Navigating Your States of Consciousness

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Join Ralph Metzner for his live, interactive video course, “Understanding and Navigating Your States of Consciousness,” and discover how to identify and navigate your different states of consciousness for deep healing and greater creativity. This 6-session course starts February 22. 

 

The concept of altered states of consciousness (ASCs) came into prominence in Western psychology in the 1950s and 1960s, primarily due to three paradigm breakthroughs. One was the discovery of rapid eye movements (REM) during dreaming sleep, which was the first time recordable physiological variations could be reliably correlated with a specific subjective state of consciousness. The second breakthrough was the discovery that recordings of electrical activity in the brain (EEG), in the frequency range of 8-12 cycles per second (called “alpha waves”) were reliably correlated with calm, eyes-closed states of relaxation and meditation. The third breakthrough was the discovery of LSD and other psychedelic, “consciousness expanding” drugs, – which meant that profoundly transformed and transformative states of consciousness, hitherto accessible only to a few individuals engaged in meditative or yogic practices, could be induced with fairly high reliability in ordinary people, given the right preparation, safeguards and set and setting.

These discoveries of correlations between variations in neural functions and variations in subjective consciousness stimulated an enormous upsurge of research, which continues to this day, using technologies such EEG, MRI, PET and others. This approach – the study of associations between measures of brain activity and mental states – has become the dominant paradigm in the scientific study of consciousness. It is based on the underlying philosophical assumption of the Western, materialist worldview that consciousness must somehow be located in the brain. This is a view that goes back to the work of the 18th century French mathematician René Descartes, who famously speculated that the soul might be found in the pineal gland. The Eastern philosophies of Yoga and Buddhism come from a completely different approach, basing their conceptions of the mind on systematic observations of inner states during meditation.

The key insight that came out of the Harvard studies with psychedelic drugs in the 1960s, was the significance of set (intention) and setting (context) in understanding psychedelic states of consciousness. Unlike drugs that affect the functioning of one or another bodily organ, such as the heart or kidneys, psychedelics expand the range, focus and clarity of perception itself – the way we see reality and ourselves. Their effect goes far beyond even the mood-elevating or anxiety-calming effects of stimulant or sedative drugs.

Timothy Leary used to say psychedelic drugs were potentially to psychology what the microscope was to biology – affording the conscious perception of ranges and levels of reality that were previously inaccessible. But just as what we perceive through a microscope is a function of what we have put on the slide (such as the leaf of a plant, or a drop of blood), so the content of a psychedelic experience (the thoughts, images, feelings, sensations) is a function of the pre-existing set or intention, and the chosen context or setting. The drug merely functions as a kind of catalyst or trigger that shifts mental functioning into a different mode.

In the graduate courses on altered states of consciousness that I taught for many years, I found it useful to expand this basic paradigm of set, setting and catalyst to any and all states of consciousness, from the most common to the most exotic. Well-known catalysts or triggers of ASCs (besides drugs) are hypnotic inductions, meditative practices, shamanic drumming, music, nature, sex and others, as well as the normal cyclical variations of brain chemistry that catalyze us into the sleeping or waking states. It’s also useful to apply the ASC paradigm to understand psychopathological states that are contractive, fixated or dissociative, and have negative and toxic consequences for individuals, families and communities – including drug or behavioral addictions, fear (panic attacks), rage (fits of temper), psychotic breaks or episodes, depression, mania and others. We shall discuss such states in a later chapter.

One issue that produces uneasiness in most people when considering or discussing the concept of an “altered state,” is the seeming implication that “altered” is itself abnormal. How then could we talk about ASCs being therapeutic, creative, or spiritual growth enhancing? In my courses, I’ve attempted to overcome this cognitive prejudice by pointing to the fact that all human beings are very familiar with the normal, profoundly altered variations in state we call sleeping, waking and dreaming. Sigmund Freud had said that dreams are the “royal road to the unconscious,” meaning they provide the broadest and widest access. But one could equally well say that dreams are the commoners’ road, for everyone can and does travel on that nightly passage into the realms beyond. In India the “royal path of yoga” (raja yoga) referred to the intentional use of psychological practices to liberate consciousness from its ordinary conditioning – and this path does require a certain disciplined study and application.

