I don't think I was clear enough in my comment. What I meant was that the link I provided was entertaining but not terribly educational. As for drugs in general, I think they can be both entertaining and educational depending on the drug and how they are approached by the user. From what I have read, Ayuhuasca sounds incredibly interesting and if I didn't have so much to potentially lose, I'd try it. First I'd like to get theadvancedapes feedback post consumption.
I think I'm going to plan a retreat. I have a suspicion that it is connected to post-language and the world of cultural replication that I described here. And therefore a type of window into the post biological landscape of conscious experience.
Have you read the Don Juan books by Carlos Castaneda? Based on your objective here, I would highly recommend reading them. He was a cultural anthropologist that trained as a shamanist under a yaqui indian named Don Juan. Much of his work has been highly controversial and most discredit it, but it makes for one hell of an entertaining read. I would be shocked if they didn't try Ayuhuasca during his apprenticeship. I appreciate your approach to this and your hypothesis seems interesting and plausible. I'd like to find out if you are able to "study" the trip given that it seem so elusive to description. Keep us informed.
FYI Jay Courtney Fikes, an anthropologist, investigated Castaneda's work and concluded that he had based the character of Don Juan upon Ramon Medina Silva, a Huichol shaman. He outlines some serious shortcomings in Castaneda's depictions of the yaqui as ciphers for the Huichol and concludes that: "he [Don Juan] is more allegorical than actual". It certainly doesn't stop one from enjoying the books but it's worth reading Fikes work alongside. Title: Carlos Castaneda, Academic Opportunism And The Psychedelic Sixties.
Yeah, even back in the 1990's when I read the books I was aware that the scientific validity of his research was questionable at best. But you're right, it's worth the read, if nothing else, for enjoyment.