Introductory Note:

This essay first appeared on Reality Sandwich in 2009. I’ve updated it for a new era, as shamanic creativity, altered states, and the power of story remain more vital than ever. New scientific and cross-cultural research continues to affirm the timelessness of these ancient practices.

Story is hidden within the very fabric of our being. It lays the foundation of our civilization, encompassing every human initiative and interaction, cultivating perhaps the most profound discipline of all human endeavors. And Story wears many masks—from the oral traditions of folklore to the silver screen.

For the past 195,000 years, our species has had “full anatomical modernity,” but a leap of imagination 35,000–40,000 years ago sparked a revolution in symbolic thinking, art, and ritual, forever shaping the creative mind (Hancock; d’Errico & Stringer, 2011).

We are all storytellers. From the bushman of the Kalahari to the molecular biologist, each of us leaves a unique imprint on the collective tale of our species. Our story does not begin or end with our own point of view. Beneath the surface, on a molecular level, our bodies are always transforming, rewriting themselves as cells die and are replaced, and as the language that binds us to all life—DNA—adapts to new experience.

Genomics now shows that so-called “junk DNA” is far from useless, with noncoding regions playing key regulatory and communicative roles (ENCODE Project Consortium, 2012). When analyzed linguistically, these genetic codes reveal patterns found in human language, hinting at a biological root for story and symbol (Hancock; Barbieri, 2017).

Anthropologist Jeremy Narby’s work demonstrates that shamans, in altered states induced by ayahuasca, “see” universal imagery that mirrors DNA’s structure. According to Narby, DNA emits ultra-low frequency photons, and when the body is stimulated by endogenous DMT, one can “see” DNA (Narby).

Recent research confirms that DMT is produced endogenously in mammals and may play a role in visionary and near-death experiences (Barker, 2018; Dean et al., 2019). Cross-cultural studies in altered states show that humans, regardless of context, often experience similar archetypal imagery, supporting the idea of a collective unconscious (Koch, 2022; Metzner, 2017).

I’ve used these altered states—accessed through breathwork and meditation—to enter trance while drawing. In these sessions, I let my mind separate from my hand, allowing images to arise from the ether, shaped by archetypes flowing through the psyche.

Music often guides these sessions, and I believe its vibrations have profound effects on the pineal gland. Dr. Rick Strassman’s research points to the pineal as the originator of endogenous DMT, a chemical that aids in accessing altered states and guiding both body and imagery. Recent neuroscience supports music’s unique ability to induce altered states, synchronize neural activity, and foster creativity (Sacks, 2007; Palhano-Fontes et al., 2019).

My goal is to access the realms that make us human—the greater web of consciousness to which we all belong.

We are not just hosts to a multitude of organisms; we are also part of a larger organism, the Earth. The invention of technological Western society has enabled global communication, but also risks separating us from the collective mindset. Now, we stand at a crossroads, called to bridge the gap between East and West, science and shamanism, patriarchy and matriarchy, and step into a balanced, globally connected society.

Science is catching up with this philosophy, and we live in a pivotal time of awakening. The choice is ours: to evolve into harmony with our origins, creating a society that can flourish sustainably.

By accessing states of reality outside our normal experience, we can communicate with forces we are just beginning to believe exist. The latest in astrophysics confirms that over 80% of the universe’s mass is “dark matter,” invisible to our instruments and yet essential to the cosmos (Planck Collaboration, 2018). Modern science is developing new ways to measure and understand these forces and their effects on life.

My drawings aim to act as windows into the collective unconscious, opening doors of communication with what has always been evolving alongside us. This dialogue between worlds is the resonant consciousness exercised through shamanism.

Shamans are seekers of knowledge in both ordinary and non-ordinary reality. To encompass the whole of being, we must look beyond our own dominant point of view. To know ourselves, we must encounter the “other.” This is a foundational lesson of psychology, shamanism, and spirituality: interconnectedness (Jung, 1968; Winkelman, 2010).

By removing the self—even briefly—we distinguish what makes our story unique. This is when our actions become sacred, born of choice.

Ego disillusionment is another fundamental principle of shamanism. The self becomes less important as we remember different realities and forms of life housing universal truths. Western thought often teaches that survival is competitive, but in truth, survival is interconnectedness. The body cannot survive without its bacterial hosts, nor without nourishment from other life. Through ego surrender, we realize the sacred principle binding all beings.

Once ego is dismantled, consciousness expands to explore multiple realities. The mind can free itself from bodily illusions and, through empathy, enter other fields of experience. This is crucial for the shaman, the artist, the musician, the athlete, and the warrior.

Sound is perhaps the most effective way to transmit these methods. The vibratory effects of music on consciousness are immediate and profound. Michael Harner described how steady, monotonous sound signals the brain to enter the shamanic state of consciousness; just a few minutes of drumming can induce a light trance. Modern EEG research confirms that rhythmic drumming and music can entrain the brain into theta states, supporting shamanic and meditative practices (Gingras et al., 2014; Fachner, 2006).

Studies show that theta-frequency drumbeats—four to seven cycles per second—are most effective in producing trance. Higher frequencies, such as rattles, intensify the sonic effect. Throughout history, both our achievements and setbacks have been expressed through song, transmitting lessons across generations and cultures.

Today, digital technology and music make the tools of altered states available to all. We can use this sonic abundance to propel our own acts of creation and access new states of consciousness.

As humanity and culture grow, they evolve in cycles, mirroring the laws of nature. The arts reflect this evolution: technological advances have democratized creation, but true innovation arises from a deeper source.

Joseph Campbell writes that the function of art is to know the laws and patterns of nature, to balance action and non-action—wuwei—that yields the perfect artwork. The artist becomes a vessel for the sacred, rendering the divine experience for the senses. By surrendering ego and encountering forces beyond our ordinary sight, the artist becomes a shaman, communicating the sacred fire to the world.

Alex Grey reminds us that, especially in times of crisis, the artist is called to foster higher consciousness and healing, merging contemporary art and spiritual wisdom.

Ego dissolution through drawing, writing, or music allows us to communicate with the forces binding all life. Mistakes and surprises become opportunities for growth. Meditation and sonic vibration help quiet the mind, bringing it into balance with the rhythms of life.

Recent studies also highlight the psychological benefits of creative flow, mindfulness, and ritual in fostering well-being, emotional regulation, and a sense of meaning (Csikszentmihalyi, 2008; van der Vennet & Serice, 2012).

By combining ancient mythos, modern technology, and creative practice, we can create a further-evolved society. Removing the self in creative acts allows us to participate in the sacred, interconnecting all life and restoring balance to our earthly community.

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