Terence McKenna" psilocybin and evolution

[Hash Zeppelin]

This is very very interesting and provides what i believe to be a very good theory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PucjQXO2k0
^Terence McKenna - Evolving Times

Terence Kemp McKenna (November 16, 1946 – April 3, 2000) was an American ethnobotanist, philosopher, psychonaut, researcher, teacher, lecturer, and writer. He was noted for his knowledge, and the ability to articulate his knowledge, of the use of psychedelics, metaphysics, plant-based entheogens, and subjects ranging from shamanism, language, historical and civilizational timelines, the theoretical origins of human consciousness, and his concept of novelty theory.[1]

"Stoned Ape" theory of human evolution

In his book Food of the Gods,[24] McKenna proposed that the transformation from humans' early ancestors Homo erectus to the species Homo sapiens mainly had to do with the addition of the mushroom Psilocybe cubensis in its diet - an event which according to his theory took place in about 100,000 BC (this is when he believed that the species diverged from the Homo genus). He based his theory on the main effects, or alleged effects, produced by the mushroom. One of the effects that comes about from the ingestion of low doses, which agrees with one of scientist Roland Fischer's findings from the late 1960s-early 1970s,[25] is it significantly improves the visual acuity of humans - so theoretically, of other human-like mammals too. According to McKenna, this effect would have definitely proven to be of evolutionary advantage to humans' omnivorous hunter-gatherer ancestors that would have stumbled upon it "accidentally"; as it would make it easier for them to hunt.

In higher doses, McKenna claims, the mushroom acts as a sexual stimulator, which would make it even more beneficial evolutionarily, as it would result in more offspring. At even higher doses, the mushroom would have acted to "dissolve boundaries", which would have promoted community-bonding and group sexual activities-that would result in a mixing of genes and therefore greater genetic diversity. Generally McKenna believed that the periodic ingestion of the mushroom would have acted to dissolve the ego in humans before it ever got the chance to grow in destructive proportions. In this context, he likened the ego to a cancerous tumor that can grow uncontrollable and become destructive to its host. In his own words:

Wherever and whenever the ego function began to form, it was akin to a cancerous tumor or a blockage in the energy of the psyche. The use of psychedelic plants in a context of shamanic initiation dissolved-as it dissolves today-the knotted structure of the ego into undifferentiated feeling, what Eastern philosophy calls the Tao.
—Terence McKenna, Food of the Gods

The mushroom, according to McKenna, had also given humans their first truly religious experiences (which, as he believed, were the basis for the foundation of all subsequent religions to date). Another factor that McKenna talked about was the mushroom's potency to promote linguistic thinking. This would have promoted vocalisation, which in turn would have acted in cleansing the brain (based on a scientific theory that vibrations from speaking cause the precipitation of impurities from the brain to the cerebrospinal fluid), which would further mutate the brain. All these factors according to McKenna were the most important factors that promoted evolution towards the Homo sapiens species. After this transformation took place, the species would have begun moving out of Africa to populate the rest of the planet[24] Later on, this theory by McKenna was given the name "The 'Stoned Ape' Theory of Human Evolution".[26][27]

 

[theclearspot]

This is interesting. Within Linguistics there are some theories about the start of language which date to about 100000bc , so a similar time to McKennas theory. Homo Sapiens developed a specialised vocal tract but other primates didnt. What did entheogens have to do with this? I wonder why he specifically points to mushrooms as the facilitator, does he have any evidence ie from scientific discoveries. Maybe it was stimulated by MJ? Or another entheogen?

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

^he does point specifically to the mushroom as the facilitator. Watch the two hour youtube video i posted it's really good.

 

[benzo]

Awesome. Thanks for the links hash z. Gonna watch the video later this week

 

[trichrider]

thnks Hash.
there was a thread about someone wanting to know where to start with terrence. i felt that if they had found terrence, they had already started.

intelligent and articulate man.

