Nederlands, one of the most liberal countries when it comes to drug laws is tightening the noose on the sale of Magic Mushrooms starting 1st of December 2008. According to a study published in January by Amsterdam’s health services, the city’s emergency services were summoned 148 times to deal with a bad reaction to mushrooms in 2004-2006 of those 134 were foreigners, with Britons forming the largest group. 92% of the incidents related to Magic Mushrooms were due to Foreign Tourists.

The death of a 17 year old French girl who jumped from a bridge in Amsterdam in March of this year after consuming mushrooms, brought the drug to the attention of the parliament. The incident led to a motion approved by a parliament majority to prohibit fresh mushrooms. The fractions of CDA, VVD, CU and PVV repeated that point of view after it was made public that a French tourist in Amsterdam had killed his dog "under the influence of mushrooms". Later an investigation by a GGD psychiatrist revealed that his act had probably nothing to to do with the use of mushrooms, like in case of the 17 year old French girl who is said to have had a history of psychological issues !

The proposed ban comes as a nasty shock to the smart shop owners who market these shrooms and are said to sell about 500,000 dozes in the Netherlands annually. They remain opposed to the ban as do most people who know prohibition of any drug is never a good idea instead organizing drug awareness campaigns and ensuring an age limit on the buyer, also limiting the smart shops that market these substances should keep things in perspective and less chaotic. Another health report published in January 2007 said that while alcohol consumption led to 2,050 incidents in 2005, magic mushrooms had caused only 70.

Marjan Heuving, a spokeswoman for the country’s Trimbos Institute, a drug policy think-tank, said mushrooms are not toxic and themselves pose no physical risk to users.

But she agreed that people’s reaction to them is unpredictable, depending on factors such as weight; how much food they have eaten recently; their past drug experience; psychological health; and the setting in which they are taken.

“The main danger to the user is that he will somehow hurt himself,” she said. “I should add that that’s extremely rare.”

The Shamans or Medicine Men of the Ecuadorian rain forests know a world where everything is conscious and spirituality takes a whole new meaning altogether when the Shaman embarks on his Vision Quest into the spirit world. The psychedelic experience produced by the ritualistic use of hallucinogenic plants threatens to awaken the masses from their materialistic fervor and change their world view which goes against the Globalization motto of the western world. Hence, DMT the active ingredient of the Ayahuasca brew used by natives of the Amazon forest for thousands of years is labeled an illegal substance under the Schedule 1 category.


Shamans of the Amazon

'Shamans of the Amazon' is by far the best film yet made on Ayahuasca and Amazonian Shamanism. - Ralph Metzner PhD California Institute of Integral Studies. An informative and compelling exploration of Shamanic use of Ayahuasca the extraordinary visionary brew. - Rick Strassman MD author DMT: The Spirit Molecule.

"Human Future will be designed on how conscious we will be able to make ourselves and if there are plants that can accelerate consciousness then we must seek out and utilize these things. Something could jump out of some unexpected dimension and change everything."

- Terrence McKenna.



In a time when indigenous people their culture and the natural environment are experiencing dramatic changes this in-depth series of programs examine what these SHAMANS OF THE AMAZON their hallucinogenic rituals and their special relationship with nature have to offer humanity at this crucial time in history.

Discover how westerners around the world are using Ayahuasca and other Shamanic plants to receive knowledge to understand their relationship with nature and to seek visions of how best to deal with deep personal spiritual and environmental questions. In a \"say no to drugs\" era there is a new subculture emerging based on an ancient ritual of hallucinogenic plant use.

Here are some classic documentaries on Amazonian Shamanism :

Jan Kounen's Other Worlds : Ayahuasca Documentary

Other Worlds, Directed by Jan Kounen as a companion piece of sorts to his 2004 'cowboy-shaman film' Blueberry (also titled Renegade), the film has real impact because it not only shows the journey into shamanism, but uses plenty of CGI to try and show what the visionary shamanic experience is like (as opposed to many documentaries which simply show the experiencer puking).

Another excellent aspect of Other Worlds is that many experts , researchers and commentators are interviewed. Included in the documentary are DMT researcher Rick Strassman, psychedelics researcher Charles Grob, and numerous others including Stan Grof, Jeremy Narby, Alex Grey and Pablo Amaringo. For anyone interested in these topics, this is a must watch (although be advised, there are some disturbing scenes for the faint-hearted, such as the killing of a pig, as well as plenty of puking).


