Soma
Sacred Earth => Shaman [Public] => Topic started by: Michael on July 22, 2006, 12:22:52 AM
-
Power plants are an essential part of the shaman's path. Not that all shamans need to, or do, take power plants, but their association with shamans goes right back to the beginning. I may write more on this at a later time, but I want to bring across what I previously wrote on another forum:
Intoxicants have always been part of the tool kit of those on the short path. In Tantra this is referred to as the Left Hand Path, or Aghora. It also exists in Tibet, outside the four main Buddhist monastic sects, or the two Bon sects.
The primary features of the short path, are complete dedication - succeed or die in the attempt, there is no half way; willingness to use every conceivable means; and lastly, extreme danger - the risk of falling half way into a pit of madness, or worse, reverting to the ‘easy face’ with the powers gained, and thus ensnaring oneself in the bondage of illusion to a degree so great, the consequences being unimaginably horrific.
Toltec as taught through CC via Don Juan, is very definitely the short path. I would posit that Toltec taught by some other well known personages, is more like Tantra of the Right Hand Path, where absolute purity and pursuit of absolute truth is sufficient, plus the ability to reach one’s goal over a longer period of existence.
A curious feature of the Left or Short path, is that as well as the goal of absolute truth, it also seeks permanency of the individual, in it’s most essential aspect. But also it adopts a more complex approach to purity.
At first, absolute purity is mandatory, or later all will be lost, but after, impurity is not only acceptable, but encouraged - the idea being to explore the greatest range of perceptual possibilities inherent in this being which is going to die.
Thus intoxicants are very useful. They aid the expansion of perception into deeper levels of the cosmos, and ourself. This day, intoxicants are frowned upon in society. But know that that is an attitude promulgated from a puritan Christian view, which is obsessed with ‘goodness’. Thus also dirtiness, lying, stealing and secrecy are frowned upon.
They seem to have seen goodness as an end in itself, and the roots of this go back to a spiritual power struggle within the Christian stream, between the mystical and the temporal traditions. Mystical emanating mostly down Europe from Ireland, and the worldly emanating up Europe from Rome - an eminently worldly civilisation, and Greece - another tradition in which the mystical became split off and suppressed.
The central point about intoxicants, is that they need to be taken as part of a dedicated and controlled exploration of knowledge - never as entertainment; and also taken by one who has developed within oneself the driving passion for seeking depth in everything.
The type of intoxicant taken is geographically determined, plus being a personal matter. Alcohol can be useful, but tends to limit knowledge found to that already contained within the person - ie it can vivify already gained knowledge, but is not so useful in perceiving beyond the known boundaries.
All natural power plants or substances are useful, and have very different qualities and consequences. Personally, I tend to warn people off chemically processed substances - something subtle though essential is destroyed by modern processing. The same is true of medicines.
Lastly, I’ll say that one of the best effects of powerful intoxicants, is their ability to destroy the false parameters of our identity - this is an effect only obtained in the early days of experiences. But remember, this Short Path is only for those of such a serious bent of character, that they are very unlikely to be the slightest bit interested in it. If you are the wild, keen and daring type - or see yourself that way - forget it. Go and get a life first. The spirituality of those on the Short Path, is entirely an internal affair, if you like the self-gratification of displaying your knowledge to those around you, you’re on a different path.
-
There is something more about the taking of intoxicants:
Any object in this world, is also a recipient of energy, and a storage of that energy. Thus dj’s rejection of the seeds that cc separated, due to the heavy concern he indulged in whilst undertaking the task.
Any intoxicant, due to the nature of our society these days, has already accumulated a load of nefarious energy. Surely I don’t need to spell this out in detail - I’m sure everyone knows of the vibe that surrounds different intoxicants, and it’s almost always bad nature. In fact this becomes a real problem for anyone wanting to procure such substances for knowledge purposes.
I’m assuming you have found some way to procure something, in a way that doesn’t land you in gaol, or make you want to puke. Now it must be ‘treated’ before taken. This is the subject of this post.
