Via Unwelcome GuestsTony Wright was a student of plant biology at a university in Scotland when he became interested in ‘the human condition’. Over the course of two decades, self-experiments into consciousness developed into serious study. He became convinced that the mental state we regard as ‘normal’ – even perhaps the pinnacle of evolution – is in fact a degenerated condition. The human brain, he suggests, is not what it once was. In his 65 minute interview, Wright explains his theory that the human brain co-evolved with fruit in the tropical forests, and that since humans left that environment, we have suffered a lack of flavonoids and other biochemicals, allowing the left hemispheres to take effective control of our brains, with disasterous consequences.
To underline some of Tony Wright’s points, and provide connections to other speakers, his talk is juxtaposed with material from other episodes. We begin with episode 465, a reading of Charles Eisenstein’s Ascent of Humanity about the Pirahã, one of a few tribes who still live a traditional life in the tropical forest, whose language and culture is singularly unaffected by modern man.
“Plants substitute biosynthesis for behavior”, employing biochemical messaging as a means of interacting with their environment on a level we don’t even fully understand, yet we are constantly immersed in this sea of molecular communication.. Its been hypothesized that plant psychedelics are messenger molecules to mammals that naturally raise awareness at critical junctures in order to impart information vital to maintaining the continuity of the all life in biosphere…But how do plants communicate with each other besides the thick matrix of pheromonal activity?
Just in time for 4/20: Reality Sandwich’s Alan Badiner writes about the presence of naturally-occurring endocannabinoids in the food supply:
