Salvinorin: The Psychedelic Essence of Salvia Divinorum

D.M. Turner, author of the excellent Essential Psychedelic Guide, is back with the first book solely devoted to the enigmatic, entheogenic Mexican mint that has become a hot topic of late among contemporary psychonauts, Salvia divinorum. Entitled Salvinorin: The Psychedelic Essence of Salvia Divinorum, the volume contains between its covers a wealth of fascinating and useful information on the history and ethnopharmacology of the plant, the story of the isolation of salvinorin, its active principle, the somewhat inadvertant discovery of its shockingly powerful psychoactive effects, and a host of detailed descriptions of the experiences that several intrepid consciousness explorers have had with both the plant and the extract.

As with his previous publication, the most compelling parts of this work are Turner's remarkably evocative narrations of his journeys on Salvia/salvinorin and the variety of materials he has combined it with (LSD and 2C-B are noted as being especially effective in this regard.) Delivered in clear, lucid prose, Turner once again displays an impressive talent for downloading the content of his visonary experiences into language and articulating the ineffable. The stories that he and others relate within these pages portray a highly challenging realm where the fabric of reality is turned inside out and the potential for transcendent insights looms large that is acessible via the leaves of the shepherdess. Some of them also serve as warnings that caution is of the essence in working with this material, for there are distinct dangers to be wary of in the dimensions that Salvia offers an entry into. Ingestion techniques are also covered in detail, which should prove useful for those interested in trying to confirm what Turner reports.

In conclusion, I feel that this book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in working with Salvia divinorum or salvinorin, and a worthy addition to the body of literature dealing with the entheogenic experience.