Ralph Metzner war ein Psychologe und Forscher, dessen lebenslanges Interesse sich auf die vielfältigen Bereiche des Bewusstseins und dessen Modifikationen konzentrierte. Seine Arbeit befasst sich mit tiefgreifenden Fragen der menschlichen Psyche und erforscht die Möglichkeiten erweiterter Wahrnehmung. Metzner beschäftigte sich mit psychedelischer Forschung und Psychotherapie und hinterließ einen Einfluss in der akademischen Welt und im breiteren Verständnis des Bewusstseins.
Ein germanischer Mythos berichtet, daß der wandernde Wahrheitssucher Odin am Fuß des Weltenbaumes aus dem Brunnen der Erinnerung trinkt, der ihm das Wissen über seine Vorfahren verleiht... Dieses Buch beschäftigt sich mit den Mythen der vorchristlichen germanischen Stämme, dem Wissen unserer Ahnen. Unsere germanischen Vorfahren, die Animisten und Schamanen waren, fühlten sich auf symbiotische Weise mit der Natur verbunden, und ihre Mythen sind Ausdruck dieser engen Verbundenheit mit der Natur. Für uns, die wir den Folgen einer gnadenlosen Ausbeutung und Mißachtung der Natur ins Auge sehen müssen, könne dies Mythen Wegweiser aus der Krise sein, die uns gegenwärtig bedroht.
Alchemistische Transformation des Individuums und der Gesellschaft
Essay I: LSD und die Suche nach dem Stein der Weisen Dieser Essay wurde als eine Festrede zum hundertsten Geburtstag von Albert Hofmann gehalten. Der Entdecker des LSD, so zeigt der Autor in einer faszinierenden historischen Rückschau von den ersten Hochkulturen bis zur Neuzeit, gehört in die grosse Tradition der alchemistischen Naturforscher, die auf der Suche nach dem Stein der Weisen eine ganzheitliche Vereinigung spiritueller und materieller Wahrheit anstrebten. Essay II: Erweiterungen des kollektiven Bewusstseins Die Einführung psychedelischer Substanzen in der weltlichen Kultur Mitte des vergangenen Jahrhunderts stellt einen tiefgreifenden Umbruch in der kollektiven Psyche der Menschheit dar. Die sozio-kulturellen Wandlungen, die daraus hervorgingen, können als Antwort der kollektiven Psyche auf die beispiellosen Bedrohungen der modernen Zivilisation gesehen werden: Nuklearkrieg, Umweltzerstörung und rasendes Bevölkerungswachstum.
Exploring the concept of entheogenesis, the author posits that humans are complex beings encompassing spiritual, cosmic, and physical dimensions. Drawing on five decades of engagement with entheogenic substances, the work highlights their potential for spiritual awakening, healing, and creativity. The text emphasizes the inherent connection between Spirit and all forms of existence, advocating for a thoughtful evaluation of these substances in addressing contemporary life challenges rather than promoting specific methods or treatments.
Transformational experiences are as unique as they are profound, yet each portrays universal truths of human nature. In The Unfolding Self: Varieties of Transformative Experience, Ralph Metzner, PhD, unveils common dynamics and archetypes of the transformative experience, offering seekers and those in the throes of personal or societal transformation a reliable guide. Drawing from multiple disciplines ranging across the world's cultures (beginning with his collaborations with Dr. Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert at Harvard University in the early 1960s), Dr. Metzner explores subtle concepts using a tapestry of myth, allegory, and historical context. The Unfolding Self promises to provide its reader with valuable tools to become wise, impartial judges in their process of transformation into becoming a more integrated and fulfilled person. Readers who immerse themselves in these masterful descriptions can catalyze their own process of evolution. No comparable psychology of spirituality exists that draws from such a rich lifework of scholarship, experiment, and spiritual practice. Drawing from multiple disciplines and ranging across the world's cultures, Dr. Metzner goes beyond his roots in transpersonal psychology to uncover universal structures of spiritual transformation. Readers who immerse themselves in these masterful descriptions can catalyze their own process of evolution.
A compilation of writings on the chemical, biological, psychological & experiential dimensions of Ayahuasca. Includes 24 1sthand accounts of Ayahuasca experiences & resulting life changes, including contributions from J.C. Callaway, Charles S. Grob & Dennis J. McKenna. Discusses the medical & psychological applications of Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic Amazonian plant mixture that has been used for 100s, perhaps 1000s, of years by native Indian & mestizo shamans in Peru, Colombia & Ecuador for healing & divination. Many Western-trained physicians & psychologists have acknowledged that this substance can allow access to spiritual dimensions of consciousness, even mystical experiences indistinguishable from classic religious mysticism. In Sacred Vine of Spirits: Ayahuasca Ralph Metzner, a pioneer in the study of consciousness, has assembled a group of authoritative contributors who provide an exploration of the chemical, biological, psychological & experiential dimensions of ayahuasca. He has more than 20 1sthand accounts from Westerners who have used ayahuasca & also presents the history, psychology & chemistry of ayahuasca from leading scholars in the field of psychoactive research. He concludes with his own findings on ayahuasca, including its applications in medicine & psychology, comparing the worldview revealed by ayahuasca visions to that of Western cultures.
Over 30 contributors share their expertise on the chemical, biological, cultural, psychological & experiential dimensions of psilocybin mushrooms. Teonanácatl was the name given to the visionary mushrooms used in ancient Mesoamerican shamanic ceremonies, mushrooms that contain psilocybin, the psychoactive agent identified by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, the discoverer of LSD. The rediscovery of these visionary mushrooms thru the Mazatec healer Maria Sabina by mycologist R. Gordon Wasson ignited a worldwide mushroom culture that inspired the consciousness revolution of the 60s. This book describes the consciousness-expanding experiences of psychoactive mushroom users--from artists to psychologists--& the healing visionary inspiration received. It provides 1sthand accounts of studies performed in the Harvard Psilocybin Project, including the Concord Prison study & the Good Friday study. It describes how the use of the psilocybe mushroom spread from the mountains of Mexico into the USA, Asia & Europe by seekers of consciousness-expansion. It also details how psilocybin has been used since the 60s in psychotherapy, prisoner rehabilitation, the enhancement of creativity & the induction of mystical experiences & is being studied as a treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder.
Exploring themes of consciousness and spiritual growth, this collection of poems spans 30 years of the author's travels in America and Europe. The work reflects teachings on meditation, psychedelics, and shamanism, and includes pieces recorded on a spoken voice CD, enhanced by music. Notably, "The Song of the Pearl" adapts a 5th-century Gnostic hymn, illustrating the soul's journey from incarnation to its ultimate return to the origin, offering profound insights into the nature of existence and transcendence.
A Field Report of Underground Research on a Visionary Medicine Bufo alvarius and 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine
90 Seiten
4 Lesestunden
Drawing on over 30 years of firsthand observations, the author explores the underground use of psychedelic and entheogenic substances among various user groups in the US and Europe. The ethnographic field reports reveal insights from participant-observers, emphasizing that the impact of these substances extends beyond mere physical and psychological effects. Many experiences delve into profound cosmic and spiritual dimensions, highlighting the complexities of human existence and the cultural context surrounding these explorations.
