This lecture was presented as part of the Lost Tribes and EGA 'Origins of Consciousness tour' in 2012. www.losttribes.net.au www.entheo.net Synopsis: Melbourne Sunday 14 October 2012 Fifty thousand years ago humans had no art, no religion, no sophisticated symbolism, and no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic and enigmatic change, the skills and qualities that we value most highly in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though bestowed on us by hidden powers. How did this happen? In this workshop we set out to investigate this mysterious turn of events and explore the influences that gave birth to the modern human mind. Through a series of three lectures and follow-up discussions, we: Learn about the development of modern human consciousness. Gain insights into the latest scientific findings concerning the role played by shamanistic altered states of consciousness in the imagery of supernatural beings painted on the walls of prehistoric caves around the world. Examine the range of techniques shamans from different cultures have developed to enter and manipulate altered states of consciousness; Learn about a new perception of the brain not only as a generator of consciousness but also as a receiver of consciousness. Explore the intriguing interconnections between the beings who shamans refer to as "spirits", who medieval Europeans knew as "fairies", and who are construed in the developed countries today as "aliens" or "grays". Investigate the links between ancient Egyptian spirituality and shamanistic inquiries into the mysteries of life after death. This workshop is for anyone interested in shamanism, human evolution, and the nature of consciousness and of reality. Bio: Graham Hancock is the bestselling author of The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis, Heaven's Mirror and other investigations of historical mysteries. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide. His public lectures and broadcasts, including two major TV series, Quest for the Lost Civilisation, and Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age, have further established his reputation as an unconventional thinker who raises controversial questions about humanity's past. In 2005 Graham published Supernatural: Meetings with The Ancient Teachers of Mankind, an investigation of shamanism and the origins of religion. This controversial book suggests that experiences in altered states of consciousness have played a fundamental role in the evolution of human culture, and that other realities - indeed parallel worlds - surround us all the time but are not normally accessible to our senses. While researching Supernatural Hancock travelled to the Amazon to drink visionary brew Ayahuasca - the Vine of Souls - used by shamans for more than 4,000 years. It was his experiences with the vine lead to his latest work, Entangled. Written with the same page-turning appeal that has made his non-fiction so popular Entangled is his first novel. It tells the story of a supernatural battle of good against evil fought out across the dimension of time on the human plane. ----- Disclaimer ----- The opinions offered here are not those of EGA directly, but rather of the speakers themselves. No matter how well informed you are, many of these substances remain risky without the proper preparation and setting and are still currently against the law in Australia. The information on our channel is not presented to encourage drug use or endorse illegal activity of any kind, but rather to offer a broad array of counterpoints to the mainstream notion that any and all use of psychedelic plants, entheogens and sacraments is detrimental to the mind, body and society at large. EGA supports a fact-based approach towards drug use, research and policymaking. We hope you find this information beneficial.

• published: 09 Mar 2014
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