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Pinchbeck Preparation



Actually, while I’m on the topic of preparing for the Daniel Pinchbeck interview, maybe I ought to ask you guys for help. Since I’m doing this (partly) for your edification and amusement, what questions do you have for Daniel Pinchbeck? What have you always wanted to know about the journey from New York literary elite to psychedelic shamanism?

I’m not going to promise that I’ll use anybody’s questions verbatim. But I will distill anything useful down to it’s essence and incorporate it into the larger framework of the piece I’m crafting. It’s going to be a good one. Help me make it even better.







7 Reader Responses

  1. Emerson Says:
    September 29th, 2005 at 4:22 am

    Quite a few questions spring to mind, but I’ll try to keep these down to a handful.

    1. What are his views on the morality of genetic engineering both physical and mental traits into, and out of, the human species.

    2. Has he looked into historical Gnosticism, and if so has he any thoughts to share on the subject. Yes, I’m sure this one didn’t occur to you, eh? But I figured it couldn’t hurt to cast a vote for the topic.

    3. Timothy Leary and Terrence McKenna were probably the two most influential figures in bringing psychedelic drugs to the attention of westerners. As noted in Breaking Open the Head, each also had a very different way of going about it. Which does he think was more influential in shaping society through knowledge of these substances? The movements in the 60s and 70s were certainly widespread, but I’ve noticed that most participents in these movements seemed fairly unable to properly integrate what they learned into their professional lives. Where, with McKenna, I’m often surprised to find this or that person I’ve been introduced to, working or studying hard science, uses Ayahuasca on a regular basis. More, that many believed their use of Ayahuasca has provided them with an edge in their field. This somewhat echoes chapter 23 of Breaking Open The Head, and I was curious to see if he had any guesses as to how many researchers were using Ayahuasca on the sly.

  2. Ktulu Says:
    September 29th, 2005 at 7:05 am

    Is there any one psychedelic journey that stood out from all the rest, and how did it affect him?

    Does he have any set rituals or a routines (including drugs/drug combinations) for shamanic voyages or meditations?

    What does he think of the psychedelic sci-fi thiller, Altered States, and the use of Ayahuasca with meditative-like states, such as sensory deprivation?

    I too will cast a vote for his opinions on Gnosticism, and if he does have a viewpoint on it, how it relates to his shamanic beliefs/activities.

    Lastly, since he is a shaman, what is his opinion (if any) of David Icke and his Zulu associate, Credo Mutwa?

  3. channel null Says:
    September 29th, 2005 at 8:59 am

    1. What books by Steiner does he recommend for the practicing neo-shamanic-freestyle-etc., for understanding Steiner’s theories and thought? Which one would be a good start? How to Know Higher Worlds is not an acceptable answer.

    2. Pinchbeck’s made his preference for Steiner clear before. One thing from Steiner’s work that seems to stick is that evolution is a long-haul practice. Particularly, I believe that Steiner would dismiss 2012 as “Luciferean”, i.e., it offers a quick, easy enlightenment that on every other occasion in known history has disappointed, and, often seemed counter-evolutionary.

    3. The picture that Pinchbeck often offers seems to be too rosy. I’d like to know his opinion about the possiblity of “counter-intiation”, to borrow Zac’s term, i.e., the possiblity that various entities, particularly human initiates and those spirits not normally sensible, might be working against evolution, i.e., in Steiner’s terms, towards Sorat, the Dragon.

  4. b. anonymous Says:
    September 29th, 2005 at 10:29 am

    Does he still think DPT is demonic?

  5. Tim Boucher Says:
    September 29th, 2005 at 12:46 pm

    There’s some really awesome stuff in these questions guys, thanks!

  6. rev max Says:
    September 29th, 2005 at 1:41 pm

    Yeah, yeah yeah more info on DPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  7. Integrator Says:
    September 30th, 2005 at 5:20 am

    I may go with one particular spiritual tradition which suits me most, but I won’t be stuck into it and will always review it with others from time to time. I may treat this tradition as a stem while others as branches. This is my style of spiritual development. A strong bit from one of tradtions will be integrated to my main stream as the time goes by. I found this way works for me the best



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