Ayahuasca??? Gadsunheit!!

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Tue May 11, 2004 6:37 pm

I am planning on having an Ayhuasca experience at Burning Man, but, never having had one before, I'm a little tentative about doing it in that setting. I'm sure there are others in Black Rock City that are of an occasionally serious nature who might be interested in doing this, too.

Also, in the midst of all the 'craziness', can a serious ceremony of this type be held? Will it be invaded by aliens? Will it be appropriate? Will it be attended?

Who's interested? I want some thoughts, here.

Sam

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue May 11, 2004 8:33 pm

I wanted to do ayahuasca out there back in '99. That was the Year of the Snake for me and I wanted to incorporate it in my experience. I talked with someone who'd actually gone to the Amazon and took it under aegis of a shaman; he was also a multi-year Burner, and rather of the opinion that the ayahuasca experience wouldn't be appropriate and possibly dangerous out there.

So I said, "Alright, I bow to your superior experience" and didn't.

I should note that he was somewhat paranoid of it getting listed. This back in the Clinton Administration, pre-Mullah Ashcroft. If it was likely then, it's all but definite now.

Couple years later...

I took salvia out there and it <i>definitely</i> didn't work. Then again I took it right in the middle of camp and as you know, the salvia experience is quite delicate. You baseline if you but open your eyes or some friendly chucklehead walks up and says "Hello!" to you. I haven't reverenced ayahuasca yet so I don't speak from experience, but if it's anything like salvia it'd probably turn into a big fiasco.

That having been said...

If you go out by the trash fence at some low-activity level part of the day, like noon or dawn, <i>mmmmmaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyybeeeee</i> it might work for you. I thought of doing that with salvia since I knew a couple people who made it work out there, but I haven't yet. But I'm also of the opinion that you shouldn't psychonaut without a sober groundcrew and out in the elements, and definitely don't do ayahuasca solo. All we need is for someone to take it out in the Playa sticks, die or go crazy, and it comes to light that they took (salvia/ayahuasca/whatever) — and here comes Mullah Ashcroft and company.

Consider doing lotus. It's a fine teacher plant, it's easy to take, it's gentle on the system, it's 100% legal and it's a great Playa entheogen.

sparkletarte · Post by **sparkletarte** » Tue May 11, 2004 9:21 pm

You may want to check out this site: http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/psychoactives.shtml for suggestions of use in a party scenario.
The http://www.lycaeum.org/website has a trip reports section that may give you an idea of whether it would be a good setting or not.

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Tue May 11, 2004 9:32 pm

A "party" scenario is definately OUT! I've read quite a bit of the literature and understand that it is not a "Gee-I-Feel-Great!" experience... it's more of a "What-The-Fuck" in the beginning, building, over time, to "Ahh-I-Get-It" type o' thing.

Thanks for the tips. I may or may not plan on it, but it will have to be a group thing with babysitters. There's that old saying in flying circles: "There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots" I think it applies here, too. I'm just going to feel it out for a bit before I decide. Thanks again.

And I'm still looking for more input.

Sam

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue May 11, 2004 9:34 pm

Is it "un-burny" of me to wonder why so many people think the whole idea of Bman is to go out to the desert and do drugs? Especially ones they don't otherwise do?

Where are you, Bob, I'd really like to hear your take on this...

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue May 11, 2004 9:56 pm

I think only the yahoos and other "just don't get its" think Burning Man is a place to go and take drugs.

But I think in this case, the aphorism "take drugs" doesn't apply. What is being sought out here, at least that I'm perceiving, is the ritual experience. Entirely different animal from "just taking drugs," mostly as a matter of perception.

Some people view the Playa, Burning Man and Black Rock City as a place to expand their horizons, try something they haven't done before, check out a new experience. This denotes the attitude of BRC as a sacred space. The Playa definitely is, and even the most cynical leave-no-tracer will back that up. So, we do sacred things in sacred places. Sure, you can have a ritual experience without the entheogenic element, but it's just as valid as going to the Temple Burn and crying your eyes out, or getting whipped by a dom in devil horns. Ayahuasca, salvia, lotus and all the rest are valid tools, also.

Rob the Wop · Post by **Rob the Wop** » Tue May 11, 2004 10:01 pm

I was kinda planning on smoking a shitload of crack for my ritual experience, but I haven't figured out a ritual that fits yet.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Tue May 11, 2004 10:28 pm

If you wish to experience a psychotropic induced meditation that shields you from a multi-social event such as Burning Man then you should do it the week after BM.

