Tantra, Entheogens, and Conscious Sexuality | Elizabeth Bast ~ Ep. 66

02/16/18 • 96 min

Our guest is Elizabeth Bast!

She is on the show to talk about her journey as a tantric practitioner and explore the potentials of a sexually empowered spiritual practice.

We also talk about sexual consumerism; porn; toxic shame; #metoo; the historical use of entheogenic plants in yogic practice; and the (somewhat controversial) archetype of the sacred prostitute.

*** See below for full episode breakdown. See full show notes here: http://www.jameswjesso.com/sex-yoga-and-entheogens-elizabeth-bast-ep-66/ Buy Bast's book: https://www.ebast.net/heart-medicine.html

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------------------------------------------------------ 🙊 🙉 🙈 Episode Breakdown:

The lack of representation of women in psychedelic culture. - The importance of different ways of knowing. - Unpacking the medical diagnosis of psychosis and delusion in regards to psychedelic experiences. - The purpose of yoga and the role of sexuality within it. - A tantric perspective on sexual energy (kundalini) and how it influences the mind. - Bast’s dance journey into Tantra. - Descriptions of “dakini” and “sacred prostitute.” - Sacred sex work and the dangers of modern culture's sex imitations (porn). - The effect of pornography on one’s capacity for profound sexual encounters. - Finding a sexual teacher. - Sexual shame and popular culture. - The historical use psychoactive plants in yoga. - The modern use of psychoactive plants and substances in spiritual practice. - Lessons on sexual relationships from Iboga. - Bast’s prognosis of modern Western society’s sexual dysfunction — sexual consumerism, toxic shame, and lack of wise sexual education. - The role of sexual repression/shame in sexual assault; discussing #metoo, #Ididit, and healing social and personal sexual trauma. - Healthy vulnerability vs playing the victim. - Practical steps and caution for starting a sacred relationship to sexuality.

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------------------------------------------------------

*** Featured image courtesy of A. Andrew Gonzalez. His art is absolutely breathtaking. Go check out more of his work here: http://sublimatrix.com/

Our guest is Elizabeth Bast!

She is on the show to talk about her journey as a tantric practitioner and explore the potentials of a sexually empowered spiritual practice.

We also talk about sexual consumerism; porn; toxic shame; #metoo; the historical use of entheogenic plants in yogic practice; and the (somewhat controversial) archetype of the sacred prostitute.

*** See below for full episode breakdown. See full show notes here: http://www.jameswjesso.com/sex-yoga-and-entheogens-elizabeth-bast-ep-66/ Buy Bast's book: https://www.ebast.net/heart-medicine.html

------------------------------------------------------ Support The Show

Check out our first sponsor!

TransZen - Mood Enhancer and Stress Support: https://entheozen.com/attm/

Use Promo code "ATTM" for free shipping inside USA

*OR*

Become a Patron On Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/jameswjesso

Or Leave One-Time Donations: PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/JWJesso BTC/ETH/LTC: https://www.jameswjesso.com/bitcoin

------------------------------------------------------ 🙊 🙉 🙈 Episode Breakdown:

------------------------------------------------------ Support The Show

Become a Patron On Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/jameswjesso

Or Leave One-Time Donations: PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/JWJesso BTC/ETH/LTC: https://www.jameswjesso.com/bitcoin

------------------------------------------------------

*** Featured image courtesy of A. Andrew Gonzalez. His art is absolutely breathtaking. Go check out more of his work here: http://sublimatrix.com/

Previous Episode

DMT and the Mainstreaming of Psychedelics w/ Rick Strassman MD ~ Ep. 65

On today's episode, we feature the author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule, Rick Strassman MD. He is a medical doctor specialised in psychiatry with a fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology research. His foundational work with DMT in the 90s was the first human-trial psychedelic research to be done in the two decades following the Controlled Substances Act of 1971. It was the clinical observations and participant reports during those trails that formed his book mentioned above, and the hit documentary by the same name.

... Support My Work On Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/jameswjesso

...