 

[Rob547]

Great book, only one I've read from McKenna (so far)

I really like this theory, makes a lot of sense, because they grew in the dung of what humans hunted when they were nomadic, etc etc.

This is rather odd... Just been feeling a lot lately, today especially, that I just 'need' to indulge.... And then this thread comes up HA. Definitely been thinking a lot about egoloss, something I've always seen as intimidating and difficult to reach, too far down the rabbit hole perhaps for me

 

[Sóley]

John Dee is 007.

John Dee is 007.

Did you know Terence McKenna was also an occult researcher ?

 

[strass]

This is one of the best clips to summon all of his theories.

[YOUTUBEIF]NCaK35DQ4uk[/YOUTUBEIF]

 

[HOPS5K]

McKenna was a fascinating man during his time. I dig his theory on evolution, too, and I don't believe in evolution per se, but it is still an incredibly awesome theory.

Man, wish he was around now to see all this stuff going on.

Didn't December 21st, 2012 mean, to McKenna, that ultimate Novelty would be revealed. I'm still unclear on what that is really, but from what I do know, it's when strange stuff can happen without explination, thus, Novelty. I dunno, but it's still soo cool to read about.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

^it did. weed got legalized in two states, and the drug war will start to crumble at a much faster rate.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

bump. because this lecture is AWESOME!

 

[Easy7]

I read that mj may have helped early man develope language. Not sure about shrooms, they surely helped early man develope religion.

 

[theclearspot]

I read that mj may have helped early man develope language. Not sure about shrooms, they surely helped early man develope religion.

Easy, thats awesome..do you remember where you read that?..i would like to read something about this. I suppose mainstream academics would frown on it, but whos to know how language developed most of it is supposition,no one really knows.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

^watch his 2 hour lecture that i posted he covers his whole book on it and it is very compelling.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

EDIT: double bump

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

bump for awesomeness.

 

[BudToaster]

okay, interesting speaker. i love his theory of evolution of humans.

However, what is his lesson? Take more drugs? All i'm hearing is "hold on tight, it's going to be a bumpy ride".

Yeah, ya think?

Also, i agree with his cogent thoughts about the pace of time accelerating (or however he puts it) ... feels to me like we're falling into a black hole.

 

[jenery]

Hello, i believe his thoughts from The Archaic Revival and The Food of Gods speak about too many topics in this cosmos, but the most striking message that really goes through to unveil the secrets of the universe is the psychedelic mind's craving for the contact with these plant or mushroom entities communicating with us through uncanny higher intelligence.
The novelty concept and I-ching correlated with Mayan calendar is a great observation of the change and evolution through the time (cycled history), the Eastern philosophical and mathematical concepts of the state of the nature coming to the scientifically oriented Western civilization and to me are out of any comprehension by our human minds.
The story of the stoned ape is absolutely cool because it shows us the mushroom intelligence as being a catalyst/guide that can open the doors of the perceptions to the hominid and provide the religious/spiritual experience of communicating with this higher entity/God.
The culture and the language are other areas where Terence excelled and i heartily recommend his lectures and books. His main goals i think were to make people more conscious about the Mother nature, we should become more like neo shamans, not be scared to explore our minds with the use of psychedelic in the right set and setting and actually learn from these encounters.
Culture is not your friend was one of his mottos and what it meant was the recent downfall of values and morals. The matriarchy archaic revival would bring our society closer to the sacred time when the people lived/were with gods.
The language thing is about imagination, visuals and audio, Terence and others (Rick Strassman with DMT for instance) and even you can experience it when taking the high enough dose and communicating with the plant entities - the language becomes graphic/telepathic and that is where we will evolve hopefully one day.
Anyway, happy to know there are others finding Terence interesting, keep on munching the knowledge and feed your head!

 

[mpd]

Grow your own shrooms. Make your own journeys and come to your own conclusions.

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

^Ya i dont like to eat mushrooms unless i know the grower.