Some writers have attempted to overcome the negative presuppositions associated with the concept of “altered states”, by proposing terms such as “alternate state”, or “non-ordinary state”, or (as in a handbook of the American Psychological Association) “anomalous experiences”. But this linguistic strategy disguises the point that some alterations of state are extremely ordinary, usual and familiar. Should “dreaming” be considered a “non-ordinary state”? How about being “drunk” or “depressed” – aren’t those rather ordinary, all-too familiar states? Furthermore, some indigenous people and shamanic practitioners object that what Westerners called “non-ordinary” states, are to them very familiar and ordinary. There is a whole spectrum of states of consciousness, from the familiar and common to the anomalous and exotic extreme. Whether the state is normal or abnormal is, in any case, a culturally and historically relative judgment imposed on experience, and thus, an academic question of no particular significance.

I finally came to understand my own lingering discomfort with the concept of “altered state,” besides the fact that it confuses the distinction between ordinary and non-ordinary states: it has to do with the passive construction “altered”, which suggests that something was done to you by an external agency. A drug-induced state seemingly supports this view. But we have to remember that normally the individual chooses to ingest the drug, whether alcohol or LSD or marijuana, for a certain purpose, and with the intention to alter their own consciousness. Similarly, a person may choose to undergo a hypnotic induction procedure to enter into a trance state in the context of psychotherapy. To deliberately alter another person’s consciousness without their knowledge or consent, for example by surreptitious use of a drug or alcohol, is universally considered morally reprehensible and illegal.

The state transitions of everyday life can also be conceived, and experienced, in active or passive terms. We may “go to sleep” with the conscious intention toward rest and restoration of energies; we may “fall asleep” involuntarily due to fatigue; or we may be “put to sleep,” metaphorically and literally, by a boring speaker in a lecture hall. Likewise for the opposite transition: we may “be awakened” by the alarm clock; just “wake up” spontaneously; or struggle, literally and metaphorically, against the downward pull of somnolence, to become more fully conscious and alert.

In Buddhism and other spiritual teachings, such as those of G.I. Gurdjieff, what we consider our normal waking state is seen as a kind of sleep state, in which we are unconscious of our essential nature. According to such teachings, the purpose of yogic and meditative practices is to help us awaken from the somnolent, dream-like conditions of ordinary, non-conscious existence – and awaken to our highest spiritual and creative potentials.

In order to use expansive, positive states of consciousness constructively for increasing health, creativity and growth, we need to be able to recognize the state we’re in at any given time, and how to navigate through it. In shamanic and alchemical divination practices, “sonic driving” methods such as drumming or rattling are used to facilitate accessing knowledge for healing, problem solving and guidance. Yogis and meditators practice mindfulness and concentration methods in order to experience the subtler dimensions of consciousness.

With contractive and unhealthy states, such as fear and rage, we need to identify the state we’re in, and recognize how that is affecting us (our thinking, our perception, our behavior), as well as others with whom we may be relating. We need to learn how to navigate our way through the negative states and into healthier, life-affirming states. By becoming more conscious of the state we’re in at any given moment, we can deploy attention in different ways, enhance the range of choices we can make, and more fully take responsibility for the impact of those choices on others and in our world.

The Set and Setting Model

A state of consciousness may be defined as the subjective space or field within which the different contents of consciousness, such as thoughts, feelings, images, perceptions, sensations, intuitions, memories and so forth, function in patterned interrelationships. Furthermore, a state of consciousness always implies a definite division of the stream of time, between two transition points. For example, we are in the sleep state between the time of falling asleep and the time of waking up. We are in the functional waking state, also called “ordinary state,” between the moments of waking up and of falling asleep. States of drug or alcohol intoxication extend from the time of ingestion to the time of “sobering up” or “coming down.” A meditative state or a hypnotic trance state begins and ends with transitions we refer to as “going in” or “coming back,” as if crossing some kind of threshold.

Although we can (sometimes) anchor the subjective state transitions to external objective (clock) time, it is important to recognize that each state has its own subjective time-line or time-stream. For example, in dreams both time and space are quite different than in the waking state. In a dream we may meet with a beloved person who lives thousands of miles away – and it takes no “real time” to travel to this meeting. Distance in the dream state is not geographical but emotional, a function of affinity and interest. Indeed, in dreams and other deep states we may find ourselves meeting and conversing with someone who is dead – having transcended altogether the space-time boundaries of ordinary reality. At the transitions between states, there is a discontinuity and we switch into a different time-stream and a different mind-space.

