledge in some medium or form, for me storytelling works, that functions like the zen koan, implementing a sort of paradox allowing the mind to realize the universe’s capacity for unity, blending, melding ect…

Passing curiosity: how old are you? A ballpark answer is okay.

I am also extremely right-brained and understand everything you put here. I long to find a group atmosphere like that you describe of the academic friends and electric discussions about interrelationship and gestalt processing.

Narrative skill is very important. A curious thought to imagine what you will ultimately produce and the form it will take. You could be something like the next george lucas with his star wars epic. Or anything really, I don't mean to generalize. Do you study hermetics, mythology, symbolism?

There is this book you bring to mind, Peyote Hunt: The Sacred Journey of the Huichol Indians by Barbara G. Myerhoff that I read a while ago. I can't remember much now, but it was a very fascinating and well articulated anthropological work that also reflects on the dynamics of symbolism - which led me to looking for more info on Claude levi strauss, whose work was highly influential on the subject and who she referenced repeatedly through the book. Fascinating stuff.

I’m 19 on the outside, on the inside I feel like a mixture of an old man and a baby.
Your proposition is so nice, my goal is to possibly have my ideas as widespread as Lucas’s though I don’t know if I can top Star wars. I actually am writing a few episodic narratives, mostly for graphic novels and animations for the future, I’m attempting for the to all deal with systems of consciousness, and become aware of themselves as systems of consciousness.
I do study Mythology and Symbolism! Although Hermetics I haven’t heard of before, but I just looked it up and I cant thank you enough! Seems like even more ancient roots of mysticism, lately I’ve been mostly caught up in Kabbalah research and tarot.
When it comes to Mythology, Joseph Campbell is my highest recommendation, especially his book Hero with a thousand faces. His ideas are so fantastically in sync with so many other systems of thought, not excluding the trip experience. With Symbolism I’ve been interested in relation to mythology, narrative systems and in media. However I believe the Symbol should also be considered and understood as a conceptual tool, a great source is Derrida who writes on the binary construction of language itself, our most basic social symbol (or signifying) system. I’ll totally check out that book on the Peyote Hunt though, thank you, and Levi Strauss is definitely another fantastic source of thought.

I thought so, and I know that wonderful feeling. A funny mixture, to be all ages at once and on different levels simultaneous and synchronous.

I think this is an ideal place to share your artwork starting out. Keep us updated, your outline sounds terrific.

Joseph Campbell sprung to mind also and I wanted to mention him but couldn't remember his name! I've seen his books and read the praise inscribed on the backs and cover sleeves and meant to go further but the name has long escaped me. thank you

Completely agree. There is something of the same, precisely about the construction of language in the book I mention. I'm blown away that you would say that about binary construction, as that is an idea I've long toyed with myself. I will look into Derrida.

Im glad I could help!
But yeah the age thing, never quite felt the same as the body I'm wearing.
Im sure you'll really enjoy Derrida then too! Actually you should check out some of Alan Watts's lectures, he delves into binary opposition in social culture and psychological culture I think you'd find it interesting. Here's a good lecture:

And I actually am right now beginning one comic idea and I posted some of my drawings that are "prototypes" for this endeavor Here
The first drawing is the closest to what the comic's characters will resemble.

I am going to look for Derrida. And I'm going to watch this video of alan watts soon. I've seen one of his already, one which I've posted here on the forum before I think or which someone else posted I forget.. He is hilarious. And a pleasure to listen to. So few have I come across that can sustain such a balance and grace in their words.

It's taken me a lot of practice to remember to account for how I look and not just act/speak directly as I feel underneath.

Hey there asmonsters and thymamai,

Fellow print junkie here. thymamai, have you read much C.G. Jung? There's a soul carrying on the hermetic tradition! asmonsters, I think you would enjoy Alan Moore's Promethea series. It's five volumes of graphic novel genius on the kabbalah. You can get it at the library. Make sure you get to at least the second book before passing judgement.

That said, asmonsters, I can relate to your passion and all I can say is, don't let other people's fears and definitions of success distract you from your vision. I've been walking my path for a long time now and it goes as far as you will let it.

Welcome.

P.S. Bukowski: his prose makes you hate him and his poetry makes you love him.

hi waitwhatwhere

Sorry if I was misleading in using the term 'hermetics' - I haven't studied or read up on it at all. I was thinking of things synonymous to the word 'religon' and pulled that one off the top of my head. I have of course heard of Jung and read probably a handful of paragraphs quoted sporatically in my encounters but never felt it necessary to actually read C.G. Jung. The reading I do is actually quite rudimentary and never based on any kind of substantial self-direction or passionate interest beyond passing curiosity.


well said

Bukowski has flavor. Good style and a kind of optimism many will mistake for pessimism.

thymamai,

No worries! If you are interested, hermeticism is an interesting thread in western thought (not tryna preach, can't say I fully subscribe to any belief system).

Jung became very interested in alchemy towards the end of his life.

Considering the processes nexians use to obtain spice, I think alchemy could be considered an apt metaphor.

Agreed. Botany and study of chemical processes I think serve as excellent grounds for the synthesis and cultivation of philosophy as well as art.

http://m.youtube.com/ind...%2F#/watch?v=-YNdBpYh1eA

For those interested in what waitwhatwhere was talking about, this is an interesting listen. And asmonsters I quite enjoyed your post,and I believe we share some parallel opinions, I'd be interested to discuss this with you at some stage.

Im also a massive fan of watts work, are you a fan of Richard Alperts* [ram dass]. Im really enjoying his series of lectures on the baghavad gita and would recommend these to all.

Let me know what you think if you check em out,
Namaste x

We are onto something beyond us. But it is in our grasp! And soon we shall hold it!

Welcome

I love Ram dass! Ive read a multitude of his books, in fact it was his famous "Be Here Now" which after discovering during my first mushroom trip, lead me towards a more eastern spiritual understanding and intrigue in psychedelics!

also I'd love to chat with you anytime about ideas or theories etc...
I live for this stuff.

I dont think Alan Watts ever took DMT, I wonder what he would have thought of it. Strangely enough, Terrence McKenna never mentions Alan Watts, which surprises me. TM also never really dives into Hindu and Buddhist thought...he says he went down that road a while, but he basically said he didnt buy into it. I wonder why?

I'm fairly certain that Alan Watts did experience DMT in his lifetime. IIRC, he is quoted as saying something along the lines of, "Load universe into cannon. Aim at Brain. Fire.", in reference to the DMT experience.

Nice to meet you asmonsters,
Im still somewhat new also but id love to share knowledge artwork experiences ect. With you and everyone.you definitely seem to be on the right track.m8re than I was at 19