Entheogenesis and Entheogenic Employment of Harmal
Ephraim Shmaya Lansky, Shifra Lansky, Helena Maaria Paavilainen
CRC Press eBooks October 6, 2017 DOI: 10.1201/9781315118758-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that "entheogenesis"—the creation or invocation of the deity within—is an ancient quest underlying shamanism, animism, healing, and likely religion itself, and that human anxiety may stem from awareness of impending death. Contends that ayahuasca is used in the modern world as an entheogenic sacrament and that most reported putative medical benefits, aside from reports from Schenberg, are psychiatric: enhancing divergent thinking, reducing conventional convergent thinking, increasing mindfulness-related capacities, and treating addictions. |
Abstract
Entheogenesis may be both literally and liberally defined as "the creation, or invocation, of the deity, or Deity, within". It is a very ancient quest, and in one way or another, the basis of shamanism, animism, healing, and likely, according to numerous theoretical and scientific works, at the core of religion itself. The anxiety of humankind may be founded in awareness of the impending demise of its individual members, who may likely lack the wherewithal to weather it. Ayahuasca is consumed in the modern world for entheogenic purposes, for example as a sacrament during religious services, which themselves likely emerged through appreciation of its sacrament. Aside from intriguing reports from Schenberg, most of the reported putative medical benefits of ayahuasca are in the realm of psychiatry. Ayahuasca enhances creative divergent thinking while decreasing conventional convergent thinking, increases mindfulness-related capacities, and treats addictions.