DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 196 Joined: 10-Oct-2010 Last visit: 18-Mar-2024
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A PhD student friend of mine at an ivy league university recently found out that a paper she's writing on DMT culture and the DMT-Nexus in particular was accepted to be presented at the American Comparative Literature Association's 2011 conference in Vancouver, Canada. Her abstract is here: Quote:The Internet on Dimethyltryptamine: Hyperspace Rendered Virtual Once under the aegis of theoretical mathematics and science fiction, the term “hyperspace” has taken on new meanings in light of the paradigm-shattering advances of modern physics and the possibility of multiple dimensions coexisting alongside our own. Popularized by the writings of Rick Strassman, MD and Terrence McKenna at the close of the 20th century, one new application pertains to the subjective experience of the illegal entheogen dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. The first researcher authorized to test a psychedelic drug on human subjects in over two decades, Strassman was puzzled by patients’ ubiquitous reports of encountering sentient “entities” in alternate dimensions. Although initially dismissed in psychoanalytic terms, the experiences were so consistent and emphatically “real” to the observers that he finally proposed a controversial hypothesis: perhaps the mind on DMT really does extend perception to dimensions that otherwise remain unseen. In this talk, I will specifically examine the concept of “hyperspace” as it functions to integrate online communities grappling with the repercussions of experimentation with this Class 1 illegal substance. Since the DMT experience is notoriously difficult to integrate into the terms of “consensus” reality, hyperspace has emerged as a framing mechanism that enables members of forums like www.dmt-nexus.me and dmt.tribe.net to articulate an alternative worldview. I will examine projects like the DMT-Nexus’s “Hyperspace Lexicon,” which serves to coin new descriptive terms, and the “Enigmaticus,” which aims to map the DMT realms with members' experiential contributions. Although the ontological status of hyperspace is frequently left suspended, it functions as a Kantian/Vaihingerian “as-if” that pertains to a communicable, phenomenological experience, strengthening the cohesiveness of the DMT countercultural community while manifesting a virtual hyperspace within the internet’s bounds. This is a pretty big deal since it's such a huge, mainstream academic conference and she would like to represent the issues as clearly and forcefully as possible, given the stakes involved, so please contact me if you know about any of the above topics or have information you'd like to share, so I can pass it along. (I'm posting here because I'm still a newbie and can't access the rest of the forums.) Thank you! "The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words, and that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish." - Terence McKenna
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"No, seriously"
Posts: 7324 Joined: 18-Jan-2007 Last visit: 02-Nov-2024 Location: Orion Spur
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Very interesting fractals! If you need to know anything about the hyperspace lexicon or the Enigmaticus (that unfortunately is still in it's basic form) then please don't hesitate to contact me or even better: ask it in this thread. Will you keep us updated on any progress about this? Kind regards, The Traveler
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 14191 Joined: 19-Feb-2008 Last visit: 15-Nov-2024 Location: Jungle
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I think this friend of yours should definitely check out this thread regarding the 'ontological status of hyperspace': https://www.dmt-nexus.me...&m=134723#post134723Also while I think the lexycon and enigmaticus are fantastic ideas, I think that they are not necessarily the main tools in the forum regarding 'mapping hyperspace'. I think that the key concept here in the Nexus is that hyperspace is maped and discussed from several different angles, in a multi-disciplinary orientation: -Chemistry/scientific-wise - all the chemical knowledge developed, comparative experiences, all the wikis). This would relate to how do we get there, the 'hard-knowledge', and what do we know about the physical implications of it. - Subjective experiences - relating of how one perceives it subjectively. This can come in the form of written words, poems or drawings (an example of drawing/relating the experience is this and other threads from majapanix: https://www.dmt-nexus.me...aspx?g=posts&t=10781 ). Also there are several threads that try to find 'marks' of hyperspace in music, paintings, videos and so on. All of these are an attempt at finding better ways to describe the experience but knowing of course nothing ever touches the real thing. - Philosophically - What does hyperspace really mean? Where does it stand in relation to existence? What is the ontological status, is it real? (Check the thread I first linked regarding "what is real " discussion) - Integration and health - This is fundamental, because hyperspace isnt just a linguistic category, it represents a life-changing experience, and we consider it essential to find ways to bring this back to daily life in a balanced way. So the health and safety section (link below the nexus banner or in the wiki) is a key for this. There are other things that we could talk about but for now this is what comes to mind. I dont know how much of this can be useful, and maybe my thoughts are a bit disorganized. Anyways I wish your friend luck, and I hope it is received in a positive light.
