Alex Grey & Allyson Grey

Date: 2016-05-10 | Duration: 1h 50m

Category: Arts & Entertainment, Health & Medicine

Episode Overview

Alex and Allyson Grey join Joe Rogan to discuss their ongoing project, the Entheon Church, a visionary space dedicated to art, community, and psychedelic spirituality. They share updates on their Kickstarter campaign to restore an 1882 carriage house into a multi-purpose art sanctuary, emphasizing the integration of sacred art and evolving religious expression. The Greys explore the intersection of creativity and spirituality, describing how their church functions as a living embodiment of creative energy rather than a traditional religious institution. They reflect on the challenges and nuances of defining religion today, especially in relation to art, ritual, and community building. The conversation also delves into the role of psychedelics in healing and consciousness expansion. Alex and Allyson highlight recent scientific advances and changing legal landscapes around psychedelic substances, emphasizing their potential for mental health treatment and spiritual insight. They discuss the cultural shift toward acceptance of these sacraments and the importance of safe, intentional use. The Greys share personal stories about their artistic journeys, experiences at Burning Man, and the power of communal art to foster connection and transformation. Throughout, they underscore the idea that art and spirituality are deeply intertwined forces capable of inspiring personal and societal evolution.

About Alex Grey

Alex Grey is a visionary artist, author, and teacher known for his intricate, spiritually charged paintings that explore consciousness, mysticism, and the interconnected nature of human existence. His work bridges art, science, spirituality, and the psychedelic experience, earning international recognition and exhibitions at institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Alongside his wife and creative partner Allyson Grey, he co-founded the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, a New York-based sanctuary dedicated to visionary art, transformation, and spiritual growth. Grey is also leading the development of Entheon, a monumental visionary art temple designed to inspire deeper reflection on creativity, consciousness, and the human condition. Through his art, books, lectures, and advocacy surrounding psychedelics and personal transformation, Grey has become one of the most influential figures in contemporary visionary art and consciousness studies.

About Allyson Grey

Allyson Grey is a visionary artist, author, and dedicated teacher, renowned for her intricate work in the realm of sacred art. Co-founding the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) with her husband, Alex Grey, she plays a vital role in the creative and spiritual community, currently focusing on the ambitious project of Entheon, a center dedicated to the celebration of visionary art and consciousness. Known for her exploration of themes surrounding the interconnectedness of all life, Allyson’s art invites viewers to delve into the profound depths of human experience, making her a captivating figure in contemporary spiritual and artistic circles.

Key Moments

– Entheon Project
– Sacred Architecture
– Psychedelic Art
– Religious Evolution
– Burning Man Festival
– Psychedelic Research
– Drug Policy Reform
– Community Building
– Creative Energy
– Art and Spirituality
– Tax-Exempt Religion
– Visionary Experiences
– Endocannabinoid System
– MAPS Research
– Sistine Chapel Art
– Sacramental Use of Psychedelics
– Social Media Impact
– Environmental Awareness
– Art Installation
– Conscious Ideology
0:00:00 – Podcast begins with headphone mishap
0:00:40 – Discussion of Kickstarter for Entheon project
0:01:33 – Saving historic 1882 carriage house
0:04:28 – Evolutionary narratives in art and sculpture
0:07:24 – Kickstarter campaign progress and goals
0:10:07 – Mission of community caretaking and church concept
0:11:09 – Challenges of defining religion and spirituality
0:14:58 – Questioning evolving edge of religion
0:19:20 – Connection between religious impulse and art
0:22:03 – Religion's influence on science and art
0:25:52 – Founding a church for legal and spiritual reasons
0:29:09 – Starting the church in Brooklyn in 2003
0:31:46 – Personal experiences with religion and skepticism
0:36:48 – Impact of small acts of kindness on mental health
0:39:04 – Visiting the Sistine Chapel and religious art
0:42:14 – Art as pure expression of religious truth
0:48:07 – Visionary experiences and their significance
0:49:35 – Manifesting energy through thought forms
0:52:42 – Diseases of consciousness and ideology
0:54:02 – Political reflections on elections and society
0:58:25 – Social media's role in communication and culture
1:00:33 – Connectedness in nature and organisms
1:03:00 – Zendo meditation space at Cosmo
1:04:18 – Changing social norms and language sensitivity
1:06:14 – Burning Man infrastructure and environment
1:09:06 – Burning Man event and community participation
1:11:37 – Powering and lighting large art installations
1:15:42 – Personal reflections on experiences at festival
1:17:51 – Interactive art sculptures at Burning Man
1:20:27 – Environmental challenges at festival site
1:22:15 – Safety measures for fire performances
1:25:03 – Artistic legacy of Sistine Chapel and prints
1:27:00 – Critique of drug prohibition and policy
1:29:56 – Legal victories for sacramental psychedelic use
1:34:48 – Science of the endocannabinoid system
1:39:00 – Positive effects of psychedelics in safe settings
1:42:08 – Potential of psychedelics for veterans' health
1:45:55 – Closing remarks and Entheon project website

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 And we're live. You don't have headphones? Starting point is 00:00:22 Remember when Joey Diaz couldn't figure out the headphones? Starting point is 00:00:40 The last time that we spoke to you, we were doing a Kickstarter campaign to build Entheon. Starting point is 00:01:23 Oh, look at that. Starting point is 00:01:33 We're saving the carriage house from 1882. Starting point is 00:01:46 Oh, so you surrounded it with art. Starting point is 00:01:56 That's just one room on the third floor. Starting point is 00:02:27 And I always wanted to he went to uh the wrong alex gray he went to some where we're trying yeah yeah that's relevant Starting point is 00:03:17 On top of the building, there's a steeplehead Starting point is 00:04:01 He's an amazing modeler. Starting point is 00:04:28 evolutionary thing going on Starting point is 00:04:44 of those narratives of development Starting point is 00:05:20 And then it was sculpted in teak. Starting point is 00:05:36 The originals will be on view inside because they're made of teak. Starting point is 00:05:51 with the evolution thing? Starting point is 00:06:23 And the drip also looks like an eyeball. Starting point is 00:06:52 or are we just going to blow it? Starting point is 00:07:08 C-O-S-M? Starting point is 00:07:24 three times where we were last. We did this campaign the same length, the same days, three years ago in 2013, and we're three times ahead of where we were. And we actually, well, we did 160% of our goal the last time. So we're challenging ourselves to even higher. Starting point is 00:08:10 Well, it really depends on the money that we raise to do the exterior. The interior we're going to have done by 2017, and we're aiming at the winter of 2017. Starting point is 00:08:51 It's a 3D printout 20 feet high by 8 by 8. Starting point is 00:09:18 Oh, yeah. Starting point is 00:09:39 will make it enduring. Starting point is 00:10:07 community. That's our actual mission. Do you guys have a car...

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Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #797?

Alex Grey & Allyson Grey was the guest on JRE #797. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #797?

On Joe Rogan Experience #797 with Alex Grey & Allyson Grey, topics include Entheon Project, Sacred Architecture, Psychedelic Art, and Religious Evolution.

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The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #797 with Alex Grey & Allyson Grey is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.