Recent psilocybin studies continue to find how people subjectively experience what is often described as a spiritual awakening and “ego death.” As shared previously, studies in Belgium showed the brain enters a state of hyper-connectivity. Likewise, a new study from a medical school in St. Louis, Missouri, has confirmed similar findings and experiences. After looking at what they found, we’ll compare it with interestingly related ancient Egyptian beliefs about the deity named Ammon, Amun, or Amen.
Before the researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine began, they decided to try to help First Responders. Potentially, those who have suffered from trauma and PTSD could receive life-changing relief(video below).
“Psilocybin…most likely induced a form of neuroplasticity, meaning that it essentially primes the brain to adapt and learn in a very rapid way,” said Nathan Sackett, UW Acting Assistant Professor.
Video by FOX 13 Seattle:
New Images of the Brain on Psilocybin
The study used functional MRI brain scans to show how healthy brains rapidly change on a psilocybin trip. Basically, the brain lights up like a Christmas tree in green and red. But they also found that taking the psilocybin disrupts specific networks of the brain involved in introspective thinking. As a result, participants experienced what the participants in Belgium reported: a feeling of “ego death.’ In many cases, they had a blissful and mystical feeling of connection to the universe and/or “God.”
“My sense of self stretched like I was the universe,” said co-senior author Dr. Nico Dosenbach. “Other people reported they saw God, and if I was very religious, I could see that, but for me, it was more like, ‘Oh, I’m the universe.'”
“And then it disappeared in what I think psychiatrists call ego death,” he said. “Simultaneously with that I lost my sense of place, and time stopped. It felt like I was literally there for days and then weeks figuring things out.”
Video by Science X: Phys.org showing the heat map of brain activity patterns. Red, orange and yellow areas show the most active areas during the “trip.”
A Specific Area of the Brain and Ancient Egyptians
As a long-time follower of ancient Egyptian beliefs, it’s fascinating to see the study pinpointed one area of the brain in particular. It’s the anterior hippocampus which relates to the ego or sense of self.
“The new study’s scans highlighted an increase in connections to the anterior hippocampus, responsible for emotional memory, perception and imagination, Nicol told CNN Health. “Parts of the default mode network, which impacts a person’s sense of self, time and space, also lit up on the scans.”
Amazingly, this same sea-horse-shaped area of the brain has a curious connection to a major Egyptian deity, Ammon. As “the hidden one,” Ammon represents the invisible observing consciousness throughout the universe (in the esoteric understanding). Adding more layers of complexity, one can also spell the name, Amen or Amun. Further, there are various aspects such as Amun-Ra or Amen-Re relating to an inseparable relationship with Ra.
Within our brains, we are all connected to this same consciousness, according to belief.
Ammon’s Horn
Interestingly, the hippocampus is called cornu ammonis or “Ammon’s Horn.” Deep inside the brain on each side, two hippocampi curve around in a form that resembles a ram’s horns. The Greeks, however, compared these structures to a seahorse. Often, Ammon was depicted symbolically as a ram.
Wordplay is often a part of Egyptian spiritual metaphors. Therefore, it’s probably not coincidental that the word for “ram” sounded like “soul” (ba) in Egypt.
Did the Ancient Egyptians Know How the Hippocampus Worked?
Considering what the psilocybin studies found, it seems that the Egyptians may have known about the functions of the hippocampus. Similarly, they seem to have advanced knowledge about the Pineal gland.
Were they aware of how the hippocampus is involved in dissolution of ego consciousness? And did they also know how to facilitate results like those in the psilocybin studies? We know they had advanced knowledge of a wide variety of medicinal plants and chemical properties.
At the temple to the deity called the “Temple of the Oracle” in Siwa, the “salt of Ammon” (or Sal ammoniac) was prepared, which was reportedly a white crystalline material, ammonium chloride, that could vaporize and dissolve in water.
The crystals are unique and unlike any other mineral:
“The formation of Sal ammoniac is unique, as it is created from sublimation, meaning it crystallizes directly from gaseous fumes and bypasses a liquid phase,” shares Minerals.net.
It’s unclear how the priests and priestesses used this mysterious salt in Siwa. But it surely had some spiritual purpose. For example, the name Siwa translates to “spiritual” or “holy.” Perhaps, there are clues with another mysterious Egyptian powder called “Mfkzt” powder. A Pyramid Text relates the word to the “Field of Mfkzt,” which British author and lecturer Laurence Gardner described as “an ethereal location associated with an otherworldly dimension called the Realm of the Blessed.”
As with the psilocybin studies, it all points to profound mystical experiences and a change in consciousness. Given the Egyptian’s advanced knowledge, it’s certainly possible they could use substances that had a similar effect on the brain. However, if you’ve studied their complex beliefs, it’s likely their spiritual practices alone, similar to Buddhist medication and Yoga achieved this goal. Thus, there’s no need for taking any kind of drug.
Video by SpaceCreatorBand about MFKZT:
Alexander the Great Thought He was the Son of Amun
Once, the Romans collected the white or yellowish Salt of Ammon crystals near the isolated desert temple in Siwa. Evidently, they were extremely impressed, going on to dedicate it to their version: Jupiter Ammon. And the Greeks synchronized their version of the Egyptian deity to Zeus Amun with ram horns.
Famously, Alexander the Great visited the well-known but isolated Oracle at Siwa. Thereafter, various stories say his visit prompted him to believe he was the “son of Amun” like the pharaohs of the 28th Dynasty. But this may have all been a misunderstanding or flattery by the High Priest.
One wonders if the Greeks and Romans understood the deeper meaning of Amun, about hidden and omnipresent consciousness of the universes? Or was the deeper meaning of the Hidden One kept a secret or lost in translation? Whatever the case, we’re finally at a time when this knowledge is returning once more. Ironically, the scientists are the ones reporting spiritual and mystical experiences.
Video about Alexander the Great and the Oracle of Amun by Curtis Ryan Woodside:
Featured image: Amun in relief at Karnak (15th century BC) from Wikipedia, brain images via YouTube