Terrence McKenna

Terrence McKenna was an ethnobotanist and author who spoke and wrote about the use of psychedelic plants and drugs as a way to explore alternate dimensions, or “Hyper-Realities.” His lectures, interviews, and books are still read and listened to today by people interested in psychoactive substances like LSD, mushrooms, ayahuasca, and DMT. Read on to learn more about Terrence McKenna and his ideas about psychedelics.

Who was Terrence McKenna?

Terrence McKenna was born in 1946 in Colorado. He spent his early childhood growing up in the West, where he developed an interest in Native American culture and shamanism. When he was 22, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he focused on ethnobotany (the study of plants used for cultural or medicinal purposes) and ecological issues. In the mid-1970s, McKenna began giving lectures on ecology, psychedelic drugs, and culture. This gained him a following among young people who were interested in psychedelics and shamanism. He also wrote several books on these topics, including Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge (1992), The Illusion of Consciousness (1998), and many others. McKenna died in 2000 of a rare form of brain cancer. Despite his short life, he left a lasting mark on the world of psychedelics.

Overview of McKenna’s ideas

McKenna’s ideas about psychedelics are based on the idea that plants produced psychedelic compounds as a way to defend themselves from being eaten by insects. He suggests that the plants’ “psychedelic trick”—which involves latching onto the human nervous system—is a way to share their experience of being alive. McKenna argues that humans developed an interest in psychedelics because we are biologically wired to be curious about other species. By taking psychedelics, we can experience “the buzzing of the insect world and the whirring of the birds, the click of the crickets, the hiss and roar of the reptiles.” McKenna also argues that psychedelic drugs allow us to tune into alternate dimensions or “Hyper-Realities.” When we take psychedelics, he says, “You plug into an entirely different network. You plug into an entire parallel universe of information.”

Why take psychedelics?

McKenna suggests that when we take psychedelics, we experience something that is not ordinarily available to us—the experience of being an insect. This is something we might be curious about, but would otherwise never get to experience. He claims that psychedelics help us to see our own humanity more clearly because by experiencing the world as a bug or a bird, we can see that “we are everything, we are all connected.” He argues that psychedelics give us a new way to look at the world—one in which “there is no inside and outside, no you and no me, no subject and no object.”

The risk of taking psychedelics

A common misconception about psychedelic drugs is that they are risk-free. As with anything, there are potential dangers and side effects. A risk of taking psychedelics is that you may experience something you aren’t expecting or that you can’t control. McKenna suggests that the only way to avoid having a bad experience while taking psychedelics is to know your “own backyard.” This means taking the time to explore your own mind before you try something new, so you are more prepared for what happens once you are under the influence.

How to have a safe and effective psychedelic experience

While there is no way to guarantee a safe and effective psychedelic experience, there are ways to prepare for one and reduce the risk of a bad trip. McKenna suggests that the best way to prepare for a psychedelic experience is to explore your own mind beforehand. This way, you will already know what you are likely to encounter. Also, be sure to have a “guide” or “sitter”—someone who is sober and prepared to help you in case you find yourself in a challenging situation. When you take psychedelics, you want to be somewhere comfortable where you won’t be disturbed. It also helps to be with people you trust. McKenna suggests that one of the best ways to take psychedelics is to do “set and setting”—where you set an intention for what you want to get out of a trip, and also set the environment where you’re taking it.

Where to find psychedelics and how to know if they’re real

Many people who are interested in psychedelics want to know where to find them. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as walking into a store and buying them. McKenna suggests that the best place to find psychedelics is where they’re naturally growing. He also says that it’s important to know if they’re real. This means knowing how the psychedelic you’re using was grown and processed, so you can be sure you’re getting the real thing.

Conclusion

Psychedelics have existed across cultures and throughout history. Today, people are once again interested in these mind-altering substances. McKenna’s ideas about psychedelics remain relevant today. As research into these substances continues, it is important to remember that psychedelics have the potential to be dangerous. In order to have a safe and effective experience, it is important to know as much as possible about the substances you’re considering taking and how to prepare for a psychedelic experience.