2016, April 19 - Bicycle Day
1943, April 19 - Not completely content with the result of their first encounter, three days earlier, as her child had not spoken loud and clear enough to be fully and unequivocally understood by the doctor and therefore did not receive the essential attention it deserved, Mother of Rye arranged for a second meeting, three days later.
The whispering echo of her voice presented Dr Hofmann with the deliberated decision to self-prescribe a small dose of LSD, in order to enable the two to make closer acquaintance. Easily convinced by the vivid memory of his recent pleasance, the scientist reasoned that by consciously repeating the experiment, it should become establissed with certainty whether or not the previous serendipitous encounter between his research chemical and his self had indeed been accidental.
The Self-administered "cautious dosis" -250 micrograms, in retrofact- proved not as small as Hofmann had expected. Not quite, not by far. Little did he foresee about the friendly onslaught of chaos at his very fingertips, screaming in eager silence. Yet as soon as he felt inebriated by the initial effects, he laid down his work and asked his assistant to accompany him on his bikeride home, as it seemed unsafe to him to head out on the road by himself.
Moments later, looking over his shoulder whilst biking, he could see Mother of Rye, fading into the distance, waving with a wide smile and a satisfied sigh, as she knew she had accomplished her Great Work.
The trip that followed wrote history and its effects resonate throughout time, far beyond our common present. This date, April 19, has become known around the globe as Bicycle Day - the annual cerebralation* of Albert Hofmann's Serendipity.
Trring Trrring!
Satyr Barbarossa
- Forest of Eleusis, Earth
original writ: 2014, April 16
third edition: 2016, April 19
As always and (un)usual, between Now, Never and Forever:
click any highlighted text for additional, linked content.
- essential reading:
LSD - My Problem Child (Hofmann)
online available at MAPS or Erowid
and more relsdated literature at Erowid
- essential viewing, see below:
Hofmann's Potion (Littlefield)
The Substance (Witz)
* cerebralate:
a personal portmanteau
of celebrate and cerebrum
∞
.: serendipity awaits :.
all text ⓦ Satyr Barbarossa
(cc) 2014 / 2015 / 2016
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