In 1676, near Jamestown, Virginia a group of British soldiers were traveling to put down Bacon’s rebellion. Hungry and unfamiliar with the local flora these soldiers unwittingly ingested leaves from the plant which became nicknamed Jamestown weed, or jimsonweed for short because of this event. This plant was of the datura genera—a deadly nightshade (plants which contain […]
On The Medicinal History of Datura Read More »
“The brethren continued exhorting, prophesying and speaking in tongues until 5 o clock in the morning—the Saviour made his appearance to some, while angels min[i]stered unto others, and it was a pent[e]cost and end[ow]ment indeed, long to be remembered.”1 Joseph Smith’s Journal The Kirtland Temple dedication was a multi-day visionary fest for the early Latter-day
The Psychedelic Kirtland Temple Dedication Read More »
For context, this was written for an outlet with a generally LDS audience that ultimately wasn’t published but has some value I think. “I tore myself from Her warm embrace. It was time for me to go. Before I left that place, She placed Her hand on my chest and told me She was always
Psychedelics as Spiritual Healers Read More »
Depression isn’t an individual defect or disorder as the cultural understanding would have you believe. It’s a product of both our web of relations to the world and our lack of connections within this web—the result of the increasing atomization of culture. The concepts shared here resonate with my own experience of depression and in
The Interconnected Self Part 2: Depression and the Atomization of the Individual Read More »
As someone who was first introduced to psychedelics through ketamine assisted psychotherapy for depression while an active Latter-day Saint, the nexus of psychedelics and religion is near and dear to my heart. This intersection has also been a source of profound emotional turmoil for me. The mystical revelations I underwent, which I believed brought me
A Real Spiritual High: In Defense of Psychedelic Mysticism Read More »
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” You are Horatio. I am Horatio. We all are Horatio! There are more ways of being in the world, experiences to be had, and ideas to be considered than you or I could ever dream of learning about in
Truth is Relative Because There Is Too Much Truth. And That’s a Good Thing Read More »
Read part one here. The Spiritual Leaves the Physical Twenty-three years after Joseph’s death, in a 1867 church conference, George A. Smith (Joseph Smith’s cousin) took up the question of the waning visionary experiences in the years following Joseph’s death and the LDS saints’ subsequent move to Utah. He addressed “the question often arisen among
Psychedelics as a Means of Revelation in Early and Contemporary Mormonism (Part 2) Read More »
This paper was presented at the Forms of Psychedelic Life conference at UC Berkeley (April 14-15, 2023). It’s meant to give an overview of different facets and themes of the use of psychedelics within the Mormon tradition. Many of these themes will be further expanded upon in future posts and papers. (This can also be
Psychedelics as a Means of Revelation in Early and Contemporary Mormonism (Part 1) Read More »
This is a portion of a paper I’ll be presenting at the Forms of Psychedelic Life conference next month on the role of psychedelics in Mormon theology. Preface As a bit of context to the following for the unaware, a recent article makes the case that psychedelics played a significant role in the origin of the Mormon faith. I’ll
Psychedelics as Sacred Objects Read More »
“I dreamed I was a butterfly, dancing in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming I am a man?” – Zhuangzi Psychedelia has an ego problem. I’m not only talking about the ego inflation that can occur with psychedelic
Ego Dissolution Is Not the Point Read More »
You can also read this review on Blossom Analysis’ website. DMT Dialogues: Encounters with the Spirit Molecule, edited by David Luke and Rory Spowers, gives the reader a peek into Tyringham Hall in England in September 2015, as ten of the world’s leading luminaries noted for exploring the mysterious compound DMT gathered with other researchers from across the
Summary Review of DMT Dialogues: Encounters with the Spirit Molecule Read More »
This was written for Blossom Analysis. Entheogens, Myth & Human Consciousness by Carl A. P. Ruck and Mark A. Hoffman makes the case for entheogens being at the foundation of the religions and myths of the Western world. Entheogens make sense of the ancient myths, especially the ancient Greek ones, and the myths provide a framework for understanding
Summary Review of Entheogens, Myth, and Human Consciousness Read More »
