Category Archives: Entheogens

The discussion around psychedelics and their use as adjuncts to therapy has been increasingly gaining attention, alongside a growing enthusiasm around plant medicines as alternatives to currently accepted treatments. This renaissance comes from growing evidence that psychedelics can help treat mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, end of life distress, OCD, and addiction. Plant medicines have been used for spirituality, healing, and community since time unknown, and we now find ourselves turning back to the plants for healing.

There are many vision-inducing plants found in nature, with many cultures having sought the divine through changes in consciousness, breathing techniques, singing & dancing, and a variety of plant medicines: the Soma of the Hindu Vedas, Huachuma at Chavin de Huantar, Teonanacatl used by the Aztecs, and the amazonian brew Ayahuasca represent a handful of sacred plants. We refer to these plants as entheogens.

Curiosity about psychoactive plants and the visions or experiences they bring forth was seen as a curiosity during the 1800s. Opium, in the form of laudanum, was well known to the English poets of the late 1700s, and hashish to French writers in the 1800s. Many plants appear in various herbals and materia medica, listing their narcotic effects. Our modern understanding of the biology of entheogenic plants and compounds comes from the academic fields of anthropology and ethnobotany. The emerging market of psychedelic retreats over the past two to three decades has resulted in renewed interest in the experience of plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Huachuma in their cultural milieu.

The term entheogen is preferred for psychoactive compounds such as DMT, psilocybin, and mescaline that profoundly affect our consciousness. The term has been formally defined by Carl Ruck, Jeremy Bigwood, Danny Staples, Jonathan Ott, and Gordon Wasson in their 1979 paper Entheogens, published in the Journal of Psychedelic Drugs.

Entheogen means bringing forth the divine within, describing the profoundly transformative, spiritual experiences these compounds can elicit. This term is preferred over psychedelic as it indicates a shift to the sacramental use of the compound.

The desire to alter ones consciousness is considered a fundamental desire, after food, sleep, sex, and safety. It helps to put this in a wider context with reference to how various animals and birds have been observed deliberately becoming intoxicated. It is, therefore, no surprise that entheogens or techniques that change consciousness, are used the world over.

The better-known entheogens are the classic hallucinogens like psilocybin, mescaline, and LSD. Based on their chemical structures, they can be referred to as either tryptamines or phenethylamines. But entheogens are not limited to these groups, there are a variety of other compounds in nature that can create significant entheogenic experiences, notably cannabinoids, tropanes, muscimol (a GABA receptor agonist), and the salvinorins (Kappa-opioid receptor agonists).

The widespread occurrence of some of these compounds indicates that their biosynthesis is relatively simple; legendary psychedelic chemist Alexander Shulgin can be quoted as saying it is easier to list the plants without DMT than those containing it. The tryptamines, also referred to as indole alkaloids, include some of the more well-known entheogens such as DMT, 5-MeO-DMT. psilocybin, and ibogaine. Not only present in plants, tryptamines can also be found in different biological kingdoms plants, animals, and fungi as examples, DMT in plants (and possibly humans), 5-MeO-DMT in Toads, and psilocybin in fungi.

We can add a fourth kingdom, through the manipulation of Escherichia coli to produce not only Psilocybin and psilocin, but other active compounds from the Psilocybin gene pathway implanted into the bacterial genome.

Tryptamines are derived from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. The biosynthesis pathway is often elegant, a few steps via enzymatic manipulation of the compounds. For example, psilocybin is synthesized through the following steps: beginning with the decarboxylation of the tryptophans carboxyl (COOH) group, then N-methylation resulting in DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), 4-hydroxylation of DMT results in psilocin, and phosphorylation of the hydroxyl group results in psilocybin. As seen in this example DMT is achieved in essentially two steps, likely the reason why DMT is so common within plants, although in most cases in very low concentrations.

Phenethylamines are, similarly, found within plants and animals, derived from the essential amino acid phenylalanine. Naturally occurring phenethylamines include Mescaline and Lophophine. Synthetic psychedelic Phenethylamines include MDMA, 2cb, and others from the 2c group of compounds.

