OLD NEWS: Psychos Gather in Amsterdam (Pictures: Hoffman; Hurk) | HOUSE AD | OLD NEWS: Outta Site (Continued
from previous page) | NEW NEWS: Taking the Fun Out of Fungi | INSPIRATIONAL: Myth Mythth
HEALTH ADVICE: The Trip Trap | Further Reading Guide | Go to Contents | Go To Next Page (Page 3)
PSYCHOS GATHER IN
AMSTERDAM
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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 Amster-
dam 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.
daThe Fourth Biannual Psychoactivity Conference, took place
over the first four days of the month at Amsterdam's Royal
OUTTA SITE
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most are just heavy info. This," he
continues, "is good because whilst
Coffeehouse Culture is strong on
fun and entertainment it is rather
low on information."
Although at the core of each site
will be the current issue, there will
be much more on the Coffeehouse
Culture pages. With the
Cannabisness section (there's no
business like it, dahling!), the Inner
Light and all rest of Coffeehouse
Culture right there on your screen,
plus some of the most innovative
and unusual download options ever,
You will never have to buy another
copy.
But, hey, that's not what we want. So,
to discourage you from reading the
whole issue on-line, we'll be offering
plenty of entertaining distractions.
And, what is more, you won't have to
be a computer genius to enjoy them.
In the company of our virtual hosts,
Bud and Crystal (sorreee!), you will
be able to have the full 'Amsterdam
Home of the Culture of Conscious-
ness' experience . . . .virtually.
Yes, this will be the home of Virtual
Unreality. Join our slightly pixellated
hosts as they visit virtual
Amsterdam, staggering from
coffeeshop to coffeeshop. Meet the
Coffeehouse Creeper (but avoid
those trainers) for some slightly
whiffy conversation and the juiciest
gossip. Join the Astral Traveller the
O-zone. Take a walk down our
Virtual Shopping Mall where
anything can happen (just like
shopping for real in Amsterdam).
Visit our Arcane Arcade where the
Pinball Wizard meets the Wizard
Wizard and our very own astro-nut
will help you cope with the horrors.
Get to know the characters who
have defined the culture we all
know and love, hear their craziness
for yourself. Feeling in need of a
little human companionship? Well,
hard luck, because we only have
pixels. But you will be able to join
us for real-time forums and
discussions, for our 'Meet the
Creeps' sessions where you get
the opportunity to abuse the staff of
Coffeehouse Culture and for
celebrity interviews and discuss-
attracted speakers who
have been leading influ-
ences in the development
of an understanding of the
nature of consciousness.
Among those addressing
an audience of acad-
emics, 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 Nether-
lands Other speakers
included Dr. Claudia
Muller-Ebeling, eminent
art historian and
ethnologist.
daThe co-organiser of the
conference, with Arno
Adelaars, was Hans van
den Hurk, founder of smart
shop chain, Conscious
Dreams. No press attend-
quite rightly, does not
grant passes to slimeballs
from the media.
daThe 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 revelat-
ion through psychedelic
experience, shamanic rituals
and therapy.
daThe 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.
MFURTHER READING GUIDE
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the Coffeehouse Culture web site
will have soooo much in it.
After a day of coffeeshop cruisin',
what could be nicer than to visit one
of the free houses that have grown
up in this City of Freedom. Or to
relax in the peace and quiet of our
Sanctuary (Home of the Inner
Light) where we'll replenish
liquid light show and wisdom
to help you cope.
Within the site you will find a
complete resource for dealing
with the cultural change that is
happening right now. And, if
you really must, visit our
'stacks' where you will find the
ultimate cultural resource for
expandediconsciousness. For
artists,writers and academics, our
information resource will gather
in one place all the tools to take us
into the new millennium.
We hope we'll see you there.
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IN EARLY OCTOBER the long-awaited crackdown happened. Or
it looked like it had. Suddenly mushrooms, freely available throughout
central Amsterdam from a proliferating number of Smart Shops,
became actively illegal -- for 20 minutes or more. No one in
Amsterdam was surprised. Indeed, it was a matter of surprise that the
authorities had not acted before.
Although the police action provoked a TV news story featuring some
suitably chastened smart shop owners, it had little real effect on the
fungi trade.
Apparently prompted by the phenomenal growth in the number of smart
shops in Amsterdam and other parts of the Netherlands over the last
year and by increasingly blatant flouting of the fairly unambiguous laws
relating to the sale of dried mushrooms, the series of showy raids was
dismissed by Amsterdammers as a Dutch gesture towards the EEC
drug laws that does not jeopardise the nation's reasoned intransigence
regarding the sale of cannabis.
The smart shop phenomenon is one of the most extraordinary but least
publicised aspects of the Netherland's drug policies. Dealing in a wide
range of psychotropic substances and plants, on the whole the smart
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While Coffeehouse Culture
does not recommend the use
of mind expanding substances,
it does believe that psycho-
active plants can have pro-
found effects on individual
evolution.
sell. There are many experienced shamanic guides in Amsterdam and
elsewhere in Holland and structured group rituals are easily available.
The availability and free use of the major hallucinogens in guided
situations is a social phenomenon with many far-reaching implications
that impact directly upon the status of Amsterdam as a 'Holy City' and
its role in defining the future. Not since pre-biblical times has there
been a society where the use of hallucinogens was legitimised and,
albeit casually, institutionalised.
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difficulty in wholeheartedly
condemning their use. If
you wish to explore higher
states of consciousness,
please do not do so without
careful consideration.
Psychedelics are powerful
substances that should be
treated with respect,
particularly if you are a
new or inexperienced
inner space traveller, seek
knowledgable advice, do
not take too much of a
substance without testing
a small quantity for effect
and potency, do not trip
on your own. If the
experience proves to be
can handle, try not to panic,
drink a fruit juice, eat some
dry bread and be patient.
Psychedelics should not, of
course, be used by those
suffering from mental
instability --- which kinda
rules everyone out.
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Our Personal Recommendations
in association with Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
for your further reading pleasure. And we mean pleasure. We are not going to recommend any books
that will turn your brain to slime or send you to sleep (except perhaps at the back where we recommend
some of the computer books that helped us put together this and other sites.) Nor are we aiming to educate
you. There are some great reads out there, fantastic books that you simply can't put down, and we either
own or have read most of them. The recommendations on this and other pages are, therefore, really
'our personal recommendations.'
Included here are books from many of the conference participants, plus some from non-participants
that we felt were worth recommendation. The downside (as we monks say) is that, contrary to what
we say above, we haven't read half of our recommendations. When we tell you we're full of crap, you
better believe it.
PLANTS OF THE GODSby
Schultes &
Hofmann
This is a
beautiful
book to own.
Well, written,
well designed, full of illustrations and information packed, it is a joy to look at and good to have on hand as you trek through the Amazon Basin. We have this in hardback but we assume the paperback version is similar. Part botanical and part ethnological, the book is comprehensive in its coverage of hallucinogens and in their many applications and features erudite (but very readable) essays on the main groups. Recommended.
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INSIGHTOUTLOOK
by
Albert Hofmann
Oh, dear! This is
one we haven't
read but would
really like to.
Erasmus said:
"When I get a
little money I buy
books; and
if any is left I buy food and
clothes." Thus it is with the
Coffeehouse Culture. But since
there is no money, it will be right
at the top of our Christmas
List. There is not much we can
tell you about it. On the Amazon
site there is one reader review
that says some nice things
about it and about the
saintliness of its author It should
be a great and enlightening read.
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