Psychedelics

Sample hallucination

The use of psychedelics in spiritual and therapeutic settings if finally starting to gain the recognition it once had, shortly after the discovery of LSD. This is detailed in the popular book How to Change Your Mind, which is a good starting point if you are interested but new to psychedelics, or want to learn more about the scientific research and therapeutic techniques being developed.

This page details the history and various forms of modern psychedelic use, and how it has helped reveal universal truth to spiritual seekers throughout the ages.

That Hallucination is a Fractal

Most depictions of psychedelic and spiritual hallucinations take the shape of fractal patterns. This is most likely due to the inherent fractal structure of our self-organized neural networks. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

We see fractals because our brains and minds are organized using fractal structures. They are the thumbprint of the universe made visible through psychedelic amplification.

Eyes and faces are also really common, since facial recognition is one of our most important brain functions. But even those are often arranged in fractal patterns.

The subject of Sacred Geometry is focused on this topic, though a lot of it crosses over into pseudoscientific fractal woo.

Psychedelic Geometry Explained

The Hardest Trip - Mandelbrot Fractal Zoom

Euphoric Equations: A Visual Voyage into the World of Sacred Geometry

The Subjective Experience of Entheogens

There are several aspects to the effects of hallucinogens on our subjective experience of consciousness that makes them entheogenic, or "god-inducing."

• Ego dissolution: the feeling of merging/oneness with the universe and the loss of separation between the self, other people, and the outside world in general.
• Increased neuroplasticity: the ability to break out of habitual patterns of behavior and create alternative neural pathways. Seeing the world through the eyes a child, where everything is new and wonderous again.
• Emotional amplification: all senses and emotional responses, especially empathy, are heightened to the point that subtle things that often go unnoticed become like an elephant in the room. This gives a keen awareness of how people's words, attitudes, and actions impact our psyche, and how we impact others.

Since spirituality is intricately linked to the subjective experience of being human and living in a society, the amplification of that experience to the point where you feel a complete oneness with the other members of that society is inherently spiritual. Independently of any supernatural interpretations, the natural response to this experiences is "this is what all the mystics must have been talking about!" This may or may not lead to religious or supernatural belief, depending on existing beliefs and how the new experiences are integrated into that framework. But regardless of whether you "find god" on psychedelics, you will at least "get it" on a whole new level.

Historic Spiritual Uses

Detail the history of psychedelic use in different cultures and religious contexts.

This museum explores the art and culture surrounding psychedelics.

Psychedelics and the History of LSD

Modern Therapeutic Uses

Current therapeutic uses of psychedelics, research showing its effectiveness at treating various disorders, structure of a guided session.

The focus on therapeutic uses is necessary to open the door to legalization, since recreation is not a good enough reason to do something according to ascetic religious traditions that dominate mainstream politics. If you need a therapeutic breakthrough then a guided trip offers a lot of potential benefit.

Although Huberman has since taken a turn towards the grift, his earlier videos offer some very good conversations and advice.

Clinical Psychedelic Journey (Set & Setting) Explained

Trevor Noah Interviews Michael Pollan on Psychedelics

Best Recreational Uses

How to create a set and setting that will bring joy, friendship, ecstasy, wonder, revelation, inner peace, and/or total ego destruction.

Sometimes, as humans in the pursuit of happiness, we just need to have a really, really, really good time. Recreational psychedelics may or may not offer that, depending on the set and setting. Protip: it's hard to go wrong at a music festival.

If you really want to go down the rabbit hole and experience the effects of deep meditation without the years of practice, or get therapy without hiring a therapist, just sit in a dark room for several hours with some spacey tunes. In this setting, it is recommended that a trusted sober friend be on call from another room.

Shpongle - Divine Moments of Truth