Pharmacologically, tryptamines structurally resemble the neurotransmitter Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), their mode of action is through activating the serotonin 5-HT family of receptors. The Phenethylamines resemble Dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) in structure, activating both the 5-HT and the dopamine family of receptors. The structural resemblance to serotonin and dopamine means they fit neatly into the respective receptors and cause a change in consciousness.

Most entheogens are alkaloids, compounds containing nitrogen, produced by plants and fungi as a result of selective pressures. Many compounds limit herbivory, plant alkaloids have bitter tastes, or they produce an unpleasant narcotic effect on animals so that they are quickly left alone. Psilocin has been identified as limiting the predation on developing mushrooms through damage to the digestive tracts of insects and arthropods. Their effect on humans then are a lucky accident something many cultures have learnt to turn into impressive pharmacopeias.

We are currently participating in a period where there has been a dramatic shift. These compounds are now seen in a whole new light. Cannabis, not so long ago demonized, is now a prescription medicine in the forms of THC and CBD. But LSD still carries the stigma of the 60s; and as a result, the psychedelic renaissance is focused on lesser-known compounds such as Psilocybin and Ibogaine, and synthetic compounds MDMA and Ketamine.

Entheogens represent an exciting intersection between plants, spirituality, and medicine. They have been fundamental aspects of many indigenous cultures, with some traditions stretching back into prehistory. Modern research using these entheogenic compounds has been controversial, but the results from recent studies using entheogens suggested a bright future.

With celebrities talking about their experiences at ayahuasca retreats, and mainstream documentaries on the benefits of plant medicines to treat a variety of mental health issues, the future is ripe for two possible cliches: the genie is out of the bottle, or perhaps, the vine is spreading from the jungle.

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Entheogens and Plant Medicine: An Introduction Microdose - Microdose Psychedelic Insights

In another setback from Virginia psychedelics activists, a key Senate committee on Monday defeated a bill that would have decriminalized psilocybin and psilocyn in the Commonwealth.

Advocates were hopeful that the measure would pass in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which first held a hearing on the proposal earlier this month where bipartisan lawmakers voiced support and the sponsor agreed to file an amendment that would put a focus on the therapeutic application of the psychedelic.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D), did offer an amendment to her bill saying that psilocybin decriminalization would only apply to people whove consulted with a doctor, nurse, counselor or social workeras opposed to broadly decriminalizing for people 21 and older as originally drafted. But that evidently did not earn enough support, and the members agree to pass it by indefinitely by a 8-6 vote, with one absence.

Numerous studies have shown that psilocybin is an effective treatment for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and addiction, Hashmi told Marijuana Moment after the vote. I am extremely disappointed that we continue to criminalize plant medicine, and I plan to bring this bill back next year so that we can offer an additional source of treatment for suffering Virginians.

Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment (R) had previously signaled support for the bill, and so activists were somewhat taken aback when he voted against it at Mondays hearing.

Decriminalize Nature is disappointed in how this played out, Mark Miller, co-founder of Decriminalize Nature Virginia and a licensed professional counselor, told Marijuana Moment. We represent veterans who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and to assist them in healing from the experiences that they had overseas or wherever.

We owe it to our veterans and our first responders to support them any way we can, which includes medicines that have been found, beyond a shadow of a doubt, in research to be able to assist, he said.

Miller said that the organization will continue to work to educate legislators and advance local decriminalization measures across the state in the interim before the legislature acts.

Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they dont miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

There was a similar House bill from Del. Dawn Adams to decriminalize a wider array of psychedelics that was also amended to focus on the medical use of the substances, but members of a subcommittee approved a motion to carry the measure over until 2023 to further tweak it and build support.

Given that the House is newly controlled by Republicans, that measures prospects seemed somewhat slimmer than than more dialed-back Senate proposal.

Misinformation seemed to be a theme in both the House and Senate committees. Members raised concerns about whether the proposal would lead to magic mushrooms dispensaries or increased impaired driving, even though the bill would neither facilitate retail sales nor permit unlawful activity like driving under the influence.

