I myself am an organic gardener!
Anybody here ever heard of Iboga, Peyote or Ayahuasca?
It's the last little bit of REAL magic left in the world!
Here are pics of my garden- s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/teotz/
That plant pictured is not Lophophora williamsii however, it is another genera.
It's a Peyote Church based out of AZ open to all types of people.
I did see that someplace in South America actually takes vacationers on the same sort of religious pilgrimage that the natives there used to (and still) take. The ceremony is done exactly as it has been - down to the stuff. I have less of a problem with that cuz it's not exactly a convenient excuse to get blasted. You gotta actually do what they did. It's interesting.
I'm part Native American (and part white) and Peyote is a serious part of my cultural heritage and my people's history.
It's no joke.
Peyote was part of Native American religion long before the United States of America was founded... I think it's a shame that people took over the Native Americans and then told them their religion was wrong and outlawed their holy sacrement Peyote.
The stuff your talking about in South American is Ayahuasca, it's very safe and has very positive effects but it can be very scary. It makes you face your fears...
I totally agree with you about the Medical Marijuana thing. People just say "Oh I'm sick, or I can't sleep, give me some weed!". It's ridculous.
I'm part Native American (and part white) and Peyote is a serious part of my cultural heritage and my people's history.
It's no joke.
Peyote was part of Native American religion long before the United States of America was founded... I think it's a shame that people took over the Native Americans and then told them their religion was wrong and outlawed their holy sacrement Peyote.
The stuff your talking about in South American is Ayahuasca, it's very safe and has very positive effects but it can be very scary. It makes you face your fears...
I don't deny it's part of Native American heritage (a culture I have great respect for) - I just have problems when people that are not of that background decided to adopt it as an excuse to get wasted.
Ayahuasca, eh? No wonder I couldn't recall the name.
It looked like a really cool thing to do - the whole experience, not just the mind altering part of the ritual. They had to hike up a mountain and then follow the rites as any indigenous person would. It was cool. A real look into part of that culture. I have no trouble with that cuz traveling that kind of distance and then hiking up a mountain and doing the rest of the ritual is hardly a convenient excuse, ya know? It's something I'd consider trying, too. I would encourage you to try Ayahuasca if you want to find more out about yourself and the world you live in and your connection to God.... do NOT take Ayahuasca if you are looking to "trip out" or get high... you will be very disappointed.
Ayahuasca is actually legal in the USA (due to a recent supreme court ruling) and you can order from many online vendors and brew it in your kitchen... tho it IS cooler to go to South America and do it, just beware of crappy shamans who just want your money!
No kidding. If I ever did that, I'd like to do it completely the right way. Take the hike, listen to the shaman, etc. I don't think I'd get the right vibe in my living room. ;) 
I'm going to Peru on an ethnobotanical collection expedition in April.
It's open to people who are interested in plants and other cultures.
It's about $2500 to go.
Go to the Botanical Preservation Corps for more info.
Interesting stuff, though. Maybe one day ...www.bpcfieldcourses.com/
www.botanicalpreservationcorps.com/event...
The next ethnoecology field course is scheduled for April 22 to May 1, 2010. We still have a few spaces available! For the trip schedule , registration, and photos from previous expeditions see - www.bpcfieldcourses.com
Come join us! For 10 days in Spring of 2010 a small group of us will walk the land and explore the plants, customs, and archaeology of the Andean realm of the Urubamba Valley in south central Peru, a region of rugged mountains, pastoral landscapes, and mysterious ruins.
Immerse yourself in a vibrant ecological tapestry woven by the reciprocal relations of distinct flora and fauna, stunning geography, and traditional cultures whose roots reach far into the past drawing essential nutrients from their ancient traditions.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn the basics of the dynamic science of ethnobotany, conservation based plant and seed collecting, traditional agriculture, indigenous Andean spirituality and cross cultural shamanism. Examine some of the most alluring archaeological sites in the world, and consider how the triumphs and faults of past cultures reflect our modern dilemma of how to live on this wondrous planet we all call home.
The Importance of Ethnobotany: In recent centuries, industrialized cultures have relentlessly exploited and assimilated the indigenous cultures of the world. This has led to an unfathomable loss of our collective human heritage. In the last century the dynamic science of ethnobotany has emerged as a powerful force for the preservation and revitalization of indigenous cultures through the study of their essential relationship with the plant kingdom. Ethnobotany also holds tremendous importance for the future of industrialized cultures, not only in the “new” medicines it continues to “discover” but in recovering the aboriginal paradigm of deep interrelationship with the natural world that is integral for the preservation of the earth’s biosystems and the survival of the human race.
We are dedicated to the preservation and evolution of human relations with the natural world. We aim to educate and empower individuals with the basics of hands-on ethnobotany, sustainable development, cross cultural shamanism and the knowledge of the underlying intimacy of humanity’s botanical heritage. We believe such knowledge has tremendous potential to catalyze environmental conservation, social change and integrate the schisms of the modern psyche.
Ben Kamm, Neil Logan, and Matt Magee lead adventurous and educational excursions to the diverse ecosystems of the central and southern Andes of Peru and northern Bolivia. With a multidisciplinary focus on ethnobotany, ecological conservation, traditional agriculture, and indigenous Andean spirituality, these trips offer a unique and transformative immersion in the Andean world.
Our next journey is scheduled for late April 2010. A limited number of spaces are still available for you to join us.
We invite you to view our gallery of images from previous expeditions