Psychedelics

Sample hallucination

Psychedelics may not be a necessary prerequisite to understanding metaculture, but they can help! This wiki is all about helping people reach scientific enlightenment without having to do the tedious work of assembling the holistic cosmic puzzle. Psychedelics offer a convenient shortcut for those who have other things to do besides read philosophy and meditate for years. They can also be incredibly fun!

"Because of acid I now know that butter is way better than margarine. I saw through the bullshit." -Mitch Hedberg, Strategic Grill Locations

The use of psychedelics in spiritual [1] 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.

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.
• Ritual transcendence: shamanistic ritual traditions rely on the 4 D's - Dancing, Drums, Sleep Deprivation, and Drugs. Modern raves and music festivals can induce the transcendent experience of ancient rituals and produce a state of awe that can be transformative for the self and your relationship to the community. [2]

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.

Experience Heaven and/or Hell in One Night

People often talk about having a "good trip" or a "bad trip". In the most extreme cases, these experiences mirror the religious depictions of heaven and hell (or samsara and nirvana if you prefer). In the amplified emotional state that psychedelics induce, happiness becomes ecstasy, fear and anxiety become torment. We can find ourselves triggered into a thought loop that sends us spiraling into deep depression, and snap out of it just as quickly with a change in music, setting, or a good joke.

As you gain experience with psychedelic states, you realize that you are in control of your thoughts, and that it would be ridiculous to have a bad trip when you could just as easily make the choice to have a good one by changing your "set and setting." The implications for everyday psychology are obvious. You start to learn to avoid thought loops, and find ways to recognize them and break the cycle when they happen. You adopt a more optimistic viewpoint, avoiding negativity, situations and people who give us "bad vibes." There is a tendency to practice mindfulness in order to be more in the present moment.

While tripping, the quality of your mental state becomes undeniable, creating a fierce urgency for positivity that cannot be ignored the way that sober negativity can. When this sense of urgency persists after the trip, it is often described as profound, transformational, revelatory, and long-lasting. This is another reason psychedelics are entheogenic.

Good trips are easy. For the other kind, see Bad Trips, Spiritual Emergences, and Challenging Experiences.

That Hallucination is a Fractal

Adam Douglas Thompson

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. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

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.[9]

Eyes and faces are also really common (Pareidolia) 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 discussions of it tend to cross over into pseudoscientific fractal woo, so approach with critical thinking.

Psychedelic Geometry Explained

The Hardest Trip - Mandelbrot Fractal Zoom

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

High Weirdness and Rational Psychonautics

In this insightful article, Aaron Rabinowitz deftly describes how the phenomenon of "High Weirdness" has led many psychonauts down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, contrarianism, and pseudoscience. The influences of High Weirdness cited in the article, from the Church of the SubGenius, to the Illuminatus Trilogy, to Phillip K. Dick, have all provided inspiration for this wiki project. So what leads some to become untethered from reality while others see their critical thinking reinforced? And is there something we can do to encourage the better outcome?

Psychonauts and Rational Psychonauts

The difference between these groups is apparent when you look at the posts from the Psychonaut subreddit and compare them to RationalPsychonaut. The first often contains unhinged rants about aliens, god, and machine elves, existential crises and simulations, while the other is full of scientific studies, therapeutic advice, and even some halfway decent takes on philosophy. What determines which path you will follow on your psychedelic journey?

There is No Information in Psychedelics

People often take psychedelics expecting to find some revelation. Many end up having them. However, these can only represent the synthesis of existing information already present in the brain. Those who have a magical or mythical interpretation of reality will interpret their experiences through that lens. Those with a scientific education and well developed rationality will tend to explain their experiences using psychology.

Sometimes the experience can cause a reversal, where a spiritual person sees chemically induced visions of angels and demons and realizes these things are all products of the mind. Sometimes a scientific mind can see the same things and start to believe they are real. The experience itself is technically new information that must be interpreted, but it doesn't come with a guidebook

Psychedelic substances are often referred to as "teachers" but that is the exact thing that they lack. Most trips are not supervised by experts that can offer insight and guidance. This means that for most people, how they integrate their experience is strongly influenced by the media and their peer groups.

This article in Salon by Rich Haridy explores the implications of this. To quote Douglas Rushkoff, "assholes who took psychedelics were assholes on psychedelics." Experiencing ego dissolution is not guaranteed to increase empathy, compassion, or morality. That is why psychedelics are just one page on this wiki and not the whole thing. Without having philosophy, ethics, psychology, spirituality, and community to inform your experiences, the only effect they will have is the inflation of ego, and a newfound cosmic significance to your existing ideology that makes you sound like a douchebag.