Neither bill as drafted or amended would have legalized psychedelics for medical or recreational use; rather it would have made possession of the entheogens punishable by a $100 fine, instead of a Class 5 felony as its currently designated.

Any dollars collected from psychedelics possession violations would have gone to the states Drug Offender Assessment and Treatment Fund, which supports substance misuse treatment programs and drug courts.

At a recent virtual event organized by the reform group Decriminalize Nature Virginia,the sponsors of both bills participated as hosts, sharing their perspectives about the growing body of research indicating that psychedelics could be powerful tools to combat conditions like treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Even if the legislature had approved either piece of legislation, it would likely have faced resistance from the states new Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, who has expressed concerns about implementing a commercial marijuana marketin line with what the Democratic legislature and outgoing governor approved last year.

These psychedelics reform proposals are some of the latest to be introduced in state legislatures this session as the decriminalization movement spreads.

In Oregon, where voters approved a historic 2020 initiative to legalize therapeutic psilocybin program, as well as another to broadly decriminalize currently illicit drugs, lawmakers introduced a bill last weekmeant to promote equity into the program.

Two Republican Oklahoma lawmakers recently filed bills meant to promote research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, and one of the measures would furtherdecriminalize low-level possession of the psychedelic.

A GOP Utah lawmaker also introduced a bill this month that would set up a task force to study and make recommendationson the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugsand possible regulations for their lawful use.

In Kansas, A lawmaker also recently filed a bill tolegalize the low-level possession and cultivationof psilocybin mushrooms.

A Republican Missouri lawmaker introduced a bill this month to give residents with serious illnesses legalaccess to a range of psychedelic drugslike psilocybin, ibogaine and LSD through an expanded version of the states existing right-to-try law.

California Sen. Scott Wiener (D) told Marijuana Moment in a recent interview that his bill tolegalize psychedelics possessionstands a 50/50 chance of reaching the governors desk this year. It already cleared the full Senate and two Assembly committees during the first half of the two-year session.

In Michigan, a pair of state senators introduced a bill in September tolegalize the possession, cultivation and deliveryof various plant- and fungi-derived psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline.

Washington State lawmakersalso introduced legislation this monththat would legalize what the bill calls supported psilocybin experiences by adults 21 and older.

In Vermont, a broad coalition of lawmakers representing nearly a third of the House introduced a bill todecriminalize drug possession.

New Hampshire lawmakers filed measures todecriminalize psilocybin and all drugs.

Last year, the governor of Connecticut signed legislation that includes language requiring the state tocarry out a study into the therapeutic potentialof psilocybin mushrooms.

At the congressional level, bipartisan lawmakers sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this month, urging that the agencyallow terminally ill patients to use psilocybinas an investigational treatment without the fear of federal prosecution.

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In another setback from Virginia psychedelics activists, a key Senate committee on Monday defeated a bill that would have decriminalized psilocybin and psilocyn in the Commonwealth.

Advocates were hopeful that the measure would pass in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which first held a hearing on the proposal earlier this month where bipartisan lawmakers voiced support and the sponsor agreed to file an amendment that would put a focus on the therapeutic application of the psychedelic.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D), did offer an amendment to her bill saying that psilocybin decriminalization would only apply to people whove consulted with a doctor, nurse, counselor or social workeras opposed to broadly decriminalizing for people 21 and older as originally drafted. But that evidently did not earn enough support, and the members agree to pass it by indefinitely by a 8-6 vote, with one absence.

Numerous studies have shown that psilocybin is an effective treatment for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and addiction, Hashmi told Marijuana Moment after the vote. I am extremely disappointed that we continue to criminalize plant medicine, and I plan to bring this bill back next year so that we can offer an additional source of treatment for suffering Virginians.

Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment (R) had previously signaled support for the bill, and so activists were somewhat taken aback when he voted against it at Mondays hearing.

Decriminalize Nature is disappointed in how this played out, Mark Miller, co-founder of Decriminalize Nature Virginia and a licensed professional counselor, told Marijuana Moment. We represent veterans who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and to assist them in healing from the experiences that they had overseas or wherever.

