Iawaska.

Iawaska is actually a phonetic spelling for "ayahuasca" (the aforementioned hallucinogenic Amazonian plant) and is somewhat of a preplanned step in this first alphabet dance as I wanted to have 3 entries in my initial exploration of synchronicities. It just so happens that the week of accumulating coincidences sort of peaked when L mentioned "Iawaska" while recounting her trip down the Amazon and insights from a book on the subject. I froze, having only heard the word once before when N, MR and I were having our late night meandering "creativity" fest. M told us of a friend who did Iawaska, relaying his descriptions of unbelievably real and wild hallucinations. Apparently, a subculture of people exist who are "in the know" about this powerful plant primarily used by natives on a vision quest. That had immediately spun in my head as a story idea: What if a group of people around the world were into some rare, hallucinogenic drug like this Iawaska - only they discover slowly over time that they are all having elements of the same collective hallucination? I thought it was one of those "aha!" ideas that could be fun to write in some form or another. So, as soon as L mentioned Iawaska, I had to recount my introduction to the word, and told her about our creative spinning that night.

She didn't even react, but rather glided over what I was saying, because *that's exactly what her understanding of this vine is* - that it creates collective hallucinations when groups of people use it together; that there is sort of a parallel universe of other-worldly creatures that "users" see during their trip; and that these "visual" (?) experiences can seep into the dreams of those who sleep nearby. All pretty mindblowing to me. And, if these shared psychoactive experiences are common, then what on earth (or not) is this all about?? I mean, can a chemical really react the exact same way in every brain, shaping one's perceptions to such a level of detail?? And if someone nearby is passively visualizing the same thing in his or her sleep, then doesn't that prove telepathy exists? How intriguing are the mysteries of the mind, or should I say, collective mind. Is it possible to even try and answer any of these questions without ending up deep down a rabbit hole (laden with Iawaska no doubt)? I, for one, am eager to feed my bold curiosity - and will certainly borrow the book when L is finished.