BingDing
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How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
by Michael Pollan
A very good read, with some ties into RP's ideas. Pollan is an excellent writer IMO and all of his books that I have read have been very good.
In part a history of psychedelics, there is a lot I didn't know about. For instance there were multiple research projects from the '50s up till '66 when LSD was banned, and even beyond. Many hundreds of people got their first trips this way. And research has started again in recent years, focusing on therapy for terminal cancer patients, addiction and depression. They have used psilocybin rather than LSD to avoid the baggage LSD carries. Several stage 1 and stage 2 trials have been successful and a stage 3 trial is ongoing. If that is successful it is possible that psilocybin will be legalized and doctors can prescribe it.
In part an inquiry into what tripping really is. The participants in the studies were given a chance to talk about and integrate their experience, and filled out questionnaires. Many, if not most, reported at least one of dissolution of the ego and the self, an awareness of a universal consciousness, a profound sense of connectedness to others and to nature, and a sense that love is the underlying basis of everything. Pretty heady stuff.
In part a discussion about brains. I might not have fully understood this part so I am not relating it. If anyone else reads the book I'd welcome comments.
I recalled one of my most dramatic experiences with psychedelics. A buddy and I went to a Further Festival in NJ one weekend and ate a bunch of mushrooms. Not much happened that night. But a week later we went to see Leftover Salmon at Wolf Trapp near home. The music lifted me out of my chair, out of myself. Ineffable means it can't be expressed in words and that is what it was. It was the best music I've ever heard.
In my opinion, everyone deserves to have an experience like that!!
From the department of interesting factoids:
Bill W., the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, used belladonna in the 1930s and had a profound, transcendent experience. That is the source of the "higher power" in AA. Sheds a whole new light on the AA rap, if you ask me.
Cheers, BD
by Michael Pollan
A very good read, with some ties into RP's ideas. Pollan is an excellent writer IMO and all of his books that I have read have been very good.
In part a history of psychedelics, there is a lot I didn't know about. For instance there were multiple research projects from the '50s up till '66 when LSD was banned, and even beyond. Many hundreds of people got their first trips this way. And research has started again in recent years, focusing on therapy for terminal cancer patients, addiction and depression. They have used psilocybin rather than LSD to avoid the baggage LSD carries. Several stage 1 and stage 2 trials have been successful and a stage 3 trial is ongoing. If that is successful it is possible that psilocybin will be legalized and doctors can prescribe it.
In part an inquiry into what tripping really is. The participants in the studies were given a chance to talk about and integrate their experience, and filled out questionnaires. Many, if not most, reported at least one of dissolution of the ego and the self, an awareness of a universal consciousness, a profound sense of connectedness to others and to nature, and a sense that love is the underlying basis of everything. Pretty heady stuff.
In part a discussion about brains. I might not have fully understood this part so I am not relating it. If anyone else reads the book I'd welcome comments.
I recalled one of my most dramatic experiences with psychedelics. A buddy and I went to a Further Festival in NJ one weekend and ate a bunch of mushrooms. Not much happened that night. But a week later we went to see Leftover Salmon at Wolf Trapp near home. The music lifted me out of my chair, out of myself. Ineffable means it can't be expressed in words and that is what it was. It was the best music I've ever heard.
In my opinion, everyone deserves to have an experience like that!!
From the department of interesting factoids:
Bill W., the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, used belladonna in the 1930s and had a profound, transcendent experience. That is the source of the "higher power" in AA. Sheds a whole new light on the AA rap, if you ask me.
Cheers, BD