The notion of an altered state has acquired a certain connotation of abnormality, perhaps due to its association with drug states, even though we are all familiar with the profoundly different states of dreaming and sleeping. For this reason, I have come to think that it is important for us to learn to recognize and identify the times and situations when we are functioning in a markedly different than usual mode, i.e. in a different state.

If we can identify the transition or trigger points when the mode of consciousness changes, we can learn to utilize the positive states according to our conscious intention.  For example, a musician or other artist might find that a period of meditation facilitates accessing the flow state that heightens creative expression. Perhaps even more important for our wellbeing, we must learn to navigate out of negative, destructive states. For example, learning to recognize the verbal triggers for an altered state of rage is an important aspect of anger management in interpersonal relations. The transitions between different states are intersection points of different time-lines, where we can consciously choose to move along another time-line into a more expansive space, pregnant with new possibilities. If we don’t choose consciously, then we will be shunted into another state according to the prevailing winds of karma, or habitual reactions.

Some altered states are generally considered positive, healthy and expansive, associated with deeper understanding and spiritual value: we may think of mystical oneness, ecstasy, transcendence, vision, hypnotherapeutic trance, creative inspiration, erotic union, shamanic journey, cosmic consciousness, samadhi, nirvana, satori. Other altered states are considered negative, unhealthy, contractive, associated with delusion, psychopathology, destruction and conflict: we can recognize the altered states of depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, madness, hysteria, rage, mania, addictions (alcohol, narcotics, stimulants) and behavioral compulsions/obsessions  associated with sexuality, violence, gambling, spending money.

In emergency medicine, questions about our orientation in time and place (What day is this? What place is this?) are used to diagnose the state of consciousness of someone possibly in shock or trauma. The most profoundly altered states are those in which the sense of identity or self-image are abolished or transcended: these include the states of ego-death or depersonalization that may occur in psychosis, as well as states of nirvana or oneness that may occur in mysticism.

The key to understanding the content of a psychedelic experience, as formulated by Timothy Leary, Frank Barron and colleagues (including myself) in the early days of the Harvard Psilocybin Research Project, was the “set-and-setting” hypothesis. This hypothesis, which has been widely accepted within the field. states that the content of a psychedelic experience is not so much a function of pharmacology, i.e. a “drug effect”, but rather a function of the set, which is all the internal factors of expectation, intention, mood, temperament, attitude; and setting, which is the external environment, both physical and social, and including the attitudes and intentions of whoever provides, initiates or accompanies the experience. The drug is regarded as a trigger, or catalyst, propelling the individual into a different state of consciousness or mind-space, in which the vividness and contextual qualities of sense perceptions are greatly magnified.

This hypothesis helped the Harvard researchers to understand how the same drugs could be seen and used as inducing a model psychosis (psychotomimetic), as an adjunct to psychoanalysis (psycholytic), a treatment for addiction or stimulus to creativity (psychedelic), a facilitator of shamanic healing journeys (entheogenic); or even, as used by the US Army and CIA, as a truth-serum type of tool for obtaining secrets from enemy spies. Of the two factors of set and setting, set or intention is clearly primary, since the set ordinarily determines what kind of setting one will choose for the experience.

According to the heuristic model I am proposing, we can extend the set and setting hypothesis to all alterations of consciousness, no matter by what trigger they are induced, and even those states that recur cyclically and regularly, such as sleeping and waking. In those cyclic alterations of consciousness, we recognize that internal biochemical events normally trigger the transition to sleeping or waking consciousness, but external factors may also provide a catalyst. For example, lying in bed, in darkness, triggers changes in melatonin levels in the pineal gland, which in turn promote the transition to sleep. Other biochemical changes in the brain, brighter light and the sounds of an alarm, can be the trigger for awakening, again meditated by cyclical biochemical changes. In addition, external factors such as sedative or stimulant drugs, loud noises or stress, can also trigger those variations in the sleep-wakefulness cycle.

