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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 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.
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 l
ow 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
Consciousness' 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
Tropical Museum, and attracted
speakers who have been
leading influences in the
development of an under-
standing of the nature of
consciousness. Among those
addressing an audience of
academics, adventurers and
avant guardists, were 92-year-
old Dr. Albert Hoffman, discover-
er of LSD (and the first nominee
as a Coffeehouse Culture 'New
Millennium Saint'), Professor
Ecstasy Dr. Alexander
speakers who have been
leading influences in the
development of an under-
standing of the nature of
consciousness. Among those
addressing an audience of
academics, adventurers and
avant guardists, were 92-year-
old Dr. Albert Hoffman, discover-
er of LSD (and the first nominee
as a Coffeehouse Culture 'New
Millennium Saint'), Professor
Ecstasy Dr. Alexander
Listing slightly to port,
conference co-organiser,
Hans van den Hurk, founder
of Conscious Dreams.
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.
daThe 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
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 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 psycho-
active 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
MBACK TO TOP
the opportunity to abuse the staff of
Coffeehouse Culture and for
celebrity interviews and
discussions. Designed over five
levels, 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 you
with soothing music, a 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 those working with or
exploring 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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TAKING THE FUN OUT OF FUNGI
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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 psychoactive plants can
have profound effects on
individual evolution. It,
therefore, has some difficulty
shops have a very responsible attitude to the volatile substances they 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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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.
BACK TO TOP
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 first-time user. If you
inner space traveller, seek
knowledgeable 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 more powerful than you
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.'
PSYCHOS GATHER IN AMSTERDAM
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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INSIGHT OUTLOOKby
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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US READERS SAVE $2.19
PIHKALA Chemical Love Story by Alexander & Ann Shulgin
Although we would
like to give this
a rave review, we
cannot. The story
of the psychedelic
adventures of the man who gave
the world Ecstasy, this is a strange
book that we, honestly, couldn't finish.
Half biography and half chemistry
textbook, it is a hybrid that was,
it seems, only partly intended for
the general reader. Packed full
of formulae, this is probably a
book of more interest to chemists
than anyone. There is a sequel,
'TIHKAL', that we haven't read.
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GREEN PSYCHOLOGY: Cultivating a Spiritual Connection with the Natural WorldBy Ralph Metzner
Oh, dear! Another one we haven't read. It just goes to show that when we talk about Coffeehouse Culture containing crap, we are really being honest. There is not much we can say about this one; there is no synopsis on the Amazon site and no reviews. Er . . . well, it looks interesting. And Ralph Metzner does have considerable credibility as a cohort of Timothy Leary and, indeed, co-author with Leary and Richard Alpert of 'The Psychedelic Experience', the first mass media outing of the psychedelic revolution that was to follow.
PERSEPHONE'S QUESTby Wasson, Ott and others
Although Wasson
wasn't in Amster-
dam, Jonathan
Ott was. But it is
Wasson's contribution that makes
this offering so interesting. As
an amateur mushroom freak, his
researches laid the basis for a
reassessment of the position of
chemically induced experiences
in the lexicon of religious and
spiritual activities. Jonathan Ott,
also, is a mushroom expert of
note who has written a number
of books that collect dust on the
Coffeehouse Culture library
shelves. This opus deals with
psychoactive mushroom use in
ancient Greece, Eurasia (wherever
that is) and Mesoamerica. Nothing
new there then.
UK READERS CLICK HERE
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FLASHBACKSby
Timothy Leary
This is a fantastic
read that demon-
strates just what
a great writer and
courageous fellow Timmo was.
Although elsewhere in Coffee-
house Culture in slightly less than
flattering terms, we have to
acknowledge that he was an
extraordinary man. And what an
extraordinary life he led. An
adventurer in body and mind, this
is a ripping yarn packed full of
insight and outrageous behav-
iour, heroes and villains, method
and madness. Revealing a man of
immense intellect, strong princip-
les and gigantic ego, it is worth
buying just for the tale of his
escape from prison. Thoroughly
recommended.
UK READERS CLICK HERE
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THE POLITICSOF ECSTASY
by
Timothy Leary
Probably Leary's
most influential
book. Published in
1970, in the aftermath of his
demonisation as the 'Turn On, Tune
In, Drop Out' chemical guru, it
defines his intellectual and ethical
position through a series of well-
written essays, statements,
interviews, manifestos and auto-
biographical snatches that are
very readable. If Leary was seen
as an anarchist hacking at the
American economic system, this
book reveals him as the visionary,
missionary and spiritual revolut-
ionary he really was.
UK READERS CLICK HERE
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PSYCHEDELICSENCYCLOPEDIA
by
Peter Stafford
Here's a book we
can recommend
wholeheartedly --
at least in its previous edition,
which has for many years graced
our library shelves. Our copy is
falling apart which says a lot
about how often this it has been
read and re-read. Packed full of
information both for the lay reader
and someone sitting up, it is a
well thought-out, well written and
erudite offering. There are few
books that provide such a
comprehensive overview of
psychedelics in such readable
terms. Thoroughly recommended.
UK READERS SAVE £7.61
US READERS SAVE $6.99
THE LONG TRIP:A Prehistory of
Psychedelia
by Paul
Deveraux
Another dust
gatherer on the
shelves of our
library. This is
another very erudite and fairly
academic book but it is packed
full of some pretty interesting stuff
about the influence of psychedelics on
primitive civilisations. However, the
best bit is the author's description of
his own acid initiation. For me this
was the most evocative and
cunningly expressed description
of a trip I have ever read. If you
have never used acid and want to
know what it is like, read this and
you'll know. Recommended.
submit your review (and while you're submitting to us also post it on the Amazon.co.uk site)
To submit your review to us through e-mail CLICK HERE
Please remember to mention the title of the book somewhere in your review.
SEE PAGES 3, 4, 6, 11, 16, 17 AND 21 FOR MORE FURTHER READING GUIDES
A full story on the tawdry commercialisation of this site will appear in issue two of
Coffeehouse Culture with more details of how readers with nothing better to do can participate.
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