The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge
by Jeremy Narby
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Book Reviews of The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge
Book Review: A little short for the reach of its goal
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is extremely interesting, no doubt about it, but if the reader is seeking information about ayahusca trips, there are no significant anecdotes. The author only provides a few details about its first experience.
As an anthropologist, he is bewildered by the large amount of wisdom and information displayed by shamans he met, about the environment and the uses of plants. Many of the medicines they posses, are extracted from different specimens by elaborated processing methods. However they lack any technological means to gather data about their biochemical properties. So, the obtainment of the final result only by chance is almost impossible. When he inquired how the information is obtained, the response is usually the same - The plants "told" it to the shamans - while drinking ayahuasca.
So the author decides to find out how is it possible that while having hallucinations a person can reach veritable data with wonderful practical uses, and his conclusion is fascinating. In a nutshell, when drinking ayahuasca a shaman - or any person with an open mind - can communicate in a defocalized consciousness with the global network of DNA- based life.
He is humble enough to recognize that his methods and mental associations of mythological images, biochemistry, history, DNA, are for the moment nothing more that a plausible proposition. Nevertheless most of those who have drink this not so tasty beverage, can attest that their experience would challenged their preconceptions about themselves and the world they live in.
Book Review: Triangular Universal Paradox; Mind Embraces Soul thru Body
Summary: 5 Stars
The quantitiy and range (1 thru 5) of reviews on The Cosmic Serpent are a Self-Fulfilling Testament to Narby's achievement;he has inspired us to Think and Commune our thoughts around a rare Qaulity of Questioning which authentically enriches our potentials to pass intrigue in living to future generations. Narby is only one man. He states clearly throghout the book that during this fantastic and courageous journey he had more questions than answers. While it is, no doubt, true he is far from the foremost authority on DNA in scientific circles today, readers sincerely concerned about technical clarity can investigate that for themselves. In the meantime, his unpretensious willingness and talent for communicating about this complex scientific arena in terms lay readers can really "get," opens doors to inner exploration and inquiry usually reserved to the scientific elite.
I could say so much more. Let me sum up my impressions posing to
reader's at large the most aluring idea Narby left in my mind--Communing with soul energies in neighboring demensions could become a quantum leap more comfortable and openly common if the idea that DNA patterns emitting tracable light is accepted as the rational basis for "how" we can see them. Unfolding universal truth is a process subject to the of shifting perspectives through the sands of time. Narby invites the reader to dare to acquaint ourselves with the map of Eternal Mind within our very own beings and see how that reflects on our individual understanding and relationship with God.
Book Review: Profound possibilities, sophomoric "science"
Summary: 3 Stars
Let me begin by saying that I enjoyed this book. Since having finished it a number of weeks ago, it has definitely remained in my awareness, reminding me of the staggering abundance of aqueous, self-transforming serpentine matter thriving within and moving all of the "living" world... a line of thinking that inevitably leads to a boggled mind and a deep feeling of awe at the wonder of it all!
However, while Narby presents some novel connections pregnant with possibility, when all is said and done, this book reads more like a blog than an (even soft-science) scientific exposition. In Narby's defense, he states outright why he chose to write the book in the manner that he did, however the narrative structure did not provide ample space in which to delve into any of these ideas in more depth, which made it difficult to take the thesis seriously as a whole.
Narby's "one-eye-on-science, one-eye-on-mysticism" methodology seemed to impoverish each in turn, for although an interesting image did arise through such "Magic Eye" conceptual-gymnastics, by never bringing either side into sharp focus the book's thesis invokes little more than the vacant stare typical of one who regards such 3D dot-patterns images.
I hope that the author continues on his journey and is able to flesh-out his concepts, bolstering them with physical, psychological or even philosophical/theological evidence... eventually arriving at a theory which can be clearly stated, and ultimately: tested.
Book Review: Carlos Castenda Discovers DNA
Summary: 2 Stars
The book is pure anthroplogical speculation that Shamans and other lost Noble Savages have been communicating with DNA in the metaphoric guise of snakes for centuries. The formula goes like this: take an obscure speculation, buttress it with arcane and selective evidence (while ignoring all sorts of other details), then combine it with the the understanding that DNA is a helixy sort of thing and so are snakes. Now you have the makings of a book.
Somehow Narby believes that there is a plethora of shamanistic evidence that the lost secrets of DNA have been communicated to man. He catalogues this quite well, but really, as he readily admits, it is pure speculation in the extreme. His choice of evidence is also highly selective (I wonder how many shaman did not see snakes while in a trance, or those who saw other animals, or even humans in their trances).
Well what's next in this recipe of uncommon wisdom from drug induced states of consciousness? Crack and Marijuana heads divulging the truth about God?
At times an interesting read. I would however have enjoyed it more when I was 18 and this type of current "uncommom wisdom" held some interest. But I think that, to his credit, Narby is more or less honest in his speculation and admits that it is not in the least scientific. That is good, but if such is the case I can always buy a sci-fi novel.
Book Review: do you communicate with plants?
Summary: 5 Stars
a facinating account of an antropologists journeys into the world of indiginous knowlege and utter amazement at the depth of knowlege that these "uneducated" shamans have regarding DNA (which they call "language twisting twisting") and mitosis and medicinal properties of plants. Also includes a very interesting set of statistics (you are welcome to view a post at gotblogua for my redigestion and investigation of these statistics) about the likelihood that the complexity of life that we observe as the result of evolution, could have actually emerged by pure chance...
Which raises a few questions i have for you:
Do you believe in evolution as a process of diversication of life via genetic mutations?
If so, do you believe that the primary driving force of these advantageous genetic mutations is random chance?
Do you believe that DNA is a language?
Do you believe that the use of language is a sign of intelligence?
Please consider sharing your answers with me via email
or via the comments page at gotblogua
regardless of what you prefer to think and or believe about these questions, i promise you that this book will engage you to think about them at great depths, providing a balanced and enlightened perspective grounded both in personal experience and solid scientific research.