Entheogens and Existential Intelligence: The Use of Plant Teachers as Cognitive Tools

Entheogens—psychoactive plants used as spiritual sacraments, such as ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and the Indo-Aryan soma—have been revered across cultures as tools for deepening cosmological understanding. In light of recent drug-law liberalizations, the author uses Gardner's revised multiple intelligence theory, specifically the postulated 'existential' intelligence, as a framework to explore how these substances might facilitate existential intelligence. The work examines potential cognitive benefits and educational ramifications, arguing that entheogens can serve as spiritual or cognitive tools for individuals and cultures.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In light of recent specific liberalizations in drug laws in some countries, I have investigated the potential of entheogens (i.e., psychoactive plants used as spiritual sacraments) as tools to facilitate existential intelligence. “Plant teachers” from the Americas such as ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms, and peyote, and the Indo-Aryan soma of Eurasia, are examples of entheogens that have been used used in both the past and present. These have all been revered as spiritual or cognitive tools to provide a richer cosmological understanding of the world for both individuals and cultures. I used Gardner’s (1999a) revised multiple intelligence theory and his postulation of an “existential” intelligence as a theoretical lens through which to account for the cognitive possibilities of entheogens and explore potential ramifications for education. Keywords: multiple intelligences, existential intelligence, entheogen, ayahuasca, hallucinogen A la lumiere des liberalisations recentes des lois sur les drogues dans certains pays, l’auteur a etudie le potentiel des entheogenes (des plantes psychoactives utilisees comme sacrements spirituels) comme outils favorisant l’intelligence existentielle. Ces « phytomaitres » des Ameriques, comme l’aya-huasca, les champignons de psilocybine et le peyolt, ainsi que le soma indo-aryen de l’Eurasie sont des exemples d’entheogenes utilises dans le passe et de nos jours et veneres par des particuliers et diverses cultures comme des outils spirituels ou cognitifs permettant d’acceder a une comprehension plus riche du cosmos. L’auteur a utilise la theorie revisee de l’intelligence multiple de Gardner (1999a) et a son postulat au sujet d’une intelligence « existentielle » comme une lentille theorique pouvant expliquer les possibilites cognitives des entheogenes et servir a explorer des ramifications potentielles pour l’education. Mots cles : intelligence multiple, intelligence existentielle, entheogene, ayahuasca, hallucinogene