We owe it to our veterans and our first responders to support them any way we can, which includes medicines that have been found, beyond a shadow of a doubt, in research to be able to assist, he said.

Miller said that the organization will continue to work to educate legislators and advance local decriminalization measures across the state in the interim before the legislature acts.

Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they dont miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

There was a similar House bill from Del. Dawn Adams to decriminalize a wider array of psychedelics that was also amended to focus on the medical use of the substances, but members of a subcommittee approved a motion to carry the measure over until 2023 to further tweak it and build support.

Given that the House is newly controlled by Republicans, that measures prospects seemed somewhat slimmer than than more dialed-back Senate proposal.

Misinformation seemed to be a theme in both the House and Senate committees. Members raised concerns about whether the proposal would lead to magic mushrooms dispensaries or increased impaired driving, even though the bill would neither facilitate retail sales nor permit unlawful activity like driving under the influence.

Neither bill as drafted or amended would have legalized psychedelics for medical or recreational use; rather it would have made possession of the entheogens punishable by a $100 fine, instead of a Class 5 felony as its currently designated.

Any dollars collected from psychedelics possession violations would have gone to the states Drug Offender Assessment and Treatment Fund, which supports substance misuse treatment programs and drug courts.

At a recent virtual event organized by the reform group Decriminalize Nature Virginia,the sponsors of both bills participated as hosts, sharing their perspectives about the growing body of research indicating that psychedelics could be powerful tools to combat conditions like treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Even if the legislature had approved either piece of legislation, it would likely have faced resistance from the states new Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, who has expressed concerns about implementing a commercial marijuana marketin line with what the Democratic legislature and outgoing governor approved last year.

These psychedelics reform proposals are some of the latest to be introduced in state legislatures this session as the decriminalization movement spreads.

In Oregon, where voters approved a historic 2020 initiative to legalize therapeutic psilocybin program, as well as another to broadly decriminalize currently illicit drugs, lawmakers introduced a bill last weekmeant to promote equity into the program.

Two Republican Oklahoma lawmakers recently filed bills meant to promote research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, and one of the measures would furtherdecriminalize low-level possession of the psychedelic.

A GOP Utah lawmaker also introduced a bill this month that would set up a task force to study and make recommendationson the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugsand possible regulations for their lawful use.

In Kansas, A lawmaker also recently filed a bill tolegalize the low-level possession and cultivationof psilocybin mushrooms.

A Republican Missouri lawmaker introduced a bill this month to give residents with serious illnesses legalaccess to a range of psychedelic drugslike psilocybin, ibogaine and LSD through an expanded version of the states existing right-to-try law.

California Sen. Scott Wiener (D) told Marijuana Moment in a recent interview that his bill tolegalize psychedelics possessionstands a 50/50 chance of reaching the governors desk this year. It already cleared the full Senate and two Assembly committees during the first half of the two-year session.

In Michigan, a pair of state senators introduced a bill in September tolegalize the possession, cultivation and deliveryof various plant- and fungi-derived psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline.

Washington State lawmakersalso introduced legislation this monththat would legalize what the bill calls supported psilocybin experiences by adults 21 and older.

In Vermont, a broad coalition of lawmakers representing nearly a third of the House introduced a bill todecriminalize drug possession.

New Hampshire lawmakers filed measures todecriminalize psilocybin and all drugs.

Last year, the governor of Connecticut signed legislation that includes language requiring the state tocarry out a study into the therapeutic potentialof psilocybin mushrooms.

At the congressional level, bipartisan lawmakers sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this month, urging that the agencyallow terminally ill patients to use psilocybinas an investigational treatment without the fear of federal prosecution.

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In another setback from Virginia psychedelics activists, a key Senate committee on Monday defeated a bill that would have decriminalized psilocybin and psilocyn in the Commonwealth.