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Got Naloxone?
 
Posts: 3240 Joined: 03-Aug-2009 Last visit: 12-Nov-2024 Location: United Police States of America
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Guess I'll be the "Debbie Downer." As I mentioned in chat last night: Unless there is a radical change in current laws, there is only so far folks should go to bring the Nexus to the light of the public eye, even in "authorized" academic research channels. By the nature of our relationship to the law, we will always remain "unauthorized researchers." Frankly, anything other than this brings a lot of (imo) unwanted attention to DMT-Nexus Is the researcher who has been approved to present this paper a Nexus member? "But even if nothing lasts and everything is lost, there is still the intrinsic value of the moment. The present moment, ultimately, is more than enough, a gift of grace and unfathomable value, which our friend and lover death paints in stark relief."-Rick Doblin, Ph.D. MAPS President, MAPS Bulletin Vol. XX, No. 1, pg. 2Hyperspace LOVES YOU
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 4591 Joined: 29-Jan-2009 Last visit: 24-Jan-2024
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With all due respect to Debbie Downer - there's discretion and there's paranoia. This the American Comparative Literature Association, not YouTube.
I think it's great, and it sounds like it's being presented in a manner we can be proud of.
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Got Naloxone?
Posts: 3240 Joined: 03-Aug-2009 Last visit: 12-Nov-2024 Location: United Police States of America
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Sounds good . Just thought I'd offer a devil's advocate position. I truly do look forward to reading updates. It will be interesting to see if they actually do let her present and how it is received by the wider, "law-abiding," straight community. DMT is entering the wider consciousness. There appears to be more evidence of this every month that passes . . . "But even if nothing lasts and everything is lost, there is still the intrinsic value of the moment. The present moment, ultimately, is more than enough, a gift of grace and unfathomable value, which our friend and lover death paints in stark relief."-Rick Doblin, Ph.D. MAPS President, MAPS Bulletin Vol. XX, No. 1, pg. 2Hyperspace LOVES YOU
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 4804 Joined: 08-Dec-2008 Last visit: 18-Aug-2023 Location: UK
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Uncle Knucles wrote:With all due respect to Debbie Downer - there's discretion and there's paranoia. This the American Comparative Literature Association, not YouTube.
I think it's great, and it sounds like it's being presented in a manner we can be proud of. Ditto. I think google provides enough "unwanted" attention to not bother about worried about a few lines in an academic conference script.
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 1052 Joined: 18-Jan-2008 Last visit: 29-Jun-2017 Location: Earth, of course??
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Awesome "Within your heart is a lotus, and within this lotus is a diamond. This diamond is the source of creation, and in all the creation, there is only one lotus."
"Only from the Heart can you touch the sky." ~ Rumi
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DMT-Nexus member
 
Posts: 3555 Joined: 13-Mar-2008 Last visit: 07-Jul-2024 Location: not here
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Wow really cool! Best of luck to your friend. 
