Swiss Wilderness: Monte Verita in the 1920s, Seeking Alternative Visions of Life, Ecstasy {MDMA}

Countercultural, utopian visions have a pretty long history.


Monte Verita (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Verita) in Ticino in Switzerland in the 1920s is perhaps one expression of this.



In a broad way, I see

Herman Hesse's "Journey to the East" and "Siddartha" ...

Bertolt Brecht's plays and writings, especially vis-a-vis the proletariat ...

Albert Hoffman's chemistry ...


as expressions of this.


But I'm not sure whether Anton Koellisch's synthesis of MDMA (ecstasy or X - methylene dioxy meth amphetamine) at Merck around 1912 was part of the broad culture which informed Monte Verita or not. {How might we think of the above writings, as well as MDMA, as information technologies?}


These alternative and countercultural envisionings seek new ways of life.


I see Harbin Hot Springs as another expression of this.


"Individualistic vegetarianism," and nudity were key aspects of Monte Verità, I learned yesterday, speaking with a {French speaking} Swiss friend.


How these expressions of alternative life play out through time are fascinating. Monte Verita is now a center.





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To the Rainbow Gathering in New Mexico ...


Welcome Home ...


All Ways Free ...


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And 'progress' occurs ...


Let's see about eliciting loving bliss, naturally, when and as we want ...