Rick continued his investigation into the significance of DMT over the years with a particular focus on endogenous DMT (made within the body) and its role in prophetic states, as well as the progression of psychedelic research in general since then. His second major book on the topic is called DMT and the Soul of Prophecy, in which he explores the relationship between endogenous DMT and prophetic states as they are reported in the Hebrew Bible. Recently, Rick has been releasing a series of blogs on the mainstreaming of psychedelics and the problematic themes he sees emerging in the process.

We have him on the show for this episode to touch on how he feels about the impact his work with DMT has had on psychedelic research and the psychedelic subculture. We also talk god, prophecy, and even politics.

Enjoy.

***

See the full show notes and my blog entry on this episode: http://bit.ly/ATTMind65

***

Episode Breakdown

Rick's feelings towards the profound impact that DMT: The Spirit Molecule has played in the psychedelic subculture.
Setting the record straight on DMT and the pineal gland.
DMT's potential role in prophetic states, endogenous production as well as exogenous consumption.
Theoneurology vs Neurotheology - the relationship between God and the brain.
Modern day prophets in the DMT subculture.
Mainstreaming psychedelics:
- Stifling inquiry into the full nature of the psychedelic experience through fundamentalism, dogmas, and orthodoxies in the biomedical model for psychedelics.
- Renaming psychedelic drug adverse effects as “challenging experiences”
- Non-clinicians advocating for policy changes with clinical implications—specifically attempts to re-schedule psychedelics.
- Homogenizing widely disparate religious traditions by proposing that they all share a “common mystical core.”
Questions From ATTMind Patrons:
- DMT vs Changa.
- Extended State DMT infusion: What is it and what's the point?
- Rick's current and future projects.

***

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*** Special Thanks To Patrons: Thomas & Melanie H. Greg A., Dean H., Clea S., Andy D., Joe A., Angela & James J., Ian C., & Reese. H. for their extra generous support!

Next Episode

We Don't Know Sh!t | Dennis McKenna ~ ATTMind 67

Dennis Jon McKenna is an American ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, lecturer and author. He is the brother of well-known psychedelics proponent Terence McKenna and is founding board member and the director of ethnopharmacology at the Heffter Research Institute, a non-profit organization concerned with the investigation of the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelic medicines.

He is also one of the founding contributors to the modern wave of ayahuasca research in particular and psychedelic research in general. In fact, the book Magic Mushrooms grower’s guide, which he co-authored with his brother Terence in the 70s, presented the first reliable method for cultivating psilocybin mushrooms at home.

Chances are if it wasn’t for Dennis and his brother, none of us would have ever tasted the magic at all.

See below for full episode breakdown.

*** Support Us On Patreon! Http://www.patreon.com/jameswjesso Leave A One-Time PayPal Donation: https://www.paypal.me/JWJesso *** Head to http://www.bit.ly/ATTMind67 for all other related links and my blog entry on the theme of this episode. *** Episode Breakdown

The early years: developing the magic mushroom growers guide.
The limitations of the biomedical model for psychedelic research
The encounter and emergence of psychedelics in the culture of the 60 impact - dangerous
How and why Dennis and Terence got into psychedelics.
The McKenna early journey, from the jungle to the university.
What it was like to travel into the jungle for ayahuasca during the early years, before the tourist boom, compared to today.
The danger of the cults and power hunger within ayahuasca culture.
The role of psychedelics in the modern plight of humanity.
The moral dimension of psychedelic technology.
Plant intelligence and mycelial brain of the forest (no?)
Plant/mammal symbiotic co-evolution.
Psychedelic spiritually is cheating?
On Terence
- Beyond the legend. The man, the brother.
- How Terence privately feel about the time wave?
- Did he stop taking mushrooms?
- The challenges of being a psychedelic celebrity
- How does it feel to watch Terence being torn down by his critics?
- Did Terence work for the CIA?
- Dennis favourite story of his brother
The difference between Microdosing LSD and psilocybin
The possible dangers of microdosing LSD?
Cultural implications of microdosing vs macrodosing.
Suggestion and cautions in choosing to guide others in psychedelic experience.
What psychedelic is Dennis still taking?
You don't know shit.
If he were to die tomorrow, what piece of advice would he offer us?