Publication Date:March 27, 2008 Shipping:Eligible for Super Saver Shipping Availability:Usually ships in 24 hours
Editorial Reviews:
Product Description An investigation into experiences of other realms of existence and contact with otherworldly beings
• Examines how contact with alien life-forms can be obtained through the “inner space” dimensions of our minds
• Presents evidence that other worlds experienced through consciousness-altering technologies are often as real as those perceived with our five senses
• Correlates science fiction’s imaginal realms with psychedelic research
For thousands of years, voyagers of inner space--spiritual seekers, shamans, and psychoactive drug users--have returned from their inner imaginal travels reporting encounters with alien intelligences. Inner Paths to Outer Space presents an innovative examination of how we can reach these other dimensions of existence and contact otherworldly beings. Based on their more than 60 combined years of research into the function of the brain, the authors reveal how psychoactive substances such as DMT allow the brain to bypass our five basic senses to unlock a multidimensional realm of existence where otherworldly communication occurs. They contend that our centuries-old search for alien life-forms has been misdirected and that the alien worlds reflected in visionary science fiction actually mirror the inner space world of our minds. The authors show that these “alien” worlds encountered through altered states of human awareness, either through the use of psychedelics or other methods, possess a sense of reality as great as, or greater than, those of the ordinary awareness perceived by our five senses.
Customer Reviews:
...And I Think My Spaceship Knows Which Way To GoAugust 21, 2008 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
"This is Major Tom to Ground Control I'm stepping through the door And I'm floating in a most peculiar way And the stars look very different today
For here Am I sitting in a tin can Far above the world Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do
Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles I'm feeling very still And I think my spaceship knows which way to go..."
-David Bowie, "Space Oddity"
I remember hearing this song on some mushrooms. All of the sudden I got a glimpse of something that was golden, bright, pure...I had a realization that this thing I called "me"...this body and everything in it was all MADE UP. It was/is/and will always be complete and total BS...you can read that as, Belief Systems. But the Real Me was changeless, forever, eternal.
This book blows my mind. And that's good. Minds are for the soul purpose of being blown. I mean, if you're not thinking of at least temn impossible things before breakfast, you're just kind of existing. But the purpose of life is to be shaken, stirred, and moved and this book will definitely move you. It confirms a lot of the experiences I had during my psychedelic phase and yet made me even clearer on why I stopped.
I stopped experimenting with psychedelics after hearing a rather brilliant quote from Alan Watts. I'm paraphrasing, but he basically said, "When a scientist sees something through a microscope, he immediately goes to work on what was seen. He doesn't keep his eye glued to the microscope. So, if you have a vision on psychedelics, go to work on that vision...don't keep trying to have another one..."
And that really woke me up. I was given visions that to this day still delight me just by thinking about them. I am grateful for my experiences and my inner excursions. The final frontier is not space, but mind. We all need to be psychonauts and explore the interior realms. We are all so much. This book made me laugh, smile, and think. Some of it was a little crazy, but some of it was truly moving.
"Once in awhile you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look for it right."
-the Grateful Dead, "Scarlett Begonias"
Look for the Light within yourself. You'll be amazed at what you'll find.
"Hold your breath Make a wish Count to three
Come with me And you'll be In a world of Pure imagination Take a look And you'll see Into your imagination
We'll begin With a spin Traveling in The world of my creation What we'll see Will defy Explanation
If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it Anything you want to, do it Wanta change the world? There's nothing To it
There is no Life I know To compare with Pure imagination Living there You'll be free If you truly wish to be
If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it Anything you want to, do it Wanta change the world? There's nothing To it
There is no Life I know To compare with Pure imagination Living there You'll be free If you truly Wish to be..."
-Willy Wonka, "Pure Imagination"
:)
Your life is whatever you can imagine it to be.