Peer to Peer Integration

Many of the most popular figures in the media who promote psychedelics (like Joe Rogan) are terrible mentors who encourage contrarian and conspiratorial interpretations of their experiences, priming their millions of listeners to do the same. In our disconnected and anti-social culture, many more people are trying psychedelics alone rather than with their peers, compounding the influence of influencers on those experiences.

Those who are tripping with their peer groups will also get vastly different interpretations of their shared experiences depending on their level of education, scientific background, critical thinking skills, knowledge of psychology, religion, and other factors. This is why people who drop acid at Harvard and Stanford often become major innovators in science and technology, while the high-school dropout following Phish is likely to end up in a yoga cult.

Shamanistic and Therapeutic Integration

Many psychedelic guides and facilitators come from native shamanistic traditions. More often than not, they are white people with dreads who are appropriating them. In both cases, there is a tendency towards the mythological interpretation of spiritual psychedelic experience over the rational.

Facilitators and guides that don't come from shamanism are usually therapists with a psychology background. However, many of these practice a more Jungian woo-based forms of therapy similar to dream interpretation, rather than seeking to ground the experiences in a scientific or rational faming. Since psychedelics still exist in a legal gray-area and outside of the mainstream, those attracted to it often represent fringe elements of the psychology community.

Facilitators from both camps are usually taught not to try and impose their own judgements or worldview on the integration process. Their focus is on creating a setting that is conducive to a positive experience, helping people out of negative thought loops, and encouraging reflection and integration after the experience. While this approach is very open-minded and non-judgmental, it does little to prevent "high weirdness" and the descent into conspiracy theories, contrarianism, pseudoscience, and supernatural magical thinking. Many of these fringe facilitators even encourage it.

Rational Integration

In order to promote rational interpretations of the psychedelic experience, it is necessary for knowledgeable teachers with backgrounds in psychology, therapy, neuroscience, and philosophy to reach out and offer their mentorship and advice to young people. If they don't, the void will be filled by grifters, cults, and conspiracy theorists eager to take advantage of their vulnerable and open states of mind.

The mainstream psychology community is unfortunately hampered by research methods, ethical and legal constraints. It is not possible, or even desirable, for every trip to have a professional facilitator. People are going to be out there tripping, so if the solution to "high weirdness" requires a therapeutic environment it just simply isn't practical. It must take place on the peer to peer, grassroots level to be able to have a significant impact on aggregate trip interpretations.

The ISNESS project provides a model for how this can work. By creating fun and interesting communities and events centered around science-based integration of the psychedelic experience, it should be possible to promote rational interpretations within the broader psychedelic community. Even if only a small percentage of users would be interested in such a group, each of them is also a member of their own peer group and will become an influence on their future trips as they share the knowledge they gain in the rational integration circles.

By using an Interfaith model for community organizing, ISNESS can provide a vehicle for both progressive religious institutions and the secular community to interface with the psychedelic community. These people are spiritual seekers who are looking for meaning and community. If mainstream institutions refuse to acknowledge the importance of the psychedelic experience, how can you blame users for developing contrarian, anti-authority, anti-institutional opinions? If mainstream science and religion can embrace the psychedelic experience, it will significantly hamper the ability for fringe pseudoscience grifters and cults to take advantage of high weirdness.

Conclusion

The legal status of psychedelics has led to a wild west free-for-all of fringe thinking. It has prevented mainstream institutions from embracing psychedelics, which exacerbates the distrust of those institutions among those who are having one of the most significant experiences of their life under their influence. As the legality of psychedelics and support within the cultural mainstream grows, we finally have an opportunity to promote rational, scientific psychonautics in a way that allows people to enjoy "high weirdness" without being lost to the fringe.

High Weirdness: The United States of Strange (with Aaron Rabinowitz)

Psychedelic Eco-Spirituality

A common way that psychedelic spirituality manifests itself is in living Earth, naturalistic, and Gaia-based belief systems that emphasize our connection to nature. This is a natural by-product of the psychedelic experience, especially among those who trip while camping. There are many different ways that people approach eco-spirituality. Let's use two examples to contrast the different approaches to this subject, and the widely varying degrees of "woo" that they rely on.

• Biomancy - the "woo" approach
• Psygaia - a more grounded, scientific approach

On the Biomancy website, critical thinkers will notice a number of red flags that indicate that their commitment to scientific rigor may lack conviction.

• Extensive use of the words "magic" and "quantum"
• References to pagan mysticism
• Use of neologisms
• Focus on selling courses, seminars, and other things that cost money
• Rarely ties ideas to any scientific research
• Always refers to self as "Doctor" even though their medical experience is not directly related

In contrast, the Psygaia website attempts to create a more scientific model for eco-spirituality, and relates its presentation of similar ideas without invoking magic and pagan gods. The word "quantum" does not appear anywhere on the site, which is nice. There are paid courses and retreats, but many free resources and a helpful online community are also provided. In general, you get a much better sense that the Psygaia approach is done in "good faith," where the Biomancy approach is self-serving and a bit culty.

The metaculture approach is very similar to eco-spirituality, in that it views experiencing and embracing our spiritual connection to nature as central to how we create meaning. Some notable differences would be:

• metaculture focuses more on our connection to the entire universe versus using the Earth as the central metaphor, though both are universalizing. See Pantheism.
• The Earth-centric approach appeals to many, but for others it triggers out-group biases. A significant portion of people have a negative reaction to this type of rhetoric, which they might refer to as "hippy bullshit." These are the people that need to be persuaded the most!
• Building bridges to those who hold traditional religious mindsets, as well as atheists who reject any hint of the supernatural, is paramount. Unfortunately, both groups tend to view eco-spirituality as "woo" that is equally deserving of criticism, but for opposite reasons.
• Psychedelics are just one part of a much bigger overall philosophy, and don't play a central role. They can be a great way to aid your path to enlightenment, but they aren't the only path, nor are they useful without a foundation of good information for the psychedelics to integrate.
• Fractals.

Most of these differences are simply a matter of which narratives and perspectives receive more focus, rather than anything truly substantive. It is stated many times in this wiki, but here's one more--choose whatever philosophy you identify with that works best for you!

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.

If you're still not convinced that psychedelic therapy is ready to go mainstream, here are 18 articles with supporting evidence that will change your mind about how to change your mind.

Trevor Noah Interviews Michael Pollan on Psychedelics

McKenna advocates infrequent, meditative trip environments at high doses where you can go deep within yourself. These may be the most revelatory and therapeutic experiences, but he tends to discount the value of having a really good time with friends.

Terence Mckenna discusses how to use psychedelics

Although Huberman has since taken a turn towards the grift, his earlier videos offer some very good conversations and advice, and this is one of the more nuanced discussions of set and setting from a neuroscience perspective. Just don't buy any dietary supplements he sponsors or take relationship advice from him.

Clinical Psychedelic Journey (Set & Setting) Explained

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.

Bill Hicks - Positive Drug Story

McPsychedelics and Commodification

McPsychedelics: The Rise of Psychedelic Individualism

This article has an excellent breakdown of the problems that legalized psychedelic therapy has in a capitalist society that seeks to profit off of everything. For example, corporate therapy firms are attempting to patent compounds and therapeutic techniques that have been in use for centuries. Others provide luxury psychedelic experiences that reinforce the hollow materialism and narcissism of their rich clients instead of providing the deep soul-searching and community building that lead to real transformations. Their intention is to maximize their ability to succeed in capitalism, not to shatter the illusion that everything needs to have a price.

It is important to remember that if you are paying for a catered psychedelic experience, that is the set and setting you are now dealing with. In this transactional setting, the feelings of spontaneity, friendship, unpredictability, and empathy can be diminished compared to a social gathering. In group settings where the group's primary shared value is the willingness and ability to pay a lot of money to go on a retreat, you may find yourself sharing the experience with people you wouldn't normally share sober experiences with. Some may share ideas or interpretations that you find idiotic or offensive, and that just takes you right out of it. If you find new age mumbo jumbo and spiritual narcissism annoying, you will find many psychedelic retreats annoying. On psychedelics, this means very annoying. You may be better off doing them alone or with friends.

Psychedelic Music

Some of the greatest music ever made has been inspired by psychedelics. Here is some of it.

Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

Shpongle - Divine Moments of Truth

Tipper - Insolito (Full Album)

Jimi Hendrix - Third Stone From the Sun

Gong - Foghat Digs Holes in Space

King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man

Tool - Third Eye

Moody Blues - Timothy Leary

Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album

Grateful Dead - Dark Star

Miles Davis - Bitches Bew (Full Album)