Sacred Vine of Spirits: Ayahuasca
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"Ralph Metzner, world famous pioneer of psychedelic research and consciousness explorer, brings together a masterful collection of writings exploring the nature of this extraordinary sacred potion, from its chemical and biological properties and psychological effects to its enormous healing and spiritual potential. This book will be an inspiration for lay audiences and a treasure trove of information for scholars studying consciousneess and the human psyche."
Product Description
A compilation of writings on the chemical, biological, psychological, and experiential dimensions of Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic Amazonian plant mixture that has been used for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years by native Indian and mestizo shamans in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador for healing and divination. Many Western trained physicians and psychologists have acknowledged that this substance can allow access to spiritual dimensions of consciousness, even mystical experiences indistinguishable from classic religious mysticism. In "Sacred Vine Of Spirits: Ayahuasca", Ralph Metzner, a pioneer in the study of consciousness, has assembled a group of authoritative contributors who provide an exploration of the chemical, biological, psychological and chemistry of Ayahuasca from leading scholars in the field of psychoactive research. He concludes with his own findings on Ayahuasca, including its applications in medicine and psychology, and compares the worldview revealed by Ayahuasca visions to that of Western cultures.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
this book is an excellent primer to taking the ayahuasca in earth healing ceremonies, the experiences in this book give you a good idea what you are in for
everyone on the planet should sample (in the right conditions) ayahuasca.
it opens the mind to the unity of all things, the purity of nature and the essence of all
everyone on the planet should sample (in the right conditions) ayahuasca.
it opens the mind to the unity of all things, the purity of nature and the essence of all
3 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Ayahuasca vine contains DMT-type chemicals which the South Americans have been using to experience visions for thousands of years. The Spanish conquerors tried to supress its use but failed.
The chemistry of the vine, it's neuropharmacology and the many and varied experiences of taking it are all detailed.
The numerous essays describing its effect tend to drift into the rather tenuous and sometimes comedic world of what we in the UK might call Californian psycho-babble. It's what seems to happen when middle-class people with no apparent direction in life injest the substances that can make you very open to suggestion.
e.g "I had a feeling of needing to urinate and stood up to go to the bathroom. As I stood up I became aware of the Plant Kingdom Guardians sitting along the side of the room." (Later on her imaginary Power Animals turned up and she vomited an imaginary demon! What a weekend......)
The chemistry of the vine, it's neuropharmacology and the many and varied experiences of taking it are all detailed.
The numerous essays describing its effect tend to drift into the rather tenuous and sometimes comedic world of what we in the UK might call Californian psycho-babble. It's what seems to happen when middle-class people with no apparent direction in life injest the substances that can make you very open to suggestion.
e.g "I had a feeling of needing to urinate and stood up to go to the bathroom. As I stood up I became aware of the Plant Kingdom Guardians sitting along the side of the room." (Later on her imaginary Power Animals turned up and she vomited an imaginary demon! What a weekend......)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Well worth the read
26 Jan 2006
Format:Paperback
Ralph Metzner's book Ayahuasca: Human Consciousness and the Spirits of Nature (1st edition) and Sacred Vine of Spirits: Ayahuasca (2nd edition) is an excellent overview of modern conceptions of Ayahuasca and where and how they originated.
The book starts off with a brief history of the available data on this most powerful of entheogens. Next Metzner delves into modern trip reports of the experience by mostly well-to-do professionals, doctors, psychiatrists, etc. In this section, the book does tend to get a little fluffy and new agey in its descriptions. Here, too, I was disappointed that he did not offer/include indigenous descriptions of the experience.
While at first this book had difficulty drawing me in, it wasn't until the end of the trip reports section, probably around page 150, that a startling story, so identical to one of my own, really grabbed my attention into the book as a whole. The stories previous to this one were also similar to my own, as I have seen the snakes, etc., myself, however the other stories often didn't draw me in as this one in particular had as it twisted around my soul like a boa.
