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History of psychedelics, Aldous Huxley & Mescaline, Standard history…

- - - - Orphism
        
        A mystical tradition closely related to Dionysian worship.
      - Oracle of Delphi (1200 BC – 400 BC)
        Priestesses (Pythia) at Delphi gave prophetic messages while in trance states.
      - Platonism & Neoplatonism (250 AD – 500 AD)
        
        Plato’s works contained mystical elements, and later Neoplatonists (Plotinus, Proclus) further developed mystical ideas.
      - Eleusinian Mysteries 1600 BC – AD 392
        
        Based on the Demeter-Persephone myth.
        
        Ritual involved fasting, drinking a potion (Kykeon), and entering dark temple rooms for mystical experiences.
        
        Possible connection to hallucinogenic substances (Ergot theory).
      - Pythagoreanism
      - Dionysian Mysteries
        
        Worship of Dionysus (later adopted as Bacchanalia by the Romans).
      - Philosophical Influences on Mysticism
        
        Plotinus (Neoplatonism) developed the idea of merging with "The One" (ultimate reality).
        
        Heraclitus (500 BC) - Earliest philosopher to reference mysticism.
        
        Henri Bergson (French philosopher) suggested mysticism was the foundation of Western philosophy, reason, and science.
  - - - Meister Eckhart
        
        Taught that the soul and God were fundamentally one.
      - Hildegard of Bingen
      - St Teresa d'Avila
      - St. Francis of Assisi
      - John of the Cross
        
        Developed the idea of "The Dark Night of the Soul."
      - St Augustin
        
        integrated Neoplatonism into Christian theology.
      - Jakob Böhme
        
        A mystical Christian thinker influenced by alchemy and nature.
      - Emmanuel Swedenborg
        
        Had visions of Heaven and Hell, influencing modern spiritualism.
      - Neoplatonism's influence on Christianity
        
        Christian mysticism often emphasized divine ineffability (God beyond human comprehension).
        
        Mystical experiences framed in metaphysical theology.
        
        The concept of mystical union with God.
  - - - Albert Hoffman (chemist who synthesized LSD) suggested ergot fungi might have been used in ancient Greece.
      - Timothy Leary & Aldous Huxley compared psychedelic experiences to mystical enlightenment.
      - Eleusinian Mysteries & Kykeon – Possible use of psychoactive substances.
      - Terrence McKenna – Advocated shamanism and psychedelic spirituality.
    - - Pantheism, Monism, Panpsychism – Ideas influenced by mysticism suggest all reality is connected or divine.
      - Spinoza’s Monism – Hegel considered Spinoza’s philosophy a foundation for mystical idealism.
    - - 18th–19th century poets/philosophers (e.g., Kant, Fichte, Schopenhauer) incorporated mystical ideas into their work.
      - Hegel’s Idealism was influenced by mystical thought and Jakob Böhme’s philosophy.
  - - - Focuses on enlightenment and direct experience of ultimate reality.
    - - Emphasizes non-dualism (oneness of Atman and Brahman).
    - - 1801 - The first Latin translation of the Upanishads was published.
      - 20th century - Thinkers like Alan Watts & Timothy Leary related Eastern mysticism to psychedelic experiences.