Once upon a time, someone who swore by the benefits of psychedelic drugs would be dismissed as a ‘hippie,’ and no one from so-called mainstream society would have taken them seriously. However, today we live in a world where the rise of metaphysical spirituality has led to once fringe belief systems gaining favor across the world, among both laypeopleand medical professionals alike.
Such movements are no longer spoken of in hushed tones among esoteric communities, nor exist only in far-flung corners of the globe. In fact,alternative ideas of spiritualityhave now become the refuge of many successful entrepreneurs and celebrities, and even spawned movements that have burgeoned into big businesses.
Augmented by the rise of social media, things like mindfulness programs, ancient eastern practices, shamanism, alchemy, traditional medicine, and modern movements like “BodyTalk” have become far more widespread and socially acceptable than ever. If you know what a chakra is, have ever tried yoga, or practice meditation, you’ve touched a part of this world too.
Keeping this context in mind, if you’ve never heard of him, the famed ethnobotanist and ‘psychonaut’ Terence McKenna remains one of the most revered figures in the world of alternative living. Although it’s been a debunked rumor for many years, the idea thatJim Carreywill play McKenna in an upcoming biopic continues to persist to this day. As we explore who Terence McKenna was, and how many of Jim Carrey’s traits and beliefs seem to align with his, here’s a look at why we wish this rumor would actually come true.
Who was Terence McKenna?
Terence McKenna was an academic, author, lecturer, and probably one ofthe most famous psychonautsthat ever existed. While it may seem like hokum, psychonautics is a legitimate field; one that concerns itself with the study of the subjective effects brought on by altered states of consciousness. Although such states are often associated with psychedelic drugs, they may also be induced by practices such as meditation, or the chanting of mantras, for example.
Far more than just someone who glorified drug use as he’s often perceived, McKenna attained BSc degrees from Berkeley in ecology, resource conservation, and shamanism. Given his scientific background and fascination with the natural world, he and his brother undertook extensive expeditions to the Amazon in search of DMT, the psychoactive ingredient present in some plants there. They came across vast fields ofPsilocybecubensismushrooms, now popularly known as “magic mushrooms”.
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McKenna’s experiences led him to switch his focus to these mushrooms. His use of them, coupled with his research and studies, led him and his brother to later write many books. He completed his studies and become a public figure as he developed a movement related to his alternative and often outlandish theories aboutthe nature of the universe and our place in it.
He married another ethnobotanist, Kathleen Harrison, and went on to develop methods for growing magic mushrooms locally with her. This turned into a natural preserve in Hawaii known as Botanical Dimensions, intended to collect and preserve native and shamanic medicinal plants and knowledge.
Through his public lectures, McKenna spoke on many topics, including advocating the use of psychedelics and magic mushrooms in particular. He also spoke on topics like metaphysics, alchemy, shamanism, and self-improvement. Rising to become a significant and revered figure to his students, readers, and followers, McKenna’s positive ideas and lectures are still studied today. Sadly, he passed away in 2000 from brain cancer, unrelated to his drug use. He was just 53-years-old at the time.
Jim Carrey’s Ups and Downs
Jim Carrey is, of course, a famous actor best known for his many comedic moviessuch asThe Maskand theAce Venturafilms. His many accomplishments have earned him legendary status among his massive global fan base. He’s also revered in Hollywood for his truly rare gifts as an actor, his surprising gift at serious roles, and ability to transform himself in ways that not many performers are capable of.
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Given the enormity of his success, Carrey has also suffered through the darker side of fame too. His marriages and engagements to co-stars never quite panned out. Meanwhile, for all the joy and laughter Carrey gave his fans, he sadly faced very public struggles with depression too. His ill-fated relationship with ex-girlfriend Kathriona White ended with her death from a prescription medication overdose, with Carrey being blamed for it and accused of using his celebrity and wealth to acquire the medication for her.
However, throughout his ups and downs, Jim Carrey remains one of the mostbeloved, respected, and acclaimedactors of a generation. His immense talent and tragic controversies aside, there’s another side to the actor that’s also often made him seem as if he was cut from the same mold as Terence McKenna.
