If you ask two people how they’d define characteristics or phenomena associated with consciousness, there is a good chance that you’d receive two differing opinions. So what happens if you ask thirteen?
Read MoreOne of the fastest rising academics in the world of contemporary psychedelia is Peter Sjöstedt-H.
Read MoreAltered is an international conference that aims to elucidate concepts surrounding the nature of consciousness.
Scheduled to take place in Berlin, Germany on the 3rd and 4th of November, Altered seeks to unify individuals from various backgrounds and disciplines to discuss academia, art, and spirituality.
Read MoreDMT is known to be one of (if not the most) potent psychedelic substances currently known to man. Many users have reported strange, paranormal visions; Some elucidating the numinous nature of extrasensory realms, others displaying nightmarish realizations of terror. Regardless of where you stand on the drug’s purpose (or your experience with it), it is hard to deny that DMT is. at the very least, a peculiar substance that has warranted the attention it has received in recent years.
Read MoreImagine living in a world where every conceivable facet of your reality is nothing more than sensory experience devoid of any real meaning; And that your emotions, organs, and even your closest relationships were nothing but pleasurable impulses being transmitted directly into your brain.
Read MoreBack in 2011 legendary neurologist Oliver Sacks was a part of a team that was introduced to a woman experiencing a strange kind of visual hallucination.
Read MoreAuthor and Spiritualist Julian Vayne has recently released Getting Higher: The Manual of Psychedelic Ceremony (distributed by the wonderful professionals over at the Psychedelic Press) a guide to injecting entertainment and purpose into the entheogenic pursuits of casual users and experienced psychonauts.
Read MoreIfetayo Harvey of the Drug Policy Alliance has been fighting against the injustice and discrimination found in many of the practices propagated by the perpetual War on Drugs. In our first interview, she told her story about how this war impacted her and her family. She recently wrote a fascinating article for Psymposia about why the psychedelic community is so white and what this says about the culture of drug use.
Read MoreMarc Marcel is an Artist, Author, and Poet representing Baltimore, Maryland. I discovered his work some time ago (circa 2013 by way of this video.) after some of my first experiences with psychedelics and was fascinated by his commentary on the nature of reality and what it means to be human.
He explores these themes with his outstanding poetry and in his magnificent, The Book That Doesn't Even Matter. It within this space of examining humanity, he has elevated himself and everyone who has been lucky enough to experience his work.
Read MoreThe Sunshine Makers examines the life and times of Nicholas Sand and Robert Timothy Scully, the masterminds behind the mythical "Orange Sunshine", a brand of LSD that is still heralded as the purest and to achieve mainstream notoriety. Nick and Tim were directly responsible for much of the LSD that was in circulation during that time and found themselves in the crosshairs of what would eventually fester into what we now know as The War on Drugs.
Read MoreMartin's work primarily discusses nondualism and the dissolution of the ego through psychedelic exploration. He believes that by removing social constructs that bolster the ego (like religion), one can get to the heart of the human experience and recognize that they themselves are God. He has even created the "Entheological Paradigm" which is a kind of grand unifying theory for psychedelic phenomenology based on his experiences.
Read MoreFrank Yang (born in Taiwan) is an artist and bodybuilder that has made a name for himself with his impressive physique, abstract pieces (primarily photos and videos) and knack for philosophizing about psychology and spirituality. Using YouTube as his primary vehicle, Frank has successfully translated his dynamic persona into thousands of subscribers and millions of views.
Read MorePeter’s latest book, Noumenautics (a play on the Kantian term “Noumena” that describes objects as they are and without sensual interpretation), attempts to explore the intersections between philosophy, phenomenology, and the psychedelic experience. The book itself is important for both psychedelics and philosophy as it fosters much needed conversation about the epistemological value of these substances, but it does so without being attached to dogma or mysticism.
Read MoreMDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) has been a resounding success in alleviating and outright curing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the afflicted participants when consumed under the right conditions. While the substance often gets a bad wrap for it’s perceived mortality rate (which is usually exaggerated or false) when compared to other substances being using in clinical research, when done in the proper set and setting, the drug can be extremely beneficial for the user.
One common misconception about MDMA is that it is the same as it’s street variations, E, Ex, Molly, Ecstasy, etc. The substance in it’s pure, laboratory grade form is very safe because it isn’t “stepped on” or “cut” with any harmful chemicals to stretch out the product. If you are taking street variations of the substance, there is a much higher chance that what you’re getting isn’t just MDMA (MSM powder used for joint pain and relief is an example of a substance used to cut pill and powder based stimulants). This has also been an issue with research chemicals like 25-i and other NBOmes being sold as LSD on the street. While there are testing kits available, it is unrealistic to assume that the average user is going to have one on hand or be aware that they even exist, which is a a clear cut example of why a safe and legal free-market should be created for this class of substances.
