Books like 2012 by Daniel Pinchbeck

Daniel Pinchbeck explores how sacred plant medicines – from African iboga and Ecuadorian ayahuasca to Mexican psilocybin mushrooms – serve as gateways to higher consciousness, blending personal adventure with historical and philosophical inquiry.

From cross-cultural legends recounting shamanic cures to the biblical accounts of the parting of the Red Sea and Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes, many spiritual traditions are rich in stories about seemingly inexplicable transformations of the natural world. The ancient healing art of transmutation, in which toxic substances are transformed into "safe" substances, is mentioned in all the world's great spiritual traditions, including Hinduism and Taoism. And while many have tapped this body of work to heal the self, it has yet to be used to heal our environment. For twenty years, Sandra Ingerman has studied alternative ways to reverse environmental pollution. In this book, Ingerman takes us on a remarkable journey through the history of transmutation, teaching us how we can use this forgotten technique to change ourselves and our environment. She provides us with creative visualizations, ceremonies, rituals, and chants derived from ancient healing practices that produce miraculous, scientifically proven results. In one dramatic illustration of what can be accomplished when consciousness and awareness fuel our actions, Ingerman describes her own success in transforming the nature of chemically polluted water.From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science explores the relationship between spirit and matter, arguing that our common sensory perceptions mislead us about the true nature of reality and proposing a new, enlightened understanding of consciousness.