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Visionary: The Mysterious Origins of Human Consciousness (the Definitive Edition of Supernatural) — Occult Philosophy

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Visionary: The Mysterious Origins of Human Consciousness (the Definitive Edition of Supernatural)

Name: Visionary: The Mysterious Origins of Human Consciousness (the Definitive Edition of Supernatural)
Price: 27.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Hancock, Graham
ISBN: 9781637480069

✍️ Hancock, Graham

Reader Score

4.5

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Graham Hancock embarks on an ambitious quest to understand the enigmatic genesis of modern human consciousness, which seemingly burst forth around 50,000 years ago. He meticulously examines ancient art and archaeological findings, proposing that entheogenic plant medicines served as crucial catalysts for this cognitive leap. This investigation challenges conventional views, suggesting these "visionary substances" unlocked our ancestors' capacity for sophisticated symbolism, art, and spirituality, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of humanity's intellectual and spiritual origins.

Hancock, Graham

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“Hancock's most important book... Quite Stunning.”

— The Independent on Sunday

🏛 New Page Books 📅 2022 📖 640 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781637480069

Fun Fact

Hancock masterfully weaves archaeology, ethnobotany, and speculative history, presenting a captivating argument for entheogens' role in human evolution. It excels at provoking thought and challenging scientific dogma. Readers seeking conventional academic rigor might find its conclusions too speculative, but those open to radical reinterpretations of humanity's past will discover a truly visionary work that expands historical inquiry into consciousness.

📝 Description: Visionary: The Mysterious Origins of Human Consciousness (the Definitive Edition of Supernatural)

The latest archaeology and history redefining book from bestselling author Graham Hancock (Fingerprints of the Gods), who is featured in Ancient Apocalypse, a hit Netflix original docuseries. "With the original unabridged text of Supernatural, I offer the reader an investigation that explores the human experience with psychedelics from the Stone Age to the Space Age and the role of these extraordinary plant medicines as tools to investigate the nature of reality itself."--Graham Hancock Discover the pathway to the gods. Less than 50,000 years ago mankind had no art, no religion, no sophisticated symbolism, no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic and electrifying change, described by scientists as "the greatest riddle in human history," all the skills and qualities that we value most highly in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though bestowed on us by hidden powers. In Visionary, Graham Hancock sets out to investigate this mysterious "before-and-after moment" and to discover the truth about the influences that gave birth to modern human mind. His quest takes him on a journey of adventure and detection from the stunningly beautiful painted caves of prehistoric France, Spain, and Italy to remote rock shelters in the mountains of South Africa, where he finds a treasure trove of extraordinary Stone Age art. Hancock uncovers clues that lead him to travel to the depths of the Amazon rainforest to drink the powerful plant hallucinogen ayahuasca with Indian shamans, whose paintings contain images of "supernatural beings" identical to the animal-human hybrids depicted in prehistoric caves and rock shelters. Hallucinogens such as mescaline also produce visionary encounters with exactly the same beings. Scientists at the cutting edge of consciousness research have begun to consider the possibility that such hallucinations may be real perceptions of other "dimensions." Could the "supernaturals" first depicted in the painted caves and rock shelters be the ancient teachers of mankind? Could it be that human evolution is not just the "blind," "meaningless" process that Darwin identified, but something more purposive and intelligent, something that we have barely even begun to understand? Previously published as Supernatural, this definitive edition includes a new Introduction by Graham Hancock as well as restored chapters that were omitted from the original paperback release.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Hancock presents an ambitious synthesis of archaeology and ethnobotany, arguing convincingly for the role of entheogens in human evolution. However, readers seeking strict peer-reviewed academic rigor or those firmly anchored in materialist scientific paradigms may find the speculative leaps frustrating rather than illuminating. The book is not for skeptics who demand conventional evidence over visionary interpretation. It succeeds as a provocative philosophical treatise rather than a dry historical record. Those open to reimagining human origins through the lens of altered states will appreciate its breadth, while others might view it as overly romanticized speculation lacking sufficient empirical support for its bold claims about our cognitive leap.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the deep roots of human spirituality and those skeptical of conventional evolutionary timelines will find this book profoundly engaging. It appeals to seekers interested in how altered states of consciousness might have catalyzed the creative explosion of early humanity. If you are drawn to mysteries surrounding ancient art, symbolic thought, and the role of plant medicines in shaping our cognitive abilities, this definitive edition offers a compelling narrative. It provides a fresh perspective on why we think the way we do, connecting biological history with visionary experience in a way that feels both scientifically grounded and spiritually resonant for the curious mind.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

For those who ponder humanity's ancient past, the enigmatic origins of consciousness, and the profound role of visionary plants in shaping our minds, this book offers a captivating journey. Prepare to have your conventional assumptions about history and spiritual development thoroughly challenged.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Hancock presents an ambitious synthesis of archaeology and ethnobotany, arguing convincingly for the role of entheogens in human evolution. However, readers seeking strict peer-reviewed academic rigor or those firmly anchored in materialist scientific paradigms may find the speculative leaps frustrating rather than illuminating. The book is not for skeptics who demand conventional evidence over visionary interpretation. It succeeds as a provocative philosophical treatise rather than a dry historical record. Those open to reimagining human origins through the lens of altered states will appreciate its breadth, while others might view it as overly romanticized speculation lacking sufficient empirical support for its bold claims about our cognitive leap.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While presented as "Visionary," this edition is an updated, definitive version of his earlier work, "Supernatural." It features the original unabridged text, enriched with potentially new insights or context, but the core investigation remains consistent with his previous exploration of entheogens and consciousness.

No, Hancock's investigation spans from the Stone Age to the modern era, examining the consistent thread of psychedelic experiences and their impact on human perception and culture throughout history. He connects ancient insights to contemporary understandings of reality.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Humanity's Cognitive Awakening

Hancock scrutinizes the profound mystery of how advanced human consciousness, marked by art and symbolic thought, emerged so abruptly less than 50,000 years ago. He questions the standard scientific narrative, exploring alternative influences that might have spurred this "before-and-after moment" in our species' development, presenting it as a riddle of immense historical significance.

Plant Medicines' Role

The book posits that entheogenic substances, or "plant medicines," were central to the development of early human spirituality and cognition. Hancock meticulously connects these visionary experiences, from the Stone Age to contemporary times, to the profound insights and artistic expressions found in ancient cultures, arguing they provided a direct pathway to expanded states of awareness.

Reinterpreting Ancient History

Hancock challenges established archaeological and historical timelines by proposing that external or unconventional factors influenced humanity's intellectual and spiritual evolution. He encourages readers to reconsider the origins of complex human traits, suggesting that certain ancient mysteries, like the sudden appearance of sophisticated symbolism, might be better understood through a lens of altered states.

📜 Historical context

Hancock's work firmly anchors itself in the tradition of speculative archaeology, questioning conventional narratives about human origins and the catalysts for our intellectual leap. It aligns with ethnobotanical studies on entheogens, yet extends into broader philosophical inquiry, positioning him as a prominent voice exploring unconventional theories regarding ancient civilizations and the development of consciousness.

📚 Glossary

Entheogen
Cognitive Revolution
Supernatural

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might our understanding of human history and spirituality change if visionary plants were indeed central to our cognitive development?
Consider a time in your life when a profound experience altered your perception of reality. How does this resonate with the idea of 'hidden powers' influencing human evolution?
In what ways do modern societies acknowledge or deny the potential for altered states of consciousness to offer significant insight or understanding?