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The Divine Spark: A Graham Hancock Reader: Psychedelics, Consciousness, and the Birth of Civilization
This anthology is aimed at all those who are interested in the connection between consciousness, psychedelics, and the development of humankind. Bestselling author Graham Hancock has been writing and speaking about this to audience's worldwide, including a controversial TEDx talk on ayahuasca and DMT, which some call the god molecule.
Graham Hancock leads the charge in this collection of the latest thinking on consciousness with a particular focus on the use of psychedelics to open up the realm of the supernatural. Leading minds and radical thinkers including Dennis McKenna, Rick Doblin, Alex Grey, Russell Brand, and Rick Strassman illuminate the topic like never before.
Graham Hancock leads the charge in this collection of the latest thinking on consciousness with a particular focus on the use of psychedelics to open up the realm of the supernatural. Leading minds and radical thinkers including Dennis McKenna, Rick Doblin, Alex Grey, Russell Brand, and Rick Strassman illuminate the topic like never before.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2015
128 people are currently reading
1752 people want to read
About the author
Graham Hancock
126 books4,094 followersGraham Hancock is a British writer and journalist. His books include Lords of Poverty, The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis (released in the US as Message of the Sphinx), The Mars Mystery, Heaven's Mirror (with wife Santha Faiia), Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization, Talisman: Sacred Cities, Secret Faith (with co-author Robert Bauval), Supernatural: Meeting with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind and Magicians of the Gods. He also wrote and presented the Channel 4 documentaries Underworld: Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age and Quest for the Lost Civilisation. His first novel, Entangled, was published in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 23, 2017
As a compilation of essays, the content varies within, ranging from quite radical and unsubstantiated rants to some quite mind expanding and zeitgeist altering propositions. Much of the content is so radical that it cannot be accepted without further investigation, but so potentially life altering that it shouldn't be dismissed without further consideration.
April 27, 2015
An uplifting book on the subject of altered states of consciousness. The essay by Rak Razam is especially interesting and thought provoking.
In a world where the expansion of consciousness is now taboo and considered deviant, it is nice when a book like this comes along and reminds those brave few that they are not alone in their quest for knowledge and higher understanding of this journey we call life and the true essence behind it.
In a world where the expansion of consciousness is now taboo and considered deviant, it is nice when a book like this comes along and reminds those brave few that they are not alone in their quest for knowledge and higher understanding of this journey we call life and the true essence behind it.
April 30, 2017
Fantastic collection of essays from authors writing from a wide range of perspectives: artists, scientists, explorers.. So much information packed into these pages! A few highlights to give a sense of the scope:
* Luis Luna on geometric patterns and their significance in Shipibo art.
* Dennis McKeena's experience traveling as a water molecule in the roots of the Banisterioposis tree
* The Hawaiian concept of the soul as aumakua, a supreme, immortal aspect of soul: utterly trustworthy ancestral spirit, or the spirit that hovers over me
* DMT (dimethyltryptamine) vs how DMT is mediated by the other plants used in combination with ayahuasca
* Luis Luna on geometric patterns and their significance in Shipibo art.
* Dennis McKeena's experience traveling as a water molecule in the roots of the Banisterioposis tree
* The Hawaiian concept of the soul as aumakua, a supreme, immortal aspect of soul: utterly trustworthy ancestral spirit, or the spirit that hovers over me
* DMT (dimethyltryptamine) vs how DMT is mediated by the other plants used in combination with ayahuasca
December 5, 2015
It is a Great informative book to find out the divine of our consciousnesses and unconsciousness.
May 28, 2017
Meh. The admirable reader really has to put in effort to believe in and internally motivate what these gentlemen discuss here, provided they have an inkling of interest in actual science and care to look up facts. It’s not that I think all of it is beyond any credibility, it is simply rather poorly argued from that point of view. What I suspect here, however, is that Hancock et al are busy preaching to the choir, not trying to win over any sceptics (as is the case in Hancock’s Supernatural, a much better book in my opinion).
