In a captivating discussion, Shaheen Etminan, Ph.D., co-founder of VCENNA and Magi Ancestral Supplements, dives into the mystical roots of psychedelics. He explores ancient Iranian practices, emphasizing the parallels between psychedelics and Zoroastrian teachings on morality. Etminan shares insights on the liminal state between dreaming and waking, personal exploration through dreams, and the benefits of compounds like Syrian Rue and Saffron. His unique perspective highlights how integrating historical knowledge can enrich modern psychedelic practices.
01:03:34
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Serendipitous Discovery
Shauheen Etminan discovered Persian psychedelic traditions while running in Vancouver.
He found a used book by a Romanian religion studies professor detailing ancient Iranian plant use.
insights INSIGHT
Iranian Religions and Psychedelics
Ancient Iran is notable for birthing many religions, reflecting a pattern of revelation and sharing.
This pattern mirrors the psychedelic experience of gaining insight and spreading it.
insights INSIGHT
Syrian Rue's Hidden Power
Syrian rue, commonly burned as incense in Iranian homes, is a potent psychoactive, yet this is largely unknown.
It's part of a historical brew called "homa", similar to Soma, and contains harmaline, a strong psychedelic.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thomas Common
The book details Zarathustra's descent from his mountain solitude to share his transformative ideas about humanity and existence. Nietzsche explores themes such as the rejection of traditional moral values, individualism, and the concept of the Overman. Zarathustra's interactions with various characters reveal his struggle to articulate his vision and confront prevailing societal values. The book also delves into the existential test of the eternal recurrence of the same and the importance of self-overcoming and personal transformation[2][4][5].
In this episode, Joe interviews Shauheen Etminan, Ph.D.: co-founder of VCENNA, a drug discovery and development company, and Magi Ancestral Supplements, which sells nootropics inspired by ancient Eastern traditions.
He discusses his journey into the world of plant extraction, how he first discovered compounds like Haoma and Harmaline, and why he decided to bring Iranian tradition to the psychedelic renaissance. He explores the similarities between psychedelics and experiences found in mystical traditions, and how that historical context can inform modern psychedelic practice. He sees this exemplified most with dream recollection, attending to the emotions found within dreams, and the concept of wakeful dreaming, where one can access unconscious insights consciously, through the liminal (or hypnagogic) state between dreaming and wakefulness.
He discusses:
Zoroastrianism and how the teachings of Zarathustra on understanding morality have inspired hi
Syrian Rue in Iranian culture, and how it compares to the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine: Is it actually stronger than ayahuasca
Henry Corbin’s practice of embodied imagination and Jung’s concept of active imaginatio
Other less-discussed compounds he’s interested in, like Ephedra and Saffron
Psychedelics Today 
