Windfall, the psychedelic swamp thing...

I uploaded the issue of Swamp Thing by Alan Moore #43, which is the trippiest psychedelic initiation depiction you ever saw in a comic book.
Very highly recommended. (Thanks to Jeff Whitmore for pointing it out.)
You'll have to enlarge each picture in the series to read it, or download them all and read them from your hard drive when you want.
http-------->flickr.com

J. Ott, D. McKenna, M. Winkelman, R. Metzner and more from Basel

Two audio files of very groovy lectures by Dennis McKenna are up on Psychonautica, one on 'Psychedelics in basic neuroscience and clinical practise' and another dubbed "bitter brews and other abominations: the use of some little known psychoactive agents."

And the Youtube Psychonaut channel has uploaded a fascinating talk by Sire of Psychonautics and word-weaver extraordinaire, Jonathan Ott, about anahuascas.

Also on the Psychonaut channel is brief video from Micheal Winkelmann, co-editor of the new textbook, Psychedelic Medicine, on the role of psychedelics in human evolution; a sort-of scientific update on Terence McKenna's speculations. And more updated frequently.

Basel Resolution

The following link is to an image of the resolution signed by a number of attendees of the World Psychedelic Forum in Basel last month. You can copy the image to your desktop so you can magnify it to a readable size. It's a very poignant call for the decriminalization and the legalization of psychedelic substances.
LINK: resolution-englisch.jpg

Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act

Recently the Feds raided The Herbal Nutrition Center (again) and this time, not only did they take their medical cannabis vending-machine, they smashed all the glass shelves and display cases in the shop. So it is favorable timing that the Hon. Dr. Ron Paul has recently introduced a new bill, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act” which would bar the Federal government from intervening in such doctor/patient relationships that violate no state law.

In Dr. Paul's new column, entitled, Politicizing Pain, he gives moral and economic credence to the necessity of such a bill with a vivid example, which of course is just one out of thousands.

POLITICIZING PAIN

K.K. Forss does not claim medical marijuana solves all his problems. His pain from a ruptured disc in his neck is debilitating. He is unable to go to work or to the First Baptist Church he used to attend because of the pain and muscle spasms. Taxpayers through Medicare spend over $18,000 a year on his various medications. Half of those drugs are strong narcotics. The other half address the various side-effects brought on by the first half, such as nausea, heartburn, heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, and muscle spasms.

No, marijuana would not completely address all his pain, but it made a tremendous difference in the quality of his life when he tried it for over a year. It helped him regain 38 pounds he had lost. It calmed his muscle spasms and helped him sleep. In short, it alleviated many side effects and greatly reduced his need for other expensive medications. Mr. Forss estimates that being allowed to use medical marijuana would save taxpayers at least $12,000 a year in medications he would no longer need. He would also be able to work occasionally and attend some church services.

READ REST OF COLUMN HERE.

also... here's a 5 minute interview on CNN today:

And here's the full page ad High Times ran twice, free-of-charge:

(click to enlarge)

Stanislav Grof's cartography of the psyche.

A colossal lecture on psychology and everything else given by the Doctor of LSD, Stan Grof:

Run From The Cure

Rick Simpson cured many cases of terminal cancer and countless other diseases and cell-mutations with hemp oil containing THC. This corroborates with recent lab findings that THC reduces lung cancer by 50%. The hidden story of hemp as medicine is explored by Rick Simpson in this Canadian documentary. If these stories are true (as they seem to be), THC is more of a miracle cure than most of us ever supposed.
Om Shiva Shankara!
Hare Hare Ganjah!

[EDIT: Not a scientific or policy film in any way. Mostly just people sharing their healing stories, don't get your hopes up medical researchers!]

Part 1.


for parts 2 -7 go HERE.

Benny Shanon Interview

Benny Shanon is a cognitive psychologist and author of the acclaimed book about ayahuasca experience, The Antipodes of the Mind and the recent, popular and controversial article speculating which entheogens Moses and other old testament dudes were on.





(This next one is just audio)

Find more videos like this on Project: The ayahuasca conversation

"Tree of Life" by The Human Revolution

Groovy!

Times Article on Medical Psychedelic Research

Positive mainstream press on psychedelic science resurgence and the Basel conference.



Could Ecstasy, LSD and magic mushrooms one day be legitimate prescription medicines? It sounds unlikely, but doctors and researchers in the US and across Europe believe it is possible and that new science will prove the case.
Full article: Timesonline.co.uk

The Tipping Point - Rick Doblin Ph.D.

