Albert Hofmann was a Swiss scientist, primarily known for his pioneering work in synthesizing lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and documenting its profound psychedelic effects. His research extended to the isolation and synthesis of key compounds found in psychedelic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin. Hofmann's scientific endeavors delved into the intricate chemistry of plant and fungal psychoactive substances, exploring their molecular structures and potential applications. His extensive body of work offers deep insights into the complex interplay between chemical compounds and human consciousness.
Focusing on the historical and scientific significance of ergot alkaloids, this work offers an in-depth exploration of the botany, cultivation, and pharmacological potential of the ergot mushroom and other magical plants. Albert Hofmann chronicles the evolution of their use, from early medical applications to modern psychotherapy, detailing the synthesis of key compounds like ergotamine. The book also highlights indigenous practices surrounding psychotropic plants and introduces various classifications of hallucinogens, enriching the understanding of their ceremonial and therapeutic roles.
Welches ist die wahre Wirklichkeit? – Das nüchterne Weltbild des Naturwissenschaftlers oder das rauschhafte des Mystikers? Eigene spontane und drogeninduzierte mystische Erlebnisse drängten den Autor, den Entdecker des LSD, Albert Hofmann, dieser Frage nachzugehen. Er gelangte dabei zu Einsichten in das Wesen der Wirklichkeit, die dieses zentrale Problem der Philosophie in neuer Weise anschaulich machen.Laut Albert Hofmann ist dieses Buch der Kern seiner Weltanschauung.
Welches ist die wahre Wirklichkeit? - Das nüchterne Weltbild des Naturwissenschaftlers oder das rauschhafte des Mystikers? Eigene spontane und drogeninduzierte mystische Erlebnisse drängten den Autor, den Entdecker des LSD, Albert Hofmann, dieser Frage nachzugehen. Er gelangte dabei zu Einsichten in das Wesen der Wirklichkeit, die dieses zentrale Problem der Philosophie in neuer Weise anschaulich machen.
Psychoactive Sacramentals and Human Transformation
320 pages
12 hours of reading
Reveals entheogens as catalysts for spiritual development and direct encounters with the sacred• With contributions by Albert Hofmann, Huston Smith, Stanislav Grof, Charles Tart, Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin, Frances Vaughan, and many others• Includes personal accounts of Walter Pahnke’s Good Friday Experiment as well as a 25-year follow-up with its participants• Explores protocols for ceremonial use of psychedelics and the challenges of transforming entheogenic insights into enduring changeModern organized religion is based predominantly on secondary religious experience--we read about others’ extraordinary direct spiritual encounters in the distant past and have faith that God is out there. Yet what if powerful sacraments existed to help us directly experience the sacred? What if there were ways to seek out the meaning of being human and our place in the universe, to see the sacred in the world that surrounds us?In this book, more than 25 spiritual leaders, scientists, and psychedelic visionaries examine how we can return to the primary spiritual encounters at the basis of all religions through the guided use of entheogens. With contributions by Albert Hofmann, Huston Smith, Stanislav Grof, Charles Tart, Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin, Frances Vaughan, Myron Stolaroff, and many others, this book explores protocols for ceremonial use of psychedelics, the challenges of transforming entheogenic insights into enduring change, psychoactive sacraments in the Bible, myths surrounding the use of LSD, and the transformative ayahuasca rituals of Santo Daime. It also includes personal accounts of Walter Pahnke’s Good Friday Experiment as well as a 25-year follow-up with its participants. Dispelling fears of inauthentic spirituality, addiction, and ill-prepared encounters with the holy, this book reveals the potential of entheogens as catalysts for spiritual development, a path through which faith can directly encounter God’s power, and the beginning of a new religious era based on personal spiritual experience.
The secretive Mysteries conducted at Eleusis in Greece for nearly two millennia have long puzzled scholars with strange accounts of initiates experiencing otherworldly journeys. In this groundbreaking work, three experts—a mycologist, a chemist and a historian—argue persuasively that the sacred potion given to participants in the course of the ritual contained a psychoactive entheogen. The authors then expand the discussion to show that natural psychedelic agents have been used in spiritual rituals across history and cultures. Although controversial when first published in 1978, the book’s hypothesis has become more widely accepted in recent years, as knowledge of ethnobotany has deepened. The authors have played critical roles in the modern rediscovery of entheogens, and The Road to Eleusis presents an authoritative exposition of their views. The book’s themes of the universality of experiential religion, the suppression of that knowledge by exploitative forces, and the use of psychedelics to reconcile the human and natural worlds make it a fascinating and timely read. This 30th anniversary edition includes an appreciative preface by religious scholar Huston Smith and an updated exploration of the chemical evidence by Peter Webster.
This comprehensive guide covers the botany, history, distribution, and cultivation of 414 psychoactive plants and related substances. It explores how culturally sanctioned use of these plants can provide insights into the nature of reality and includes 797 color photographs along with 645 black-and-white illustrations. Throughout history, plants have been valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties, with the most powerful ones often regarded as sacred. The author details the botany, history, and preparation of over 400 psychoactive plants, discussing their ritual and medicinal uses, as well as cultural artifacts and art inspired by them. The text begins with 168 well-known psychoactives, such as cannabis and datura, and expands to include 133 lesser-known substances, “legal highs,” and plants from mythological contexts. Additionally, it covers products like ayahuasca, incense, and soma. Lavishly illustrated with images from the author’s global fieldwork, the book showcases the people, ceremonies, and art associated with the ritual use of these sacred psychoactives.
