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Writer's pictureNicole Igarashi

Exploring the Philosophy of Terrence McKenna



A black and white photo of Terrence NcKenna, a white man with a bushy beard and mustache, smiling in front of a tree

Terence McKenna was a provocative thinker, philosopher, and author who became a prominent figure in the world of psychedelics, consciousness exploration, and alternative spirituality.


His ideas and insights have influenced many, from psychonauts to philosophers and curious minds alike, as they continue to engage with his unique take on the nature of reality, human consciousness, and the potential of psychedelics.


Who was McKenna, and what exactly did his philosophy encompass?


Who Was Terence McKenna?

Born in 1946, Terence McKenna grew up in a small town in Colorado. He was always intellectually curious, with an affinity for subjects like geology, biology, and psychology. However, it was his fascination with shamanism and hallucinogenic substances that shaped his life's path.


After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley in the 1960s, he traveled to the Amazon rainforest, where he immersed himself in indigenous culture and explored the use of psychedelic plants like psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca. This profoundly affected McKenna, who dedicated his life's work to the intersection of psychedelics, spirituality, and human evolution.


We are finding ways out of the three-dimensional Newtonian prison which says ... life is narrow and confined and ends at the grave. -Terence McKenna

McKenna became best known for his writings and lectures on the benefits of psychedelics, the concept of novelty, and his speculations about the future of humanity. His charismatic speaking style and radical ideas made him a countercultural icon, appealing to those seeking alternative ways of understanding reality.


the Philosophy of Terrence McKenna

McKenna’s philosophy was a complex blend of ideas drawn from mysticism, science fiction, and traditional spirituality, with psychedelics as the key to unlocking deeper understanding. He resonated deeply with people looking for answers beyond the mainstream.


The Power of Psychedelics

At the core of McKenna's philosophy was the belief that psychedelics could serve as tools for exploring consciousness and unlocking human potential. He advocated for the responsible use of these substances—particularly psilocybin mushrooms—and believed that they allowed individuals to access states of consciousness that could reveal profound truths about themselves and the universe.


McKenna didn’t see psychedelics as recreational drugs but as essential sacraments, reconnecting humans with the natural world and the spiritual dimensions of life.


He believed that the power of plant-based hallucinogens could foster ecological awareness and dissolve societal programming, allowing people to see the interconnectedness of everything in the universe.


"... They are the masters of language they are the ones who are telepathic with the animals. They are the ones who can see into the future. So this archaic nostalgic gets real focused once you realize that it is the shaman and his or her shamanic techniques that confers on them the extra-historical dimension. That that is how you get out of linear history that's how you visit the realm of the ancestors.
That's how you travel into the future. That's how you break up the tyranny of Newtonian serial time" -Terence McKenna

The Archaic Revival

A key aspect of McKenna's vision was his concept of "Archaic Revival," a term he used to describe the resurgence of interest in ancient wisdom and shamanic practices in modern times. McKenna believed that Western society had lost touch with the mystical, intuitive, and communal aspects of human existence, focusing too much on rationality and materialism.


The Importance of Language and Imagination

McKenna placed great importance on language and imagination as fundamental tools for understanding reality. He argued that reality is constructed through language. And, that by altering our modes of communication, we could alter our perceptions of the world. In his view, language was more than just a tool for communication—it was a technology that could shape the human experience.


He also believed that the imagination was a critical force in human evolution, enabling us to create meaning and construct alternative realities. For McKenna, the psychedelic experience was a doorway into the realms of the imagination, a space where the ordinary rules of logic and causality dissolved, allowing for new forms of understanding and creativity to emerge.


Timewave Zero and the Singularity

One of McKenna's most controversial ideas was his "Timewave Zero" theory, which proposed that time is not a linear progression but a fractal pattern of increasing novelty and complexity. According to McKenna, the universe was moving towards a moment of "singularity," an unprecedented event of transformation that would result in a complete paradigm shift in human consciousness and reality itself.


He believed that this singularity would occur on December 21, 2012, coinciding with the end of the Mayan calendar. Although the date came and went without a noticeable cosmic shift, McKenna's concept of accelerating change and novelty still resonates with many who see the rapid advancements in technology, science, and culture as part of a larger pattern. 2012 was a watershed year for machine learning, with the creation of AlexNet

Terence McKenna often spoke about "strange attractors" in the context of his broader philosophy, particularly when discussing the nature of time, chaos theory, and novelty.