Interview with really cool animations between Daniel Pinchbeck's Post Modern Times webzine and MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) Director, Rick Doblin.
http://www.MAPS.org/
http://www.postmoderntimes.com/

A New Marriage of Brain and Computer

Stuart Hameroff: A New Marriage of Brain and Computer

Google Tech Talks September, 21 2007

I decided to back to college a couple years ago to be a better witness to (and participant in) the current convergences of mathematics, genetics, systems/information theories, nano-technology and psychedelic science, so I enjoyed this lecture which delves into biophysics, neuroscience and the qualia of consciousness. Hameroff's research reveals some amazing information relating to drug activity, synchrony and consciousness. He appeared in the slapstick, new-age mega-success 'What The Fuck Do We Know?' (ice-crystals getting their feelings hurt and shamans who can't see an ocean vessel right in front of their face... okay, the drunk, horny cartoon hormones were cute...) but definitely don't let that turn you off from what he really has to share.
(Large screen link)


and here's a more recent, more philosophically-based interview if, either, you want see more of Hameroff or the technical-chemical-physics stuff in the above lecture is too confusing:

Sign the Psychedelic Support Statistic!

Dose Nation notifies us of Project Sunspot's efforts in "documenting the numbers in the public at large of those who support the furthering of legitimate psychedelic research/education."
This is the first attempt at such a statistic and will be interesting to see what numbers we get.
Take a second to add your name:
LINK: www.project-sunspot.com/

Aya

I was in a funk today, stressed out over how much work this semester will entail, then I came home and saw this and feel better.



About Aya:

(Go to www.illuminated.com for a full screen high quality version of this video )
~ Illuminated is a new animated film/series being created by the people behind GNN (Guerrilla News Network), Phong.com (Eminem's "Mosh" video), Pod Collective, Broken Saints, and ConceptArt.org.

The story takes place in a not-too-distant future, where planet Earth is being ravaged by rampant environmental change and collapsing economies, and widespread social movements triggered by online interaction are reshaping the face of world politics.

Saturated by media, people have lost their ability to dream, and plug into a sophisticated communication system every night called the DreamField, which gives them access to a virtual dream-state that is networked with the rest of the world.

Online, dreams have become just another kind of media, and a group of dream-stars have emerged as the culture's new celebrities.

Aya is one such dream-star, and millions tune into her dreams every night to see where she will take them...

The film/series charts Aya's coming of age, as she travels with her dreadlocked guru, Shen, on a transformational journey to visit the most spiritually charged places on Earth and reconnect with the ancient wisdom of the planet...

Check out the teaser and visit the website to get your limited edition Illuminated Crystal USB key, that comes pre-loaded with Chapter 1 of the series, in addition to trippy ringtones, wallpaper and tracks from DJ Bluetech.

Ayahuasca: A Strange Brew (indeed)

Fairly in-depth article about Ayahuasca in the LA Times:

For many, a kaleidoscopic array of geometric patterns could emerge. Others may be greeted by friendly plant-like creatures, gnomes, elves or even a giant anaconda—known by indigenous tribes as Mother Ayahuasca, omniscient ruler of the plant kingdom—who communicates telepathically.

Read the full article: LATimes

Ayahuasca, shamanism and foreigners

Intensely enlightening description of the merging of western mythology with that of the healing traditions of Amazonian Ayawaskha knowledge.
Watch this before you delve into the oceanic jungles of Sudamerica searching for an herbal savior medicine-man.
DMT is deeper than culture, that is to be sure.

Joe Rogan on Ganjah

Vape cannabis? Smoke charas? Drink bhang? Eat brownies? Fuggedaboudit!
Let Joe lay it down for ya'.
Joe Rogan - Cure For Life

New Study Shows Cannabis Stops Cancer

Test-tube studies showed THC and another marijuana-derived compounds slow the spread of cervical and lung cancers. The study will be published in the Jan. 2nd issue of The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Here's a press release: webmd.com

Psychedelic Healing? : Scientific American

David Jay Brown has a lengthy article published in Scientific American about the current reemergence of psychedelic medical research. This is a very positive article in an extremely revered and popular publication.

link> > SciAm

DMT: The Spirit Molecule (MOVIE!!)

A major endeavor is underway to create a documentary based on the work of Dr. Rick Strassman who authored DMT: The Spirit Molecule. The list of participants in the film is a staggering collection of esteemed trailblazers of the psychedelic community. The credentials of the film-makers looks very promising as well.
Check out the website:
http://thespiritmolecule.com/

Washington Post on medicinal MDMA

Super in-depth article on washingtonpost.com about MDMA and psychedelic research.
>>Washingtonpost.com