COFFEEHOUSE CULTURE -- Issue 1
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PAGE TWO; ARTICLE ONE; NEWS STORY

FROM OUR PSYCHICALLY-COMPROMISED CORRESPONDENT


SAINTS AND SINNERS COME TOGETHER AS
PSYCHOS GATHER IN
AMSTERDAM

Old news but worth recalling for, although it happened in
October 1998, in its own way it was a major event in the
culture of consciousness. The fact that it all happened
right when we were going to press with the paper edition
made it impossible to cover in any depth. In a future
issue (probably issue two but we're not promising) we will
do a report worthy of an event where so many luminaries of
the consciousness movement shone so brightly.
IF YOU MISSED THE FACT THAT SOME of the legendary names in increased consciousness were gathered in Amsterdam in early October, you could not be blamed. This leading event in the academic trippers calendar, featuring a cast of World-Changers, passed without whisper.
The Fourth Biannual Psychoactivity Conference, took place over the first four days of the month at Amsterdam's Royal Tropical Museum, and attracted speakers who have been leading influences in the development of an understanding of the nature of consciousness. Among those addressing an audience of academics, adventurers and avant guardists, were 92-year-old Dr. Albert Hoffman, discoverer of LSD (and the first nominee as a Coffeehouse Culture 'New Millennium Saint'), Professor Ecstasy Dr. Alexander Shulgin, Leary cohort Ralph Metzner and Mushroom Guru Jonathan Ott. Representing the Netherlands on the speakers roster were journalist, psychedelic activist and co-organiser of the conference, Arno Adelaars, who spoke about the psychedelic rituals that are openly available in the Netherlands Other speakers included Dr. Claudia Muller-Ebeling, eminent art historian and ethnologist.
The co-organiser of the conference, with Arno Adelaars, was Hans van den Hurk, founder of smart shop chain, Conscious Dreams. No press attended the conference which, quite rightly, does not grant passes to slimeballs from the media.
The conference opened with a wide-ranging discussion on the historical importance of psychoactive plants and took in current drug policies. In particular it looked at how the Netherlands provides a model for the responsible marketing of consciousness expanding substances. Subsequent days were devoted to exploring key aspects of this subject through sessions on spiritual revelation through psychedelic experience, shamanic rituals and therapy.
The conference's coup de grace was the appearance by St. Albert of Sandoz who, despite his 92-years, was bright of eye and looking 20 years younger than his actual age. Dr. Hoffman, who has been a prolific author of books on subjects relating to psychoactive substances, read extracts from one of his books. However, for many the high point of the gathering was the sight of Dr. Hoffman bopping at the post-conference party at the Melkweg.
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Outta Site
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The Trip Trap
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