#1543 - Brian Muraresku & Graham Hancock

This book provides a comprehensive charting of the various facets of the special state of mind induced by ayahuasca, based on extensive personal experiences and interviews with numerous users. It lays the theoretical foundations for the psychological study of non-ordinary states of consciousness, offering philosophical reflections on the implications of such experiences.

Jack Herer's "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" is a seminal work in cannabis advocacy. The book presents a comprehensive history of cannabis, arguing for its legalization and highlighting its numerous benefits. Herer details the plant's historical uses, its potential as a sustainable resource, and the negative impacts of prohibition. The book's extensive research and passionate advocacy have significantly influenced the global cannabis legalization movement. Its enduring legacy lies in its contribution to shifting public perception and policy regarding cannabis.

In 'Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality', R. Gordon Wasson explores the identity of Soma, a mysterious substance mentioned in the Hindu Vedas. Wasson suggests that Soma could be Amanita muscaria, the fly-agaric mushroom, based on its psychoactive properties and its use in shamanic rituals across northern Eurasia. The book delves into the cultural and historical significance of this mushroom, offering insights into the origins of religious practices.

In 'Supernatural', Graham Hancock explores the mysterious transition in human history when advanced skills and symbolism suddenly appeared. He delves into the world of shamanic experiences, hallucinogens like ayahuasca and DMT, and the similarities between ancient cave art and modern UFO lore. Hancock's journey takes him from the painted caves of prehistoric Europe to the Amazon rainforest, where he participates in shamanic rituals to understand the origins of human consciousness and the nature of reality. The book is underpinned by the latest scientific research and offers a provocative and fascinating exploration of human history and consciousness.

Dioscorides's "De Materia Medica" is a comprehensive treatise on medicinal plants and substances. It describes a vast number of plants, minerals, and animal products, detailing their properties, uses, and methods of preparation. The book's detailed descriptions and illustrations made it a standard reference work for physicians and pharmacists for centuries. Its influence extended across various cultures and languages, shaping medical practices in both the East and West. The book's enduring legacy reflects its importance in the history of botany and medicine.

In this book, John Marco Allegro examines the Dead Sea Scrolls and their implications for understanding early Christianity. He suggests that the Christian tradition may have arisen from a misunderstanding of Essene texts and that Jesus Christ could be a fictional character based on a real figure from the 1st century BCE. Allegro's theories were widely criticized by the academic community.

In 'The Immortality Key', Brian Muraresku reconstructs the suppressed history of psychedelics in ancient Greek and early Christian rituals. Through a 12-year investigation, Muraresku connects the lost psychedelic sacrament of Greek religion to early Christianity, exposing the true origins of Western Civilization. He accesses hidden archives of the Louvre and the Vatican, and collaborates with archaeochemists to unveil the first scientific evidence of psychedelic drug use in classical antiquity. The book challenges traditional views of Christianity and Western history, suggesting that psychedelics were integral to the development of these cultures.

This book, written by John M. Allegro, argues that Christianity originated from an Essene clandestine cult centered around the use of psychedelic mushrooms. Allegro suggests that the stories of early Christianity and the New Testament are coded records of this shamanistic cult, and that the authors of the Christian gospels misunderstood the Essene thought. The book explores the role of ancient fertility cults, cultic rites and symbols, and the sacred mushroom as an emblem of divinity. The 40th anniversary edition includes a 30-page addendum by Carl Ruck.