Advocates were hopeful that the measure would pass in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which first held a hearing on the proposal earlier this month where bipartisan lawmakers voiced support and the sponsor agreed to file an amendment that would put a focus on the therapeutic application of the psychedelic.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D), did offer an amendment to her bill saying that psilocybin decriminalization would only apply to people whove consulted with a doctor, nurse, counselor or social workeras opposed to broadly decriminalizing for people 21 and older as originally drafted. But that evidently did not earn enough support, and the members agree to pass it by indefinitely by a 8-6 vote, with one absence.

Numerous studies have shown that psilocybin is an effective treatment for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and addiction, Hashmi told Marijuana Moment after the vote. I am extremely disappointed that we continue to criminalize plant medicine, and I plan to bring this bill back next year so that we can offer an additional source of treatment for suffering Virginians.

Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment (R) had previously signaled support for the bill, and so activists were somewhat taken aback when he voted against it at Mondays hearing.

Decriminalize Nature is disappointed in how this played out, Mark Miller, co-founder of Decriminalize Nature Virginia and a licensed professional counselor, told Marijuana Moment. We represent veterans who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and to assist them in healing from the experiences that they had overseas or wherever.

We owe it to our veterans and our first responders to support them any way we can, which includes medicines that have been found, beyond a shadow of a doubt, in research to be able to assist, he said.

Miller said that the organization will continue to work to educate legislators and advance local decriminalization measures across the state in the interim before the legislature acts.

Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they dont miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

There was a similar House bill from Del. Dawn Adams to decriminalize a wider array of psychedelics that was also amended to focus on the medical use of the substances, but members of a subcommittee approved a motion to carry the measure over until 2023 to further tweak it and build support.

Given that the House is newly controlled by Republicans, that measures prospects seemed somewhat slimmer than than more dialed-back Senate proposal.

Misinformation seemed to be a theme in both the House and Senate committees. Members raised concerns about whether the proposal would lead to magic mushrooms dispensaries or increased impaired driving, even though the bill would neither facilitate retail sales nor permit unlawful activity like driving under the influence.

Neither bill as drafted or amended would have legalized psychedelics for medical or recreational use; rather it would have made possession of the entheogens punishable by a $100 fine, instead of a Class 5 felony as its currently designated.

Any dollars collected from psychedelics possession violations would have gone to the states Drug Offender Assessment and Treatment Fund, which supports substance misuse treatment programs and drug courts.

At a recent virtual event organized by the reform group Decriminalize Nature Virginia,the sponsors of both bills participated as hosts, sharing their perspectives about the growing body of research indicating that psychedelics could be powerful tools to combat conditions like treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Even if the legislature had approved either piece of legislation, it would likely have faced resistance from the states new Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, who has expressed concerns about implementing a commercial marijuana marketin line with what the Democratic legislature and outgoing governor approved last year.

These psychedelics reform proposals are some of the latest to be introduced in state legislatures this session as the decriminalization movement spreads.

In Oregon, where voters approved a historic 2020 initiative to legalize therapeutic psilocybin program, as well as another to broadly decriminalize currently illicit drugs, lawmakers introduced a bill last weekmeant to promote equity into the program.

Two Republican Oklahoma lawmakers recently filed bills meant to promote research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, and one of the measures would furtherdecriminalize low-level possession of the psychedelic.

A GOP Utah lawmaker also introduced a bill this month that would set up a task force to study and make recommendationson the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugsand possible regulations for their lawful use.

In Kansas, A lawmaker also recently filed a bill tolegalize the low-level possession and cultivationof psilocybin mushrooms.

A Republican Missouri lawmaker introduced a bill this month to give residents with serious illnesses legalaccess to a range of psychedelic drugslike psilocybin, ibogaine and LSD through an expanded version of the states existing right-to-try law.

California Sen. Scott Wiener (D) told Marijuana Moment in a recent interview that his bill tolegalize psychedelics possessionstands a 50/50 chance of reaching the governors desk this year. It already cleared the full Senate and two Assembly committees during the first half of the two-year session.

In Michigan, a pair of state senators introduced a bill in September tolegalize the possession, cultivation and deliveryof various plant- and fungi-derived psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline.