About 2/3 into the book it becomes clear why Metzner has chosen these particular stories. He uses the stories to show a sort of universal archetypal imagery found within the experiences as well as using them to show the overall personal benefits and healings gained by each individual's direct experiences with the sacred brew. He makes especially clear the importance of "la purga" or the purge, which are the effects of Ayahuasca to cause vomiting to cleanse the body and soul. However, I questioned if this was done while possibly omitting negative reports, not of trips, but of Kanaima related issues (see Dr. Neil Whitehead). Though I must admit that my own numerous experiences were indeed along the same lines of self-recognition and self-responsibility laid out in the work.
Next Metzner calls on the famed Dr. Dennis McKenna to break down the chemistry and history of Ayahuasca, as McKenna with his brother Terence were pioneers in the research on DMT and Ayahuasca. Next Metzner calls on Dr. Charles Grob and Dr. J.C. Callaway to give an excellent (yet self limited) history on Ayahuasca from its studies to its effects on human psychological behavior, drug addiction, etc. Finally he ends the book with a well thought out and in some places admittedly speculative conclusion on the possibilities to the fulfilling of human consciousness on a Gaian or global scale.
Not the most profound read, but well worth the read. I'd give it a strong 4.5 star. A necessary addition to any ethnopharmacological library. However, I should mention that the best material is said to be The Antipodes of the Mind : Charting the Phenomenology of the Ayahuasca Experience by Dr. Benny Shanon. I will point out that I have not had the chance to read Shanon's book yet, but it has come highly recommended by many leading experts in the field and is on the top of my to read list. Shanon is published by Oxford.
The book starts off with a brief history of the available data on this most powerful of entheogens. Next Metzner delves into modern trip reports of the experience by mostly well-to-do professionals, doctors, psychiatrists, etc. In this section, the book does tend to get a little fluffy and new agey in its descriptions. Here, too, I was disappointed that he did not offer/include indigenous descriptions of the experience.
While at first this book had difficulty drawing me in, it wasn't until the end of the trip reports section, probably around page 150, that a startling story, so identical to one of my own, really grabbed my attention into the book as a whole. The stories previous to this one were also similar to my own, as I have seen the snakes, etc., myself, however the other stories often didn't draw me in as this one in particular had as it twisted around my soul like a boa.
About 2/3 into the book it becomes clear why Metzner has chosen these particular stories. He uses the stories to show a sort of universal archetypal imagery found within the experiences as well as using them to show the overall personal benefits and healings gained by each individual's direct experiences with the sacred brew. He makes especially clear the importance of "la purga" or the purge, which are the effects of Ayahuasca to cause vomiting to cleanse the body and soul. However, I questioned if this was done while possibly omitting negative reports, not of trips, but of Kanaima related issues (see Dr. Neil Whitehead). Though I must admit that my own numerous experiences were indeed along the same lines of self-recognition and self-responsibility laid out in the work.
Next Metzner calls on the famed Dr. Dennis McKenna to break down the chemistry and history of Ayahuasca, as McKenna with his brother Terence were pioneers in the research on DMT and Ayahuasca. Next Metzner calls on Dr. Charles Grob and Dr. J.C. Callaway to give an excellent (yet self limited) history on Ayahuasca from its studies to its effects on human psychological behavior, drug addiction, etc. Finally he ends the book with a well thought out and in some places admittedly speculative conclusion on the possibilities to the fulfilling of human consciousness on a Gaian or global scale.
Not the most profound read, but well worth the read. I'd give it a strong 4.5 star. A necessary addition to any ethnopharmacological library. However, I should mention that the best material is said to be The Antipodes of the Mind : Charting the Phenomenology of the Ayahuasca Experience by Dr. Benny Shanon. I will point out that I have not had the chance to read Shanon's book yet, but it has come highly recommended by many leading experts in the field and is on the top of my to read list. Shanon is published by Oxford.
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
OUTSTANDING!!
25 Mar 2009
Format:Paperback
Metzner is one of a kind. Ayahuasca explains in may ways this fascinating psychoactive tea from the Rain forest. Ralph Metzner is the key note speaker this year at Equinox Festival, London June 12-14 2009.
Mike
Mike
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