Psychedelic Press UK
Literary Reviews: 2001- Present
Literary Review: ‘Perilous Passage’ by Terry Wilson
Originally published in 2004 ‘Perilous Passage – The Nervous System and the Universe in Other Words’ by Terry Wilson is being republished in 2012. It describes the author’s apprenticeship under the tutelage of the avant-garde artist and writer Brion Gysin; along with a wonderful passage about Wilson’s experiences in South America with ayahuasca. The book is the … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Mushrooms, Myth & Mithras’ by Carl A. P. Ruck, Mark A. Hoffman and Jose Alfredo González Celdrán
Originally published in 2011 ‘Mushrooms, Myth & Mithras – The drug cult that civilized Europe’ was written by Carl A. P. Ruck, Mark A. Hoffman and Jose Alfredo González Celdrán. The book continues the tradition of re-reading the history of religion in Eurasia in light of the entheogenic experience, which began in the late 1960s with Robert Gordon … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide’ by James Fadiman
Originally published in 2011 ‘The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide – Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys’ by James Fadiman deals with a certain psychiatric approach to hallucinogens; namely the psychedelic. The author has been involved in psychedelic research since its heyday in the 1960s and currently teaches at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, which he helped found … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘The Psilocybin Solution’ by Simon G. Powell
Originally published in 2011 ‘The Psilocybin Solution – The role of sacred mushrooms in the quest for meaning’ by Simon G. Powell is, broadly speaking, an examination of the role that psilocybin has played in its relationship with humans. This includes entheological history, psilocybin’s behaviour within the neurochemical processes of the brain, the nature of … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘To Live Outside the Law’ by Leaf Fielding
Originally published in 2011 ‘To Live Outside the Law’ by Leaf Fielding is an autobiographical account of his life leading up to, and his involvement with, the distribution of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in Britain during the 1970s. One of a number of people involved who were caught and sentenced by the infamous Operation Julie, … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Pharmako/Dynamis’ by Dale Pendell
Originally published in 2002 ‘Pharmako/Dynamis – Stimulating Plants, Potions & Herbcrafts’ is Dale Pendell’s follow up to his excellent ‘Pharmako/Poeia’, and deals with the Excitantia and Empathogenica classes of psychoactive plants. This review is written from the 2010 updated edition, which continues the author’s stroll through the ‘poison path’, in poetic, scientific and historical fashion. … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘The Power of the Poppy’ by Kenaz Filan
Originally published in 2011 ‘The Power of the Poppy – Harnessing Nature’s Most Dangerous Plant Ally’ by Kenaz Filan is a review of the human-poppy relationship from pre-historic to modern times. Filan has previously published works including ‘The Haitian Vodou Handbook,’ ‘Vodou Love Magic’ and ‘Vodou Money Magic’. The book is divided into four parts. … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘The Shaman and Snow White’ by Simon Ralli Robinson
Originally published in 2011 ‘The Shaman and Snow White – Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Shamanic States of Consciousness and Certificate 18 Healing’ by Simon Ralli Robinson is a very personal account of the psychedelic-shaman territory. Robinson, from Dumfries in Scotland, undertook shamanic initiation and apprenticeship in Iquitos, Peru and took part in numerous San Pedro ceremonies … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Singing to the Plants’ by Stephan V. Beyer
Originally published in 2009 ‘Singing to the Plants – A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon’ by Stephan V. Beyer is an exemplary, scholarly work on the topic. Beyer has doctorates in religion and psychology, has previously published works on Buddhism, the Tibetan language and religion, and has studied sacred plant medicine in … Continue reading
Literary Review: ‘Beyond the Basin’ by Alexander Beiner
Originally published in 2009 ‘Beyond the Basin’ is a novel by Alexander Beiner. It tells the story of a journalist called Alex, asked to cover a story in South America shortly after being hired for a new job, and Anjuiga, a young girl living with an indigenous tribe that subtly titters on the edge of … Continue reading
