Pharmakon

Ranging across both published and anecdotal evidence, Pharmakon traces the
story of drug use as a means of self-exploration. By examining apparently
simple questions such as 'what is a drug?', Pharmakon deconstructs and
reconstructs the idea of drug experience. Experiences that the author
believes are fundamental to the process of self-actualisation and learning.
Julian Vayne has written on a number of esoteric
subjects (witchcraft, the tarot and the sociology of contemporary Paganism).
This book is aimed at both the general reader and those who are interested
in the use of drugs in a spiritual context.
Delving into areas as diverse as philosophy and neurochemistry, this is a
book that in both style and content seeks to invent a new understanding of
drugs in culture.
From Mandrake Speaks #100
'A well researched and informative look at a variety of popular and
not-so-well-known drugs. He deals with how they interact with our minds and
bodies both chemically and psychologically, and how we perceive substances
on a personal and society-wide scale. The similarities discussed between
some drug experiences and some mental illnesses may lead to different
viewpoints on both. Liberally sprinkled with folklore and anecdotes,
Pharmakon examines the use of drugs in self-exploration, employing a
knowledgeable, yet down-to-earth approach that's interesting and readable.'