Jim Carrey Doesn’t Exist
Jim Carrey has also often made his spiritual and political views public. An avid socialist, Carrey has spoken about following the law of attraction. Believing in the power of visualization and manifesting, he once famously shared a storyduring an interview with Oprahabout how, before he was famous, he wrote a note to himself that represented a check for $10 million for “acting services.” He then carried it around with him until he actually received his first $10 million paycheck as an actor.
Carrey’s other famous pronouncements on hisspiritual and philosophical practicestell us that he affirms transcendental meditation, and believes in a higher power though he hasn’t committed to a singular faith. He even famously said that he doesn’t actually exist, a concept that, as weird as it sounds, actually explains much of his philosophical and spiritual beliefs, andled to a short documentarybeing made about him based on it. With all this in mind, let’s explore why he would actually be the perfect fit to play Terence McKenna in a film.
Why Jim Carrey?
Given Jim Carrey’s often peculiar, but also sometimes magnetic views onthe nature of life and existence, it’s hard not to be reminded of the lectures and writings of Terence McKenna. Many of McKenna and Carrey’s fans alike have pointed out that Jim Carrey’s beliefs often sound like those shared by people who claim to have experienced higher dimensions of understanding brought on by psychedelic use.
In fact, the persistent rumor that Jim Carrey will play Terence McKenna in an upcoming biopic was largely born of this comparison. Since 2016, the rumor has floated around the likes of Reddit threads and sites dedicated to the teachings and philosophies of Terence McKenna. While it has been consistently debunked and confirmed that Jim Carrey has no plans to star as him, given their similarities and unique world views at times, it’s easy to see why the idea never stops surfacing to this day.
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Aside from Carrey being a natural fit to transmit the kind of aura McKenna gave off, their belief systems oddly coincide in ways. This, despite the actor’s publicists unequivocally denying that he uses psychedelics or advocates their use. Nevertheless, other famous voices like Joe Rogan have statedbeliefs that Carrey has had psychedelic experiences.
Given the obvious skepticism surrounding the use of psychedelics, and the fact that magic mushrooms and many other psychedelic substances remain illegal, it’s understandable why Jim Carrey and his team have distanced themselves from this rumor. However, there’s still more than enough reasons to also see why him playing McKenna remains such a tantalizing prospect.
Sure, Terence McKenna’s work and beliefs weren’t mainstream, and he was often academically maligned and dismissed. However, asthe popularity of alternative lifestylesand metaphysical spirituality continues to grow, more and more people than ever before are finding themselves attracted to belief systems like McKenna’s, or even Jim Carrey’s, for that matter.
It’s also worth noting that Terence McKenna was never seen as a dangerous person, and was known for his laid back nature. In fact, even physically, there’s often been comparisons between McKenna’s looks and some of the more outlandish ones Jim Carrey has shown up with over the years. Their speaking voices often coalesce, with McKenna sometimes called “The Bard” due to his engaging presence in lectures, so it makes for such a natural choice to imagine Carrey playing him.
More than anything, it’s the genius of Jim Carrey that most fans of McKenna are attracted to. While it’s easy to liken them due to their oddball reputations or similarities in mystic beliefs, to fans of both, it’s actually easier to see a connection between their rare types of genius that seem to coincide more naturally than anything else.
Behind all of Jim Carrey’s comedic antics and chameleon abilities, he’s also proven himself to bea dramatic actor capable of astounding depth. For followers of Terence McKenna who wish to celebrate his life, rather than an insult to Jim Carrey, the continuous calls for him to play McKenna should actually be seen as a compliment to them both.
Still not convinced it would make for a great casting choice and a fantastic biopic? Here’s a link to Terence McKenna’s last interview and one of Jim Carrey’s most notable speeches and comments he gave about how he views the nature of existence. Perhaps give both a watch and then decide if you suddenly understand why this rumor makes so much sense, despite being a false one.
