The Psychotropic Mind: The World according to Ayahuasca, Iboga, and Shamanism [Paperback]

Jeremy Narby (Author), Jan Kounen (Author), Vincent Ravalec (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2009

Conversations on shamanism and mind-altering plants by filmmaker Jan Kounen, anthropologist Jeremy Narby, and writer/filmmaker Vincent Ravalec

• Explores how ayahuasca and iboga are tools for communicating with other life-forms

• Offers insights into the role this indigenous knowledge can play in solving the current problems facing the world

In the Amazon, shamans do not talk in terms of hallucinogens but of tools for communicating with other life-forms. Ayahuasca, for example, is first and foremost a means of breaking down the barrier that separates humans from other species, allowing us to communicate with them. The introduction of plant-centered shamanism into the Western world in the 1970s was literally the meeting of two entirely different paradigms. In The Psychotropic Mind, three of the individuals who have been at the forefront of embracing other ways of knowing look at the ramifications of the introduction into our Western culture of these shamanic practices and the psychotropic substances that support them.

With rare sincerity and depth, noted anthropologist Jeremy Narby, filmmaker Jan Kounen, and writer/filmmaker Vincent Ravalec explore the questions of sacred plants, initiations, hallucinogens, and altered states of consciousness, looking at both the benefits and dangers that await those who seek to travel this path. Focusing specifically on ayahuasca and iboga, psychotropic substances with which the authors are intimately familiar, they examine how we can best learn the other ways of perceiving the world found in indigenous cultures, and how this knowledge offers immense benefits and likely solutions to some of the modern world’s most pressing problems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Wide-ranging and provocative, these trialogues entice us with colorful personal encounters with South American and African shamanism. Brimming with practical and insightful advice, and displaying a refreshingly broad conceptual framework, this book is both entertaining and informative. It will satisfy both the newcomer to the field as well as those with a well-established  interest in hallucinogens and their social implications.”
(Rick Strassman, author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule and clinical associate professor of psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine )

"This book will be valuable to professionals counseling young people and to those working with 12-Step programs and rehab facilities. Salespeople should understand what it is about so that it does not get passed over as being sensational and exotic."
(Anna Jedrziewski, New Age Retailer, March 2010 )

"Since the 1950s there has been considerable interest in the use of natural hallucinogens by indigenous people as part of their spiritual beliefs. . . . the conversation that is recorded does offer some insights into this strange world."
(The Cauldron, UK, May 2010 )

From the Back Cover

ENTHEOGENS / SHAMANISM

“Wide-ranging and provocative, these trialogues entice us with colorful personal encounters with South American and African shamanism. Brimming with practical and insightful advice, and displaying a refreshingly broad conceptual framework, this book is both entertaining and informative. It will satisfy both the newcomer to the field as well as those with a well-established  interest in hallucinogens and their social implications.”
--Rick Strassman, author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule and clinical associate professor of psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine

In the Amazon, shamans do not talk in terms of hallucinogens but of tools for communicating with other life-forms. Ayahuasca, for example, is first and foremost a means of breaking down the barrier that separates humans from other species, allowing us to communicate with them.  The introduction of plant-centered shamanism into the Western world in the 1970s was literally the meeting of two entirely different paradigms. In The Psychotropic Mind, three of the individuals who have been at the forefront of embracing other ways of knowing look at the ramifications of the introduction into our Western culture of these shamanic practices and the psychotropic substances that support them.

With rare sincerity and depth, noted anthropologist Jeremy Narby, filmmaker Jan Kounen, and writer/filmmaker Vincent Ravalec explore the questions of sacred plants, initiations, hallucinogens, and altered states of consciousness, looking at both the benefits and dangers that await those who seek to travel this path.  Focusing specifically on ayahuasca and iboga, psychotropic substances with which the authors are intimately familiar, they examine how we can best learn the other ways of perceiving the world found in indigenous cultures and how this knowledge offers immense benefits and likely solutions to some of the modern world’s most pressing problems.