But if I may ask why would you try to even want to try some experience that is the antithesis of a group experience at BM?

if you get the urge to do during BM, i would escape BM and head out to the North Eastern section of the Black Rock desert to find the seclusion you desire, but beware the souls of dead pioneers lurk there and you too may never return!!!

Boo!

Only Kidding, but be survival equiped!

A II Z

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Wed May 12, 2004 5:02 am

Ohh, it appears that the Ayahuasca experience is percieved differently by different people.

I see it as a group experience that lifts something from the group and then brings something back. It is used as an element of healing, which is what Burning Man is all about, isn't it? The cathartic release of whatever demons have been built up in post industrial man by living in this age of ultra rationalism? It seems to me, although, again, I haven't experienced it yet, that Ayahuasca would bring to Burning Man the healing that is already being sought by many.

I may head into the mountains to commune with the spirits, but not with any hallucinogen flowing through my synapses. I'm not seventeen anymore, sooooo... I'm not as indestructible as I used to be. But the opportunity to commune with dead is not as unique as it might at first appear. After all, I work in a large corporation and I feel that I get to commune with lost, wandering, souls every day.

Sam

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Wed May 12, 2004 10:23 am

Beware the fundies, they're everywhere. Beware your expectations, they will be foiled.

Bac·cha·na·lia (b k -n l y , -n l - )
n. pl. Bacchanalia
1. The ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus.
2. bacchanalia A riotous, boisterous, or drunken festivity; a revel.

[Latin Bacch n lia, from Bacchus, Bacchus, from Greek Bakkhos.]

Bac cha·na lian or bac cha·na lian adj. & n.
bacchanalia
Bacchanalia.]
Bacchanalia \Bac`cha*na"li*a\, n. pl. [L. Bacchanal a place devoted to Bacchus; in the pl. Bacchanalia a feast of Bacchus, fr. Bacchus the god of wine, Gr. ?] 1. (Myth.) A feast or an orgy in honor of Bacchus.

2. Hence: A drunken feast; drunken reveler.
Bacchanalia.]
Bacchanalia n 1: an orgiastic festival in ancient Greece in honor of Dionysus (= Bacchus) [syn: Dionysia, Bacchanalia] 2: a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity [syn:orgy, debauch, debauchery, saturnalia, riot, bacchanal,

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Thu May 13, 2004 2:46 pm

I'm avoiding expectations (been down that 'oops' road before) but I am curious about the curiosity of others. Has anyone else thought about this?

I DO NOT see yage as a party vehicle... but I do see it as an exploritory vehicle; just as viable, and legitimate, as art, music, and meditation. It ain't crack or crank, or even margaritas... it is a way of communing with your own, and other creature's, DNA, or so the literature would lead one to believe.

So... who thinks what? To Yage, or not to Yage?

Sam

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Fri May 14, 2004 1:44 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:Is it "un-burny" of me to wonder why so many people think the whole idea of Bman is to go out to the desert and do drugs? Especially ones they don't otherwise do?

But, since Margarita's are a year 'round event... they're okay? Cool...

Sam

diode · Post by **diode** » Fri May 14, 2004 3:21 pm

I have good friends who have done ayahuasca. It's a very challenging experience under the best of experiences. Given the considerable stresses of BM, I would advise against trying this out there.

Perhaps the best place to be is somewhere you can gets lots of rest afterwards to recuperate with little or no responsibilities, noise or disturbances.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Fri May 14, 2004 3:24 pm

samtzu wrote:But, since Margarita's are a year 'round event... they're okay? Cool...

Sam

Sorry if I wasn't clear... yes, I admit alcohol is right in there with other "substances"... best used in moderation by people who have experience with it and "know their limits". I also don't condone people who don't otherwise drink to come to BM and get "plastered". I'm saying don't come to BRC to try new drugs, come for BRC.

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Sat May 15, 2004 7:55 am

I agree, Capt. I have listened to what others have to say and I am of the opinion that Yage on the Playa may not be the best idea I've come up with in a while.

Thanks to all who added their input. I doubt that I will be trying it this year...

Ahhh, but next year?

THE BANISTERIOPSIS BURNER!

or not... we'll see.

Sam

Ayahuasca??? Gadsunheit!!

Ayahuasca??? Gadsunheit!!

achoo!