October 11, 2021: A misadventure into magic, myth, folklore and potent neuro-hacking chemicals. This talk discusses both the scientific and the mystical understanding of people's experiences of visionary encounters with discarnate beings. In all times and places, people have had unnervingly real encounter experiences with deities, demons, angels, elves, aliens, and ghosts. Sometimes these occur when a person is in an altered state – dreaming, on drugs, or is near death. The connection between the altered state and the 'visitation' is explored in a vividly illustrated talk, which takes a personal tour through folklore, mythology, neurochemistry, magic, shamanism, Death and the angel of a thousand eyes, brain anatomy, Tibetan demonology, the pineal gland, art, the Reg Veda, psychoactive toads and a cauldron full of other odd ingredients.