Page 12 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - March 2012

The Man Behind the Dec 21 2012 Scare The Man Behind the December 21 2012 Scare Continued from Page 11 Some of Terence McKenna’s Ideas Terence McKenna advocated the exploration of altered states of mind via the ingestion of naturally occurring psychedelic substances. For example, and in particular, as facilitated by the ingestion of high doses of psychedelic mushrooms, and DMT, which he believed was the apotheosis of the psychedelic experience. He spoke of the "jeweled, self- dribbling basketballs" or "self-transforming machine elves" that one encounters in that state. Although he avoided giving his allegiance to any one interpretation (part of his rejection of monotheism), he was open to the idea of psychedelics as being "trans- dimensional travel"; literally, enabling an individual to encounter what could be ancestors, or spirits of earth. He remained opposed to most forms of organized religion or guru-based forms of spiritual awakening. Either philosophically or religiously, he result in a mixing of genes and therefore greater SCIENTIFIC JOKES expressed admiration for Marshall McLuhan, genetic diversity. Generally McKenna believed Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Gnostic that the periodic ingestion of the mushroom Christianity, Alfred North Whitehead and would have acted to dissolve the ego in humans Q: What did the nuclear scientist have for lunch? Alchemy. McKenna always regarded the Greek before it ever got the chance to grow in A: Fission chips. philosopher Heraclitus as his favorite destructive proportions. In this context, he philosopher. likened the ego to a cancerous tumor that can Never lend a geologist money - they consider a He also expressed admiration for the grow uncontrollable and become destructive to million years to be recent. works of James Joyce (calling Finnegans Wake its host. In his own words: "the quintessential work of art, or at least work “Wherever and whenever the ego Q: What is an astronomical unit? of literature of the 20th century") and Vladimir function began to form, it was akin to a A: One helluva big apartment. Nabokov: McKenna once said that he would cancerous tumor or a blockage in the energy of have become a Nabokov lecturer if he had never the psyche. The use of psychedelic plants in a Have you heard the one about the chemist who encountered psychedelics. context of shamanic initiation dissolved-as it dissolves today-the knotted structure of the ego was reading a book on helium and couldn’t put "Stoned Ape" theory of human into undifferentiated feeling, what Eastern it down? evolution philosophy calls the Tao.” A mushroom walks into a bar and the bartenders The mushroom, according to McKenna, had also given humans their first truly religious says, “Sorry. We don’t serve mushrooms here.” In his book Food of the Gods, McKenna experiences (which, as he believed, were the The mushroom replies, “Why? I’m a proposed that the transformation from humans' basis for the foundation of all subsequent FUN-GI!” early ancestors Homo erectus to the species religions to date). Another factor that McKenna Homo sapiens mainly had to do with the talked about was the mushroom's potency to Two atoms were walking down the street. One addition of the mushroom Psilocybe cubensis in promote linguistic thinking. This would have turns to the other and says, its diet - an event which according to his theory promoted vocalization, which in turn would “Oh, no! I think I’m an ion!” took place in about 100,000 BC (this is when he have acted in cleansing the brain (based on a The other says, Are you sure?” believed that the species diverged from the scientific theory that vibrations from speaking “Yes, I’m positive!” Homo genus). He based his theory on the main cause the precipitation of impurities from the effects, or alleged effects, produced by the brain to the cerebrospinal fluid), which would Q: What’s the most important thing to learn in mushroom. One of the effects that comes about further mutate the brain. All these factors chemistry? from the ingestion of low doses, which agrees according to McKenna were the most important A: Never lick the spoon. with one of scientist Roland Fischer's findings factors that promoted evolution towards the from the late 1960s-early 1970s is it Homo sapiens species. After this transformation A neutron walks into a bar. “I’d like a beer,” he significantly improves the visual acuity of took place, the species would have begun says. The bartender promptly serves up a beer. humans - so theoretically, of other human-like moving out of Africa to populate the rest of the “How much will that be?” asks the neutron. mammals too. According to McKenna, this planet Later on, this theory by McKenna was “For you?” replies the bartender, “No effect would have definitely proven to be of given the name "The 'Stoned Ape' Theory of charge.” evolutionary advantage to humans' omnivorous Human Evolution". [] hunter-gatherer ancestors that would have Q: What did one photon say to the other? stumbled upon it "accidentally"; as it would A: I’m sick and tired of your interference. make it easier for them to hunt. In higher doses, McKenna claims, the The ‘X’ Zone Radio Show FACT*oids: mushroom acts as a sexual stimulator, which Is NOW Available would make it even more beneficial 7 Days a Week / 24 Hours A Day - A Tick can live for 25 years. evolutionarily, as it would result in more - Humans possess over 600 muscles; caterpillars offspring. 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