Super Mario - A secret shaman?

[Ostritt]

I just bought Mario Galaxy and was blown away by how psychedelic it is. I'm sure this has been noted before, but I think it would make an interesting discussion. OK here's my theory.

Mario is a shaman roving through the Mushroom Kingdom, a world inhabited by talking amanita muscarias. He has to reach a female goddess figure (Princess Peach) but is prevented from doing so by the atavistic and savage figure of Bowser (society's fear/male dominant ego) So to get to her, he has to explore strange new places, taking mushrooms that change his body form and give him special powers. When he finds the special goddess of gnosis (Peach) the game ends and everyone is happy. Not only that, but Mario has the ability to change into different animal hybrids (therianthropes). He can also talk to plants. Honestly the list just goes on and on.

This could be a breakthrough in stoned video game playing. If anyone has anything to add, please do!

[CrackaJacka]

I have long thought this to be true my friend. The understanding of the language the plants and animals, use of mushrooms to achieve a higher state of being with powers that allow him to reach his goddess. The evidence is all there man. But what type of shaman is Mario? Tungus, Manchu, Yakut, Samoyed, Ostyak, Altaic, Buryat? What would he be most associated with? :confused::confused::confused:

[braha_kahn]

Definitly shamanic!

Stumbled on this pic today:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b323/soundlessdawn/yosukeuenomario.jpg

[Little Elf]

I wish there were a weed video game. Or some good tripping game with a historical figure, like Terence McKenna and the True Hallucinations plot:D:D:D. Or all those snowboarding and sports games, you should be given the option of hitting the slopes high or not.

[soulrebel]

In the Paper Mario game you can purchase power-ups such as "Dried shrooms" and "Shroom shakes".

[ottonomy]

In the Paper Mario game you can purchase power-ups such as "Dried shrooms" and "Shroom shakes".They're great ingredients in a number of essential concoctions!


Also, I love Super Mario Galaxy even though I'm only 3/7 done.

[Ostritt]

Yea it's so good, I haven't been playing much recently but I will be soon hopefully.

[soulrebel]

I'm up to 70 stars :) You can play the "final" level at 60, still lots to explore afterwards though.

They're great ingredients in a number of essential concoctions!


Also, I love Super Mario Galaxy even though I'm only 3/7 done.

Yea it's so good, I haven't been playing much recently but I will be soon hopefully.

[tuatara]

I wish there were a weed video game. Or some good tripping game with a historical figure, like Terence McKenna and the True Hallucinations plot:D:D:D. Or all those snowboarding and sports games, you should be given the option of hitting the slopes high or not.

I love playing games. Unfortunately, almost every game that is released does nothing for me. The medium has incredible potential and yet we seem stuck with a seemingly endless stream of first-person shooters, Dungeons & Dragons variants and sports simulations.

However, like in many other domains, there are exceptions around the margins. Over the years I've kept a text file listing games that embody some sort of psychedelic sensibility. The plan was to start a blog where I write about what I think is special about these games and to help like-minded folk find them. One day I'll get round to it ...

The new Super Mario game looks really interesting. Perhaps January will be the month I finally crack and get a Wii.