Consciousness
Isolation Tank History
Some History of the isolation tank by an awesome manufacturer Samahdi .
What i would do to get my hands on one of these !
On the brain :
Somewhere, deep within the brain, was a mechanism capable of generating internal experiences completely independent of the outside world, and this settled the issue of what happens in profound physical isolation. The mind does not pass into unconsciousness, the brain does not shut down. Instead, it constructs experience out of stored impressions and memories. The isolated mind becomes highly active and creative. This was the principal discovery that Dr. Lilly reported in his first three scientific papers on the isolation tank research, published in 1956, 1957, and 1958.”
On the people who enjoy using them :
“For another group of people, the distinction between external circumstances and internal processes is not so clear-cut. They perceive both sets of phenomena as partaking of the quality of realness. These people may be interested in self-analysis, meditation, transcendental experiences, and altered states of consciousness. For them, the isolation environment is useful because it minimizes interactions with the external reality and allows the internal domain to be more fully explored.”
Discussing Transpersonal Art With Alex Grey
Nice interview with artist Alex Grey.
Well, my work is primarily examining the nature of consciousness, and it uses various mediums to explore that question. The work’s main subject is the question of human identity and life, so I examine the human body on the physical level and interlace the subtle energies and systems of understanding from both eastern and western occult mystical traditions. I take a multicultural perspective because I want to get as many truths as I can into the vision of what a human being is.
Technoshamanism: Reality or Nonsense ?
Personally i don’t think “true” techno shamanism is possible until we reach the point where we can actually transfer the our brain / mind / consciousness onto silicon for storage.
Shamanism involves a disengagement from the constraints of the body, a liberation of the mind through incantations, trance dance, drugs, heightening of the senses and prolonged dreamstates. Terrance McKenna a contemporary philosopher, believes that technology is becoming a substitute for these kinds of ancient rituals which were once evident in many nomadic cultures. Young people today see Virtual Reality as drug-simultated escape, Rave Clubs as a place for massive trance dance rituals and The Internet as the ultimate way for more modern nomads to traverse time and space. Are we entering an era of Technoshamanism?
Link: Technoshamanism: Reality or Nonsense ?
