Shamans submit to death in order to serve their communities.

Shamanism is not simply a component of society: on the contrary, shamanism, together with its tiered cosmos, can be said to be the overall framework of society.

Consciousness has evolved biologically and can therefore be explained biologically.

Primary consciousness is a state of being aware of things in the world – of having mental images in the present.But it is not accompanied by any sense of a person with a past and future…

Primary consciousness is a kind of ‘remembered present’…

I believe it is reasonable to assume that higher-order consciousness developed neurologically in Africa before the second wave of emigration to the Middle East and Europe.

Improved memory made possible the long-term recollection of dreams and visions and the construction of those recollections into a spirit world.

Once human beings had developed higher-order consciousness, they had the ability to see mental images projected onto surfaces and to experience afterimages.

For the makers, the paintings and engravings were visions, not representations of visions.

In Lascaux and other sites, hoofs are depicted to show their underside, or hoofprint.

The portable animal statuettes were therefore far more than decorative trinkets: they were reified three-dimensional spirit animals with all their prophylactic and other powers.

My Illusionist, will you take me into a world filled with timeless magic?

Start marching forward, even when into the new and unknown, and don't be deterred by obstacles.

By nature, most people are controlled by their emotions. They feel sad, so they look sad.

Never in the history of the world has there been a situation so bad that the government can't make it worse.

Human beings are able to reflect on their existencefor now that distinguishes us from other creatures.

You need to believe in something that's bigger than yourself. I think that's what everybody wants to believe in that.

From the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, music is unfortunately on my mind, on my stereo, or I'm making it or talking about it.

Things That Don't Matter When You've Lived the Same Day Six Times and Died on at Least Two of Them: Lunch meats and their relative coolness.

I don't feel that censorship keeps me from doing the work, though. I'm my bigger censor.

This was our common ground, the secret we shared but never spoke aloud. I should have been with him; she should have left him alone. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. It's so easy in the past tense.