There are many methods - small rituals, mantras, offerings, incense, music etc etc. I think rituals are very useful, but they have no power in themselves, unless you have been initiated in those very rare and secret ones - I doubt anyone on a forum like this would fit that category. But even so, there is am important principle here: all power must emanate from the energy of a being, and for our purposes, that being is us. Rituals and mantras are only a means to assist. The real power is from our intention. This is then honed by our will and our mind, and then actions, words or sounds.
First, take careful note of how you obtain the substance - I’m assuming in this day and age, most would not produce their own, which is ALWAYS best - as they say in India, Khadi, or ‘home made’. If the scene from which you get your substance is too dark and gross, don’t do it. Put out your intention to the spirit, and wait until It offers an opportunity.
Next, store it in a special place. Everyone should have a ‘sacred place’ in their living area somewhere. Many little things are kept here - special feathers, stones and other objects that have been pointed out to us by power. Or things we ourselves have made with awareness and skill, or pure luck. I Ching’s and books that have changed our lives. But never objects full of personal emotional intensity, unless it is for your god or guru of course.
This helps to surround and slowly penetrate the substance with the environmental intention of our spirit. Eventually your whole home and garden should speak of this intention.
Then, on the occasion of taking the substance, remember, aspirants never take these substances for social reasons. Always take them alone, and always for the purpose of lifting your consciousness out of the bodily bindings, to soar towards your ultimate goal. This is where the intention reveals. That does not mean that you should never take them amongst others - that depends solely on the lessons you are seeking to learn, but it means that whatever, you are always alone, even in a crowd, because you die alone, and this exercise is a precursor to death, the ultimate disembodied experience.
Also it does not mean that you shouldn’t enter into physical action once the ceremony has begun, on the contrary, the body is an excellent tool to enhance and intensify the experience. BUT, I must caution. The nature of these experiences being to disentangle the spirit from the body, you are not in a good position to judge the limitations of the body - it can break. If you are skilled in this type of use of the body (eg drummers or runners etc) - you should build up the strength of the muscles you will use, over a long period of time. For everyone, who take intoxicants, the body must be kept fit and healthy. Or else you are doomed (speaking from experience).
The most important point, is that at the start of your ceremony, you should permeate the ceremony with your intention - we call this seeding. Never let anyone who you are not absolutely sure you trust has real knowledge, seed such an experience for you. Khadi is best. Some special utensils, that are used solely for this purpose are a good aid, and prayers, invocations or whathaveyou. We purify the experience we are about to have, then we ‘offer’ it to the pursuit of knowledge, such that what we perceive will in fact be true knowledge, and not fantasy. As you become accustomed to this - it can be done before any experience you are about to undertake (getting on a bus etc), you learn to very quickly condense your awareness to a pin point. Still if you must blabber on, then by all means do it. What happens after that is in the lap of the gods.
Always remember that the mental and physical side effects of this adventuring, can be quite serious. If this is a common component of your practices, take the time to learn all the necessary counter measures, to protect your body as much as possible - this includes energetic components of the seeding part mentioned above. One point - these substances place enormous strain on our liver, so blood purifying and liver stimulants are a good idea.
Some people may be alarmed that I have raised this topic. And with good reason. The dangers are considerable - never let the hubris of youth blind you to the serious risks involved.
I’ll add one more bit. There is a second ‘seed’. It is that which is most prominently in focus at the point of transformation. There soon comes this point, where your daily consciousness transforms into higher awareness, and whatever is being focused on right then, is of utmost importance.
tread carefully bikkhus
-
The thing about power plants, is that they amplify the ‘mind’. Now there is nothing wrong with that, as far as it goes, except, as I think I very plainly stated, when the body is not well - I’ll state this again very clearly: the body needs to be in top shape before you try these substances. If not, you only suck from the body the very energy it needs to heal. That is what power plants are all about - they separate your centre of gravity away from the body, and thus give flight to the mind. But if your body is not well, you simply deplete it of vital force, and it can never get healthy.
But there is something else about our path that needs to be addressed here. There is a knowledge that most who begin this path have no idea of, for many years. This knowledge can not be gained through reading or listening to pundits, or taking mind altering substances. This is so important - I cannot stress how important!
