Hello everyone!

[Blundering_Novice]

Hello good people! I have known about this subject for a few years, done LOTS of reading, and SWIM might be preparing for his first voyage in a few weeks. The components are being assembled as SWIM types.... SWIM is no stranger to 'stepping sideways' via other molecules.

What I want to say first is how utterly impressed I am with the denizens of this site. I have done quite a bit of browsing today and I am overwhelmed by the maturity, thoughtfulness, and intelligent approach assumed by the posters here. It's so reassuring and self-affirming to find like-minded people out in internetland. I was going to bemoan the current state of affairs in regards to an individual's ability to legally explore his/her own CNS as they see fit, but that's preaching to the choir. However, I am pretty curious to how the DEA rationalizes the prohibition of something that we are all carrying around in our bodies anyway.

Anyhow, I've been interested in this topic for a while, done lots of reading here and there, but discovering this site has really been an encouraging find. I look forward to contributing more in the future.....

 

[Blundering_Novice]

SWIM would also like to add that he is about a 6.7 on Richard Dawkins' 7 point Atheist scale! So SWIM is quite curious to see if the upcoming journeys slide it back a ways.

 

[88]

Welcome, dear friend with an unfortunate name ... I look forward to reading the 1000th post of 'Blundering_Novice' hehehe

no really, welcome. Re the atheism; I think you'll be changed, only because you admit to a 0.3 chance that there might be something else; effectively you're saying, you are not 100% convinced; so please report back once you've taken the sacrament.

safe travels, friend

 

[Blundering_Novice]

Welcome, dear friend with an unfortunate name ... I look forward to reading the 1000th post of 'Blundering_Novice' hehehe

no really, welcome. Re the atheism; I think you'll be changed, only because you admit to a 0.3 chance that there might be something else; effectively you're saying, you are not 100% convinced; so please report back once you've taken the sacrament.

safe travels, friend

I have never discounted the possibility, (in fact likelihood) that there are greater intelligences elsewhere in the universe. But as of this moment, I doubt most/all of mankind's 'Holy books,' or that 'God' is concerned with the goings on here on Earth. Primarily due to the classic argument regarding the 'Problem of Evil.'

However, if what we call consensus reality is merely a shallow reflection of a deeper dimension, then it becomes slightly more palatable that God allows earthquakes, typhoons, deformed babies, etc. because this level of reality is transitory and a just a fraction of something much greater.


Though I would never ever consume or possess an illegal, scheduled substance.....if I COULD consume DMT without running afoul of the authorities, I am ready to approach it openly. Let the secrets and the mysteries of the Universe unfold before me as they wish for I am but a humble drop of water in an infinite lake of wonder.

 

[88]

[
I have never discounted the possibility, (in fact likelihood) that there are greater intelligences elsewhere in the universe.

Interaction with 'The Other' has been a staple of human history since we first recorded it; be that djinn, elves, faeries, spirits or greys; so you are not alone in pondering the consequence of Drake's equation or puzzling over Fermi's paradox ... who are these Others? And where are they? But do you equate the idea of other, greater or more advanced intelligence with the existence of some kind of God?

IT's likely that the proven existence of, or first-hand contact with, an alien (as in 'utterly different', rather than 'from another planet') consciousness would trigger a crisis in some relgions - evangelical Christianity springs to mind - but would it answer the question of whether there is a God?

 

[skwrlgurl]

I also consider myself an atheist, but only in that I do not believe in an omnipotent supernatural being. I believe we all share an energy, and our personal manifestation of that energy could be considered a soul or spirit -- no relation to organized religion. Therefore, I believe in spirituality, but am atheist... I am very interested in learning to leverage the shared energy, as I feel it is in our grasp to do that, but underdeveloped through societal conditioning dismissing its existence.

 

[88]

I also consider myself an atheist, but only in that I do not believe in an omnipotent supernatural being. I believe we all share an energy, and our personal manifestation of that energy could be considered a soul or spirit -- no relation to organized religion. Therefore, I believe in spirituality, but am atheist... I am very interested in learning to leverage the shared energy, as I feel it is in our grasp to do that, but underdeveloped through societal conditioning dismissing its existence.

That's very well put - I share your conviction that we are parts of a whole, linked at some level to one another, to other life, and to all that is around us. One consciousness, many awarenesses. There is some research into collective intelligence that I found very interesting when looked at from this point of view.

As regards the existence of god, personally I don't see a picture of the classic "big man with a long white beard". However, I don't discount the possibility of an original intent, a binding, all pervasive force or indeed of a universal consciousness.

 

[skwrlgurl]

I also consider myself an atheist, but only in that I do not believe in an omnipotent supernatural being. I believe we all share an energy, and our personal manifestation of that energy could be considered a soul or spirit -- no relation to organized religion. Therefore, I believe in spirituality, but am atheist... I am very interested in learning to leverage the shared energy, as I feel it is in our grasp to do that, but underdeveloped through societal conditioning dismissing its existence.

That's very well put - I share your conviction that we are parts of a whole, linked at some level to one another, to other life, and to all that is around us. One consciousness, many awarenesses. There is some research into collective intelligence that I found very interesting when looked at from this point of view.

As regards the existence of god, personally I don't see a picture of the classic "big man with a long white beard". However, I don't discount the possibility of an original intent, a binding, all pervasive force or indeed of a universal consciousness.

Thank you, 88. A collective intelligence is an interesting way of perceiving our shared energy. I am planning on watching Spirit Space soon, as I think there is much to consider as explored in this film.

 

[Pandora]

Hi Blundering_Novice,

I love your username - I should have thought of it myself!

Welcome to the Nexus! Great introduction. Glad to hear you have already looked around a bit - I have been looking around for over 9 months now and every day there is something new that I learn here. It is a place of wonder, alchemical enlightenments and tremendous community.

Again, welcome.

Peace & Love,
Pandora

 

[Jumper]

Glad to have you here.

However, I am pretty curious to how the DEA rationalizes the prohibition of something that we are all carrying around in our bodies anyway.

That's quite amusing to think about.:lol: Actually, it's highly irrational for them to brand humans as criminals for having a naturally occurring brain chemical which they deem as being "Schedule I". Yeah, I get your point.

"It is often the blundering novice who later turns out to be a great adept." - Jumper