Essays

Since the beginning of time, humans have been searching for the ultimate answer. Throughout many cultures, plants as well as manufactured substances are used both for healing and to broaden perceptions and challenge reality. Drugs are a part of the incessant evolution of the human species towards a higher and greater intelligence, empathy and awareness or consciousness. Gurus and shaman have eternally incorporated plant chemicals into methods for enlightenment.

For America, the early 1950's marked the emergence in popularity of psychedelic drugs as a tool for mind expansion. Timothy Leary, an icon of 60's drug subculture, as well as cybernetic psychology explains, "The psychedelic drug movement of the 60's and the personal computer movement of the 80's are inner and outer reflections of each other." Leary also argues that only if you understand something about computers, can you begin to understand psychedelic drugs.

Psychedelics deconstruct one's basic assumptions about life, presenting choices that are arbitrary to the individual and the given society. In The Doors of Perception, Aldus Huxley reflects on the capabilities of chemicals on the human mind: "Administered in suitable doses, peyote changes the quality of consciousness more profoundly and yet is less toxic than any other substances in the pharmacologist's repertory"

Douglas Rushkoff, one in the same as Leary, has written several books on the topic of psychedelics and cyberspace. He believes "with the help of a psychedelic journey, one can come back [from tripping] and consciously choose a different reality from one that's been agreed upon by the incumbent society. This can be manifested on a personal, theoretical, political, or even spiritual level".

Much like psychedelics and other mind-altering substances (such as Prozac, nicotine, caffeine, etc.), virtual reality will be able to expand our minds, challenge and transfigure preconceived notions in real life, thus affecting our material existence. In this way, VR is analogous to drugs in terms of being a tool that is beneficial to our society and the universe. Insight attained from drugs or immersing oneself in VR will in turn influence one's perceptions of reality. Huxley adds, "...By taking the appropriate drug, I might so change my ordinary mode of consciousness as to be able to know, from the inside what the visionary, the medium, even the mystic were talking about".

In a mind-altered state, which includes interaction with VR, nonverbal and nonlinear communication are made much more feasible. Telepathy is practicable between trippers therefore a universal consciousness is possible when each individual feels a connection to the "global organism". In the 21st century, technology will be the easiest access to the "hyperdimensional realm", and not necessarily drugs.

This type of interaction creates an abounding sense of connection between notions of 'mind' and 'self. The ultimate goal is to become what we think and excel towards the capability of our thoughts turning into our bodies and, conversely, our bodies into our thoughts. This means of transmission may then allow us to actually be our thoughts. Terence McKenna, perhaps the Timothy Leary of the 90's, eloquently claims that this is "freeing life from the chrysalis of matter".

At a point when we can literally see what we mean, much can be accomplished. VR takes our words, our thoughts and makes them visible in a way like none other. Precise meanings and intentions can be drawn from visual speech. And is there a point to being able to visually see one's voice in virtual reality most definitely.

 The idea is that others will be able to see it also, and the Ambiguity of invisible meanings that so often attends audio speech is replaced by "the unambiguous topology of meanings beheld". We have control over knowledge that 3 decades ago was unimaginable.