Clearly, the content of our dreams can be analyzed as a function of set, our internal preoccupations during the day, as well as the environment in which we find ourselves. Practitioners of “dream incubation” make deliberate use of that principle, consciously formulating certain questions related to their inner process or problems, as they enter the world of night-time dreaming. In the temples of Asclepius in ancient Greece, those who suffered physical or psychic illnesses were guided to incubate diagnostic and healing dreams.

In the framework of this set-and-setting model, after our mode of conscious functioning returns to the baseline state (which some also call consensual reality state), comes the time for evaluation and interpretation. Keeping in mind the two transition points, into and out of the altered state, makes it easier to separate the experience itself from our thoughts and judgments about it.  It is the core of mindfulness (vipassana) meditation practice, where you just observe and note your thoughts, feelings and sensations, but do not analyze, track or evaluate them.

Evaluative judgments are usually the first and immediate reaction after any altered state.  We may say, for example,  that was a bad trip or bad dream, or, this was a wonderful or inspiring experience. Researchers in neuroscience have discovered that evaluative feeling judgments on our experience originate in the mammalian limbic system (especially the amygdala) and may be an evolutionary residue of an instinctual survival reaction to perceived threat. Evaluative judgments do not convey much information about an experience however. How much do you really learn about a film, for example, when your friend merely tells you that she liked it, or that it was terrible?

To work with dreams or other inner experiences in psychotherapy or personal growth, we need to go beyond first judgments and associative interpretations, and ask ourselves what does this experience mean to me or what do I learn from it? A crucial aspect of what follows an altered state experience is the application and integration, or lack thereof, into one’s ongoing life. Does a mystic vision of oneness with the divine lead to a morally better, happier and more saintly lifestyle? Do the insights from a healing vision or dream lead to a problem resolution? Does the depressed state I’m experiencing mean I have a depressive personality trait, or is it a temporary reaction to a stressful situation?  This is the kind of reflective examination of our experiences  can then become an ongoing psychospiritual practice.

Image: Android Jones, “Dream Catcher”

Psychedelic Resources

A Foraging Trip: Where Do Magic Mushrooms Grow?
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How to Make Shroom Tea: Best Recipe and Dosage
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R. Gordon Wasson: Author and Mushroom Expert
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Shrooms vs Acid: Differences and Similarities Explained
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Quantum Mechanics, Reality, and Magic Mushrooms
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Psilocybin Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
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The Psilocybin Experience: What’s the Deal With Magic Mushrooms?
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Psilocybin and Magic Mushroom Resources
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Paul Stamets Profile: Mushroom Guru, Filmmaker, Nutritionist, Scientist
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Microdosing Psilocybin & Common Dosage Explained
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Psilocybin Nasal Spray: Relief for Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression
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Mazatec Mushroom Usage: Notes on Approach, Setting and Species for Curious Psilonauts
A look at traditional Mazatec psilocybin mushroom usage, and a comparison to the cliniical therapeutic approach, with an examination of the Mazatec setting and species used in veladas.

María Sabina: The Mazatec Magic Mushroom Woman
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Guide to Magic Mushroom Strains
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Kilindi Iyi: Mycologist, Traveler, Teacher
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How to Store Shrooms: Best Practices
How do you store shrooms for optimal shelf life? Learn how and why the proper storage method is so important.

Shroom Chocolate Recipes: How to Make Magic Mushroom Chocolates
This recipe provides step by step directions on how you can make mushroom chocolates with the necessary ingredients. Read to learn more!

Why Do People Use Psilocybin? New Johns Hopkins Study
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicines has just published a new study on psychoactive effects of psilocybin. Read here to learn more.

How-To Lemon Tek: Ultimate Guide and Recipe
This master guide will teach you how to lemon tek, preventing the onset of negative effects after consuming psilocybin. Read to learn more!

How to Intensify a Mushroom Trip
Learn about techniques like Lemon tekking, or discover the right time to consume cannabis if you are looking to intensify a mushroom trip.

How to Grow Magic Mushrooms: Step-by-Step
This step-by-step guide will show you how to grow magic mushrooms at home. Read this guide before trying it on your own.

How to Dry Magic Mushrooms: Best Practices
Read to learn more about specifics for the best practices on how to dry magic mushrooms after harvesting season.

