The Psilocybin Solution: The Role of Sacred Mushrooms in the Quest for Meaning

I went into this book just expecting some basic description of psilocybin mushrooms; maybe a little history, maybe a little pharmacology...that type of thing. Maybe something of a trip report. Boy had I set the bar too low for this author: I had no conception that I would be sojourning into an exposition, of the highest intellectual calibur, on the very fabric and nature of reality and existence.The basic premise is that there is an underlying intelligence in the universe--a cosmic "Other," as described by the author--which subtly nudges the universe progressively to greater and greater levels of complexity. This process has, quite fantastically, (so far) resulted in the emergence of a Cosmos able to contemplate itself, via the human brain, and it is a process which continues indefinitely. The "Other" permeates the entire Cosmos, all of spacetime all at once, and its presence can be felt and experienced by us directly--we need only be properly attenuated to its vibrations. The key to achieving that attenuation is the main subject of the book: the responsible consumption of psilocybin mushrooms by mature truth-seekers.This is all obviously quite, for lack of a better term, "out there," and indeed the author loosely terms the above "The Fantastic Hypothesis" in full recognition of this. As someone who has never consumed psilocybin (my job description kind of precludes it), I cannot confirm or deny the presence of the Other as experienced in a bemushroomed state. I am, however, quite sympathetic to the notion of complexification towards an Omega Point and to a kind of spiritual energy directing the process.My brief description here hardly does the intellectual quality of the work justice. These are not the semi-lucid rantings of a mind rotten out by drugs. It is serious philosophical business by a serious thinker. The only recommendation I would make to prospective readers is first to become at least loosely familiar with the philosophy of Teilhard de Chardin, as it is an obvious influence/inspiration behind much of the thinking presented in this piece. A good place to start is this lecture by British theologian Keith Ward: Reaching the Omega Point -- The Trajectory of an Open Universe. Viewable on YouTube.In summation, I highly recommend this book and look forward to more fine presentations to come from Mr. Powell.

This book isn't about 'tripping out' or anything of that sort. It's a (non-fiction) book written by a word-wizard with a psychology degree. Simon G. Powell is in no way a hippie, or sensationalist, but rather a caring soul that set out to explain the Nature around him. He goes so far as to explain how, down the the fiber of consciousness itself, psilocybin can be used to incorporate what he terms a "re-tuning" of the Nature within us all. He doesn't appear to be as much of an advocate of psilocybin use, as he is a profound lover of Nature itself. Simon appears to be inclined (after looking at the true effects of currently accepted medicine and the good that can become from their effects) to make available to the reader a true understanding of the implications of psilocybin for each of us to use to help us with our own individual needs.This book may appeal to those that are interested in reading about 'Psilocybin, the sexy drug!'. But they will not find this book to be that at all. Rather they'll find that it's full of (medical and other) facts that Simon uses to add to the understanding of why psilocybin has the effect on us that it has.After reading this book from Simon G. Powell, I'd feel silly to not only read anything that the guy puts out, but I'd be silly to not talks to others about doing the same.

Why does an organic compound found inside a certain species of mushroom fit so perfectly in key receptor sites on a human neuron? What does the user experience that leads to the belief of a higher purpose to the evolution of life on Earth? The author attempts to establish the connection between psilocybin, human consciousness, and the evolution of life. His argument, although not flawless, takes the reader to an endpoint of evolution that defies comprehension.The first few chapters get the reader warmed up by covering the history of psilocybin use, an overview of several other naturally occurring entheogenic compounds, and the mechanism of psilocybin's action in the human brain. Following the basics is an attempt to explain how human consciousness works and how the psilocybin molecule affects the user. I'll have to admit that some of the concepts discussed here were heady but not surprising since little is known about human consciousness. In the next few chapters the author takes us on a mathematical journey to informational systems, DNA and evolutionary biology. He asks us to consider some fantastic hypotheses and takes the reader to the jaw-dropping conclusion about our reason for being here on Earth.“What is the purpose of life?...To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool!”― Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of ChampionsBuy this book and stretch your imagination about life's possibilities. A thoughtful, thought provoking, and entertaining read!

This fascinating read can be divided in two: the first half of the book is generally descriptive in that it offers a history and (neuro)science of psychedelic, chiefly psilocybinetic, activity. The use of such mind-altering substances by the Ancients is rendered in lucid, well-written prose; and its introduction and suppression within Western culture is expertly elucidated. The text is interspersed with interesting anecdotes and quotations ensuring the reader's turn of the page.The second part is chiefly Powell's novel thoughts on Nature, or the Universe, thoughts being inspired by the use of these magic mushrooms. Though Powell is explicitly not a Materialist, he also makes it clear that he is not introducing any supernatural element into his explanation of reality. He is presenting, in essence, a radically distinct interpretation of reality without any superfluous unscientific elements. Though one could say that the interpretation is not one held by the neo-Darwinian establishment. The author re-introduces, in a modern form, a teleological explanation of Nature: a purposeful though unconscious intelligence that orchestrates evolution by natural selection. Here, the environment and the organism are BOTH unconsciously intelligent, rather than merely the latter in the higher organisms, as is the general academic focus hitherto.This intelligence is unconscious, with the exclusion of human beings (at least) as a fractional part. It is not a conscious intelligence, and so this is indubitably not an advocation of any 'Intelligent Design' or Creationism. Powell asserts his atheism throughout the work. This intelligence is equated with information, and Powell is quite cognizant of the fact that this paradigm he spins is contemporary in the sense that it in part seeks to categorise reality according to modern technological underatanding, much like the clockwork paradigm of the solar system centuries back. Reality is information processing and informational augmentation without a transcendent programmer but rather with an immanent one, whereby programmer and program are one. Of course, this has a scent of pantheism but without the panpsychism. Indeed, Powell assumes an emergent view of consciousness: that it is caused by brains - much in accord with modern views.In sum, this is an excellent read itself containing much information that can be appreciated much in the same way that Liberty Caps offer, by other means, much appreciable information on reality.

Simon Powell's interpretation of psychedelic experience, particularly that induced by the psilocybin mushroom, is cogent, lucid and inspiring. He sees the experience as essentially one which can reconnect us with the biosphere (whence it originates) so that we recognise the earth and indeed the universe as our glorious home. Not only is this reconnection life-enhancing for individuals, it is clearly necessary at this historical juncture collectively. This means that explorers like Powell are likely to be appraised very favorably by our descendants, that is if our species manages to survive at all. Like Terence McKenna, Powell looks through a scientific lens with the result that there is a circumspection and solidity at the bottom of even the most mind-blowing mushroomic speculations. In this respect, Powell is particularly excellent on the primordial nature of information, a matter which we are no doubt going to hear a lot more about from a variety of quarters. If you are interested in consciousness, ecology, information theory, life, the universe and everything, then read this book!

Very good

A BRILLIANT REVIEW OF ENTHEOGENS AND THEIR SHARMANISTIC CHARACTER. VERY IMFORMATIVE AND PROBING INTO THE METAPHYSICAL CONSTRUCT OF REALITY, AND WAYS TOWARDS ACCESS IT AFTER REVALUATIONS F ITS ENTIRITY ARE EXPERIENCED