Oct 14

Blog: Oct 14th

Monday in class we watched a film by Kounen, titled Other Worlds. I am not a huge fan of subtitled films, but in this one I could audibly distinguish French and Spanish; among others. The documentary-like flick incorporated some fantastic and unusual graphics. Very “trippy”, one could say. The images helped to portray the idea of spiritual rituals. For example, the ritual to womanhood was even complete with an animal sacrifice – how lovely. Mainly the men tripped. This was seemingly their entry into manhood.
This film raised a good question pertaining to the concoction ingested in order to have such an experience. How was the psychedelic mixture created? The film suggests, and I agree, that what we know as DMT comes from way back in the day. As the film suggested, it was most likely created during the times of the tribe’s ancestors. It also suggested that such a concoction was most likely fabricated during trial and error. So what is this DMT? Dimethyltryptamine is this drug ingested during these rituals. DMT is a very complex and intricate drug. Therefore, the odds would be incredible that an individual could succeed in mixture, during the first shot.
There was also a drink, which I am assuming might have had some DMT or DMT-like substance in it. Whatever the case, the liquid causes an individual to trip. I found it interesting the effects the drink had on male and females. After consuming the drink, an hour would pass, and woman would begin chanting. However, a little after an hour the men would begin to chant. These individuals belonged to a tribe call the shaman, or at least they practiced shamanism. They say a man is like a “religious animal”. Ultimately, an altered perspective is offered. They feel that they are able to tune in information that others can’t. They believe in the altered reality.
As for the reading, this Datura root is serious business. I like in Chapter Five when it’s noted that don Juan says the second portion of the root is the real beginning of the learning process. Then he compares the first portion to child’s play. The second step is one to be mastered and can take up to twenty times until one can move onto the third step. These are some serious growing stipulations.
As far as the second portion, it seems that this is when the psychedelic effects are taken on by the plant. In a brief conversation the two men discuss the effects this portion creates for a man; they are visual. Also, every man sees something different; each to his own. This is the portion of the growing process which creates the visual “tripping” individuals were accustomed to.
I think it’s interesting that the devil’s weed is personified as a “her”. Also don Juan stays away from furthering the process of the plant and notes that she’s almost killed him several times. When I think of the devil I think of a masculine figure. Therefore, when I think of the devil’s weed, I am thinking masculine. However, I am incorrect. Devil’s weed is apparently a lady.
The part about paths reminds me of the fork in the road analogy. “Anything is one of a million paths,” (82). According to the story, devil’s weed is merely one of those paths. In life, man should ask and live by one question: does this path have a heart? Since anything is/can be a path one must identify the good path vs. the bad. If the path with heart is selected one can live a happy, fulfilling life. If the bad path is chosen then just the opposite occurs. This is similar to the idea of choosing the right path at the fork in the road. There is a 50/50 chance of either path chosen being good or bad. If the right path is chosen, it leads to good; if the wrong path is taken, it leads to bad.
I like the idea of “does this path have a heart?” Presently I am working my way through a very important time in my life. I am progressing through college and then shall be set out in the real world to find my rightful path- I hope. During this time, I will have many paths to choose from. Granted, up until this point I have chosen many different paths both good and bad. I feel that “does this path have heart?” is a question one should ask when they reach a/the big path. In my case, I am using a career as an example. Which path will I choose? Hopefully I decide to follow the right and good path. Will it have heart? It better, I hope to have a long and fulfilling career. Will I choose a good path? Oh man, I can only hope and choose wisely. It’s easy to see that such a question raises so many more.