The contributors’ essays are of varying quality. The collection is a tad too pro drugs for my taste, Hancock makes it sound like the entire matter is nothing a grownup can’t handle despite being effectively addicted to marijuana for the past three decades or so (only being released from its shackles through one transcendental ayahuasca experience). One would think that would be enough to at least issue a small word of caution against drugs' perceived innocence in addtion to the talk about exaggerated danger. Come to think of it I saw him facebook- advocating voting blank during the presidential campaign ’16 due to the candidates' autrocious ignorance of the same issue- clearly the right to get stoned in peace is right up there with health care, equality, education and job security for Hancock. Interesting priorities, seeing as people are obviously not doing pot like their lives depended on it regardless.
In Divine Spark's defense, it is a rather stimulating read that allows for some excellent exercisesin mind opening. If you are not overly scientifically inclined the perspective of the book is surely deeply profound, emotionally and spiritually speaking. I appreciate that they dare to look contemporary scientific dogma in the eye. The discussion must be much more nuanced than it is today, and their exploration of the necessarily naive world of the inner self, whatever it is and what it entails is very intriguing.
The contributors’ essays are of varying quality. The collection is a tad too pro drugs for my taste, Hancock makes it sound like the entire matter is nothing a grownup can’t handle despite being effectively addicted to marijuana for the past three decades or so (only being released from its shackles through one transcendental ayahuasca experience). One would think that would be enough to at least issue a small word of caution against drugs' perceived innocence in addtion to the talk about exaggerated danger. Come to think of it I saw him facebook- advocating voting blank during the presidential campaign ’16 due to the candidates' autrocious ignorance of the same issue- clearly the right to get stoned in peace is right up there with health care, equality, education and job security for Hancock. Interesting priorities, seeing as people are obviously not doing pot like their lives depended on it regardless.
In Divine Spark's defense, it is a rather stimulating read that allows for some excellent exercisesin mind opening. If you are not overly scientifically inclined the perspective of the book is surely deeply profound, emotionally and spiritually speaking. I appreciate that they dare to look contemporary scientific dogma in the eye. The discussion must be much more nuanced than it is today, and their exploration of the necessarily naive world of the inner self, whatever it is and what it entails is very intriguing.
August 18, 2016
SO GOOD. Some of the articles were a little dense, but that's mainly because I'm fairly new to the subject. All of Hancock's chapters were super interesting; I need to read more of his work for sure.
June 4, 2018
Brilliant and insightful book psychedelic plants are our teachers.
May 10, 2019
Relatively interesting collection of articles written from different people (including Graham) on the nature of consciousness, psychedelics, nature of reality. All of the writings contain personal views of the authors gathered from different sources. Some of them are very scientific, some with a new age vibe.
My personal best article was the one in the beginning when the holographic nature of reality is explained through the Planck constant. The Planck constant is the smallest possible size measurement (aka my penis size). When calculating the weight density or the vacuum energy that is contained within one plank measurement it turned out to be 10^93 grams/cubic centimeter. That is the astonishing large weight which approximates the weight of the whole universe, and it's contained in the smallest possible measurement. It seems that the infinitely small contains the infinitely large. The weirdest part is that this unorthodox estimation has not been disproved, but rather physicist simply used renormalizations to account for the infinity. This is true even today.
This was my first Graham Hancock book, but I think I need to read more of him to understand him better.
Some quotes I liked:
-What if matter were only the result of a discrete boundary condition of the space itself, like the feedback iterations that produced the divisions of a fractal? Was the world-space experiencing itself?
-If it turns out that the brain is not a generator but a transceiver of consciousness, then we must consider some little-known scientific research that points to a seemingly outlandish possibility, namely that a particular category of illegal drugs, the hallucinogens such as LSD, DMT, and psilocybin, may alter the receiver wavelength of the brain and allow us to gain contact with intelligent nonmaterial entities, “light beings,” “spirits,”“machine elves” (as Terence McKenna called them)—perhaps even the inhabitants of other dimensions.
-If consciousness isn't simply created from the “hardware” of the brain itself, the inverse possibility is that it is received and filtered through the quantum-neuronal interface.
