In The Cosmic Serpent: DNA And The Origins of Knowledge, Jeremy Narby explores the relationship between the knowledge of Western rationalism and the gnosis of Amazonian shamanism. I find the interplay between these ideologies fascinating. Western rationalism is characterized most notably by what I refer to as the “taxonomical imperative,” by which I mean the impetus in Westerners to classify and categorize their experiences. It could be said to be a generally human characteristic, but here I am making the distinction between the Western analytical mind that judges and the more holistic indigenous mind that perceives. I find the Western perspective to be severely limited by this differentiating instinct.
On this topic, Narby writes,
“Rationalism separates things to understand them. But its fragmented disciplines have limited perspectives and blind spots. And as any driver knows, it is important to pay attention to blind spots, because they contain vital information. To reach a fuller understanding of reality, science will have to shift its gaze. Could shamanism help science to defocalize? My experience indicates that engaging shamanic knowledge requires looking into a great number of disciplines and thinking about how they fit together” (Jeremy Narby, The Cosmic Serpent 160).
Narby, of course, is suggesting an endorsement of a more holistic approach to knowledge in general as part of the furthering of physical science, specifically. From personal experience in attempting to shift my own gaze from a staunchly materialist perspective, I would have to comment that such a transition would not exactly go smoothly. It is incredibly difficult to relinquish ingrained analytical tendencies on the personal as well as the social level. I wonder if there will be some synthesis of analytical and holistic thought that will reconcile this conflict.
Throughout the book, Narby formulates the hypothesis that Amazonian shamans under the influence of ayahuasca commune with nature in a very primal way such that they can communicate with the fundamental forces of nature and from them extract medical and spiritual information. I will close this blog with Jeremy’s own questions on the subject, as I find them good food for thought. Narby writes,
“According to my hypothesis, shamans take their consciousness down to the molecular level and gain access to biomolecular information. But what actually goes on in the brain/mind of the ayahuasquero when this occurs? What is the nature of a shaman’s communication with the animate essences of nature? The clear answer is that more research is needed in consciousness, shamanism, molecular biology, and their interrelatedness” (Narby 160).
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