JEREMY NARBY is an anthropologist best known for his books The Cosmic Serpent and Intelligence in Nature. Filmmaker JAN KOUNEN has  created a number of films and documentaries, including the celebrated Blueberry, released in the United states as Renegades.  VINCENT RAVALEC is a prizewinning writer and filmmaker whose book Iboga has been translated into English by Park Street Press.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Park Street Press (November 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594773122
• ISBN-13: 978-1594773129
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 66% effective, December 19, 2009

By 

J. Huebner "jimbutu" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Psychotropic Mind: The World according to Ayahuasca, Iboga, and Shamanism (Paperback)

Having pre-ordered this book back in July, I was unaware that it was a trialogue; the edited transcript of conversations between the three co-authors rather than an extension of Jeremy Narby's fine work in THE COSMIC SERPENT. Thus, it started out as a bit of a disappointment for me, but i never-the-less found much to enjoy, particularly in exchanges between Narby and Jan Kounen. Indeed, i liked Kounen's contributions quite a lot. What made the book tedious for me was Vincent Ravalec's egotism and constant attempts at one-upmanship.

Throughout the book Ravalec seems to regard the experiences of the others with ayahuasca as inferior to his own experience with iboga. On occasion he'll make a big deal about raising a point and then later dismiss it as irrelevant when the others take it up. In short, it would have been a much better book if he'd been left out of the mix, not because of his disagreements but because of his disagreeable nature which left me with the impression that he was being disagreeable for it's own sake. Unfortunately, one pretty much needs to read the whole book to realize this, though now that I've told you, you'll likely pick up on it very (VERY!) early. He has his moments where he contributes positively to the discussion, but these moments do not compensate for what he detracts from the overall intent of the project. From time to time, both Narby and Kounen take Ravalec to task on either something he's said or the way he's said it and when they do he generally backs down. But this also distracted me from the discussion and I didn't need to waste my reading time dealing with his ego (I'm thinking maybe he needs a couple more of those ego-busting ayahuasca sessions). Let's just hope there's not a video of these conversations in the works.

Yet overall,it is worth the read, especially if you are contemplating an ayahuasca experience of your own. As for iboga, there's not much in here about it because Ravalec is the only one of the three who claims to have had the experience. He has his own book out on iboga which I wanted to read before i wrote this review, but because of the trialogue format of PSYCHOTORPIC MIND i wanted to get that info out there and clear to potential buyers and readers.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Please let Narby talk!, February 11, 2010

By 

David P. Crews "jaguarfeather" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Psychotropic Mind: The World according to Ayahuasca, Iboga, and Shamanism (Paperback)

Like some other reviewers, I found the conversation taking far too much of an ego one-upsmanship turn throughout this book. I kept looking forward to the next time Jeremy Narby was to speak and wishing the others would just be quiet and listen to him. I think the English translation from French impacts the way it comes off to an English speaker a bit, too.
That said, there were some interesting thoughts and observations in the book, which is not an actual, well-organized book - just a printed conversation that does tend to skew off track from time to time.
Another review was correct in pointing out the lack of any real discussion of Iboga here. I'd have been interested in some comparing and contrasting with the Male energy/spirit of Iboga vs. the Female one of Ayahuasca, etc. from some who have encountered both.
This would not be the best introductory book to someone wanting to learn about or preparing to work with these Teachers. There are many others that would be superior, but it is worth a look for those who are drawn to read what they can about these great plant medicines.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Narby, I expect better, December 23, 2009

By 

Voyager - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Psychotropic Mind: The World according to Ayahuasca, Iboga, and Shamanism (Paperback)

I consider Jeremy Narby's previous books to have been excellent contributions to our understanding of the connections between 'science' as we understand it, particulary the 'social sciences', and the profundities of the 'science' or wisdom obtained by means of the ceremonial taking of the ayahuasca plant(s) for example, that native peoples have long practiced.

This book is simply a transcription of two conversations in which Mr. Narby participates, along with two other no doubt interesting, but unknown to me, guys on the general topic of their experiences using ayahuasca and other hallucinogens.

These two conversations may be welcome memories for the participants, but they are not fit for a general audience. The nuggets of insight that may be somewhere buried in the discussions, will in my view forever be buried behind the boring format of people talking, with no framing into a focused subject of general interest.

For 'conversation' to be newsworthy, it must be carefully edited and framed. Unless the participants themselves are newsworthy, like Einstein and Freud talking for example. This book is NEITHER!