-Everything is in the hand of heaven except the awe of heaven.”
-The fundamental task required for an optimal psychedelic experience is somewhat paradoxical: it consists of actively establishing the direction in which we decide to let go. We consciously choose the cliff from which we will jump and with what attitude we make that leap. This is especially the case in high-dose sessions during which we hope to encounter the most radical and unusual experiences.
-Ayahuasca is a means of transport and transformation, a means of reconnecting with invisible layers of the cosmos, as well as a way of making present the world and stories told in myth through imaginary experience.” Osmani, one of her informants, told her, “You have to remember a myth before you drink the brew. If you concentrate well on the story, the story and its beings will appear to you in vision and you will understand the meaning this story has for your own life and experiences. You will feel the story. You will live it.” (Ibid. p. 33).
-I do not have the notes to sing and play the beauty of HER. I do not have the words to praise the utter devotion I feel toward HER. I live for HER, and SHE has told me many times that I am HER child (as we all are), HER student, HER collaborator when it comes to making a contribution to the growth of consciousness and conscientiousness on this planet.
-I took mushrooms when I was eighteen and saw a universe of transcendent, shape-shifting, mutant space art that no one will ever be able to explain to me with conventional thought.
-when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”
My personal best article was the one in the beginning when the holographic nature of reality is explained through the Planck constant. The Planck constant is the smallest possible size measurement (aka my penis size). When calculating the weight density or the vacuum energy that is contained within one plank measurement it turned out to be 10^93 grams/cubic centimeter. That is the astonishing large weight which approximates the weight of the whole universe, and it's contained in the smallest possible measurement. It seems that the infinitely small contains the infinitely large. The weirdest part is that this unorthodox estimation has not been disproved, but rather physicist simply used renormalizations to account for the infinity. This is true even today.
This was my first Graham Hancock book, but I think I need to read more of him to understand him better.
Some quotes I liked:
-What if matter were only the result of a discrete boundary condition of the space itself, like the feedback iterations that produced the divisions of a fractal? Was the world-space experiencing itself?
-If it turns out that the brain is not a generator but a transceiver of consciousness, then we must consider some little-known scientific research that points to a seemingly outlandish possibility, namely that a particular category of illegal drugs, the hallucinogens such as LSD, DMT, and psilocybin, may alter the receiver wavelength of the brain and allow us to gain contact with intelligent nonmaterial entities, “light beings,” “spirits,”“machine elves” (as Terence McKenna called them)—perhaps even the inhabitants of other dimensions.
-If consciousness isn't simply created from the “hardware” of the brain itself, the inverse possibility is that it is received and filtered through the quantum-neuronal interface.
-Everything is in the hand of heaven except the awe of heaven.”
-The fundamental task required for an optimal psychedelic experience is somewhat paradoxical: it consists of actively establishing the direction in which we decide to let go. We consciously choose the cliff from which we will jump and with what attitude we make that leap. This is especially the case in high-dose sessions during which we hope to encounter the most radical and unusual experiences.
-Ayahuasca is a means of transport and transformation, a means of reconnecting with invisible layers of the cosmos, as well as a way of making present the world and stories told in myth through imaginary experience.” Osmani, one of her informants, told her, “You have to remember a myth before you drink the brew. If you concentrate well on the story, the story and its beings will appear to you in vision and you will understand the meaning this story has for your own life and experiences. You will feel the story. You will live it.” (Ibid. p. 33).
-I do not have the notes to sing and play the beauty of HER. I do not have the words to praise the utter devotion I feel toward HER. I live for HER, and SHE has told me many times that I am HER child (as we all are), HER student, HER collaborator when it comes to making a contribution to the growth of consciousness and conscientiousness on this planet.
-I took mushrooms when I was eighteen and saw a universe of transcendent, shape-shifting, mutant space art that no one will ever be able to explain to me with conventional thought.
-when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”
May 28, 2018
Personal musings, opinions and reflections; insufficient objective knowledge.