The term "strange attractor" comes from chaos theory. It describes a pattern of behavior in a dynamic system that seems chaotic, but actually follows a deterministic and predictable pattern over time, though the path is typically highly complex.


McKenna took this concept and applied it to his theory of time, human history, and consciousness. He believed that human existence, and the unfolding of time, was being drawn toward a strange attractor in the future—a point of maximum complexity and novelty. This idea ties into his larger "Timewave Zero" theory and the concept of the cosmic"singularity."


Exploring Strange Attractors

McKenna saw strange attractors as metaphors for the forces that guide evolution, culture, and consciousness. Instead of seeing history as a random process, he viewed it as being shaped by an unseen force—an attractor in the future pulling humanity toward greater complexity, creativity, and awareness. He believed that humanity was on a journey toward a moment of radical transformation and that this attractor was guiding us toward it.


  • Timewave Zero and the Strange Attractor

McKenna’s "Timewave Zero" theory proposed that time is not linear but is governed by a wave of increasing novelty and complexity, culminating in a singularity or a transformative event. He believed this singularity acted as a strange attractor, drawing humanity and the universe toward it. This singularity would represent the ultimate point of novelty, a moment where everything changes—either through a technological, spiritual, or cosmic event.


  • Psychedelics as Tools to Access the Strange Attractor

McKenna argued that psychedelics could help individuals perceive or experience the pull of this strange attractor. He believed that these substances allowed people to transcend ordinary states of consciousness and glimpse the deeper patterns of reality, including the strange attractor shaping human history and evolution. In this sense, psychedelics were


  • Strange Attractors and Novelty

A central part of McKenna's worldview was the idea that the universe is constantly moving toward greater novelty or complexity. Strange attractors, in his view, were symbolic of the inherent order in what appears to be chaos. He used the term to explain how seemingly random or chaotic events in human history, culture, or consciousness were part of a larger, more structured pattern leading to moments of innovation, creativity, and transformation


McKenna's use of the strange attractor metaphor resonated with people exploring chaos theory, fractals, and systems thinking.


Though some of his ideas, like the exact date of the singularity in 2012, did not materialize as he predicted- although one can argue 2012 was a watershed year for the large language model, perhaps marking the end of a cycle. The broader concept of strange attractors influencing human evolution and the unfolding of time still captivates many.


The concept that humanity is not drifting aimlessly through time but is being drawn toward something transformative is profoundly attractive. He believed that understanding and experiencing this through altered states of consciousness, particularly with the help of psychedelics, could provide deeper insights into the mysteries of existence and our place in the universe.


Ecology and the Future of Humanity

McKenna was naturally a passionate advocate for ecological sustainability. He saw the destructive impact of modern civilization on the planet and urged people to reconnect with nature, not just physically but spiritually.


He believed that psychedelics could inspire humanity to center the environmental crisis and foster a sustainable, harmonious relationship with the Earth.


Envision, through the Philosophy of Terrence McKenna, a future where humanity evolves into a more empathetic, conscious, and ecologically responsible species, with psychedelics playing a key role in that transformation. His optimism about the future, despite the many challenges we face, remains one of the most inspiring aspects of his legacy.


Legacy and Influence

Though Terence McKenna passed away in 2000, his ideas continue to inspire a growing movement interested in psychedelics, consciousness studies, and alternative ways of thinking. His books, "The Archaic Revival"** and "Food of the Gods," **have become cult classics, and his lectures are still widely shared online, sparking new discussions about the nature of reality and human potential.


McKenna’s lasting influence can be seen in the renewed modern interest in psychedelic research, particularly in the fields of mental health and spirituality. His call to explore the boundaries of consciousness and imagination continues to resonate with those seeking deeper meaning in an increasingly complex and disconnected world.


Terence McKenna was a kindred spirit whose philosophy continues to challenge and inspire. His compassionate worldviews invite us to reconsider our place in the universe in a most wonderful and aligned way, and I hope you enjoy exploring his work further on your own.


This story was written by the Autistic Burnout  and features our chaos logo in a sea of swirling pastel stars
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