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 196 Joined: 10-Oct-2010 Last visit: 18-Mar-2024
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Sorry it took me such a long time to respond! Thank you all so much for your helpful suggestions, they're very much appreciated. I will get back to you when I have more information, and I'll post a copy of the paper once I have it. She will be presenting at the ACLA conference on April 1st and then the Breaking Convention psychedelics conference on April 3. One thing she's been trying to figure out is the first uses of hyperspace in reference to DMT. Does anyone know anything about this subject? Was Terence McKenna the first person to use the term, or did he only popularize it? Thanks! "The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words, and that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish." - Terence McKenna
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Posts: 6739 Joined: 13-Apr-2009 Last visit: 10-Apr-2022
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 196 Joined: 10-Oct-2010 Last visit: 18-Mar-2024
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Thanks for the book link. Is there anything in there specifically on hyperspace in the DMT context that you know of? That's what she's specifically looking for. When it first got used, how it got picked up, that sort of thing. "The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words, and that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish." - Terence McKenna
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"No, seriously"
Posts: 7324 Joined: 18-Jan-2007 Last visit: 02-Nov-2024 Location: Orion Spur
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fractals wrote:Thanks for the book link. Is there anything in there specifically on hyperspace in the DMT context that you know of? That's what she's specifically looking for. When it first got used, how it got picked up, that sort of thing. Just for some funny piece of information: The first mentioning of hyperspace on the DMT-Nexus forum is in this post: Pinchbeck tries DMTKind regards, The Traveler
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 196 Joined: 10-Oct-2010 Last visit: 18-Mar-2024
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Hah! That's awesome, thanks for sharing.  "The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words, and that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish." - Terence McKenna
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I Eat Plant Magic
Posts: 1099 Joined: 30-Jan-2010 Last visit: 28-Mar-2013 Location: The Wilds of Wales
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That rocks! ¤ø¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¸„ø¤º¨
.^.^.^.^.^.^(0)=õ
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 328 Joined: 17-Sep-2010 Last visit: 30-Apr-2020 Location: Pacific Northwest
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endlessness wrote:I think this friend of yours should definitely check out this thread regarding the 'ontological status of hyperspace': https://www.dmt-nexus.me...&m=134723#post134723Also while I think the lexycon and enigmaticus are fantastic ideas, I think that they are not necessarily the main tools in the forum regarding 'mapping hyperspace'. I think that the key concept here in the Nexus is that hyperspace is maped and discussed from several different angles, in a multi-disciplinary orientation... Very, very important. Please ask your friend to consider this. "Hyperspace" is not a basket that contains all efforts to "map" our experiences. It is not a totalizing concept or tool, but one of convenience. And why the emphasis (twice in the abstract), on the illegality of DMT? I hope that the substance itself is given some consideration and context beyond its legal status. L "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool." Richard P. Feynman
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 196 Joined: 10-Oct-2010 Last visit: 18-Mar-2024
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Thanks for the input Ljosalfar. Hyperspace is definitely not being treated as a blanket concept. The purpose of the paper is to flush out some of the ways that it is being used as a tool to aid in conversation, a project and purpose which is very much at the heart of McKenna's life project. Language was always one of his central concerns. The illegality is emphasized because it's part of why these online communities have formed in the first place. If DMT weren't illegal, the conversations would be far more widespread. Forums like this one enable people who would otherwise being having isolated experiences with very little information to pool their experiences together and build a cultural community surrounding those experiences. But its legal status is not the point. "The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words, and that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish." - Terence McKenna
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 18 Joined: 21-Feb-2011 Last visit: 11-Aug-2021
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Beautifully written. I think in this case, the attention that is put on Nexus is positive. It shows the intelligence of the community and separates us from the norm. "The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see all of us as one."
“Watching television is like taking black spray paint to your third eye.”
-Bill Hicks
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 61 Joined: 25-Sep-2009 Last visit: 03-May-2017
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There are quite a lot of references to DMT in "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" by Tom Wofe...I never noticed when I first read it (in 1987) but it may be the first mention of DMT in literature...dunno if that's helpful
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 196 Joined: 10-Oct-2010 Last visit: 18-Mar-2024
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Thanks for your comments and suggestions, ocelot & Tizzy! "The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words, and that if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish." - Terence McKenna
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