We need to come down from our fantastic heights of mind flight. But we need to bring down the ‘understandings’, and apply this, in ordinary grubby common everyday existence, to eventually EVERY ACTION we perform - that’s a bit much for beginners, but at least pour our energy into applying these principles to all the infinite little actions we perform throughout the day, as well as the big ones.
Now this may seem a boring task - and if it doesn’t, then I suggest you are still in the ‘spiritual glamorous’ state. Get real, get a life, and get down to meeting your fellow humans in the grubby business of living, but with your ‘released’ mind. ie without all that heavy burden of position and possession - doing for the sake of doing. And all the other attitudinal fruits - like awareness etc.
I want to share here a realisation that over the years has come to be the most significant for me. Something of true power is gained by working through the body, instead of the quick flash of the mind. It takes years of hard work. This is the quality of ‘presence’ that I spoke of earlier. And it can’t come from insight, or mind realisations alone. It is the power of our root. This is why we took physical form, to gain this knowledge.
Power Plants offer a subtle illusion - they give the impression of knowledge, but that knowing is 'understanding'. True knowledge is very different, and can only emanate from years of ‘living through the body’.
This is the subject of another time. But sufficient for the rounding off of this thread on power plants, is to recognize that they have a severe limitation, for which every serious aspirant eventually gives them up, to enter the real game of acquiring visceral knowledge.
-
Ive used various 'power plants' in the past, at one point on my journey I figured it couldnt hurt to try something at least once.... I still fall into that thought, but with perhaps a bit more caution.
I will admit to also using for entertainment, which I leave to my wonderful youthful years before becoming a mother.... when my nature screamed of wildness and play at the onslide of breaking all the rules I felt pushing down on me.
From my own experience the entertainment intent shifts the outcome of the experience, where as if taken for work related reasons the outcome also falls in place.
I wish to share an experience I had while taking mushrooms, as it completly changed my idea of reality.. and what's possible. This to me was a powerful teaching as it opened a door like all good teachers do.
I used to hold a study group here at my house and met alot of wonderful like minded ppl. Ive since given up the group for a number of reasons, and only work with 3 others.
One of my sanctuaries is my families cabin, a small log home.. empty most of the time leaving only the whispers of many many gatherings of loved ones and the spirit of those that have passed. I often go there to do work of the spiritual nature.
I had taken with me one of the woman of the group for a weekend. After a bit of ritualistic behaviour we ate the mushrooms.
I sensed some fear in her so we decided to remain somewhat social and sat at the table in the kitchen area. The effects started kicking in and within an hour we were taken with the ride that mushrooms produce.
-=-
I found myself still sitting at a table, but not at my cabin. The room was entirely different, the lighting, the colors, the era itself appeared to be far from that of the current times. But my friend remained sitting across from me. We caught eachother's eyes and.. back we came.
-=-
At this point we are sitting back in the cabin.. mushrooms seem to have a wave of clarity with them once in awhile...
I asked her how she was doing and if she had done any traveling.. she smiled and discribed the entire above event in the same detail that I had seen.
-=-
Breaking free of my human shell to move other places such as this is something that I find myself doing frequently, always with the aid of mushrooms. But to do so with full awareness of another person and sharing that journey with her seemed to open a profound door for me.
I work mostly alone now.. but as I said I do have 3 others that join me from time to time. Since and without the use of mushrooms Ive joined one of them in 'another place' and she's also witnessed odd shifts in my appearance.
I havnt used mushrooms in about 10 years.. but if spirit leads me in that direction I will dive. Although that door being swung open, lead to the possiblities of many things.. I will not box myself to letting it happen merely with ally use.
Be safe, Jennifer
-
check this out:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1682610.htm (http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1682610.htm)
-
holy shitzu batman@neurotheology :o
-
"Under very defined conditions, with careful preparation, you can safely and fairly reliably occasion what's called a primary mystical experience that may lead to positive changes in a person," study leader Professor Roland Griffiths says.
But we already knew this, didn't we? ;)
-
ha, personally, I get really tired of hearing all those articles how everything is going to kill you, and love to see stuff like this.
