we are all magicians, whether we know it or not.
(This is the introductory statement I wrote for the series of articles posted in this category, most of which originally appeared in the American Free Journal Weekly/Desert Valley Star Weekly between July 2009-September 2010) Hi I am Kenny Berman. I am a researcher and teacher of the methodological applications of sacred plants, otherwise known as … Read more
By Kenny Berman ( I thought this article was first published in the American Free Journal Weekly, but I can not find the issue in which it was printed, so I do not have that specific information to share) I first started working with San Pedro cactus while temporarily living in the town of Vilcabamba, … Read more
By Kenneth Berman ( This article first appeared in the American Free journal Weekly April 29-May 5th 2010 Vol.21 No. 18) Its spring time in the desert! After some healthy winter rains we are privy to be witnessing another beautiful bloom. The next couple of weeks will surely be the peak of the flower season. … Read more
By Kenneth Berman ( this article first appeared in the American Free Journal weekly Feb. 18-24 2010 Vol. 21 No. 8) This specific column differs from all my other columns because there are several plants used in producing the sacred brew called “Ayahuasca”. This is the common name given to the Amazonian plant medicine that … Read more
By Kenneth Berman ( This article first appeared in the Desert Valley Star Weekly January 21-27 2010 Vol.3 No. 4) There is a novel and surreal sensation in researching a plant and then having the benefit of walking within twenty feet from one’s house to gather specimens for self-experimentation. I felt privileged that this was … Read more
By Kenny Berman – Family: Agaricea – Genus: Amanita – Species: muscaria -Common names: Fly Agaric, Fly Amanita, Fly fungus, “Fairytale” mushroom and Toadstool. Note: “Toadstool” is more of a generic term to describe any unknown, gilled mushroom. – Description: The Agarics are the gilled fungus (mushrooms). The Amanita genus start their growth in an … Read more
By Kenneth Berman ( This article first appeared in the American Free Journal Weekly Nov. 19th-25th 2009 Vol. 20 No. 47) In 2003 I held a small weekend seminar at the Joshua Tree Inn on entheogenics. There were several presenters but I personally lectured on “legal and available plant entheogens”. I had ordered several plants … Read more
By Kenny Berman (This article first appeared in the American Free Journal Weekly Oct. 15th-21st 2009 Vol.20 No.42) Family: Labiatae ( Mint Family) Genus: Salvieae/Salvia ( Sages) Species: divinorum Common names: Diviner’s Sage, Hojas or Hierba de la Pastora (Spanish, “leaves/ herb of the shepherdess”), Ska Maria Pastora ( Mazatec), Seer Sage (Street –European?), Salvia … Read more
By Kenneth Berman (This article first appeared in the American Free Journal Weekly Sept. 17th-23rd 2009 Vol. 20 No. 38) – Family: Nymphaeaceae (Water Lilly Family) – Genus: Nymphaea – Species: caerulea – Common names: Blue Lotus, Egyptian Blue Lotus, Blue Lilly of the Nile, Utpala (Sanskrit). Note: The Blue Lilly (Agapanthus africanus) is a … Read more
By Kenny Berman (This article first appeared in the American Free Journal Weekly Aug. 20th-29th 2009 Vol. 20 No. 34) -Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family) -Genus: Datureae -Species: Datura inoxia (Often mistakenly labeled Datura meteloides) -Common names: Mexican Thorn Apple, Toloache (Aztec), kiksawva’al (Cahuilla), Devil’s weed (Carlos Casteneda) -Description: A medium sized shrub-like annual plant with … Read more