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The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

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Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#61

i say it again and again whenever i see these threads: psilocybin mushroom kicks down depression so hard it can't get up and bother you again. no SSRIs, no marijuana after taking it. anxiety and ptsd are still there tho so i think that requires something else. also something about THC that seems to reverse the benefits I got from psilocybin. cessation of THC seems to put me "back" on track if that makes sense. discla…

People might take your more seriously if you acknowledged that your personal experience is not necessarily universally applicable to the very large group of people who suffer depression.

Mate, your life and discussions will go better if you just place “in my experience” wherever necessary. You can assume that most people are not using the literal universal quantifier.

Requesting people use “some” and “in my experience” and all that shit is just noise on a discussion board. Just read and comprehend what they’re saying.

Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#62
post #20

i say it again and again whenever i see these threads: psilocybin mushroom kicks down depression so hard it can't get up and bother you again. no SSRIs, no marijuana after taking it. anxiety and ptsd are still there tho so i think that requires something else. also something about THC that seems to reverse the benefits I got from psilocybin. cessation of THC seems to put me "back" on track if that makes sense. discla…

Why psilocybin and not LSD?

I think that it was Michael Pollan in an interview or in his book "How to Change Your Mind" who said that the principal reason is that a psilocybin trip can fit in the working day of a therapist/guide/researcher, whereas a typical LSD trip can last a dozen hours or more.

Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#63
post #37

“Psychedelics are to the study of the mind, what the microscope is to biology and the telescope is to astronomy” –Stanislas Grof. While it feels like an artifact from the future, Berkeley CSP is now formally certifying "facilitators". And its important to note, because the cure is the experience. Not the actual biochemistry. We know a lot about the botany and chemistry of these compounds. And we can actually map phen…

I'm happy to see research done, wish these researchers nothing but the best, and do expect a lot of marvelous and useful discoveries to be made. However, I suspect that science will run in to hard limits regarding the deepest questions that contact with these substances raise -- such as the fundamental mystery they often reveal that is ineffable, transverbal and non-conceptual. These questions are more aptly addresse…

You might be happy to know that at the BCSP (mentioned in the comment above) we are actively cultivating connections between scientific research and religious/philosophical practice via our collaboration with the Berkeley graduate theological union. It’s an initiative that I’m especially excited about because I come at this field with a mindset similar to the one you described.

Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm happy to see research done, wish these researchers nothing but the best, and do expect a lot of marvelous and useful discoveries to be made. However, I suspect that science will run in to hard limits regarding the deepest questions that contact with these substances raise -- such as the fundamental mystery they often reveal that is ineffable, transverbal and non-conceptual. These questions are more aptly addresse…

You might be happy to know that at the BCSP (mentioned in the comment above) we are actively cultivating connections between scientific research and religious/philosophical practice via our collaboration with the Berkeley graduate theological union. It’s an initiative that I’m especially excited about because I come at this field with a mindset similar to the one you described.

I looked over the bios of the faculty at the Berkeley graduate theological union recently (in hopes of finding someone to talk to about these issues), and was disappointed to find that they seem to have almost no one with an interest in mysticism or psychedelics -- something a little surprising considering Berkeley's storied psychedelic past and radical reputation. They seem to be generally pretty conservative in theological interest and academic (in the ivory tower, bookish, non-practical sense). I hope that I was mistaken or that it changes as they become more educated and aware, and maybe even acquire some personal experience with psychedelics.

I personally do not understand how someone interested in religion could not be interested in mysticism or psychedelics, as they almost literally put the golden chalice in your hands and can bring to life all those things many academics merely read about.

Even if mystical experiences occasioned by psychedelics aren't genuine (as Zaehner argued in the 60's -- arguments likely to be rehashed endlessly), they at the very least raise many questions of supreme religious importance and countless people do interpret their experiences in a religious/spiritual light.

With church attendance falling for decades now, with more and more people disavowing religious affiliation and identifying themselves as "spiritual but not religious" or outright atheist, you'd think more religious people and academics with a theological bent would take an interest in substances that pretty reliably cause mystical experiences, but they seem to be mostly ignored and the religious side of academia mostly seem content to cede the field to the scientific and medical establishment.