How to Buy Psilocybin Spores
Interested in psilocybin mushrooms? We’ll walk you through all you need to know to obtain mushroom spores. Nosh on this delish How To guide.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
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Having Sex on Shrooms: Good or Bad Idea?
Is having sex on shrooms a good idea or an accident waiting to happen? Find out in our guide to sex on magic mushrooms.

Gold Cap Shrooms Guide: Spores, Effects, Identification
Read this guide to learn more about the different characteristics of gold cap mushrooms, and how they differ from other psilocybin species.

Guide to Cooking with Magic Mushrooms
From cookies to smoothies and sandwiches, we cover various methods of cooking with magic mushrooms for the ultimate snack.

2020 Election: The Decriminalize Psilocybin Movement
Are you curious if mushrooms will follow in marijuana’s footsteps? Read to learn about how the U.S. is moving to decriminalize psilocybin.

Oregon’s Initiative to Legalize Mushrooms | Initiative Petition 34
Oregon continues to push ahead with their initiative to legalize Psilocybin in 2020. The measure received its official title and now needs signatures.

Canada Approves Psilocybin Treatment for Terminally-Ill Cancer Patients
Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu approved the use of psilocybin to help ease anxiety and depression of four terminal cancer patients.

Mapping the DMT Experience
With only firsthand experiences to share, how can we fully map the DMT experience? Let’s explore what we know about this powerful psychedelic.

Guide to Machine Elves and Other DMT Entities
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Is the DMT Experience a Hallucination? 
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How to Store DMT
Not sure how to store DMT? Read this piece to learn the best practices and elements of advice to keep your stuff fresh.

What Does 5-MeO-DMT Show Us About Consciousness?
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How to Smoke DMT: Processes Explained
There are many ways to smoke DMT and we’ve outlined some of the best processes to consider before embarking on your journey.

How to Ground After DMT
Knowing what to expect from a DMT comedown can help you integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible from your journey.

How To Get DMT
What kind of plants contain DMT? Are there other ways to access this psychedelic? Read on to learn more about how to get DMT.

How DMT is Made: Everything You Need to Know
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Having Sex on DMT: What You Need to Know
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Does the Human Brain Make DMT? 
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How to Use DMT Vape Pens
Read to learn all about DMT vape pens including: what to know when vaping, what to expect when purchasing a DMT cartridge, and vaping safely.

DMT Resources
This article is a comprehensive DMT resource providing extensive information from studies, books, documentaries, and more. Check it out!

Differentiating DMT and Near-Death Experiences
Some say there are similarities between a DMT trip and death. Read our guide on differentiating DMT and near-death experiences to find out.

DMT Research from 1956 to the Edge of Time
From a representative sample of a suitably psychedelic crowd, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who couldn’t tell you all about Albert Hofmann’s enchanted bicycle ride after swallowing what turned out to be a massive dose of LSD. Far fewer, however, could tell you much about the world’s first DMT trip.

The Ultimate Guide to DMT Pricing
Check out our ultimate guide on DMT pricing to learn what to expect when purchasing DMT for your first time.

DMT Milking | Reality Sandwich
Indigenous cultures have used 5-MeO-DMT for centuries. With the surge in demand for psychedelic toad milk, is DMT Milking harming the frogs?

Why Does DMT Pervade Nature?
With the presence of DMT in nature everywhere – including human brains – why does it continue to baffle science?

DMT Substance Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to DMT has everything you want to know about this powerful psychedelic referred to as “the spirit molecule”.

DMT for Depression: Paving the Way for New Medicine
We’ve been waiting for an effective depression treatment. Studies show DMT for depression works even for treatment resistant patients.

Beating Addiction with DMT
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DMT Extraction: Behind the Scientific Process
Take a look at DMT extraction and the scientific process involved. Learn all you need to know including procedures and safety.

Microdosing DMT & Common Dosages Explained
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DMT Art: A Look Behind Visionary Creations
An entire genre of artwork is inspired by psychedelic trips with DMT. Read to learn about the entities and visions behind DMT art.

Changa vs. DMT: What You Need to Know
While similar (changa contains DMT), each drug has its own unique effect and feeling. Let’s compare and contrast changa vs DMT.

5-MeO-DMT Guide: Effects, Benefits, Safety, and Legality
5-Meo-DMT comes from the Sonora Desert toad. Here is everything you want to know about 5-Meo-DMT and how it compares to 4-AcO-DMT.