;D
-
yeah but
everything IS going to kill you.
Don't you think?
:o
-
not if i kill it first
-
I claim to be a kindashorta botanist/horticulturist and am just wondering, what plants are considered as "power plants"?
thanx. t
-
I consider my smudging mixtures power plants also...
;)
-
Yeh, I got lotsa them, Kiddo. Mosta my stuff is for squishing the leaves and then inhaling the juices. Yarrow, sages, mints. I was refering kinda to the ones people ingest. Never have done that and wonder what it's like. But I guess some experiences kan't be put into wurdz.
I did some hippy drugs like 30 yrs. ago but have grown a greater respect for my brain cells since then, you know? Just curious on what folk have used or read/heard about, actually.
Take care. t
-
I experimented with all sorts of things, smoking and smudging-wise.
A few years ago, I had grown some catnip in my little garden (which didn't last long per the neighborhood cats who just rolled in the stuff, killing it). I brought what I had dried into a smudging festival I had going. Put a little catnip on the coal, and in came my cats to the living room, and rolled around the floor of the smokey room, looking wild-eyed at me.
So this gave me an idea to inhale the smudging smoke, and to even smoke it outright.
The effect wasn't as intense as other hallucinogens, like marijuana, etc, but I was filled with an inordinate sense of well-being. !
Once I would make a mixture of dried plants to smoke, like juniper, catnip, chamomile, cedar, yarrow, rosemary. I added black tea to the mix. It was an interesting buzz.
But you're right about the brain cells, Tommy. Could be all this is why I don't operate at full throttle, heheh!
-
If I had more available Id try it... *grins* I guess I feel I have some extra cells worth burning...
Ever heard of ingesting morning glory seeds crushed up?
-
Heard about the morning glory seeds, ignored all the warnings about it, and added them to my mix too, way back when! No effect noted!
Speaking of warnings, yarrow is supposed to be dangerous too, I read after the fact. So while I lived to tell the tale, I suppose caution is a good thing.
-
My favorite things for smudging are still frankincense and myrrh, though. I have some connection there. Those and cedar. But I've even burned dried oak leaves. If it's dried, I'll burn it, much to the dismay of the house's smoke-detector!
-
I burn a ton of different things also.. cedar and sage are my core starts and its always different from there. I slept in the studio last night and still smell like sage today even after my shower. :)
I burned alot of frankinsense and myhrr back in my days of witchcraft... still do some but the above is more availble.
Lots of lavender and rosemary hits my coal too...
Mugwort for dreaming..
-
"They" say one is supposed to use the plants around them. Well, I always considered that vis a vis the frankincense and myrrh, because obviously they aren't around me. But oh, the myrrh is so good for the visions. That may just be me, though -- I think it connects to a past life somewherez.
But yes! Hard to get hold of, and super-expensive in contrast to the others.
-
hmm, I just never listen to the warnings, that say never to ingest power, seems like something from Mad Magazine to me. ;)
The Morning Glory seeds(LSA) are good, though they have had tendencies to make people ill, because of the coating on the seeds. Proper preperation of approx. 200 crushed seeds produces effects 'similair' to LSD25.
The Fly Agaric Mushroom is well worth trying, as well as Salvia. Oaxacan Shamans would use Salvia to teach them how to travel, then moving on to the Morning Glory, and then mushrooms.
-
seems like something from Mad Magazine to me. ;)
Heheh! :D :D :D
-
I have tried few things.
Drugs are cool, the experinces have been very interesting. but the bad thing is that their usage consumes a lot of energy, that's what i have noticed. after the event i have felt so empty and needed time for recovery, even with marihuana.
-
but the bad thing is that their usage consumes a lot of energy, that's what i have noticed. after the event i have felt so empty and needed time for recovery, even with marihuana.
I understand! Especially many years ago, there would be times afterwards I thought I was the waking dead.
I think everyone's chemistry is a little different here .. you know you best, rubina!
-
I have been thinking on 'energy consumption'.
