If you haven’t read the first part of the hypothesis, please do so here.
The prohibition of psychedelics has not only barred individuals and cultures from tapping into an intrinsic ecological consciousness that fosters the adaptation and integration of the human organism into the planetary system but has also left them isolated and separated from the interdependent web of life.
The absence of a chemically-mediated connection to the environment severs ties between the human organism, ecosystems, and the planet as a whole, disrupting a symbiotic relationship with ancient lifeforms that traditionally served as conduits to ecological consciousness, shaping and guiding human cognition and behaviour in ways that are adapted to and integrated with the broader planetary whole.
Historically maintained through the dietary and ritual use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, the contemporary illegality of psychedelics has significantly impeded humanity's capacity to harmoniously exist and coexist with the planet. These organic substances have not only influenced the evolutionary trajectory of humanity but also played a role in early human rituals, potentially conferring selective advantages:
“Psilocybin and similar psychedelics that primarily target the serotonin 2A receptor subtype stimulate an active coping strategy response that may provide an enhanced capacity for adaptive changes through a flexible and associative mode of cognition. Such psychedelics also alter emotional processing, self-regulation, and social behaviour, often having enduring effects on individual and group wellbeing and sociality… incidental inclusion of psychedelics in the diet of hominids, and their eventual addition to rituals and institutions of early humans could have conferred selective advantages.” (Winkelman, 2021).
The repercussions of depriving the human organism of its innate ecological consciousness reverberate across many dimensions of earthly existence. This collective impact is made evident in the rise of damaging materialism and consumerism, the commodification of life, war as a means of problem-solving, and a perilous sense of human superiority over the natural world. Individually, the disconnection manifests in alarming trends such as increased suicide rates, growing prevalence of depression, anxiety and addiction, and a crisis in meaning (Vervaeke, 2021). Simultaneously, the environmental landscape reflects this detachment, marked by indifference and exploitation replacing the once inherent human inclination for stewardship of the natural world. By ravaging the planet, humanity is ravaging itself. The current ecocentrism and anthropocentrism prevalent in contemporary industrial-technological societies signals a species estranged from the ecological intelligence historically imparted by culturally embraced ritualistic use of psychedelics.
The lack of access to ecological consciousness, forged through symbiosis with ancient lifeforms, hinders the human’s ability to adapt and integrate into the planetary system, resulting in a decline in overall planetary health. These unfortunate and recent changes can be attributed, at least in part, to the alienation wrought by the prohibition of psychedelics and the subsequent inability to access a complete consciousness which has access to ecological intelligence. To address this multifaceted crisis, a healing and transformation of consciousness must take place—a rediscovery of wholeness in symbiosis. The shift ultimately requires a collective rediscovery of the genetically conserved mythical imagination, which can only take place through individual and cultural engagement with the ecological consciousness that is innate to the human species, but which symbiotic relations to ancient allies grant access to through a generously provided chemical key—naturally-occurring psychedelics.
Up Next: The Role of Psychedelics
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