I've now read through Angel Tech for the second time. I'm realizing with that as well what I novice I am when it comes to interrupting these systems and actually applying them effectively. It’s funny though Alli is really does not advocate much drug use in fact he tends to opt for alternatives to. The book itself suggests that its techniques are for consciousness raising without the use of drugs.
This seems to run counter to much thought around the perception of what a shaman is. The notion of the vision quest or psychedelic experience is pretty much part of the shamans role in guiding individuals towards a enlightening experience that re-orientates their world view and starts them on a new path to truer wisdom or a greater attuning to the sole.
I recall in a lecture given by Terrence Mckenna who is probably the most famous modern shaman of today, (he died over 10 years ago now) he stated an almost elitist view that people who had psychedelic experience and part took in these substances where in fact speeding up evolution and superior to those that didn't. Although he died of brain cancer which he thought was from substance abuse, his doctors did not conclude a link to his substance use. I think Terrence although possibly the most eloquent speaker on the topic of psychedelics placed to much emphasis on their use and indeed even tried to argue consciousness evolved from their use.
I guess my point is these two individuals show quite differing definitions of shamanism in what they preach as their learning's and pathways to enlightenment.
well put
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