To use a power plant, or to move your state of awareness, is simply a movement, or shift, of the AP. To move to a far off location, to remain there for awile, and then to move back, appears as if we have lost 'energy', however to me it is simply shifting back to our original position, or another spot. This is the reason, in my mind, that we use the plants, to attain great shifts, and learn to examine them, gaining cohesion in these new dreaming positions, as well as observing the movement itself. It is no different to me then dreaming a fantastic dream then waking up in disappontment.
It is very important to stalk ourselves, as we are moving, to be aware of what is moving us, and where. If we 'come back' thinking we have lost it all, or that we are sad, depleted, or whatever, then surely that is the 'position' we are moving ourselves to. I find that it doesn't seem like 'energy', but what I am focusing my attention on, or where I am placing my power.
-
My smudge ingredients end up being a lot of different stuff. I start off with red cedar, native sage, white sage, russian sage, yarrow, tanis, rue, dried mints ..... it ends up with a pretty nice-smelling mix. Good and good for you, my Dad always said. I roll my dried stuff pretty tight in a double sheet of paper towel and tie with sinew in three places. Once I light it, it stays going nicely. I also feel that what container used is as important as the smudge itself. I use the same cool rock that I have for years. It's about 3 X 3" with a neat natural indentation right in the middle, to give the smudge a little breathing room. Once I got my bundle going I have a special small rock I place over it a little to keep the wind from blowing it off.
Like I say with any cermonial doing, it's what's in your mind and Intent that makes the Medicine, not just the ingredients. It's all about manipulating your own awareness. What works, works. Period. I sense, though, that using what the Natives used puts me in a special frame of mind, like I'm doing all I can to be authentic. Just like my bonsai. I use the Tokonami pots, make my own soil, use special tools for pruning, feed year around with the best stuff I can find ..... I know that I am doing it right and that puts the old feathers in ones' bonnet, right?
Where my head is at, it's all about the feathers. At least two of them, anyways!:)
Heading to work. Lotsa good stuff being posted here, Yawl. Lotsa good stuff. Thanx. t2f
-
It is very important to stalk ourselves, as we are moving, to be aware of what is moving us, and where. If we 'come back' thinking we have lost it all, or that we are sad, depleted, or whatever, then surely that is the 'position' we are moving ourselves to.
True enough, Som, but I have to recall my lsd experience -- the one when I was 16 or 17 and was curled up in the fetal position ... Coming off that grim experience was even more grim -- and frankly, I was suicidal at that level of fragility.
And yes, to be suicidal is another choice and another assemblage point -- but there is danger afoot in that state of mind: one could act on the impulse and then all talk of assemblage point is purely academic.
So ... my outlook is that, if you know it isn't good for 'you', then don't do it.
-
It is very important to stalk ourselves, as we are moving, to be aware of what is moving us, and where. If we 'come back' thinking we have lost it all, or that we are sad, depleted, or whatever, then surely that is the 'position' we are moving ourselves to.
It's not about thinking that i have lost something or feeling sad or what ever. It's just somekind of tiredness. But people are different.
-
But people are different.
Yes!
-
It's true, it's true, it's all true! I agree, if you know it is dangerous then stay away, by all means, or at least find the safe way, or remove the danger.
I am saying that the knowledge of the assemblage point, that it assembles totally new worlds, is what drives me. So I prefer to observe the driver, watching where I place my power, and learning how these worlds are formed.
I was once running away from some people who were after me. I was running through an open field, moving very fast, leaving them waaay in the dust. I then thought "I have't been working out for awhile, and I don't know how long I can run". Next thing I knew I was thinking about my legs giving up on me, and down I went onto the ground where I was captured.
-
There was a saying in the late 60's/early 70's amongst drug-doers and drug counselors:
"It's just a feeling.... It's just a thought.... Ain't nothing but a thing."
I suppose to really be in the flow of that, one has to have experienced the drugs, so indeed, stalking and more-fluid assemblage points are certainly among the perks.
*hugz*
-
"It's just a feeling.... It's just a thought.... Ain't nothing but a thing."
I love that! Perfect really.
