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- NEWS RELEASE
-
- AN INDO-EUROPEAN PLANT TEACHER
-
- . . . a note from underground
-
- by "Gracie and Zarkov"
-
- Number 10
-
- _INTRODUCTION_
-
- Encounters with entities who teach or guide are a characteristic feature of
- hallucinogenic ayahuasca trances. For discussion purposes, we have granted
- ontological status to these entities without regard for the epistemological
- or metaphysical implications of that status.
-
- We have been interested in these phenomena for several years, but the South
- American vine, _Banisteriopsis caapi_, which is the basis for ayahuasca, is
- not readily available in North America. The DMT-containing admixture plants,
- _Psychotria viridis_, and _Diplopteris cabrarana_, which produce the vivid
- hallucinations, are even harder to obtain. Therefore, we have been
- investigating combinations of synthetic DMT with various beta-carboline
- containing plants, not only _B. caapi_, but also _Passiflora incarnata_ and
- Peganum harmala_.
-
- _PEGANUM HARMALA_
-
- _P. harmala_, or Syrian Rue, is the plant from which harmine was first
- isolated, as well as a source of harmaline and tetrahydroharmine. Total
- beta-Carboline content runs almost 4% by weight in the seeds of Syrian Rue.
- These alkaloids occur in roughly the same proportions as in _B. caapi_. Ten
- grams of Syrian Rue seeds provide about 400mg of total beta-Carbolines, about
- that amount in a typical dose of ayahuasca.
-
- Syrian Rue grows in semi-arid conditions. It originated in Central Asia, and
- is held in high esteem throughout Asia Minor as a medicinal, aphrodisiac and
- dye plant. There is no solid historical evidence of ritual or religious use.
- It is sometimes known as "ruin weed" since it often grows on the tells
- covering the ruins of ancient cities in the Near East. It now grows wild in
- Eurasia and has recently been spread to Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and
- Southern California. Dye quality seeds are available from several West Coast
- seed services for about $50.00 per pound.
-
-
-
-
- _PREPARATION_
- We prepared our hallucinogenic brew in a manner similar to that used to
- prepare ayahuasca. Fifty grams of seeds were finely ground in a spice mill.
- The powdered seeds were added to 4 quarts of water and boiled in a slow
- cooker overnight. The resulting liquid was poured off and saved, and 4 quarts
- of fresh water were added to the residue. This second wash was also boiled
- for 12 hours. Both washes had a noticeable yellow color, indicating the
- possible presence of harmine. Both washes were strained while hot though a
- cloth coffee filter and then reduced to a final volume of 500ml. Synthetic
- N,N-DMT-HCl was boiled in during the final reduction (not boiling in the DMT
- adversely affects the brew's potency).
-
- _THE HIGH_
-
- We drank the brew on empty stomachs. First effects were noticed in about five
- minutes. Physical side effects include tingling extremities, slight tremor,
- lassitude and very slight nausea. The mental effects of the come-on are
- similar to the initial effects of smoked DMT but are milder and in slow
- motion. The anti-depressant effects of the beta-Carbolines are quite
- striking; a strange calm elation is felt.
-
- The DMT-like effects peak in about 25-30 minutes with strong visual
- disturbances. We were in a darkened room and the closed-eye geometric
- patterns were very vivid. We felt a "presence" in these patterns which we
- could bring into direct contact by a combination of repeated nonsense
- babbling (which turned into glossolalia) and direct address to the "entity,"
- e.g. "Who are you?" "Show yourself!" "Do you want to talk?" etc.
-
- _THE PLANT TEACHER_
-
- On both occasions, we contacted a "teacher" who identified himself with the
- Syrian Rue plant. During our discussions with him (which were out loud;
- subvocalizing was ineffective) the teacher showed us visions, answered
- questions and provided specific health, emotional and psychological advice.
- The "voice in the head" phenomenon was not as strongly constituted as on high
- dose mushrooms. However, the vividness, clarity and understandability of the
- visionary illustrations which often accompanied the conversations were
- striking. Intense feelings (which shifted with the visions), changes in tone
- of voice and manner of speaking, including glossolalia (as recorded on tape)
- and strong contact highs were additional phenomena noted. The plant teacher
- had a definite personality which was strongly male, very friendly, humorous,
- with an interest in story-telling bordering on the garrulous.
-
- We have independent confirmation of contact phenomena by an associate who
- tried the same combination.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- _THE VISIONS_
-
- Representative visions and raps included:
-
- --Plant diagrams and information on watering, plant diseases and placement of
- the Syrian Rue plant in our garden.
-
- --A diagram of a human heart, showing the auricular node and the neurology of
- the heartbeat.
-
- --Art and artifacts from the Old European civilization C. 10,000 BC, e.g.,
- Catal Huyuk; including pottery and statuary.
