RhythmSpring
Esteemed member
Let me preface this by saying I regard Salvia as a highly sacred plant with a deep wisdom that can be surprising.
I myself approach it with respect and caution. I only chew it these days, partially because the experience is more gentle and comprehensible and partially because that's how the Mazatecs do it (the indigenous people of Southern Mexico who use the plant ritually).
That said, I think this is hilarious. I suppose I should be saying, "This is disrespectful to the plant!" But a) it's really funny, b) who am I to say what the plant likes or dislikes? c) people have the freedom to do whatever they want with the plants, and d) everyone's experience is different, including their approach and the story from which they weave the Salvia experience.
I could say, "This gives Salvia a bad name!" But, does it? I think it gives it a name it deserves: Powerful. It's obvious in the video that this is a powerful plant and you shouldn't mess with it recklessly. Though Erik has a video called, "Driving on Salvia," it's clear in the video that it would be a freakin' awful idea to actually drive on Salvia. The hilarity of the video makes its point.
Finally, I could say, "This makes fun of something very serious!" But is it serious? Do we need to be serious about spirituality? What good does being solemn do? Spirituality is life, and if you go around being solemn all the time, you're gonna have a bad time. Erik's experiences with Salvia show us that contacting the Other (read: Self) can be a hilarious journey. Life can be absurdly light. In personal evolution, we don't necessarily have to be methodical and composed. We can go at it berserker-style, wielding the absurd corners of our mind as they give fruition to truth. Trickster energy, trickster energy.
Now, onto the hilarity!
Gardening on Salvia:
[YOUTUBE]
Driving on Salvia:
[YOUTUBE]
aaaaand, his evolution into a full-time youtube comedian:
[YOUTUBE]
I welcome any rebuttals, or any discussion regarding the exhibitionist use of Salvia on the internet, or just Salvia use in general. I know it can be offensive to some, worrisome for others (in terms of endangering its relatively light legal status), and seem like it encourages reckless behavior. But I really think it just shows us that we really ought to not f*** around with this plant, unless you're a reckless teenager who doesn't give a **** and need to experience getting your arse handed to you.
He even apologized to the Salvia Gods:
[YOUTUBE]
I was really touched that he did that. Feeling conflicted about the whole thing, especially the seemingly non-considerate way he ended the apology, I decided to meditate on the matter... with Salvia.
I immediately was brought back to myself, my inner world, and the deep well of wisdom Salvia brings me to. I realized that my experience of Salvia is different from his (duh?) and that he is filming the "real" world, not the "Salvia world." In other words, it's not really misrepresenting Salvia because Salvia CAN'T be represented, because its world is so vast and incomprehensible in this waking reality, not to mention a youtube video. The Salvia world has nothing to do with this silly video. It's completely other, and it's a doorway into the spirit world (in my opinion), and that's missed by a lot of people.
But there's no harm done in bringing Salvia into the light of public consciousness, I've concluded. People deserve to know about this plant, no matter how they first learn about it. People are smart enough figure out for themselves its spiritual value, or stupid enough to completely miss the point. Either way, it's all good. And for the very few that would overreact and think it's the devil's weed or something, I have yet to see that attitude surface (again) into the mainstream with any real consequence, and, if it has in some places, I think it's worth all the attention it receives.
We live in an age where things are being brought into the light--even the most "serious," powerful tools for spiritual development and consciousness expansion--and I think it deserves embracing.
Love and Light.
I myself approach it with respect and caution. I only chew it these days, partially because the experience is more gentle and comprehensible and partially because that's how the Mazatecs do it (the indigenous people of Southern Mexico who use the plant ritually).
That said, I think this is hilarious. I suppose I should be saying, "This is disrespectful to the plant!" But a) it's really funny, b) who am I to say what the plant likes or dislikes? c) people have the freedom to do whatever they want with the plants, and d) everyone's experience is different, including their approach and the story from which they weave the Salvia experience.
I could say, "This gives Salvia a bad name!" But, does it? I think it gives it a name it deserves: Powerful. It's obvious in the video that this is a powerful plant and you shouldn't mess with it recklessly. Though Erik has a video called, "Driving on Salvia," it's clear in the video that it would be a freakin' awful idea to actually drive on Salvia. The hilarity of the video makes its point.
Finally, I could say, "This makes fun of something very serious!" But is it serious? Do we need to be serious about spirituality? What good does being solemn do? Spirituality is life, and if you go around being solemn all the time, you're gonna have a bad time. Erik's experiences with Salvia show us that contacting the Other (read: Self) can be a hilarious journey. Life can be absurdly light. In personal evolution, we don't necessarily have to be methodical and composed. We can go at it berserker-style, wielding the absurd corners of our mind as they give fruition to truth. Trickster energy, trickster energy.
Now, onto the hilarity!
Gardening on Salvia:
[YOUTUBE]
Driving on Salvia:
[YOUTUBE]
aaaaand, his evolution into a full-time youtube comedian:
[YOUTUBE]
I welcome any rebuttals, or any discussion regarding the exhibitionist use of Salvia on the internet, or just Salvia use in general. I know it can be offensive to some, worrisome for others (in terms of endangering its relatively light legal status), and seem like it encourages reckless behavior. But I really think it just shows us that we really ought to not f*** around with this plant, unless you're a reckless teenager who doesn't give a **** and need to experience getting your arse handed to you.
He even apologized to the Salvia Gods:
[YOUTUBE]
I was really touched that he did that. Feeling conflicted about the whole thing, especially the seemingly non-considerate way he ended the apology, I decided to meditate on the matter... with Salvia.
I immediately was brought back to myself, my inner world, and the deep well of wisdom Salvia brings me to. I realized that my experience of Salvia is different from his (duh?) and that he is filming the "real" world, not the "Salvia world." In other words, it's not really misrepresenting Salvia because Salvia CAN'T be represented, because its world is so vast and incomprehensible in this waking reality, not to mention a youtube video. The Salvia world has nothing to do with this silly video. It's completely other, and it's a doorway into the spirit world (in my opinion), and that's missed by a lot of people.
But there's no harm done in bringing Salvia into the light of public consciousness, I've concluded. People deserve to know about this plant, no matter how they first learn about it. People are smart enough figure out for themselves its spiritual value, or stupid enough to completely miss the point. Either way, it's all good. And for the very few that would overreact and think it's the devil's weed or something, I have yet to see that attitude surface (again) into the mainstream with any real consequence, and, if it has in some places, I think it's worth all the attention it receives.
We live in an age where things are being brought into the light--even the most "serious," powerful tools for spiritual development and consciousness expansion--and I think it deserves embracing.
Love and Light.