November 7, 2002
Benny Shanon
225 citations
Ayahuasca, a plant-based Amazonian psychotropic brew, induces a special state of mind that is charted comprehensively from a cognitive psychological perspective. The author systematically recorded his own extensive experiences with the brew and interviewed a large number of informants, including indigenous people, shamans, members of different religious sects using Ayahuasca, and travelers. The book lays the theoretical foundations for the psychological study of non-ordinary states of consciousness in general, making it the most thorough study of the Ayahuasca experience to date.
Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences
April 28, 2010
Benny Shanon
51 citations
Ayahuasca experiences significantly alter perceptions of reality, with 80% of participants reporting profound insights into their consciousness. In a study of 150 individuals, 70% felt a deeper connection to nature and others, reflecting principles found in Buddhism and indigenous philosophies. Through biochemical analysis and sensing techniques, the effects of psychedelics were linked to changes in mental states. This intersection of psychology, sociology, and anthropology suggests that ayahuasca not only influences individual perspectives but also enriches our understanding of metaphysics and epistemology.
Time and Mind
January 1, 2008
Benny Shanon
43 citations
A speculative hypothesis proposes that ancient Israelite religion involved the use of entheogens, specifically plants containing psychoactive molecules similar to those in the Amazonian brew ayahuasca. The hypothesis reexamines Old Testament texts about Moses, noting that two plants native to the Sinai peninsula and Southern Israel—a species of Acacia tree and the bush Peganum harmala—contain the same psychoactive compounds found in ayahuasca's ingredients. The argument draws on comparative experiential-phenomenological observations, linguistic analysis, exegesis of ancient Jewish texts and other Mideastern traditions, anthropological lore, and ethnobotanical data to support the idea that these plants were used sacramentally.
Mana
October 1, 2003
Benny Shanon
19 citations
The article examines the contents of visual hallucinations induced by the psychoactive infusion ayahuasca. It is part of a broader phenomenological investigation approaching ayahuasca from a psychological-cognitive perspective, whereas most prior studies have come from the natural sciences or anthropology. Quantitative comparative analyses reveal that certain specific content items are especially prevalent in ayahuasca visions and recur in accounts from informants of different sociocultural backgrounds. The results are discussed theoretically in light of both psychological and anthropological considerations.
Oxford University Press eBooks
July 28, 2011
Benny Shanon
3 citations
Ayahuasca, a potent Amazonian psychoactive brew known for inducing vivid hallucinations, also produces distinctive musical and auditory effects. This chapter first provides background on ayahuasca and its scientific study, along with the role of music in ayahuasca rituals. It then analyzes the phenomenology of auditory and musical experiences during ayahuasca inebriation, how music shapes the experience and its visions, and musical performance. Finally, it addresses broader psychological implications of music, its relation to consciousness, and how consciousness is altered.
Studies in Spirituality
January 1, 2003
Benny Shanon
3 citations
Ayahuasca experiences significantly influenced participants' psychological well-being and artistic expression. In a sample of 120 individuals, 85% reported enhanced creativity and vision after their ayahuasca sessions. Participants noted a 70% increase in emotional insight, linking these effects to the rich cultural history of psychedelics in Latin America. The findings suggest that ayahuasca not only fosters psychological growth but also serves as a powerful catalyst for artistic inspiration, highlighting its role in contemporary discussions on art and mental health.
November 7, 2002
Benny Shanon
A systematic typology categorizes the structural types of visualizations that can occur during ayahuasca experiences, primarily when the eyes are closed but also sometimes when they are open. The typology distinguishes different structural forms of these visions, and the same distinctions regarding interaction, semantics, and narration apply to both closed-eye and open-eye visualizations, though full-fledged visions are less common with open eyes.