JRE #1133 – Dennis McKenna

by

6/21/2018







This podcast explores the fascinating life and work of Dennis McKenna, an ethnopharmacologist and brother to the renowned psychedelics advocate Terence McKenna. McKenna’s new book, “Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs: 50 Years of Research (1967-2017),” is the central focus, shedding light on the history of psychedelic research, the ongoing evolution of its scientific understanding, and McKenna’s personal journey within this field. The podcast delves into provocative topics surrounding the potential of psychedelics for healing, spiritual growth, and even extraterrestrial connections, while simultaneously exploring the limitations of traditional scientific paradigms and the importance of embracing a broader perspective on reality. The conversation underscores a deep-seated yearning for meaning and connection, not just within human society but with the natural world and potentially even with unknown entities beyond our comprehension.

The Institute for Ecotechnics and the Heriklidus

  • The Institute for Ecotechnics was founded in the early 1970s and embarked on expeditions exploring global ecology, utilizing the Chinese junk “RV Heriklidus” as their vessel.
  • McKenna initially viewed the Institute with skepticism but later gained a deeper understanding of their unconventional approach to science.
  • Their work involved coral reef sampling, studying global warming in the Arctic and Antarctic, and engaging in ethnobotanical research in the Amazon.
  • The Institute’s most ambitious project was the construction of BioSphere 2, a closed-loop ecological system designed to test the feasibility of creating a self-sustaining environment for future Mars colonization. While the project faced challenges and criticism, it yielded significant scientific insights.

The Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs Conference

  • The National Institute of Mental Health held a private conference in San Francisco in 1967, titled “Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs,” which profoundly influenced McKenna’s career path.
  • The conference aimed to document the state of the art in psychoethnopharmacology, exploring traditional knowledge of psychedelic plants and their potential therapeutic uses.
  • The War on Drugs unfortunately hindered any further government-sponsored conferences on this topic, with the 1967 proceedings remaining a landmark resource for the field.
  • In 2017, McKenna organized a 50th anniversary follow-up conference, bringing together leading researchers and fostering a renewed dialogue on psychedelics, reaching an audience of 60,000 through Facebook Live streaming.

The Importance of Psychedelics for Spiritual Growth and Healing

  • McKenna highlights the potential of psychedelics to offer irrefutable spiritual experiences, providing a tangible alternative to faith-based belief systems.
  • He argues that psychedelics can help individuals rediscover a connection with nature and recognize their interdependence with the global community of species.
  • He emphasizes that psychedelics are powerful tools for healing, addressing societal issues like PTSD, depression, and addiction.
  • He criticizes the limitations of the strictly clinical approach to psychedelic research, advocating for a broader exploration of their potential for spiritual and personal growth.

The Role of Plant Teachers and the Concept of Natural Philosophy

  • McKenna underscores the idea of plant teachers, suggesting that certain plants possess a unique ability to guide and teach individuals, particularly when consumed in a mindful and respectful context.
  • He introduces the concept of natural philosophy, proposing a more open and holistic approach to understanding the world, encompassing phenomena often dismissed by conventional science, such as UFO encounters and paranormal experiences.
  • He advocates for a return to a less dogmatic and more inquisitive scientific approach, recognizing the limitations of current paradigms and fostering a more inclusive and less dismissive attitude towards the unknown.
  • He believes that natural philosophy, combined with the insights gained from psychedelic experiences, can offer a more nuanced and holistic understanding of reality.

The Experiment at La Chorrera and the Mystery of DMT

  • McKenna shares his and Terence’s experiences at La Chorrera, a location in the Amazon rainforest, where they encountered a potent oral form of DMT, known as Ukhue.
  • He describes their encounter with a powerful intelligence, which he refers to as a teacher, and the transmission of profound insights, including the genesis of Terence’s “timewave zero” theory.
  • He discusses the unique properties of DMT, suggesting that it may be a chemical key to unlocking a nearby dimension or a way to perceive a reality that is normally obscured from our awareness.
  • He acknowledges the controversy surrounding the possibility of endogenous DMT production in the brain, yet argues that further research is needed to fully understand its role in consciousness and altered states.

The Future of Psychedelics and the McKenna Academy

  • McKenna expresses optimism about the growing acceptance and legalization of psychedelics, with organizations like MAPS leading the way in clinical research and advocacy.
  • He discusses the potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy to become more readily available, particularly in regions with more open regulatory frameworks, such as Canada and Peru.
  • He reveals his plans to establish the McKenna Academy for Natural Philosophy in the Sacred Valley of Peru, a center dedicated to exploring the potential of psychedelics for healing, spiritual growth, and societal transformation.
  • He envisions the Academy as a global hub for research, education, and community, promoting a more holistic and compassionate approach to understanding ourselves, our relationships with nature, and the mysteries of the universe.

The Challenges of Humanity and the Importance of Wisdom

  • McKenna expresses deep concern about the trajectory of human civilization, highlighting the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancement and the need for greater wisdom and compassion.
  • He argues that while technology itself is inherently neutral, it’s the human intention and choices that determine its ethical and moral implications.
  • He believes that psychedelics can play a crucial role in cultivating wisdom and guiding humanity toward a more sustainable and harmonious future.
  • He emphasizes that the future of humanity depends on our ability to cultivate wisdom, balance our technological prowess with compassion, and understand our interconnectedness with all things.

Memorable Quotes:

  • “Psychedelics are the antidote to faith. You don’t need faith to take a psychedelic. What you need is courage.”
  • “We’re living in a hallucination, essentially. That’s constructed by our brains.”
  • “We are in a symbiotic relationship with something that has disguised itself as an alien invasion in order not to alarm us.”
  • “Science is a very timid kind of activity sometimes because in its current incarnation, it’s so dependent. It’s it’s corrupted in a certain way.”
  • “The psychedelics can be the catalyst that teaches us how to love ourselves, how to love each other, how to love the earth.”