4-AcO-DMT Guide: Benefits, Effects, Safety, and Legality
This guide tells you everything about 4 AcO DMT & 5 MeO DMT, that belong to the tryptamine class, and are similar but slightly different to DMT.

How Much Does LSD Cost? When shopping around for that magical psychedelic substance, there can be many uncertainties when new to buying LSD. You may be wondering how much does LSD cost? In this article, we will discuss what to expect when purchasing LSD on the black market, what forms LSD is sold in, and the standard breakdown of buying LSD in quantity.   Navy Use of LSD on the Dark Web The dark web is increasingly popular for purchasing illegal substances. The US Navy has now noticed this trend with their staff. Read to learn more.   Having Sex on LSD: What You Need to Know Can you have sex on LSD? Read our guide to learn everything about sex on acid, from lowered inhibitions to LSD users quotes on sex while tripping.   A Drug That Switches off an LSD Trip A pharmaceutical company is developing an “off-switch” drug for an LSD trip, in the case that a bad trip can happen. Some would say there is no such thing.   Queen of Hearts: An Interview with Liz Elliot on Tim Leary and LSD The history of psychedelia, particularly the British experience, has been almost totally written by men. Of the women involved, especially those who were in the thick of it, little has been written either by or about them. A notable exception is Liz Elliot.   LSD Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety LSD, Lysergic acid diethylamide, or just acid is one of the most important psychedelics ever discovered. What did history teach us?   Microdosing LSD & Common Dosage Explained Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing LSD.   LSD Resources Curious to learn more about LSD? This guide includes comprehensive LSD resources containing books, studies and more.   LSD as a Spiritual Aid There is common consent that the evolution of mankind is paralleled by the increase and expansion of consciousness. From the described process of how consciousness originates and develops, it becomes evident that its growth depends on its faculty of perception. Therefore every means of improving this faculty should be used.   Legendary LSD Blotter Art: A Hidden Craftsmanship Have you ever heard of LSD blotter art? Explore the trippy world of LSD art and some of the top artists of LSD blotter art.   LSD and Exercise: Does it Work? LSD and exercise? Learn why high-performing athletes are taking hits of LSD to improve their overall potential.   Jan Bastiaans Treated Holocaust Survivors with LSD Dutch psychiatrist, Jan Bastiaans administered LSD-assisted therapy to survivors of the Holocaust. A true war hero and pioneer of psychedelic-therapy.   LSD and Spiritual Awakening I give thanks for LSD, which provided the opening that led me to India in 1971 and brought me to Neem Karoli Baba, known as Maharajji. Maharajji is described by the Indians as a “knower of hearts.”   How LSD is Made: Everything You Need to Know Ever wonder how to make LSD? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how LSD is made.   How to Store LSD: Best Practices Learn the best way to store LSD, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long LSD lasts when stored.   Bicycle Day: The Discovery of LSD Every year on April 19th, psychonauts join forces to celebrate Bicycle Day. Learn about the famous day when Albert Hoffman first discovered the effects of LSD.   Cary Grant: A Hollywood Legend On LSD Cary Grant was a famous actor during the 1930’s-60’s But did you know Grant experimented with LSD? Read our guide to learn more.   Albert Hofmann: LSD — My Problem Child Learn about Albert Hofmann and his discovery of LSD, along with the story of Bicycle Day and why it marks a historic milestone.   Babies are High: What Does LSD Do To Your Brain What do LSD and babies have in common? Researchers at the Imperial College in London discover that an adult’s brain on LSD looks like a baby’s brain.   1P LSD: Effects, Benefits, Safety Explained 1P LSD is an analogue of LSD and homologue of ALD-25. Here is everything you want to know about 1P LSD and how it compares to LSD.   Francis Crick, DNA & LSD Type ‘Francis Crick LSD’ into Google, and the result will be 30,000 links. Many sites claim that Crick (one of the two men responsible for discovering the structure of DNA), was either under the influence of LSD at the time of his revelation or used the drug to help with his thought processes during his research. Is this true?   What Happens If You Overdose on LSD? A recent article presented three individuals who overdosed on LSD. Though the experience was unpleasant, the outcomes were remarkably positive.

