Paleolithic Beginnings - The Human Journey

Ritual, Sound, and Altered States

Ancient rituals often occurred in underground environments where subterranean acoustics were perceived as spirit voices. These practices, combined with the human capacity for altered trance states, fostered a universal, shamanic understanding of a three-tiered universe that persisted across disparate cultures.

The Roots of Transcendence

Starting around 40,000 years ago, early humans began conceiving of a tiered cosmos consisting of the spirit world, the underworld, and the mortal world. This period marked the emergence of rituals designed to engage with spiritual realms.

Creativity and the Ice Age

Artistic expression, exemplified by cave paintings across multiple continents, peaked during the most severe phases of the Ice Age. The cessation of these artistic practices roughly 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the Ice Age, suggests a strong correlation between environmental crisis and creative output.