Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is found in many plant and animal species, but its effects are said to be as rare and powerful as divine. When ingested, this molecule induces a profoundly psychedelic experience filled with mysterious hallucinations and fleeting euphoria. From its use in ancient rituals to modern scientific applications, DMT: A Lost History traces its long and complex journey.
Many users of DMT—both ancient and contemporary—report its ability to transform the landscape and bring it closer than ever to the face of God. The film highlights its possible use many centuries ago and how these cases have helped shape the world we live in today.
The filmmaker traces the use of DMT back to ancient Egypt and backs up his findings with the presence in hieroglyphs of the Eye of Rah, which is shaped like the pineal gland, the area of the brain responsible for meditation and dreaming. Also related to the concept of meditation is the practice of ancient India. Evidence from the region suggests that this compound is a popular ingredient in a particularly potent type of transcendental brew. Meanwhile, herbalists in pre-Christian Greece may have used the compound for medicinal purposes.
The origins of Christianity and Judaism are also associated with psychedelic drugs like DMT in the movie. Does it contribute to the image of the burning bush reported by Moses? Did an early baptism lead to a near-death experience that mirrored the cosmic effects of this connection?
Recent historical discoveries link DMT to the era of the United States Founding Fathers and the creation of the Constitution.
The film examines a range of symbols found in ancient communication and works of art, passages from the Bible, and long-forgotten rituals and customs to build its compelling argument.
Through informal but well-informed narratives and appealing trippy animations, DMT: A Lost History shows how the most advanced and consistent minds in world history can be the result of this majestic psychedelic substance.
Directed by: Chris Rice
