> Evolution is the evolution of intelligence
Where can I read more of this idea?
Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
51–60 of 155 posts
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#52The problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are. It's the spotlighting effect multiplied. Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole, or dare I say when stupid people take them they just revel in the intoxication. You just have to read the old research literature on LSD like stuff from James Fadiman to understand that these are extremely dangerous substa…
“This isn’t something you can do on your own” I’m gonna have to push back here. Go rent a cabin in the woods and eat some mushrooms and I guarantee you can work thru issues on your own.
Agree w/the other poster. It really can depend on the person. And not everyone has the self-awareness / background knowledge to prepare themselves well.
Not unlike how some people don't handle alcohol well.
Once or twice seen folks in bad places on mushrooms.
Because of the shift in perspective caused by psychedelics, I think beginning, if nothing else, with a friend is a very, very good idea. Plus the benefit of an informed outside perspective is one of the pluses of therapy.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nailed it. A lot of the "I did this and it had great effects" are compounded with "I did this and it ruined my life" and a bit of "I did this and it ruined my life and everyone around me" . I suspect the human mind is tailored to promote the first outcome and stick it's fingers in its metaphorical ears about the last two outcomes. Turns out we need actual formal studies and even those aren't necessarily conclusive so…
> I suspect the human mind is tailored to promote the first outcome and stick it's fingers in its metaphorical ears about the last two outcomes. It's more complicated than that. Plenty of people hear the bad outcomes and stick their fingers in their ears about the good ones. The subject of recreational drug use is a particularly good one for eliciting this behaviour, both for and against. The interesting questions ar…
And (although I think you kinda said this), different people may respond in different ways.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
“This isn’t something you can do on your own” I’m gonna have to push back here. Go rent a cabin in the woods and eat some mushrooms and I guarantee you can work thru issues on your own.
I used to think like that, then I met someone who's best friend committed suicide while under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms. Psychedelics are powerful, and it is irresponsible to suggest, let alone guarantee, that they will benefit everyone.
I met someone who's best friend committed suicide while sober. Those stories of suicide on psychs usually turn out to be fabrications, exaggerations or miscalculated cause and effect.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#55I've been microdosing psilocybin daily for the past six months during quarantine as a bit of a cognitive experiment. I feel a lot more switched on and focused in my work. Reading these posts I wonder what other diseases such as Parkinson's, seizures, PTSD, depression, anxiety have yet to be studied and require more research. Can anyone speak to this? Anything else I should add to my stack?
Lots of questions; top 2: How did you get started? Is there a reasonably safe (both medically and legally) way to source it?
1. Going into this, you need to research a ton.
2. Know someone that sells it. Or look for a field for them and go hunting. Or grow them, spores are legal and you can buy everything you need online.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#56I've been microdosing psilocybin daily for the past six months during quarantine as a bit of a cognitive experiment. I feel a lot more switched on and focused in my work. Reading these posts I wonder what other diseases such as Parkinson's, seizures, PTSD, depression, anxiety have yet to be studied and require more research. Can anyone speak to this? Anything else I should add to my stack?
I started microdosing psilocybin since 3 years, sometime every day, sometime once every 1 or 2 weeks.
When I take it the morning, I am very focused on my work, but also I am less stressed and anxious.
I had a Tinder period with lot of date and psilocybin really help to build confident with women.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#57The problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are. It's the spotlighting effect multiplied. Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole, or dare I say when stupid people take them they just revel in the intoxication. You just have to read the old research literature on LSD like stuff from James Fadiman to understand that these are extremely dangerous substa…
While your post has some truth I have to reject your general premise that an individual can't derive any value without some sort of formalized framework. It's simply not true.
The parallel I was making in my mind was sex. There are all kind of risks and corresponding safety measures, preparations... you can write a comment like the gp without changing too much.
So many times it happens in suboptimal conditions, specially the glorified first times.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#58The problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are. It's the spotlighting effect multiplied. Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole, or dare I say when stupid people take them they just revel in the intoxication. You just have to read the old research literature on LSD like stuff from James Fadiman to understand that these are extremely dangerous substa…
I hope more people read what you wrote. While I do think some people actually can do this on their own, everyone is different. When people have profoundly positive experiences on psilocybin or other substances, it can be tempting to feel they've tapped into some kind of universal truth and they naturally want to share that with others. Psychedelics affect people differently at different times and it's certainly not always a beautiful trip into cosmic consciousness and love - even at low doses. It's cliche, but set and setting matter, especially to measure any kind of clinical benefits.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
I used to think like that, then I met someone who's best friend committed suicide while under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms. Psychedelics are powerful, and it is irresponsible to suggest, let alone guarantee, that they will benefit everyone.
I met someone who's best friend committed suicide while sober. Those stories of suicide on psychs usually turn out to be fabrications, exaggerations or miscalculated cause and effect.
Most of the suicides I know of happened because of booze. And the drug is available for mass purchase at the store down the block...
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#60The problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are. It's the spotlighting effect multiplied. Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole, or dare I say when stupid people take them they just revel in the intoxication. You just have to read the old research literature on LSD like stuff from James Fadiman to understand that these are extremely dangerous substa…
The ‘more of what you already are’ idea seems very reductionist and unhelpful to me.
There are definitely real risks that need to be made known around pre existing mental conditions and psychedelic use. Those are appreciated.
But your thesis suggests that transformative experiences are unlikely to happen which from personal experience I can say is false. The impact of a breakthrough psychedelic experience can be profoundly positive especially for those starting from a less enlightened place.
BUT everyone knows that guy who has the “I’m Jesus” moment instead of “we’re all Jesus” and it’s usually easy to see it coming in retrospect.