-
- --A vision of the Goddess, holding the plant teacher and the human contactee
- intertwined in Her hands.
-
- --An amazingly vivid and intense "movie" of the last scene from Robert A.
- Heinlein's _Starship Troopers_, showing the destruction of an insect planet
- by human warriors.
-
- --The ruins of Persepolis, then, upon request, Persepolis in its original
- polychrome, sunlit splendor.
-
- --A vision of the plant teacher as a Mongol warlord, in golden armor, astride
- an armored and caparisoned woolly mammoth.
-
- --A vision of Gracie's mother at Gracie's age, from the inside, that is,
- Gracie experienced her mother from her mother's point of view.
-
- --Various pieces of psychological and relationship advice, including insights
- into both our childhoods.
- The visions faded about three hours after ingestion with the presence slowly
- fading in the fourth hour. The total trip lasts about 6 hours.
-
-
-
-
-
- _DOSAGE_
-
- This brew can be very intense and we could not recommend it to anyone who has
- not had significant experience with similar visionary states such as high
- dose mushrooms (5gm+, smoked DMT (40mg+) or mescaline (500mg+). Individual
- sensitivity to the beta-Carboline/DMT combination varies greatly, so we
- recommend that one "sneak-up" on the effects. While our nominal dose would
- be 10 grams of seeds with 40 mg of DMT, 30 mg of DMT will definitely allow
- for contact. Five grams of seeds with 20 mg of DMT seems to be the threshold
- dose. The intensity of the visual effects seems most dependent upon the
- dosage of DMT. The length of the effects and the depth of the contact seem
- most dependent upon the dose of Syrian Rue. Our personal preference is 7
- grams of seeds with 30 mg of DMT, with a booster dose of 5 grams Rue and 20
- mg DMT after one hour.
-
-
- _WARNING_
-
- THE INTERACTION OF CERTAIN FOODS AND DRUGS WITH THE MAO INHIBITION BROUGHT ON
- BY BETA-CARBOLINES CAN BE FATAL!! The following substances _must not_ be
- ingested within 48 hours before and after taking the brew:
-
- --All amphetamines or related compounds , such as MDA, MDMA,
- phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, etc. [add "smart drugs" to this category.]
-
- --Any foods containing tyramine, or where enzymatic processes have been used:
- e.g., yoghurt, sour cream, aged cheeses, wines, especially port or Chianti,
- beer, fermented sausages (pepperoni), soy sauce, etc.
- -- Certain other foods, including: shellfish, bananas, liver, avocados, broad
- beans, chocolate, coffee and others.
-
- This list is not all-inclusive. Please do further research before attempting
- to experiment! The dangerous interaction usually precipitates a hypertensive
- crisis and certain people are especially sensitive to the effects,
- particularly those with heart abnormalities or high blood pressure. We
- ourselves have had a few close calls while investigating the beta-Carbolines.
-
- Good physical health and the advice of a "hip" physician are helpful,
- nevertheless, exercise caution if you become interested in these
- combinations.
-
-
-
-
- _COMPARISON WITH AYAHUASCA_
-
- While our direct experience with _B. caapi_ and DMT admixtures is very
- limited, we have these preliminary comments. The Syrian Rue experience is
- less heavy, and the entity more casual, garrulous and intimate. The _caapi_
- entity seems more formal, more experienced with human contact, especially in
- health and psychology, and seems to be a more powerful teacher.
-
- _CHEMICAL ANALYSIS_ The chemical analysis of ayahuasca can be found in
- Stafford, _Psychedelics Encyclopedia_, and Schultes and Hoffman, _The Botany
- and Chemistry of Hallucinogens_. A more detailed analysis of the brew is in
- McKenna, et. al., _Journal of Ethnopharmacology_, 10 (1984), 195-223.
- _CONCLUSION_
-
- A full account of our various experiments with beta-Carbolines and DMT will
- be in our forthcoming book: _Notes from Underground: Psychedelic Perspectives
- for the Next Millennium_, which will be published by High Frontiers Press
- sometime early in 1992.
-
- We'd like to acknowledge the information and moral support provided by
- Dennis, Terence and Kat McKenna, which made it possible for us to structure
- the experiments so as to make contact on our first attempt.
-
- Finally, the plant teacher said that it would like to communicate with any
- human willing to take the brew.
- Stay High and Stay Free! Gracie and Zarko
-
-
- Copyright 1986 by Gracie and Zarkov productions. We believe that in a truly
- free society the price of packaged information would be driven down to the
- cost of reproduction and transmission. We, therefore, give blanket permission
- and encourage photocopy, quotation, reprint or entry into a database of all
- or part of our articles provided that the copier or quoter does not take
- credit for our statements!
-
- Watch for the book in 1992.
-