The Ayahuasca Experience
Ayahuasca is both a medicine and a visionary aid. You can employ ayahuasca for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repair, and you can engage with the power of ayahuasca for deeper insight and realization. If you consider attainment of knowledge in the broadest perspective, you can say that at all times, ayahuasca heals.

 

Trippy Talk: Meet Ayahuasca with Sitaramaya Sita and PlantTeachers
Sitaramaya Sita is a spiritual herbalist, pusangera, and plant wisdom practitioner formally trained in the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition.

 

The Therapeutic Value of Ayahuasca
My best description of the impact of ayahuasca is that it’s a rocket boost to psychospiritual growth and unfolding, my professional specialty during my thirty-five years of private practice.

 

Microdosing Ayahuasca: Common Dosage Explained
What is ayahuasca made of and what is considered a microdose? Explore insights with an experienced Peruvian brewmaster and learn more about this practice.

 

Ayahuasca Makes Neuron Babies in Your Brain
Researchers from Beckley/Sant Pau Research Program have shared the latest findings in their study on the effects of ayahuasca on neurogenesis.

 

The Fatimiya Sufi Order and Ayahuasca
In this interview, the founder of the Fatimiya Sufi Order,  N. Wahid Azal, discusses the history and uses of plant medicines in Islamic and pre-Islamic mystery schools.

 

Consideration Ayahuasca for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research indicates that ayahuasca mimics mechanisms of currently accepted treatments for PTSD. In order to understand the implications of ayahuasca treatment, we need to understand how PTSD develops.

 

Brainwaves on Ayahuasca: A Waking Dream State
In a study researchers shared discoveries showing ingredients found in Ayahuasca impact the brainwaves causing a “waking dream” state.

 

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a pro cannabis Peruvian Shaman.

 

Ayahuasca Retreat 101: Everything You Need to Know to Brave the Brew
Ayahuasca has been known to be a powerful medicinal substance for millennia. However, until recently, it was only found in the jungle. Word of its deeply healing and cleansing properties has begun to spread across the world as many modern, Western individuals are seeking spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. More ayahuasca retreat centers are emerging in the Amazon and worldwide to meet the demand.

 

Ayahuasca Helps with Grief
A new study published in psychopharmacology found that ayahuasca helped those suffering from the loss of a loved one up to a year after treatment.

 

Ayahuasca Benefits: Clinical Improvements for Six Months
Ayahuasca benefits can last six months according to studies. Read here to learn about the clinical improvements from drinking the brew.

 

Ayahuasca Culture: Indigenous, Western, And The Future
Ayahuasca has been use for generations in the Amazon. With the rise of retreats and the brew leaving the rainforest how is ayahuasca culture changing?

 

Ayahuasca Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
The Amazonian brew, Ayahuasca has a long history and wide use. Read our guide to learn all about the tea from its beginnings up to modern-day interest.

 

Ayahuasca and the Godhead: An Interview with Wahid Azal of the Fatimiya Sufi Order
Wahid Azal, a Sufi mystic of The Fatimiya Sufi Order and an Islamic scholar, talks about entheogens, Sufism, mythology, and metaphysics.

 

Ayahuasca and the Feminine: Women’s Roles, Healing, Retreats, and More
Ayahuasca is lovingly called “grandmother” or “mother” by many. Just how feminine is the brew? Read to learn all about women and ayahuasca.

What Is the Standard of Care for Ketamine Treatments?
Ketamine therapy is on the rise in light of its powerful results for treatment-resistant depression. But, what is the current standard of care for ketamine? Read to find out.

What Is Dissociation and How Does Ketamine Create It?
Dissociation can take on multiple forms. So, what is dissociation like and how does ketamine create it? Read to find out.

Having Sex on Ketamine: Getting Physical on a Dissociative
Curious about what it could feel like to have sex on a dissociate? Find out all the answers in our guide to sex on ketamine.

Special K: The Party Drug
Special K refers to Ketamine when used recreationally. Learn the trends as well as safety information around this substance.

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

Ketamine vs. Esketamine: 3 Important Differences Explained
Ketamine and esketamine are used to treat depression. But what’s the difference between them? Read to learn which one is right for you: ketamine vs. esketamine.

Guide to Ketamine Treatments: Understanding the New Approach
Ketamine is becoming more popular as more people are seeing its benefits. Is ketamine a fit? Read our guide for all you need to know about ketamine treatments.

