I wholeheartedly believe that certain psychoactive plants have much more to do with the evolution of Mind (whatever Mind is)/development of the neocortex in prehistory than humanity is currently ready to accept.
Evolution of the neocortex: Perspective from developmental biology
Music, Art, Abstract Conceptualization, Math, Language, etc. --- If one seriously (and honestly) analyzes the stark cognitive differences between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom, it becomes apparent that there is much more mystery to unfold.
(Note: other animals seem to have rudimentary progressions at lower levels than humans -- some primates, dolphins, extinct neanderthal, etc. I have often speculated if there are psychoactive plants that have evolved underwater as well.)
Environmental variables lost to history (again, I lean towards plants) during our species' evolution seem to be a likely explanation (outside of the metaphysical -- if not intertwined) for these differences.
Also, been reading a lot of Leary lately, this is an interesting theory on innate stages of consciousness that can be "unlocked" through various means:
Eight-circuit model of consciousness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Related:
Carl Jung's "Stages Of Life"
MYSTERIES ABOUND, NIGGAZ!!!
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Seneca
The time will come when diligent research over long periods will bring to light things which now lie hidden. A single lifetime, even though entirely devoted to the sky, would not be enough for the investigation of so vast a subject...And so this knowledge will be unfolded only through long successive ages. There will come a time when our descendants will be amazed that we did not know things that are so plain to them...Many discoveries are reserved for ages still to come, when memory of us will have been effaced. Our universe is a sorry little affair unless it has in it something for every age to investigate...Nature does not reveal her mysteries once and for all.
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