permaculture

[Rain Tenaqiya <raincascadia@yahoo.com>]

I'm surprised to find such conservative views about psychedelic substances 
posted by long-time members of this list.  Such substances are important to 
many shamanic cultures, which are often presented as models by 
permaculturists.  From personal experience, I know that psychedelic (which 
means 'clear mind') mushrooms and LSD can be important eye-openers when taken 
outside as part of an observation exercise.  Psychedelics are known to help 
one to perceive patterns, an important aspect of the permaculture design 
process.  They help one to break out of the usual routes of perception, 
revealing things that have been overlooked in the past.  Furthermore, they 
help erase boundaries between self and other, and encourage identification 
with all of Nature.  This helps us to go with wild Nature, rather than 
against it.
 
Anytime someone sanctions the use of socially acceptable drugs such as 
tobacco and alcohol at the expense of substances such as psychedelics and 
marijuana, I just have to laugh.  The former drugs cause much more harm to 
society in myriad ways and the acceptance of individual drugs changes over 
time and across cultures.  Permaculture is not safe for mainstream society:  
we want to destroy it.  Therefore, we shouldn't be afraid to rock the boat 
from time to time by advocating things that are not accepted by mainstream 
society.
 
I hope I'm mostly just preaching to the choir on this one,
 
Rain

                
---------------------------------
Yahoo! for Good
 Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.