Read MoreWhen Ifetayo Harvey was four years old (she is now 24), her father (a Jamaican immigrant) was locked away for eight years and subsequently deported back to his home country after being charged with cocaine trafficking. While she was able to communicate with him via letters during his imprisonment and deportation, this is a far-cry from the kind of guidance and support a developing child needs. Her mother was left to raise seven children alone and Ifetayo, found herself confused and hurt. In spite of these perceived shortcomings, she was able to get active in Drug Policy Reform, graduate from Smith College with a degree in History and African Studies, and secure a job at the prestigious Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) where she works with Dr. Rick Doblin, who has become a legend in psychedelia.
Read MoreIboga (Tabernanthe iboga) is a psychedelic plant that is native to central Western Africa that has shown the ability to alleviate addiction in individuals that have alcohol, cocaine, or heroin dependency. Currently, the pharmacological options that we have to treat these addictions are limited and fairly ineffective. Ibogaine (one of the alkaloid structures in Iboga) has shown to have some effectiveness in helping sufferers kick their particular habit. One single session with the plant can remove all cravings for up to six months and multiple sessions with the substance can remove cravings for years.
Read MoreHikikomori (which essentially translates to "pulling inwards") is a psychological disorder that mimics many of the classic symptoms found in severe depression or social anxiety. Sufferers typically live with their parents, lock themselves inside of their rooms for weeks at a time and only come out in the event of an emergency or if they need to get food, use the restroom, etc. In the more severe cases, some Hikikomori relieve themselves inside of their rooms instead of going to the restroom. During these bouts, these individuals have very little contact with family or friends and can even become belligerent or violent towards themselves or others if asked to come out of their rooms. Many Hikikomori are males in their late teens or early twenties (there have been reported cases of middle aged and elderly individuals as well) that have “failed” at some aspect in their academic or social lives. Seclusion is more often than not a side effect of anxiety, depression, or any other high functioning psychological malady and Japan’s rigid and unforgiving social order has an almost zero tolerance policy for transgression or failure. This is usually the leading cause of this phenomenon. It is estimated that there are several hundred thousand Hikikomori in Japan but this number is actually believed to be much higher and estimates have even reached as high as two million. There have also been cases popping up in other countries around the world so this isn’t something that is exclusive to Japan.
Read MoreFor those of you who missed my previous post, I briefly explained that I’ve only ever experienced the unconditional love of modern lore once in my entire life. Since then (September 4th, 2014) I have been ruminating on what real love is and if it can exist outside of transcendental experiences. In the waking world, there are so many factors that contribute to being in or having love for a certain individual.
Read MoreWhen I took LSD after months of research, it was an earth shattering escapade that led to an almost total restructuring of both my lifestyle and the way I conceptualized the human experience.
Read MoreUsing the structure surrounding the eye as her canvas, Tal is able to create ethereal art that explores various quadrants of the color spectrum. By doing this, she can effectively convey a palpable sense of whimsy to the viewers.
Daniel’s art has successfully transitioned into different mediums of entertainment (he spent years studying design and has collaborated with industry giants like Hasbro), ranging from toys to animation which speaks volumes about his artistic and business acumen. He has also become a published author producing lighthearted children's literature.
If you ask two people how they’d define characteristics or phenomena associated with consciousness, there is a good chance that you’d receive two differing opinions. So what happens if you ask thirteen?
One of the fastest rising academics in the world of contemporary psychedelia is Peter Sjöstedt-H.
Altered is an international conference that aims to elucidate concepts surrounding the nature of consciousness.
Scheduled to take place in Berlin, Germany on the 3rd and 4th of November, Altered seeks to unify individuals from various backgrounds and disciplines to discuss academia, art, and spirituality.
With an affinity for the spiritual side of music, Sirgun has worked and studied to incorporate uplifting vibrations into her pieces.
Thom's work spans the greater part of three decades and has effectively emblazoned itself on to the framework of the genre.
Now that festival season is underway, Sennheiser has compiled a list of practical tips and tricks to help casual and hardcore attendees survive their outings.
“Ridicule is the burden of genius.”
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Artist, Author, and psychonaut Martin W. Ball has been discussing and representing the intersections between art and metaphysics for some time now. His position on the nature of the psychedelic experience, human ego, and philosophy on what these substances can offer to mankind has been one of great interest to many artists and explorers.