June 6, 2018
i was excited to read this but i felt each essay very repetitive
September 26, 2020
Really enjoyed some of the essays but most were very technical, repetitive and uninteresting.
January 9, 2025
Firstly, this book is best suited to a beginner in the subject of psychedelics, consciousness and open-mindedness. I especially liked that it set the science-obsessed individuals straight that science is not proven facts and unquestionable dogma, but constantly evolving, innovative and even downright redacted theories. If you've engaged with this content before, you may not take as much away from the book. I disagree with statements that it adds nothing new as the content becomes progressively diversified. For example, it covers science of the universe, a variety theories, psychedelic usage, positive and negative personal experiences, spirits, biology, history, and culture. I learned more about ancient civilisations and remote cultures which added to my previous knowledge. The book ties in nicely as a precursor to Supernatural and other related content.
I rated this book 3 stars primarily because I rated Supernatural 4. Supernatural received 4 because it was a bit overlong and contained a lot of repetitive information (although they should not be directly compared). This book was not quite as good and falls prey to repetitive concepts and statements. For example, in one of Graham's essays, he copies and pastes the previous paragraph as a quotation the following page. It makes no sense to do this. Furthermore, a number of the essays rehash the same content and even reference statements made a few lines ago. It would have been better to redact some of the information in the essays for better flow. Moreover, there was one essay that should not have been included as it was entirely unprofessional and embarrassing. Grown men writing like teenage edgelords, overusing 'like' and continuously swearing adds nothing but embarrassment to the book. On the other hand, there were lovely essays, especially the Sun essay, Graham's personal experience and the enriching essay about soul concepts across cultures.
Overall, I enjoyed the content. I really like Graham's books and would gladly read more. This book is deserving of a read, especially if you're new to the subjects and want something that's digestible (no Ayahuasca pun intended) and offers a solid introduction to the topic.
I rated this book 3 stars primarily because I rated Supernatural 4. Supernatural received 4 because it was a bit overlong and contained a lot of repetitive information (although they should not be directly compared). This book was not quite as good and falls prey to repetitive concepts and statements. For example, in one of Graham's essays, he copies and pastes the previous paragraph as a quotation the following page. It makes no sense to do this. Furthermore, a number of the essays rehash the same content and even reference statements made a few lines ago. It would have been better to redact some of the information in the essays for better flow. Moreover, there was one essay that should not have been included as it was entirely unprofessional and embarrassing. Grown men writing like teenage edgelords, overusing 'like' and continuously swearing adds nothing but embarrassment to the book. On the other hand, there were lovely essays, especially the Sun essay, Graham's personal experience and the enriching essay about soul concepts across cultures.
Overall, I enjoyed the content. I really like Graham's books and would gladly read more. This book is deserving of a read, especially if you're new to the subjects and want something that's digestible (no Ayahuasca pun intended) and offers a solid introduction to the topic.
September 1, 2022
This book, edited by one of my literary heroes, Graham Hancock, is a collection of stories focussed mainly on the expansion of consciousness by the use of psychedelics, especially the Amazonian, 'Vine of the Soul', Ayahuasca. The authors range from Hancock himself to the well-renowned Dennis McKenna, to British social celebrity Russell Brand. The essays range widely in subject from quantum physics to overcoming addiction, to religious mysticism experiments and detailed DMT experiences after Ayahuasca sessions. Most of the authors are very thought-provoking and explore radical ideas which are inspiring and informative. I particularly enjoyed Hancock's personal revelations about how Ayahuasca helped him overcome a serious cannabis addiction. The use of psychedelics is becoming more widely accepted in modern society after the post-Leary backlash in 1960s America which led to a global blanket ban. It is interesting looking at the details of some of the academic studies now being performed where the medicinal advantages of treatment with psychedelics. The message from Ayahuasca can sometimes be mysterious and daunting yet it is clear, especially from many of these essays that this plant is conscious and is trying to send a message to modern humanity in the same way as it has educated and shaped the lives of shamanic communities in the Amazon for millenia. Entheogens I feel offer us an alternative to our Western traditions and most probably reveal the mysterious lost ancient knowledge that our distant ancestors possessed which gave birth to civilisation in the first place. The book content is radical and might perhaps shock the uninitiated yet I feel it is an important body of work which I shall certainly use for reference on my own transcendental journey as an Ayahuasca shaman.
