Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

historytoday.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 121 posts

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#21

Post by abyssin »

WallyFunk wrote: post #15

I recall Terrence McKenna (everyone's favorite historical psychonaut) saying "It's hard to do psychedelics". I agree with him. These things are dangerous when the set and setting is wrong, or if they're done at an off-kilter phase of your life, or that you simply over-indulge in them. I appreciate the mini renaissance period they're having these days, but these things need plenty of research before trying them. They'…

I wonder if there exists a framework for integration that follows a rational approach. Psychology in general is a field full of esoteric and hardly scientific approaches. What I found about its psychedelic subfield is even worse. Behind a facade of science, it’s still very much New Age stuff. I had a psychedelic experience in a group setting with people that are supposedly experienced and knowledgeable about the science. It was actually worse than when I tripped alone and integration has been hard.

Does anyone know of a rational technique or theory to do the integration work?

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#22

Post by abyssin »

swayvil wrote: post #18

It's like we're in the Matrix. And the Matrix is a little island in the middle of a big ocean. Tripping, meditating, dreaming and a hundred other methods will get you into the ocean. Show it to you, splash around the shoreline, go for a swim, meet the people who live there... I've tripped some. Psilocybin is my favorite psychedelic substance. My favorite method is Vipassana meditation. (Also, is it just me or is the…

For having dabbed into both, I’m not sure psychedelic culture is better. The promises of psychedelics are higher and in my case the hopes were higher too, so it took me longer to acknowledge the issues with that culture. But many prominent people lie about their respect for science, and in the end I doubt there are fundamental differences with the field of meditation.

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#23

Post by Gerard0 »

WallyFunk wrote: post #15

I recall Terrence McKenna (everyone's favorite historical psychonaut) saying "It's hard to do psychedelics". I agree with him. These things are dangerous when the set and setting is wrong, or if they're done at an off-kilter phase of your life, or that you simply over-indulge in them. I appreciate the mini renaissance period they're having these days, but these things need plenty of research before trying them. They'…

As someone who almost always tries to "use" substances in this way, I think it's also perfectly fine to do it just "to have fun", party or whatever.

The experience itself is not to be disdained and not every trip has to be like this.

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#24

Post by swayvil »

abyssin wrote: post #22
swayvil wrote: post #18

It's like we're in the Matrix. And the Matrix is a little island in the middle of a big ocean. Tripping, meditating, dreaming and a hundred other methods will get you into the ocean. Show it to you, splash around the shoreline, go for a swim, meet the people who live there... I've tripped some. Psilocybin is my favorite psychedelic substance. My favorite method is Vipassana meditation. (Also, is it just me or is the…

For having dabbed into both, I’m not sure psychedelic culture is better. The promises of psychedelics are higher and in my case the hopes were higher too, so it took me longer to acknowledge the issues with that culture. But many prominent people lie about their respect for science, and in the end I doubt there are fundamental differences with the field of meditation.

Not better, saner. By saner I mean they seem to be more organized and grounded.

I mean look at Erowid. Here's the method : here's the report. We have some pudding, we have some proof. Straightforward as heck.

Whereas the meditation scene seems to be full of grifters, dogmatists and hand-wavers.

The psychedelic culture has a substance in hand. If the substance is bunk then that becomes apparent pretty quick. Solid evidence. Good science.

Whereas the meditation scene has a thousand methods and if it doesn't work for you... well.. maybe you are doing it wrong, or maybe you need to try another app subscription...

(not to say that there aren't some very straightforward meditation techniques that pay off quick.)

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#25

Post by samstave »

WallyFunk wrote: post #15

I recall Terrence McKenna (everyone's favorite historical psychonaut) saying "It's hard to do psychedelics". I agree with him. These things are dangerous when the set and setting is wrong, or if they're done at an off-kilter phase of your life, or that you simply over-indulge in them. I appreciate the mini renaissance period they're having these days, but these things need plenty of research before trying them. They'…

The biggest issue is to ensure you have good mental health/life situations...

There have been times I've been super depressed and people recommend mushrooms, which I've done my fair share when I was younger and didn't do mushrooms for almost 25 years...

I wanted to do some but I was too depressed, and while it was recommended for depression, I know my relationship with mushrooms, and I know when I am not in a place to do them.

They need to be taken with an open happy heart, or focus and desire for such. They are no good if you're going to dwell on the negative aspects of your path - take the negative from an objective observation, and heal.

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#26

Post by [deleted] »

swayvil wrote: post #18

It's like we're in the Matrix. And the Matrix is a little island in the middle of a big ocean. Tripping, meditating, dreaming and a hundred other methods will get you into the ocean. Show it to you, splash around the shoreline, go for a swim, meet the people who live there... I've tripped some. Psilocybin is my favorite psychedelic substance. My favorite method is Vipassana meditation. (Also, is it just me or is the…

[deleted]

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#27

Post by ngai_aku »

max_ wrote: post #17
photochemsyn wrote: post #2

If you find this topic interesting ignore everything in the above post and get yourself a copy of: Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing, and Hallucinogenic Powers by Richard Evans Schultes (Author), Albert Hofmann (Author), Christian Rätsch (Author)

I have searched for an EPUB copy and unfortunately I can only get Richard Evan's "Where the Gods Reign: Plants and Peoples of the Colombian"

Appears to be on Anna’s Archive if you’re still looking

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#28

Post by _a_a_a_ »

WallyFunk wrote: post #15

I recall Terrence McKenna (everyone's favorite historical psychonaut) saying "It's hard to do psychedelics". I agree with him. These things are dangerous when the set and setting is wrong, or if they're done at an off-kilter phase of your life, or that you simply over-indulge in them. I appreciate the mini renaissance period they're having these days, but these things need plenty of research before trying them. They'…

This sounds like the usual covert anti-drugs post that comes up every time, with sloppy claims and a total absence of facts.

> or that you simply over-indulge in them

duh. What isn't dangerous if you're stupid.

> They're not something you do for a giddy high

Weasel words 'giddy'. And I do use them precisely for a high.

> One thing people need to do is integrate the various lessons they've gained from tripping into their daily lives.

what does this mean and how do i do it? (serious question)

> All too often, trips are like dreams, they fade and we suffer amnesia after trying them

who is 'we' here, the entire user-base? And I've never heard of this effect, ever.

Re: ‘Psychonauts’ by Mike Jay review

#29

Post by krzat »

swayvil wrote: post #18

It's like we're in the Matrix. And the Matrix is a little island in the middle of a big ocean. Tripping, meditating, dreaming and a hundred other methods will get you into the ocean. Show it to you, splash around the shoreline, go for a swim, meet the people who live there... I've tripped some. Psilocybin is my favorite psychedelic substance. My favorite method is Vipassana meditation. (Also, is it just me or is the…

I do metta. I'm still wondering if meditation makes you a gullible crystal buying idiot, or does it just attract such people.
Post reply on HN