Peace & Blessings, john, 'the Light Coach'
Examines how psychoactive substances allow the brain to bypass the five senses to unlock another realm of existenceAugust 14, 2008 New age collections strong in visionary plants and psychology will find that Inner Paths to Outer Space combines over sixty years of research on brain function and psychology to examine how psychoactive substances allow the brain to bypass the five senses to unlock another realm of existence. Alien worlds in such an existence actually mirror inner space mind worlds, not outer space, the authors maintain: chapters draw connections between 'alien' worlds encountered through altered consciousness and paths to self-growth.
paradigm for texts concerned with mystical themesJune 18, 2008 11 out of 13 found this review helpful
Medical clinicians to literary scholars should read this book. Recently, many artists and philosophers have asserted that western culture has become mystically squalid. Today's society like the hero in the film "El Topo" bears the spirit of what was described by T.S. Elliot as an "inner wasteland". Dr. Strassman is enthusiastic about elevating and ecstatically enhancing the forsakened interior dominion of the human organism. Many books, produced by metaphysical publishers are so inane that medically educated individuals find them to be offensive and appalling. Moreover, Dr. Strassman's work is very entertaining for a highly trained PhD consciousness as it integrates physics, biology, medicine, neuroscience and anthropology in a way, which is captivating the most erudite reader. This work is so interesting that it is difficult to stop experiencing it. It leaves the perceiver wanting more as the subjects of this text are of quintessential importance to the human psyche. This book should be the paradigm for texts concerned with mystical themes; as it is not delimiting, and all of its authors do not pejoratively misrepresent transcendent human themes. These authors derogate the constriction and stultification associated with faith based religions. Dr. Strassman like William Blake purports that the body is an authentic temple of ecstasy and electrifying mystical genesis. It would seem that Jung would have appreciated this work; and its authors are once again commencing the challenging task of comprehending and activating the human collective unconscious. Today's neuroscience and faith-based theosophies prohibit the blossoming of human perception or what Dr. Strassman denotes as the mental eye or the pineal gland, which may endogenously secrete the sacred DMT molecule. There are many references throughout this text to the spontaneous activation of endogenous DMT as it may be involved in inducing altered states of consciousness. All these medical practitioners are purporting that the human animal is able to adroitly perceive sensations, which are not usually experienced by the five senses. Dr. Strassman and Dr. Luna purport that sagacious utilization of the body's interior faculties can inordinately educate the human psyche to experience a kind of ubiquitous perception. The inner powers associated with the arcane Shaman are ruefully atrophied in today's delimited consciousness. Dr. Strassman and the other medically trained authors vehemently assert that any kind of authentic meta-biological genesis of the cryptic dimensions of the body can be readily evoked by the judicious participation with plant teachers like ayahuasca, magic mushrooms or peyote. The body's etheric education enables the constricted human essence to experience what the authors refer to as altered states of consciousness. Furthermore, it was asserted that our conventional social institutions only dessicate the edifying powers of the "body electric". All of the authors of this text have undergone years of formal academic training; however, they are encouraging a kind of knowledge quite distinctive from the conceptual epistemology lauded by today's major universities. These authors seem to be suggesting that Maya or the CNS's rationicination is what engenders the stultification, which enfetters the human psyche. Plant teachers edify the human essence not the brain's inimical rational intellect, which constricts the body's euphoric energy dynamics.
Excellent bookMay 19, 2008 12 out of 13 found this review helpful
Just finished the book & I must say I am very impressed. Great read! Thank you to all the authors for this book! Highly recommended!
At The Forefront of Human ThoughtMay 6, 2008 27 out of 28 found this review helpful
This book is a stellar overview of the latest in psychedelic theory. Rick Strassman gives an excellent summary of the current research and ideas behind DMT. One thing I was disappointed that he did not address: Strassman notes that both psilocin and DMT are nearly identical molecules. What significance does this have? I would have liked to see his musings on that topic.
Having this book is like getting your hands on the hottest underground philosophy book. It dares to link science and religion directly - not some wishy washy pseudo-theory, but hard evidence linking science and religion via psychedelics. It really is amazing how unknown this is to the average person - even those with a deep interest in these subjects. Yet here it is, brazenly laid out, for anyone with an inquisitive mind to pick up and learn.
I highly recommend this book if you want a cutting edge, no holds barred discussion on what psychedelics might mean to humanity. There is no waving dismissal of psychedelic users as "druggies" or scoffing at the notion there might be more to these substances than just "getting high". The authors are quite up front as to what is scientifically proven, and what is personal speculation. Nevertheless, imagination is set loose to roam free in this book, and the insights and hypotheses inside are scrumptious food for thought. The art is also quite nice and colorful.