Jungle Trip - Ayahuasca



Related Articles :

• Sound, Synchronicities And Shamanism
• Esoteric Wisdom : The Pineal Gland And Shamanism
• Psychonauts : Entheogenic Explorers Of The Psyche Or Soul
• Kymatica The Film : Sequel To Esoteric Agenda
• Peyote To LSD : A Psychedelic Odyssey
• Terence Kemp McKenna : Ethnobotanist, Psychonaut ... Writer !

HAHAHAHAHA ! Barnyard is a rip roaring animated movie on some farm/party animals who live a full on parallel reality once the farmer isn't around. It's a story of a young cow Otis (Kevin James), who is all fun and no responsibility ! His Father Ben (Sam Elliot's), is a kind of a leader who takes care of the farm animals keeping them safe from a prowling pack of wolves who have developed a taste for the Farm Chickens ! Ben is a bit concerned with Otis's attitude towards life however, Otis carries on with his adventures in the wild until one day the wolves attack and Ben succumbs to his injuries after fighting the wolves valiantly and chasing them away !

The movie is loaded with Fun and important lessons to learn in life everyone can relate to ! A must see on a bright Sunday morning !

Kevin James ... Otis the Cow (voice)
Courteney Cox ... Daisy the Cow (voice)

Sam Elliott ... Ben the Cow (voice)
Danny Glover ... Miles the Mule (voice)

Wanda Sykes ... Bessy the Cow (voice)
Andie MacDowell ... Etta the Hen (voice)

David Koechner ... Dag the Coyote (voice)
Jeffrey Garcia ... Pip the Mouse (voice) (as Jeff Garcia)
Cam Clarke ... Freddy the Ferret (voice)
Rob Paulsen ... Peck the Rooster / Gopher (voice)
Tino Insana ... Pig the Pig (voice)
Dom Irrera ... Duke the Dog (voice)
S. Scott Bullock ... Eddy the Cow (voice) (as Scott Bullock)
John Di Maggio ... Bud the Cow / Officer O'Hanlon (voice) (as John DiMaggio)

Maurice LaMarche ... Igg the Cow (voice)

We have an ego based personality and we have our soul which resides deep within, which is pure energy, some call it the higher self. As we progress on the path of awakening, we overcome the ego and let the soul within guide us through difficult times. A place of Love is where the soul dwells and it knows no fear. The ego brings to the human experience, pain and suffering of a splintered personality that needs healing. We can choose not to live unconsciously letting our egos come in the way of evolution of consciousness which is why we are all here !

Dr.Wayne W. Dyer suggests seven ways to transcend the ingrained ideas of an all important ego self ....



1. Stop being offended.

The behavior of others isn’t a reason to be immobilized. That which offends you only weakens you. If you’re looking for occasions to be offended, you’ll find them at every turn. This is your ego at work convincing you that the world shouldn't be the way it is. But you can become an appreciator of life and match up with the universal Spirit of Creation. You can’t reach the power of intention by being offended. By all means, act to eradicate the horrors of the world, which emanate from massive ego identification, but stay in peace. As A Course in Miracles reminds us: Peace is of God, you who are part of God are not at home except in his peace. Being is of God, you who are part of God are not at home except in his peace. Being offended creates the same destructive energy that offended you in the first place and leads to attack, counterattack, and war.

2. Let go of your need to win.

Ego loves to divide us up into winners and losers. The pursuit of winning is a surefire means to avoid conscious contact with intention. Why? Because ultimately, winning is impossible all of the time. Someone out there will be faster, luckier, younger, stronger, and smarter-and back you’ll go to feeling worthless and insignificant.

You’re not your winnings or your victories. You may enjoy competing, and have fun in a world where winning is everything, but you don’t have to be there in your thoughts. There are no losers in a world where we all share the same energy source. All you can say on a given day is that you performed at a certain level in comparison to the levels of others on that day. But today is another day, with other competitors and new circumstances to consider. You’re still the infinite presence in a body that’s another day (or decade) older. Let go of needing to win by not agreeing that the opposite of winning is losing. That’s ego’s fear. If your body isn’t performing in a winning fashion on this day, it simply doesn’t matter when you aren’t identifying exclusively with your ego. Be the observer, noticing and enjoying it all without needing to win a trophy. Be at peace, and match up with the energy of intention. And ironically, although you’ll hardly notice it, more of those victories will show up in your life as you pursue them less.

