What's you opinion on the experience of ingesting of a plant concoction in the Amazon?

[BelleReadsNietzsche]

I think it's a placebo effect - which is powerful. Even in medical research, placebo effects could go a long way of a patient's health. The author having knowledge that such concoction can help him led him to believe that it has an effect on him. Having a preconceived idea can really affect how you see things. Such faith can truly move mountains.

I really like the way you put this and that you noted placebo effects can still be *effects*.

[Amanda Deck]

Perhaps people can connect to a different plane specifically because their own typical perspective and understanding is skewed/dismantled. And the expectations of your society of what you'll do with this new understanding makes a mighty difference, I would think. For a group of young guys getting stoned on some psychedelics to enjoy causing mayhem, the outcome would be vastly different from a group of young men on a socially sanctioned spiritual quest. The latter would be expected to gain wisdom that would be of benefit to their people whereas the former would be looked at as troublesome, worthless, and detrimental to their people.

[Poppy Drear]

Well, at the very least, I certainly wouldn't do it. As long as it's done in a safe way, I see no harm in it, though - after all, we ingest lots of mind-altering chemicals in modern times, including caffeine, alcohol, and hormones as a part of medications. As for the claim that these concoctions have spiritual powers, well, I couldn't say.

[briellejee]

I think it's a placebo effect - which is powerful. Even in medical research, placebo effects could go a long way of a patient's health. The author having knowledge that such concoction can help him led him to believe that it has an effect on him. Having a preconceived idea can really affect how you see things. Such faith can truly move mountains.

I really like the way you put this and that you noted placebo effects can still be *effects*.

This is where that saying applies: "mind over matter" hahaha But yeah, being in the science field, you could really see these placebo effects more often.

[skindrukas]

I personally know few people that have done it. They say it's a life changing experience. Maybe it is. But I still don't see the point in doing something that isn't naturally meant to be done by human. Some would argue and question, well, what are these plants meant for, than? As if everything on Earth is made for human consumption...

Anyway, people that I know that have done it, even sceptics, all experienced hallucinations. Some were called visions after - depending on whether a person is generally more down to earth or up the skies, so to say.

I personally believe that you "see" what you want to see. One can have the same hallucinations of Jesus giving orders and later interpret it as "some hippie guy was telling me what to do all the time, I couldn't concentrate on those nice flowers behind him". And another person would convert to Christianity and become religious after the same vision. Again, that could be manipulated into thinking that some people are meant to carry Jesus's word, some weren't. What if, instead of the connection with higher spirits it's just a personal choice to see either flowers or Jesus? Than I think, what's the point of poisoning yourself with something? If you were meant to hear Jesus's words, you'll hear it without drugs, with your own powers, and not stolen from plants or other species.

The same goes for medicine, I guess

[Tester013]

I'm personally rather cautious when it comes to experimenting with these unique concoctions. My guess is that it's a placebo effect, though that remains as my personal opinion

[NuelUkah]

What's you opinion on the author's experience of ingesting of a plant concoction in the Amazon? Do you think the concoction played an important part in what happened to him during the ceremony or not? Could it be a placebo effect?

Yes, I think the concoction played an important part in what happened to him during the ceremony. It wasn't a placebo effect. Look at the experience he had there. Well, in all his experiences, he always said he was drawn to it. His instinct had not failed him, and never forget, no human words can perfectly explain the supernatural.

[vishu]

Personally, it is something I am wary of. While such rituals do exist, it is really difficult to ascertain their level of reliability.

[Joytoo97]

The concoction played a role in whatever the author experienced. I think he goes with a predetermined mind after being told what to expect.

[briellejee]

I personally believe that you "see" what you want to see. One can have the same hallucinations of Jesus giving orders and later interpret it as "some hippie guy was telling me what to do all the time, I couldn't concentrate on those nice flowers behind him". And another person would convert to Christianity and become religious after the same vision. Again, that could be manipulated into thinking that some people are meant to carry Jesus's word, some weren't. What if, instead of the connection with higher spirits it's just a personal choice to see either flowers or Jesus? Than I think, what's the point of poisoning yourself with something? If you were meant to hear Jesus's words, you'll hear it without drugs, with your own powers, and not stolen from plants or other species.

The same goes for medicine, I guess

I agree with you on this one. You don't something to swallow to see what is meant for you by Jesus. Ingesting some concoction doesn't make the vision valid, it just makes it more sketchy tbh.

[spencermack]

Whether it was a placebo or not, it helped him during the ceremony. Which ultimately helped him continue his journey.

[Surabhi Rani]

I was amazed to learn about the spiritual experience that the author had due to the effect of concoction! It worked on him! The activities such as ingesting a plant concoction are greatly denounced in spiritual literature. The author has found an authentic spiritual source! It was an ecstatic reading experience for me! I came to believe in the truth of miraculous concoction that could lead to higher spiritual experiences.

[Samy Lax]

I do think it's a placebo effect as well. Placebo does wonders if used in the right way.

[Dragonsend]

Truly with the use of drugs of any sort you are more susceptible to suggestion. I don't believe that the one vision, under the influence, invalidates his other visions.

[KitabuKizuri]

I think the vision was dependent on the concoction and the context. If he took it in a different setting he would have had a different experience, I guess.