My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-27)
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My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-9-20)
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My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-8-30)
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journal entry date unknown maybe april brooklyn ny, 2009. recorded august 29th, 2009 in saint augustine florida by chad smith.
fuck you.
8.27.09
Environmental Science
To paraphrase, “I took two really big hits and then, for what felt like hours and hours, I rolled around in the night dew, talking to myself and laughing uncontrollably, and lost my mind. Then, it was over.” Salvia, or ‘The Sage of the Seers,’ is a psychoactive drug that is classified as a dissociative. Dissosciatives act as a wall between the conscious mind and various other areas of your brain. Salvia is an etheogen. Entheogens are said to ‘create god, or the divine within,’ which is why they have been used greatly by shamans of indigenous peoples, particularly the Mazatecs. When used religiously and ritualistically, shamans are said to be able to predict cures for illness and ailment, as well as reach elevated levels of awareness.
The complete history of the use of Salvia is unclear, but it has probably been used for hundreds of years. It was introduced to the western world in the 1960’s, along with other new and exciting drugs that were under ‘strict’ study. Salvia did not become ‘common place’ until the 90’s, when Daniel Sieburt began his research on the plant. For this reason, Salvia has not been illegal until very recent times. For instance, it did not become illegal in Florida until 2008 under the hallucinogenic herb law, which places it in the same box as lsd and marijuana. Possession is punishable up to five years, whereas before 2008, Salvia was easily obtainable (legally) at head shops near and far. It is still widely available over the world wide web.
Whether or not science can prove that a shaman is experiencing the supernatural world or gaining special magic powers is something that is obviously impossible. To some it may be hard to prove that any effects occur at all, as this black dust affects each person differently. However, the plants chemical properties are undeniable and can easily be explained. Personally, I believe the mind is more powerful than any drug and if you focus hard enough, anything is possible. I base this on plenty of experimentation, setting, failed Vipassana meditation retreats, jogging, yoga, motorcycles, and beer.
Sources – wikipedia, personal accounts, & salvia.net