3. Let go of your need to be right.

Ego is the source of a lot of conflict and dissension because it pushes you in the direction of making other people wrong. When you’re hostile, you’ve disconnected from the power of intention. The creative Spirit is kind, loving, and receptive; and free of anger, resentment, or bitterness. Letting go of your need to be right in your discussions and relationships is like saying to ego, I’m not a slave to you. I want to embrace kindness, and I reject your need to be right. In fact, I’m going to offer this person a chance to feel better by saying that she’s right, and thank her for pointing me in the direction of truth.

When you let go of the need to be right, you’re able to strengthen your connection to the power of intention. But keep in mind that ego is a determined combatant. I’ve seen people end otherwise beautiful relationships by sticking to their need to be right. I urge you to let go of this ego-driven need to be right by stopping yourself in the middle of an argument and asking yourself, Do I want to be right or be happy? When you choose the happy, loving, spiritual mood, your connection to intention is strengthened. These moments ultimately expand your new connection to the power of intention. The universal Source will begin to collaborate with you in creating the life you were intended to live.

4. Let go of your need to be superior.

True nobility isn’t about being better than someone else. It’s about being better than you used to be. Stay focused on your growth, with a constant awareness that no one on this planet is any better than anyone else. We all emanate from the same creative life force. We all have a mission to realize our intended essence; all that we need to fulfill our destiny is available to us. None of this is possible when you see yourself as superior to others. It’s an old saw, but nonetheless true: we are all equal in the eyes of God. Let go of your need to feel superior by seeing the unfolding of God in everyone. Don’t assess others on the basis of their appearance, achievements, possessions, and other indices of ego. When you project feelings of superiority that’s what you get back, leading to resentments and ultimately hostile feelings. These feelings become the vehicle that takes you farther away from intention. A Course in Miracles addresses this need to be special and superior: Special ness always makes comparisons. It is established by a lack seen in another, and maintained by searching for, and keeping clear in sight, all lacks it can perceive.

5. Let go of your need to have more.

The mantra of ego is more. It’s never satisfied. No matter how much you achieve or acquire, your ego will insist that it isn’t enough. You’ll find yourself in a perpetual state of striving, and eliminate the possibility of ever arriving. Yet in reality you’ve already arrived, and how you choose to use this present moment of your life is your choice. Ironically, when you stop needing more, more of what you desire seems to arrive in your life. Since you’re detached from the need for it, you find it easier to pass it along to others, because you realize how little you need in order to be satisfied and at peace.

The universal Source is content with itself, constantly expanding and creating new life, never trying to hold on to its creations for its own selfish means. It creates and lets go. As you let go of ego’s need to have more, you unify with that Source. You create, attract to yourself, and let it go, never demanding that more come your way. As an appreciator of all that shows up, you learn the powerful lesson St.Francis of Assisi taught:”…it is in giving that we receive.” By allowing abundance to flow to and through you, you match up with your Source and guarantee that this energy will continue to flow.

6. Let go of identifying yourself on the basis of your achievements.

This may be a difficult concept if you think you are your achievements. God writes all the music, God sings all the songs, God builds all the buildings, God is the source of all your achievements. I can hear your ego loudly protesting. Nevertheless, stay tuned to this idea. All emanates from Source! You and that Source are one! You’re not this body and its accomplishments. You are the observer. Notice it all; and be grateful for the abilities you’ve accumulated. But give all the credit to the power of intention, which brought you into existence and which you’re a materialized part of. The less you need to take credit for your achievements and the more connected you stay to the seven faces of intention, the more you’re free to achieve, and the more will show up for you. It’s when you attach yourself to those achievements and believe that you alone are doing all of those things that you leave the peace and the gratitude of your Source.

7. Let go of your reputation.

Your reputation is not located in you. It resides in the minds of others. Therefore, you have no control over it at all. If you speak to 30 people, you will have 30 reputations. Connecting to intention means listening to your heart and conducting yourself based on what your inner voice tells you is your purpose here. If you’re overly concerned with how you’re going to be perceived by everyone, then you’ve disconnected yourself from intention and allowed the opinions of others to guide you. This is your ego at work. It’s an illusion that stands between you and the power of intention. There’s nothing you can’t do, unless you disconnect from the power source and become convinced that your purpose is to prove to others how masterful and superior you are and spend your energy attempting to win a giant reputation among other egos. Do what you do because your inner voice always connected to and grateful to your Source-so directs you. Stay on purpose, detach from outcome, and take responsibility for what does reside in you: your character. Leave your reputation for others to debate; it has nothing to do with you. Or as a book title says: What You Think of Me Is None of My Business!