Washington State lawmakersalso introduced legislation this monththat would legalize what the bill calls supported psilocybin experiences by adults 21 and older.

In Vermont, a broad coalition of lawmakers representing nearly a third of the House introduced a bill todecriminalize drug possession.

New Hampshire lawmakers filed measures todecriminalize psilocybin and all drugs.

Last year, the governor of Connecticut signed legislation that includes language requiring the state tocarry out a study into the therapeutic potentialof psilocybin mushrooms.

At the congressional level, bipartisan lawmakers sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this month, urging that the agencyallow terminally ill patients to use psilocybinas an investigational treatment without the fear of federal prosecution.

Climate Workforce Would Be Protected From Marijuana Employment Testing Under New Congressional Bill

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Chances are that psilocybin or magic mushrooms will be more widely legalized within several years. The progress they have made since 2020 has been extraordinary. The path from illegality to legality looks remarkably like the journey that cannabis has been on for the last several years.

As public sentiment has changeddriven in large part by anecdotal accounts of psilocybins effectiveness as a treatment for PTSD as well as treatment-resistant depression and anxietyseveral jurisdictions have begun removing barriers to psilocybin use through deprioritization, decriminalization, and full legalization. As with cannabis, though, these local actions are complicated by psilocybins federal status as an illegal Schedule I drug.

While its worth asking when and how psilocybin could be legalized, thats somewhat of a backward question. The better question might be: why exactly is psilocybin illegal in the first place?

Why Is Psilocybin Federally Illegal?

Theres a simple answer, and then theres the more complicated truth that underlies that simple answer.

First, the straightforward part: psilocybin and psilocinthe active hallucinogenic substance from mushrooms native to South America, Mexico, and the southern U.S.are federally illegal because they were classified as Schedule I substances under the Controlled Substances Act in 1970. That categorization is based on the three Schedule I criteria:

What differentiates Schedule I drugs from every other schedule is the lack of an accepted medical use. Highly addictive but useful drugs such as cocaine, morphine, codeine, and fentanyl are all classified as Schedule II.

Because they lack that apparent utility, Schedule I drugs are tightly controlled, which makes researchincluding, say, research into whether a drug might be medically usefulincredibly difficult. (If this sounds familiar, its because theres another plant-based drug thats earned federal classification as a Schedule I controlled substance despite its clear medical usefulness: marijuana.)

But this is where the story gets, well, racist. Before the federal government classified psilocybin as Schedule I in 1970, indigenous populations had used it (and other entheogens) as a medical treatment for thousands of years. Modern Western medical culture, after an initial brief exploration, disregarded that historyuntil recently.

What the Research Into Psilocybin Shows

Actual scientific research on psilocybin contradicts each of the assertions in the federal governments classification.

First, numerous recent studies have demonstrated psilocybins effectiveness in the treatment of mental health disorders. In 2018 and again in 2019, the FDA granted breakthrough status to allow scientific studies of psilocybin in addressing treatment-resistant depression. The results have been impressive. For example, a 2020 study at Johns Hopkins University found that 71 percent of patients who received psilocybin treatment for major depressive disorder experienced a clinically significant response. Just over half54 percentachieved complete remission. One of the studys authors noted that after treatment with psilocybin, People feel reorganized in a way that they dont with other drugs Its almost like reprogramming the operating system of a computer.

Second, psilocybin is widely acknowledged as non-addictive.

Third, research has demonstrated that psilocybin is not just safe to use but is in fact safer than alcohol.

Researchers have therefore recommended that psilocybin should more appropriately be categorized as a Schedule IV substance. Schedule IV drugs are those with a currently accepted medical use, a relatively low potential for abuse, and a limited risk of physical or psychological dependence. Schedule IV drugs include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and zolpidem (Ambien).

Why Psilocybin Businesses Should Partner With a Cannabis Law Firm

So why is it that were even talking about psilocybin? Isnt Cultiva Law a cannabis firm?