I hope the BCSP and other forward-thinking organizations can start opening people's eyes to the religious potential of psychedelics, because feedback and insight from religious professionals of all kinds could be very valuable.

Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ayahuasca "cured" my depression. When I say "cured", I mean that it helped me experience my mind without depression. Because I was able to step out of depression for the first time since prepubescence, I realized it was possible for my mind to exist away from depression. That realization was profound and critical to regaining my mental health. Psychedelics are very powerful. Ayahuasca in particular can and does induc…

whew, ayahuasca is a whole different beast and frankly is frightens me and I don't think I ever want to be in a position where I do it. psilocybin's come up is frightening/anxiety/panic inducing as it is....I don't think I can ever jump over ayahuasca, that seems like a whole different animal. For me I feel like psilocybin "reset" my brain and there's some long lasting protection mechanism against depressive thinking…

> whew, ayahuasca is a whole different beast and frankly is frightens me and I don't think I ever want to be in a position where I do it.

For me that line is deliriants. I can even admit to a morbid curiosity myself, but I have no idea why people would ever put themselves through that more than once.

Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#68
post #42

There is not a chemical solution to a spiritual problem. New concepts are exciting, but the Indigenous Mexican use of psilocin in treatment of things such as depression, addiction, and other ailments of the soul are fundamentally integrated into their Christian beliefs and practices. If the tech bros of San Francisco are seeking a cure to their existential despair, they should turn to San Francisco the man, the legen…

Christianity is thousands of years old. If it was the answer to the ills of our nation, it would have worked already.

(not the parent)

Many times it did. Light shines on whoever listens to Jesus. But the evil one never sleeps.

Anyway not the place for this, I guess.

Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ayahuasca "cured" my depression. When I say "cured", I mean that it helped me experience my mind without depression. Because I was able to step out of depression for the first time since prepubescence, I realized it was possible for my mind to exist away from depression. That realization was profound and critical to regaining my mental health. Psychedelics are very powerful. Ayahuasca in particular can and does induc…

whew, ayahuasca is a whole different beast and frankly is frightens me and I don't think I ever want to be in a position where I do it. psilocybin's come up is frightening/anxiety/panic inducing as it is....I don't think I can ever jump over ayahuasca, that seems like a whole different animal. For me I feel like psilocybin "reset" my brain and there's some long lasting protection mechanism against depressive thinking…

> Do not take psychedelics lightly, especially ayahuasca and heroic doses.

In my experience with various psychedelics, the intensity of the experience is purely a function of dosage, and not of the specific substance. Heroic doses with psilocybin, LSD, and DMT, are all very serious and challenging, and I don't think there's a singling out of any specific type. Could I be mistaken?

I used to suffer from depression many years ago too, but I have grown through it. Low doses of psychedelics are the best thing on occasion, and DMT/ayahuasca is by far my favorite. Usually a couple times per year, I like to make a Mimosa hostilis and B. caapi brew with the plant equivalent of ~15 mg of DMT. It's a low dose (the Cubensis equivelant of ~1.5 grams), but the experience is incredibly therapeutic, healing, and educational. Minimal anxiety, and no psychosis of any sort. And I've always come away from it with such an intense love and appreciation for life that I can take with me everywhere.

If my experience is anything to go by, I think the experiences of low doses of ayahuasca are incredibly valuable and safe, and I only hesitate to suggest it to others because I'm not sure if my experience is unique.

Re: The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]

#70

i say it again and again whenever i see these threads: psilocybin mushroom kicks down depression so hard it can't get up and bother you again. no SSRIs, no marijuana after taking it. anxiety and ptsd are still there tho so i think that requires something else. also something about THC that seems to reverse the benefits I got from psilocybin. cessation of THC seems to put me "back" on track if that makes sense. discla…

PTSD seems to be very responsive to MDMA with as few as just one session (at least with a therapist as a guide).

For those not in the know, growing your own mushrooms is super easy with the "Ben Tek" (see /r/UncleBens Reddit). And the items you need to buy are not illegal (since the spores contain no psilocybin they are not illegal to possess, and can be shipped across state lines, so a $10 website purchase is enough for dozens of trips).

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