I have found, through these experiences, that it seems like a feeling, then a thought, then reality. Or, just a thought with a knowing, then reality.
-
I said for years that I learned things I never would have learned otherwise through doing them ... but, when you think about it, I really have no way of assessing that!
-
;D
thats good!
-
One more anecdote and then I'll stop, heh.
Back in the day, all of this hallucinogenic drug-doing was a function of the generation, who sang the songs of peace, love, and freedom. To do these circa the late 60's/early 70's was almost always a sacred bequest --- a hunt for god, even.
Then came the "other drugs" a little later, and the noble art of truth and vision-seeking gave way to out and out hedonism. And nihilism.
It's only in groups like these, in little pockets around the world, where no doubt shamanism is at least an ideal, that it holds its sacred bequest. I know this first-hand, working in psych hospitals/crisis counseling since 1981. The young ones today are not in search of god!
-
yes Nichi, and that is a central point. in my experience, even back then, the difference is not the effect, but the intent and spirit of the person taking the substance, whatever it may be.
i used to think back then that if i could just get people stoned and then present something of power, they would see and understand. it very rarely happened.
there is inside some people a genuine fire of quest, in essence a wanting to return to the source of our being, which may be covered by all kinds of rubbish, but although one could argue that this exists in everyone, it is obvious to me that some have this active, and it is that that becomes 'excited' under the influence of AP shifting forces. But for the others, it can't seem to light up no matter what the situation.
So this active spirit in a person is the real issue, not the use of power plants. And for many, power plants are definitely not recommended - it is not required for all aspirants, in fact best avoided for some. For the others, there is no doubt power plants have a transformational effect on their lives, but always it should never become an indulgence and over-used.
-
I have tried few things.
Drugs are cool, the experinces have been very interesting. but the bad thing is that their usage consumes a lot of energy, that's what i have noticed. after the event i have felt so empty and needed time for recovery, even with marihuana.
hmm i haven't experienced this taimi.
interestingly, i seem to feel the opposite after doing
any kind of drug. It's kinda like I get a high, after the high.
8)
But I am extremely sensitive to any sort of mind altering substance.
-
The Morning Glory seeds(LSA) are good, though they have had tendencies to make people ill, because of the coating on the seeds. Proper preperation of approx. 200 crushed seeds produces effects 'similair' to LSD25.
Did you drink it like a tea?
-
I have tried few things.
Drugs are cool, the experinces have been very interesting. but the bad thing is that their usage consumes a lot of energy, that's what i have noticed. after the event i have felt so empty and needed time for recovery, even with marihuana.
:-* You can shift your awareness without the use of any at all.
LSD always made me feel like Id been run over by a train the next day. ;)
Drumming can get just as trippy as anything Ive ever used.
-
Did you drink it like a tea?
Yup, many do drink it as a tea, is prolly the bestest way. I have a good supply, though I'm waiting for the right time.
-
I had the most beautiful vine growing last summer and it was covered in seeds during this harvest season.. I didnt save them, although I had thought about it. Didnt grow them this year.. just wasnt a gardening year for me.
When the time is right for you.... many blessings for your journey :)
-
just wasnt a gardening year for me.
Funny, Jen
me neither...
8)
-
we've been at it all morning - i've just pruned all the fruit trees - i'm a gun pruner you know - and Julie is doing the roses, she's got more time. But gardening today has been sublime - out in the cool warmth of a windless cloudless balmy late winter's day - talk about a drug, and we been rocking to bhangra music (we had to stop that eventually, we're getting a bit old for that high powered dance music - at least when it goes on too long... i'll leave that for taimi - had her in my dream last night, but don't tell her).
-
8)
-
I took a little walk nearby. Was walking in the grove and thought about amanita muscaria (don't know why). and suddenly they were everywhere.
-
How beautiful! We don't have them here... well.. not like that..
Once a friend and I went out to the bush; we had a shroom ceremony. We were sitting on this patch of grass during Full Moon when suddenly we noticed all these little mushrooms popping up. They use mushroom compast here a lot.. it was still awesome though! ...the moonlight glancing off all those tops!
They weren't there the next morning.. still not sure about it..