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doodlumwns3
Stranger
Registered: 02/09/14
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Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
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Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future.
#19544550 - 02/09/14 04:16 PM (10 years, 16 days ago) |
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Well this is my first post on this site so I'll start off by saying hello to everybody and I look forward to becoming a part of the community here.
Now a little about me: I am 18 and a senior in high school. I am salutatorian of my class, a straight A student, and have earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the BSA. Brought up on Christian morals, I come from a mainly conservative family and have grown up most of my life being exposed to what I now consider a closed-minded way of thinking.
However, over the course of a year and a half, I have experienced a major shift in the way I think about and experience life. I came across Joe Rogan, who turned me on to Terence Mckenna, who turned me on to the study of psychedelics/entheogens, which has turned me on to spirituality. I have undergone what I consider to be the most important change of my life (short as it may be). My entire outlook on life has changed, in my opinion, for the better. I no longer consider myself a Christian however I am a very spiritual person and probably pretty close to being what many would define as a Buddhist. I am extremely interested in the entheogens(Psilocybin, LSD, DMT, etc.) although so far I have only ad the experience with cannabis. I enjoy listening to or reading the works of Terence Mckenna, Ram Dass, Alan Watts, Eckhart Tolle, Graham Hancock, and Joe Rogan just to name a few. I am also interested in meditation, enlightenment, and the technological singularity if that makes any difference.
I will be starting college in the fall and I have what I hope to be a long life ahead of me and honestly I am worried. I want to do something that allows me to keep down this path of spiritual growing and learn what I can about the subjects of metaphysics, spiritual growth, and entheogens.
Up to this point, I have kept my "unorthodox" thoughts to myself for the most part as my peers would consider me a loon if they knew. the only people I can open up to about these sorts of things are my mother (a very open minded and free spirited Methodist pastor) and one very close friend. That is the reason I came to Shroomery...to be able to open up and seek advice from other.
Does anybody have any constructive thoughts to help me along? Any reading suggestions would also be greatly appreciated.
Peace & Love
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DividedQuantum
Outer Head


Registered: 12/06/13
Posts: 9,828
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: doodlumwns3]
#19544625 - 02/09/14 04:37 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Can't give any advice about the path you should take. That's your decision alone, and I'm sure no matter what you do you will, with experience, look back and wish certain things had gone differently. There's no way to plan perfectly. I would say go by feel in your endeavors more than by thought. The first instinct is usually the best.
As far as reading suggestions, I could cite you a library. But a good place to start, that's one click away, is The Deoxyribonucleic Hyperdimension. Dimitri has built a great site there, and that should give you plenty of fruitful ideas.
Best of luck to you!
-------------------- Vi Veri Universum Vivus Vici
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FishOilTheKid
Ascended


Registered: 11/14/10
Posts: 5,401
Last seen: 27 days, 5 hours
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: DividedQuantum]
#19544800 - 02/09/14 05:20 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Don't get into the idea of psychosis vs sanity. The other worlds are operated by Baphomet.
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teknix
๐โ๐
ข๐๐
๐ฐ๐ก ๐ผ๐โจป



Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 11,953
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: DividedQuantum]
#19544810 - 02/09/14 05:21 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Welcome doodlumwns3!
You will have to be more specific about your question, if you want tips or advice. What is your goal?
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teknix
๐โ๐
ข๐๐
๐ฐ๐ก ๐ผ๐โจป



Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 11,953
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: teknix]
#19544830 - 02/09/14 05:26 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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I personally began with a form of Kundalini Yoga, and it evolved to encompass practices of Toaist Internal Alchemy and Buddhism. I haven't personally found anything useful from the authors you mentioned.
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lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: teknix]
#19544838 - 02/09/14 05:29 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Change is rarely pleasant, but usually rarely regretted
education can be good, I think one should accept the systems stress to get an education, might be worth it for being able to do what you love afterwards
the more unpleasant stuff(change) you can do the more you can grow it seems :-)
do what you love
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doodlumwns3
Stranger
Registered: 02/09/14
Posts: 32
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: teknix]
#19544912 - 02/09/14 05:50 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Thanks guys. I understand needing to choose my own path just excited to communicate with others who may be experiencing something similar. As far as being more specific, any interesting authors or lecturers I could look into dealing with anything on the subjects of metaphysics, entheogens, philosophy, or something of that nature. Sorry I can't narrow it down more than that. I am open to a wide variety of suggestions as I am eager to learn what tickles other peoples' fancy when in regards to these subjects.
Perhaps what are your favorite authors and some of their finer works?
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teknix
๐โ๐
ข๐๐
๐ฐ๐ก ๐ผ๐โจป



Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 11,953
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: doodlumwns3]
#19544949 - 02/09/14 06:01 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life by Drunvalo Melchizedek began my journey. I also like Charles Luk and Mantak Chia, for their description and practices. But I generally take everything I read with a grain of salt until I can know it as true through experience, rather than belief or intellectual understanding.
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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



Registered: 04/01/07
Posts: 45,432
Loc: Under the C
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: doodlumwns3]
#19544981 - 02/09/14 06:10 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Quote:
I no longer consider myself a Christian however I am a very spiritual person and probably pretty close to being what many would define as a Buddhist. I am extremely interested in the entheogens(Psilocybin, LSD, DMT, etc.)
Traditional Buddhists frown on the ingestion of intoxicating substances as they interfere with clarity of mind.
--------------------
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FishOilTheKid
Ascended


Registered: 11/14/10
Posts: 5,401
Last seen: 27 days, 5 hours
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: OrgoneConclusion]
#19544985 - 02/09/14 06:12 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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CHARLATANS.
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teknix
๐โ๐
ข๐๐
๐ฐ๐ก ๐ผ๐โจป



Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 11,953
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: OrgoneConclusion]
#19544991 - 02/09/14 06:13 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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That may not be entirely true Oregone:
Quote:
Soma siddhas and alchemical enlightenment: psychedelic mushrooms in Buddhist tradition. Hajicek-Dobberstein S. Abstract In the legendary biographies of some Buddhist adepts from the 2nd- and 9th-centuries there are some clues which can be interpreted to reveal that the adepts were consuming psychedelic Amanita muscaria, 'fly agaric', mushrooms to achieve enlightenment. This secret ingredient in the alchemical elixir they used to attain 'realization' was, of course, unnamed, in keeping with their vows to maintain the secrecy of their practices. Its identity was concealed behind a set of symbols, some of which appeared in the Soma symbol system of the Rg Veda, some other symbols possibly passed down from a time of earlier shamanic use of the mushroom in the forests of Northern Eurasia, and some symbols that may be unique to these Buddhist legends. The congruity of these sets of symbols from Northern and Southern Asian traditions will be shown to be reflected in the Germanic tradition in some characteristics of the Oldest God, Odin. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8583800
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FishOilTheKid
Ascended


Registered: 11/14/10
Posts: 5,401
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: teknix]
#19545019 - 02/09/14 06:22 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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I believe.
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doodlumwns3
Stranger
Registered: 02/09/14
Posts: 32
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: FishOilTheKid]
#19545224 - 02/09/14 07:13 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Well I do not consider myself a traditional Buddhist by any means. My personal spirituality just seems to coinside with Buddhism more than any other religion I have come across so far.
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doodlumwns3
Stranger
Registered: 02/09/14
Posts: 32
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: doodlumwns3]
#19545267 - 02/09/14 07:22 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!
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TGS
Pied Piper


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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: doodlumwns3]
#19545391 - 02/09/14 07:48 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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I like Robert Anton Wilson. Maybe start with Prometheus Rising or if you like fiction Schroedinger's Cat. Look for the old edition with 3 different books not the condensed Dell edition. Also check out the c-realm podcasts.
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Lion
Decadent Flower Magnate


Registered: 09/20/05
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: doodlumwns3]
#19545470 - 02/09/14 08:10 PM (10 years, 15 days ago) |
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I have no suggestions except to say that I wouldn't worry too much about what books to read or what practices and ideas to seek out. Each life is its own spiritual path and reading certain authors and doing certain things aren't benchmarks on an upward journey. Find something in university that really challenges you and is likely to offer you opportunities, and do it as well as you can. Making a place for yourself in the world is more important than anything else for someone of your age.
You sound similar to me when I was your age, but smarter and wiser in some ways. I hope you'll have good, valuable experiences with entheogens should you decide to use them. Be mindful of where, with whom, and for what reasons you use them.
-------------------- โStrengthened by contemplation and study, I will not fear my passions like a coward. My body I will give to pleasures, to diversions that Iโve dreamed of, to the most daring erotic desires, to the lustful impulses of my blood, without any fear at all, for whenever I willโ and I will have the will, strengthened as Iโll be with contemplation and studyโ at the crucial moments Iโll recover my spirit as was before: ascetic.โ
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Deviate
newbie
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: Lion] 1
#19556034 - 02/12/14 05:17 AM (10 years, 13 days ago) |
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I recommend the book in Lion's sig, be here now by Ram Daas. Exactly the book I'd recommend for someone in your situation.
Another spiritual teacher I'd recommend is Adyashanti. He doesn't deal with psychedelics but personally I have found that as I spiritually mature, I am less and less interested in psychedelics. What is interesting is the things which I learned from psychedelics, not psychedelics themselves. When I got the message I hung up the phone. Not completely, I still visit the psychedelic realms once in a while but it is not something for me to get excited about or expect to get anything from.
Do not expect to "get" anything from your spiritual journey, the aim is a loss, not an aquisition. You are trying to lose the ego or sense of separateness from the fullness of the whole, rather than get something you dont have now.
I would also urge you not to give up on Christanity. Maybe you need to read some books on Christian mysticism, but I tell you, many of the Christian spiritual techniques are of immense power and I certainly would no be where I am today without Jesus Christ.
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Icyus
KavitฤrkikasiแนHa



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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: Deviate]
#19556046 - 02/12/14 05:21 AM (10 years, 13 days ago) |
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Shut up untill you are content. Then you speak, knowing you might get killee for it, without anyone listening, just because it is the right thing to do. That is my ideals.
-------------------- And thus begins the reverse-fusing of our one-dimentional understanding, and adds ever-expanding perspectives, in depth and number; splitting our perception, and in so doing, seemingly irrationally, creates yet more one-ness, with all that ever was, is and will ever be, streching across the infinite, inunderstood concept of everything, percievable and not.
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Spacerific
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: Icyus]
#19562530 - 02/13/14 05:24 PM (10 years, 11 days ago) |
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Alan Watts OP, I highly suggest some Alan Watts for your reading/listening pleasure. Just do a youtube search and listen for a few minutes, IMO his talks go a long way
-------------------- Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. - Matthew 13:16
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c0sm0nautt

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Loc: The Astral Realm
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Re: Beginning my spiritual path. Hopeful yet nervous for the future. [Re: doodlumwns3]
#19562905 - 02/13/14 07:02 PM (10 years, 11 days ago) |
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Welcome to the forums man. I think most people can relate to your story. It really is exciting when you first get exposed to this type of information - it's like your world magically expands for the better. All I can say is, keep digging down the rabbit hole. A few authors I would recommend, that have really struck a chord for me, are Thomas Campbell and Jurgen Ziewe.
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