Anthropology of Consciousness
March 1, 2006
Bethe Hagens
1 citation
Plato spoke of geometry as an extremely rare natural gift of consciousness, but also as a mode of perception accessible to anyone initiated into the tradition by a master. Such teachers were the shamans of his day, and it was these individuals who convened the mystery schools and sponsored initiations into the esoteric philosophies of geomancy that have grown from their vision. Though the...
Cambridge Archaeological Journal
February 1, 2006
Derek Hodgson
There has been much controversy recently regarding Lewis-Williams's assertion that altered states of consciousness and shamanism can explain Palaeolithic art. Evidence now seems to be accumulating that this account is unable to provide a sustainable explanation for Upper Palaeolithic depictions. This proposition will be explored and substantiated by examining further weaknesses contained...
Journal of Near-Death Studies
2006
James Mcclenon
9 citations
Analysis of eight Kongo near-death experiences (NDEs) from Central Africa supports the argument that universal features exist within this experiential form. Respondents described leaving their bodies and journeying to afterlife realms, encountering boundaries, and communicating with spiritual beings. Some accounts reveal culturally specific elements, implying that expectations shape...
Journal of Near-Death Studies
2006
Gregg Lahood
3 citations
Article bringing a transpersonal perinatal anthropological perspective to the study of three fathers' near-death-like experiences (NDEs) with the "spiritual emergencies" of three New Zealand men during their partners' pregnancies. It explores the seemingly anomalous male birth/death/rebirth experiences and draws some parallels with what some Western researchers have called "the shamanic...
Ethnobotany Research and Applications
December 31, 2005
Germán Zuluaga Ramírez
5 citations
Richard Evans Schultes, the father of modern ethnobotany,arrived in Colombia in 1941. Over a period of 50 years,Schultes carried out the most extensive research of hisera on the plants and cultures of the Colombian part ofthe Northwest Amazon. His invaluable work stands outnot only for its scientific excellence, but because he wasthe first researcher to emphasize the important role tobe played...
Discourse
December 1, 2005
Richard Doyle
7 citations
Twenty minutes in, like clockwork, the visions begin. They are strong but I was expecting them this time. Norma, the vegetalista who so astonished me with her care, skill and knowledge during my first ceremony two nights prior, had packed a big bowl with a knot of the local Nicotina Rustica and had blown curling, whistling smoke over a plastic liter bottle filled with an opaque orangish liquid...
Fourth World Journal
September 1, 2005
Sandi Loytomaki
1 citation
This article explores two deeply personal journeys into cultural identity, ancestral healing, and the reclamation of Indigenous knowledge systems. The first narrative introduces the concept of the "Edgewalker," a person navigating multiple cultural influences while challenging societal labels such as “shamanic healer.” It reflects on the complexities of language, cultural appropriation, and the...
TDR: The Drama Review
September 1, 2005
Dallas McCurley
Shamanic and court ritual performance in Shang and Zhou China regulated political and cosmic orders by means of performances that structured the performer-audience relations, moving audiences toward some desired response as a strategy tied to the relation between the cosmos and humans.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2005
David E. Stuckey, Robert F. Lawson, Luís Eduardo Luna
43 citations
The current study examined QEEG power and coherence of ayahuasca experiences with two experienced participants in a Brazilian jungle setting. An exploratory case series design was adopted for naturalistic field research. EEGs recorded during visual imagery was compared to eyes-closed baselines. The most important findings were increases in global EEG coherence in the 36-44 Hz and 50-64 Hz...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 1, 2005
Dennis J. Mckenna
2 citations
In this essay, the author shares his personal reflections gleaned from a lifetime of research with ayahuasca, and speculates on the societal, political, planetary, and evolutionary implications of humanity's aeons-old symbiosis with this shamanic plant. The thesis is developed that at this critical historical juncture, ayahuasca has developed a strategy to broadcast its message to a wider...