June 24, 2021
Interesting... I like the different articles, but that isn't to say I think this is anything above the mean.
Graham is a little off his rocker in blaming a certain type of individual with respect to the oil industry. Without the ability to look inside and point at one's self, it will always be easy to sit back and blame others for the destruction of a world we only learned wasn't real upon some rude awakening in our life. This moment - at the end of this book - basically contradicts his entire approach to peace and love. Blame is always exoteric, though occasionally lucky in a coincidental fashion to give it weight. Nearly all good things that we as intelligent beings discover eventually become designed and ordered or later rediscovered as a detriment, therefore disregarding all as opposition, not unlike putting all Japanese into camps in the 40s, but then again, we've been a little too trusting in that regard since the Jamestown Massacre. Regardless, Hancock makes a lot of great points and has a respectable point of view, but this book proves he is no less of an idiot than you or I.
Oh.. and John A. Wheeler coined the word Black Hole in 1967 at a conference in New York.
Graham is a little off his rocker in blaming a certain type of individual with respect to the oil industry. Without the ability to look inside and point at one's self, it will always be easy to sit back and blame others for the destruction of a world we only learned wasn't real upon some rude awakening in our life. This moment - at the end of this book - basically contradicts his entire approach to peace and love. Blame is always exoteric, though occasionally lucky in a coincidental fashion to give it weight. Nearly all good things that we as intelligent beings discover eventually become designed and ordered or later rediscovered as a detriment, therefore disregarding all as opposition, not unlike putting all Japanese into camps in the 40s, but then again, we've been a little too trusting in that regard since the Jamestown Massacre. Regardless, Hancock makes a lot of great points and has a respectable point of view, but this book proves he is no less of an idiot than you or I.
Oh.. and John A. Wheeler coined the word Black Hole in 1967 at a conference in New York.
July 5, 2022
This is an area I feel Graham Hancock excels as it allows for his more subjective interpretation of events. There isn’t the problem of interpreting his hypothesis in light of confounding data or substantiating research and attributions. This is much more experiential combined with other folks who have delved into similar scenarios. The subject which I have not gotten around to mentioning is consciousness as impacted by plant medicine and psychedelics.
This is an anthology of past essays of Hancock to the McKenna brothers as well as numerous other intrepid explorers of altered states of consciousness. They reflect on experiences under the influence of DMT such as Rick Strassman’s study in, ‘The Spirit Molecule to Graham Hancock’s many encounters with plant based medicine, ayahuasca. The experiences and information is fascinating for the open minded reader who will consider our consciousness from some very creative viewpoints.
This is an anthology of past essays of Hancock to the McKenna brothers as well as numerous other intrepid explorers of altered states of consciousness. They reflect on experiences under the influence of DMT such as Rick Strassman’s study in, ‘The Spirit Molecule to Graham Hancock’s many encounters with plant based medicine, ayahuasca. The experiences and information is fascinating for the open minded reader who will consider our consciousness from some very creative viewpoints.
October 27, 2022
Over the last decade of more, I've been increasingly interested in using psychedelics to expand my awareness of consciousness, explore how this may connect with a greater consciousness of the cosmos, ease my fear of mortality and help me find positive paths through human suffering with a sense of dignity, respect for the unknown and a renewed gratefulness for simply being.
I have read a few recommended books on the subject and am continually fascinated. I didn't know what to expect from this book, as I came across it by accident and was wary it promote psychedelics as THE utopian answer to all of the world's problems.
Fortunately it was not. Instead, the book is comprised of thirty or so chapters, of which each one was an article, scientific paper, or commentary on the subject from a diverse mix of people, offering thoughts, subjective experiences and scientific findings on psychedelics, consciousness and the birth of civilisation.
