Sacred Vine of Spirits: Ayahuasca

by Ralph Metzner (editor)

A compilation of writings on the chemical, biological, psychological & experiential dimensions of Ayahuasca. Includes 24 1sthand accounts of Ayahuasca experiences & resulting life changes, including contributions from J.C. Callaway, Charles S. Grob & Dennis J. McKenna. Discusses the medical & psychological applications of Ayahuasca.
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic Amazonian plant mixture that has been used for 100s, perhaps 1000s, of years by native Indian & mestizo shamans in Peru, Colombia & Ecuador for healing & divination. Many Western-trained physicians & psychologists have acknowledged that this substance can allow access to spiritual dimensions of consciousness, even mystical experiences indistinguishable from classic religious mysticism. In Sacred Vine of Spirits: Ayahuasca Ralph Metzner, a pioneer in the study of consciousness, has assembled a group of authoritative contributors who provide an exploration of the chemical, biological, psychological & experiential dimensions of ayahuasca. He has more than 20 1sthand accounts from Westerners who have used ayahuasca & also presents the history, psychology & chemistry of ayahuasca from leading scholars in the field of psychoactive research. He concludes with his own findings on ayahuasca, including its applications in medicine & psychology, comparing the worldview revealed by ayahuasca visions to that of Western cultures.

Genres: Spirituality, Psychology, Nonfiction, Religion, Science, Plants, Biology

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 1999

About the author

Ralph Metzner Ph.D. was an American psychologist, writer and researcher, who participated in psychedelic research at Harvard University in the early 1960s with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (later named Ram Dass). Dr. Metzner was a psychotherapist, and Professor Emeritus of psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he was formerly the Academic Dean and Academic Vice-president. He received his undergraduate degree at Oxford University and his doctorate in clinical psychology at Harvard University, where he was also the recipient of an NIMH Post-doctoral Fellowship in psychopharmacology at the Harvard Medical School. He had a life-long interest in the many different realms of consciousness and its modifications.

He is the author of The Well of Remembrance, The Unfolding Self, Green Psychology, Birth of a Psychedelic Culture (with Ram Dass); editor of two collections of essays on ayahuasca and on psilocybe mushrooms; and author of a new series of seven books on The Ecology of Consciousness.

Reviews

[Roger Green]

Despite my tremendous respect for Ralph Metzner and some of the other researchers in this book, much of the material in it is dated and lacking in nuance. It comes from a largely universalizing perspective steeped in liberal privilege, presenting an overly optimistic and enticing view. There is so much more diversity and many cultural traditions are at risk from such tendencies. This book has gone through multiple editions during which much research, especially by people like Beatriz Labate, who is not cited though she had multiple groundbreaking books in print before the 2014 pressing of this.

[Erik Graff]

My very dear friend Michael sent me Metzner's books on Ayahuasca and psychoactive mushrooms for a recent birthday. I read one right after another, starting with the more familiar mushrooms. Both books have the same structure: an introduction by Metzner, a multidisciplinary series of essays about the plant/drug and a series of firsthand accounts of experiences under their influences. While I find the first two parts illuminating, especially as regards brain chemistry, I found the reminiscences quite off-putting for the most part because most of the informants' accounts are so very heavily overlaid with what I identify as 'New Age' ideology. Since this book has less science and more of the personal stories I rate it lower than the mushroom book.

[Lauris Veips]

Does what it says on the box

[Jonathan Hockey]

A good guidebook for some background information about ayahuasca use in modern society and for some interesting accounts of personal experiences of taking it. Well-written accounts but not overly extravagant or dramatic, quite sober and realistic assessments.

[Bogdan Vaida]

It was a good read but my lack of a 5th star comes from the fact that the authorncuratednthe stories, removing the bad trips and the non impressive results people has with the plant. Basically, it shows only one side of the experience.
Also, it lacks description of the ceremonies and the various procedures/rituals.

[Karina]

Covers historical Western chemist approaches (few and far between), brief notes on the chemical constituents of plants used in the various brews in the home setting of the Amazon, a couple of chapters on the shaman, plant healer experts in the Amazon and their take on the plants. Half the book showcases different personal experiences with Ayahuasca.
I skipped that part, not being interested.

[Karen]

Some of the book I was interested in. Some of the book I skipped over.

[Martyna Wieczorek]

Nie mogę się doczekać, co się wydarzy!

[Emily]

I particularly enjoyed chapter four, the individual experiences.

[Sandra]

This book covers history, research, user experience and so much more. A good place to start for people looking into ayahuasca. The first four chapters are written by various experts and cover the history and research. The remainder of the book is written by individuals telling of their experiences with the medicine.

What I liked: I liked the Introduction: Amazonian Vine of Visions by Ralph Metzner, Ph. D.. A comprehensive and interesting opening on the history of the study of consciousness using this medicine, research, shamanism, and even ayahuasca tourism. I was fascinated by the experiences of the people who drank ayahuasca and read that part of the book first.

What I didn't like: I feel this could have been two books. The science and the anecdotal live together in this book, but they are not matched well. The scientific writing is very dry (for me) and the personal experiences are for the most part, interesting, but poorly written.

I give this book a 3 out of 5 star rating.

[Daniel]

this is a good introduction to anyone interested in "the medicine," ie ayahuasca. Various sections are included: the plant-entheogen's traditional cultural history, its chemical make-up & probable biological reasons for healing/visions, its geography, its comparison/contrast to other psychedelics/entheogens and its current usage around the globe. One of the best parts of this book is the testimonial section. These eloquent, well-thought-out reflections from physicians to artists to psychologists are wonderfully varied and insightful. recommend for those who plan on taking of the mother spirit...

[Laura]

I found the scientific articles a bit dry and repetitive, but the various testimonies made up for it. It was interesting to see how the different settings from the Sainto Daime to the more New Age retreats to authentic shaman rituals didn't really change the end results: regardless of the setting people got what they needed from the brew and all the experiences were life changing. I' d be curious to see more formal studies done on the long term effects.

[Patrick Barker]

Giving this five stars largely because of the 24 personal accounts. I'm pretty familiar with the ideas in the rest of the book so I just skimmed of it. However, the collection of stories was incredible. They were each very well written and I simply could not wait to get to the next one. Anyone remotely interested in the subject should check out that chapter.

[Ryan]

Metzner's collection of Ayahuasca journeys provides a wonderful view into the many visions produced by this powerful plant teacher. A must read.

[Jola Cora]

I especially loved Metzner's last article :)

[Steven Wooten Jr]

drink more aya reach for thew stars realign yourself

[Fateh Kazmouz]

a great book to discovering the life realty by medical plants.