Ketamine Treatment for Eating Disorders
Ketamine is becoming a promising treatment for various mental health conditions. Read to learn how individuals can use ketamine treatment for eating disorders.

Ketamine Resources, Studies, and Trusted Information
Curious to learn more about ketamine? This guide includes comprehensive ketamine resources containing books, studies and more.

Ketamine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to ketamine has everything you need to know about this “dissociative anesthetic” and how it is being studied for depression treatment.

Ketamine for Depression: A Mental Health Breakthrough
While antidepressants work for some, many others find no relief. Read to learn about the therapeutic uses of ketamine for depression.

Ketamine for Addiction: Treatments Offering Hope
New treatments are offering hope to individuals suffering from addiction diseases. Read to learn how ketamine for addiction is providing breakthrough results.

Microdosing Ketamine & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing ketamine.

How to Ease a Ketamine Comedown
Knowing what to expect when you come down from ketamine can help integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible.

How to Store Ketamine: Best Practices
Learn the best ways how to store ketamine, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long ketamine lasts when stored.

How To Buy Ketamine: Is There Legal Ketamine Online?
Learn exactly where it’s legal to buy ketamine, and if it’s possible to purchase legal ketamine on the internet.

How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
How long does ketamine stay in your system? Are there lasting effects on your body? Read to discover the answers!

How Ketamine is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make Ketamine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how Ketamine is made.

Colorado on Ketamine: First Responders Waiver Programs
Fallout continues after Elijah McClain. Despite opposing recommendations from some city council, Colorado State Health panel recommends the continued use of ketamine by medics for those demonstrating “excited delirium” or “extreme agitation”.

Types of Ketamine: Learn the Differences & Uses for Each
Learn about the different types of ketamine and what they are used for—and what type might be right for you. Read now to find out!

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

MDMA & Ecstasy Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to MDMA has everything you want to know about Ecstasy from how it was developed in 1912 to why it’s being studied today.

How To Get the Most out of Taking MDMA as a Couple
Taking MDMA as a couple can lead to exciting experiences. Read here to learn how to get the most of of this love drug in your relationship.

Common MDMA Dosage & Microdosing Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing MDMA.

Having Sex on MDMA: What You Need to Know
MDMA is known as the love drug… Read our guide to learn all about sex on MDMA and why it is beginning to makes its way into couple’s therapy.

How MDMA is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make MDMA? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how MDMA is made.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Explore the mechanics of hippie flipping and how to safely experiment.

How Cocaine is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make cocaine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how cocaine is made.

A Christmas Sweater with Santa and Cocaine
This week, Walmart came under fire for a “Let it Snow” Christmas sweater depicting Santa with lines of cocaine. Columbia is not merry about it.

Ultimate Cocaine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
This guide covers what you need to know about Cocaine, including common effects and uses, legality, safety precautions and top trends today.

NEWS: An FDA-Approved Cocaine Nasal Spray
The FDA approved a cocaine nasal spray called Numbrino, which has raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company, Lannett Company Inc., paid off the FDA..

The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Bioavailability
What is bioavailability and how can it affect the overall efficacy of a psychedelic substance? Read to learn more.

Cannabis Research Explains Sociability Behaviors
New research by Dr. Giovanni Marsicano shows social behavioral changes occur as a result of less energy available to the neurons. Read here to learn more.

The Cannabis Shaman
If recreational and medical use of marijuana is becoming accepted, can the spiritual use as well? Experiential journalist Rak Razam interviews Hamilton Souther, founder of the 420 Cannabis Shamanism movement…

Cannabis Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to Cannabis has everything you want to know about this popular substances that has psychedelic properties.

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a procannabis Peruvian Shaman.

CBD-Rich Cannabis Versus Single-Molecule CBD
A ground-breaking study has documented the superior therapeutic properties of whole plant Cannabis extract as compared to synthetic cannabidiol (CBD), challenging the medical-industrial complex’s notion that “crude” botanical preparations are less effective than single-molecule compounds.

Cannabis Has Always Been a Medicine
Modern science has already confirmed the efficacy of cannabis for most uses described in the ancient medical texts, but prohibitionists still claim that medical cannabis is “just a ruse.”

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