This was written for Blossom Analysis. The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries by Robert Gordon Wasson, Albert Hofmann, and Carl Ruck explores the notion of natural psychedelic agents having been used in spiritual rituals across history and cultures. Drawing on their expertise from three separate disciplines, mycology, chemistry, and history, the authors explore the possibility that
Summary Review of The Road to Eleusis Read More »
This review can also be found on Blossom Analysis’ website. Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca by Richard Miller describes the history of research into psychedelics. He does this by interviewing many of the luminaries in the field and with a focus on LSD, MDMA, ayahuasca, and psilocybin. The book provides a good,
Review of Psychedelic Medicine by Richard Miller Read More »
Building off the previous posts on the ineffability of psychedelic experiences and language, I wanted to continue using insights from Shlomo Giora Shoham that sheds light on the topic. I’ve written a basic introduction to his ideas here. In his book, The Violence of Silence, Shoham lays out the argument that it is the participant
Speaking of what I wrote in my last post, this theme of language, psychedelics, and a new technology: I’m interested here in what two, well four really, have to say about this. The medium is Deleuze and Guattari, and the two thinkers are Erik Davis and Benjamin Dueck. Deleuze and Guattari, according to both Dueck
(De)Territorializing the Psychedelic Experience Read More »
One common feature in the psychedelic experience, is the ineffability of said experience–it is too great or extreme to describe in words. In fact, this is one of the key features of the mystical experience that William James elucidates. Ask someone to describe their psychedelic or another profound experience they have had and they will
Starting this Saturday, July 17th, I will be hosting a series of Interintellect Salons on psychedelics.
Upcoming Interintellect Salons on Psychedelics Read More »
On March 29th I will be participating on a panel on ayahuasca, psychedelic therapy, and healing hosted by ASU. It’s at 4 PM PT for anyone interested! The week prior there is a screening of the brilliant film From Shock to Awe which explores the healing of PTSD in veterans through ayahuasca.
Understanding Ayahuasca and Healing with Therapeutic Psychedelics Panel Read More »
My latest article on psychedelics and migraines has been published by Psychedelic Science Review.
Exploratory Study Indicates Psilocybin Provides Relief for Migraines Read More »
Imagine sitting on your couch and doom-scrolling through your Facebook/Twitter/Instagram feed. Someone who has never done any of that asks you what you are doing. How do you describe the experience of sitting at home on your couch, looking at a device that is showing you live or recent updates of thoughts, feelings, and actions
Language and the Infancy of Experience: Agamben and Psychedelics Read More »
An article written for Psychedelic Science Review. This study provides the first preliminary quantitative exploration of the psychological effects of psychedelics in individuals with a self-reported diagnosis of an eating disorder.
An article written for Psychedelic Science Review Research indicates that ayahuasca promotes sustained decreases in neuroticism and increases in agreeableness and openness.
Ayahuasca Impacts the Big 5 Personality Traits Read More »
This was a paper I wrote for a philosophy class a year or so ago. Introduction Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD is a disabling and distressing disorder that can be characterized as having intrusive and recurring thoughts that can result in compulsive behavior (DSM V). These thoughts are unwanted and can be obsessive in
OCD, Depression, and Psychedelics: Similarities in Memory and Attention Read More »
What follows is the second chapter in my master’s thesis. CHAPTER 2 What a Psychedelic Experience is Like Now that I have characterized experience, including the psychedelic experience, as having the capability of playing a causal role in the healing, the question remains, what exactly is the psychedelic experience? What is it like? And how
The Nature of Healing in the Psychedelic Experience: Part 2 Read More »
What follows is the first chapter in my master’s thesis. CHAPTER 1 Introduction As rates of diagnoses of mental illnesses have increased over time, people have sought out new treatments to alleviate the suffering they cause. Psychedelics have been hailed as a wonder drug for the current mental health crisis.[1] As there has been a
The Nature of Healing in the Psychedelic Experience: Part 1 Read More »