Interesting topic, thanks.
I'm continually drawn to the ideas of a brilliant linguist and psychedelic proponent,
Terence McKenna. He's got some wacky ideas, and that's what I love about him and the "psychedelic" in general. These things are a catalyst for language and imagination, which to me are the two most important and unique tools in humanity's vast array.
Psychedelics or entheogens or hallucinogens or whatever you want to call them are organic, living tools that humans use to stimulate our inborn faculty (tool, if you wish) of imagination. I also think there's the possibility that these substances also serve as bridges and doorways to other realities, in that they allow us to experience other ways of perceiving besides our normal, boring, everyday conditioned consciousness. They are, I believe, of immense value to humans in breaking down false boundaries between the individual and the other--whether it be another person or the literal brick in your literal wall that suddenly smiles and giggles with you when you are deep in a trip.
The sacredness and specialness of entheogens lies in their quality of revealing these alternate worlds and breaking down barriers. Their importance is one of propelling us into the immediacy of experience and fluidity of concsiousness. They have the potential to clear our vision and open those doors of perception that Alduous Huxley talked about, to allow us to see the universe as completely alive--all of it. They break down conditioned ways of seeing the world, astonish us with visions of oneness, as well as throw at us baffling curve balls of nonsense.
They're tricky, that's for sure, and not all fun and games. They can be scary and they are often misused by people looking for some trippy adventure, who just want to watch the walls melt and go, "Whoa, haha. Dude. Awesome." As catalysts, I think they need to be approached and consumed intentionally if at all, and with reverence. Eating peyote or a mushroom cap is not to be likened to drinking a six pack. These things are not social drugs. They are vision-inducing, reality shifting, perception challenging experiences. A trip is an event. It's not a party.
My 2 cents and soapbox at this point.
Peace,
P-Funk
(it's been a while... hello again CR!)