Overall, it was worth the read. The quality of the writing and the level of expertise and scientific knowledge varied greatly between chapters. There were some wild, seemingly far-fetched ideas that had very little empirical evidence supporting them, where as others were more realistic and grounded.
For me it was a great way to get an insight into the variety of experiences and beliefs such experiences offer people. It helped me sort the 'wheat from the chaff' in figuring out my own beliefs, expectations and defence of using psychedelics.
I have read a few recommended books on the subject and am continually fascinated. I didn't know what to expect from this book, as I came across it by accident and was wary it promote psychedelics as THE utopian answer to all of the world's problems.
Fortunately it was not. Instead, the book is comprised of thirty or so chapters, of which each one was an article, scientific paper, or commentary on the subject from a diverse mix of people, offering thoughts, subjective experiences and scientific findings on psychedelics, consciousness and the birth of civilisation.
Overall, it was worth the read. The quality of the writing and the level of expertise and scientific knowledge varied greatly between chapters. There were some wild, seemingly far-fetched ideas that had very little empirical evidence supporting them, where as others were more realistic and grounded.
For me it was a great way to get an insight into the variety of experiences and beliefs such experiences offer people. It helped me sort the 'wheat from the chaff' in figuring out my own beliefs, expectations and defence of using psychedelics.
October 21, 2021
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy this one despite knowing and liking many of the authors inside.
I found it a little frustrating to read other people's versions of opinions I shared, without a obvious narrative thread line to pull it all together. Even a paragraph or two from Graham between authors would have been appreciated.
Full honesty I gave up about 2/3s in, so maybe I'm wrong and you'll love the book.
I found it a little frustrating to read other people's versions of opinions I shared, without a obvious narrative thread line to pull it all together. Even a paragraph or two from Graham between authors would have been appreciated.
Full honesty I gave up about 2/3s in, so maybe I'm wrong and you'll love the book.
October 9, 2022
Interesting - There are some really interesting concepts about the conscious and unconscious. They discuss heavily how the use of psychedelics can “unlock” your unconscious and bring you into the unconscious’ altered reality….. Some good things in the book. On the other hand, there are some far fetched ideas that have very little to no background or context to support it.
March 7, 2024
DNF. Had to skip the intro because it was just a rant speaking against the war on drugs. I'm Canadian, so I'm not too bothered by this because my drug of choice is legal. I thought this was going to be more around psychedelics and their benefits and not so much scientific theories forced to fit a psychedelic narrative. I didn't get it.
April 1, 2024
2 is pretty generous. I’m sympathetic to the cause, but this is just bad. As dogmatic as any religious text, seemingly exists to sell other books, poorly edited, outrageously repetitive, prone to all sorts of obvious logical fallacies.
April 9, 2019
It was a mixed bag of content. Some articles I found to be very interesting and some not so.
December 9, 2021
Some interesting points which have likely reshaped my thinking on psychedelics and cross-cultural perspectives on reality.
January 30, 2023
Fascinating and totally not something I ever would have thought I’d enjoy. His explanation of psychedelics has me rethinking some of my beliefs. Its long but worth reading!
March 27, 2023
Some parts are slow some are great.
February 20, 2025
This was great, I don't know why it isn't as talked about as his other books.
July 30, 2016
Graham Hancock has open my eyes and many other people eyes with the spiritual evolution. The Whole book was just amazing upon amazing with huge assortment of chapters written by many different authors or researchers. The book was well written and has given even more credible and credibility that there is a spiritual worlds and afterlife and in the book the researchers give ways how to get to the different states of consciousness with different methods. A must read book and a must buy for any spiritual minded person. One of the best. Info in the book is top notch.
October 4, 2023
This anthology on consciousness, psychedelics, and quantum physics is a must-listen for any curious or experienced psychonauts. I was a bit hesitant on this as I’ve read some of Hancock’s other works that are a bit more presumptuous and draw hard conclusions while ignoring fundamental facts. But, Hancock didn’t have much in the way of submissions here. In short, these 22 contributing authors submitted well thought out and thought provoking pieces that were very fun to absorb. Recommend
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews