Psychedelics

[Nixiam]

luv u Pharcy

 

[MyDoorsAreOpen]

I think psychedelics can make fine tools for spiritual exploration, when used by the right people in the right settings with the right intentions. But just like having a state of the art hammer doesn't make you a good carpenter, using psychedelics will not make you a mystic.

What I find spiritually valuable about psychedelics, especially LSD, is the way they throw ordinary perception of the world into contrast. These drugs temporarily remove a lot of the perceptual filters I've learned to pass my sensory stimuli through, and in so doing remind me that all around me there are things going on that I'm missing, not because they're not there, but because I've learned, for practical reasons, to tune them out. This always gets me thinking, especially towards the end of a trip, that there could be a whole lot more going on beneath the surface layer of our day to day reality, that I'm wholly oblivious to.

 

[swilow]

I love how alien and arbitrary things like money and laws seem when tripping. We accept so many inexplicable things during life. Most of them we 'need' to accept simply to function in society, but its good to lift the veil, so to speak, on these things and acknowledge their inherent meaninglessness. Every now and then, this is valuable. Taken too far, though, leads to all sorts of maladaptive shot.

 

[belligerent drunk]

I love how alien and arbitrary things like money and laws seem when tripping. We accept so many inexplicable things during life. Most of them we 'need' to accept simply to function in society, but its good to lift the veil, so to speak, on these things and acknowledge their inherent meaninglessness. Every now and then, this is valuable. Taken too far, though, leads to all sorts of maladaptive shot.

I did quite a lot of tripping years ago, but I didn't notice anything like that at that point. I haven't tripped in... 2 years I think. However, as time goes by, I notice how more and more I see those sorts of things you and MDAO mention in your last posts, while sober. Lately I've noticed that I have to do it the other way 'round: remind myself that those things have a subjective meaning in our society, because normally I just see everything for what it is and it's a bit hard to live like that.

 

[swilow]

I did quite a lot of tripping years ago, but I didn't notice anything like that at that point. I haven't tripped in... 2 years I think. However, as time goes by, I notice how more and more I see those sorts of things you and MDAO mention in your last posts, while sober. Lately I've noticed that I have to do it the other way 'round: remind myself that those things have a subjective meaning in our society, because normally I just see everything for what it is and it's a bit hard to live like that.

Yes, we seem to need the typical filter of 'civilised' consciousness to accept what is arguably absolute bullshit happening everywhere constantly. I think there is a value in trying to accept one's part in this mess but not get drowned in it.

I read a fascinating book recently which reflected on the powerful human ability to imagine things and than respond to those imaginings as if real. Look at money. It is not inherent or objectively extant. It, in itself, has no practical value and yet it is really a form of matter that can get translated into almost anything. When tripping, it is very difficult for me to look at physical money, coins and shit, and accept that these things means anything. Same with laws. Where is the law that says I must follow the law, and where is the law telling me I must follow that law and it spirals recursively on.

Huge value in unoccluded vision, seeing things for what they are. As with you, b_g, I get that shit whilst sober and sort of always have, but thrown into relief when tripping (a 3-4 time a year thing for me). This can be destructive; taken too far, it can be really alienating.

 

[belligerent drunk]

Alienating is exactly the word for it.