Well, yesbut thats not all we are. Weve specialized in helping businesses navigate the regulatory hurdles associated with cannabis as it proceeds down the path from illegality to legality. We know and love the science of cannabinoids, but that represents only a part of the broader science of plant-based pharmaceuticals and plant-based psychoactive substances.

Entheogens like psilocybinas well as ayahuasca, iboga, peyote, and othersare following in the path of cannabis from illegality to legality. Thats mostly due to a gradual shift in public opinion regarding the utility of these plant-based treatments, which again echoes the evolution of public opinion regarding cannabis.

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Psilocybin: Following in the Footsteps of Cannabis Along the Path to Legality - JD Supra

In July of 2021, I found myself in a Manhattan clinic wearing an eye mask and headphones, about to receive my fifth of six injections of therapeutic ketamine.

Whats your intention for this session? asked my therapist, poised with a notebook to record the answer.

Id like to encounter my ancestors or my guides, I said.

Let me back up.

My great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Ukraine and Poland in the early 20th century to escape pogroms. Even though I never even met them, their fears were passed to me. It manifested as an underlying rumble of sadness and dread that I couldnt fully explain with any part of my own childhood. I just thought it was normal. Theres a reason for the stereotypes about Jews and the neuroses we carry: its the natural result of millenniums of running for our lives.

Intergenerational or ancestral trauma occurs when traumatic events impact not just the person who experiences them firsthand, but that persons descendants as well. Research shows, for instance, that the offspring of Holocaust survivors carry the trauma in their bodies. Our DNA encodes this pain and transmits decades of collective and individual toxic stress to the subsequent generations.

My awareness of and ability to speak clearly about my depression from a young age was like a badge of honor in my family. When I described my feelings to my dad, hed say, The apple doesnt fall far with such tenderness that depression became another loving link that connected us. At Seders and Thanksgiving dinners, my cousins and I bonded over which medications we were on, what type of therapists we were seeing and what was ailing us in body and mind. I believed that dread was my birthright.

Id ridden manageable waves of depression since I was little. But the bottom dropped out on Dec. 12, 2020, when I moved back to New York from Los Angeles and experienced a nervous breakdown.

I was like a tuning fork that had been struck by lightning. I couldnt sleep, eat or stop shaking. Waking life was excruciating. I found a new psychiatrist and tried returning to the antidepressant of 17 years off which Id so painstakingly weaned myself: it didnt work this time. I took a pill to help me sleep and another to soften the panic, but they barely scratched the surface.

I switched to a new antidepressant. I jumped down Google rabbit holes in an obsessive flurry of hyper-focus to try and self-diagnose. I researched adrenal failure. I tested my blood and my hair for vitamin deficiencies and bought a SAD light therapy lamp. I worked with multiple therapists and pursued healing modalities with the intensity of a Talmud scholar, but nothing brought relief. It was as if all the fear of a dozen generations of Mandels and Potashnicks had caught up to me, and my body had no way of processing it.

At this point, several months into suicidal ideation, I queried my doctor about therapeutic ketamine. Id read about psychedelics being used as an experimental treatment for depression for years, fascinated by the scientific breakthroughs arising from out-of-the-box treatments. I read up on the history behind entheogens a psychoactive substance used in religious or shamanic ceremonies not because I was planning to pursue them myself, but because I was intrigued by any treatment that had the potential to alleviate the symptoms of mental illness.

Ketamine may be best known for its illicit, risky use as a club drug K, but its use has been approved by the FDA for decades as an anesthetic and painkiller. Using ketamine to treat mental health is still relatively novel, but thus far, several studies have found it to be highly effective at treating depression. When I asked my doctor about it, I was nervous but desperate for relief. I told her I wanted to take the lead on finding the right clinic for me, since Id done so much independent reading already. She agreed, knowing I knew myself and my body best, as long as I kept her in the loop.

I found my clinic on Instagram, of all places. It had the vibe of a day spa, with several comfortable rooms decked out with wall murals of nature scenes and Himalayan salt lamps.

I underwent a long screening by phone and two more virtually: one with a nurse practitioner, the other with my assigned therapist, who was trained specifically to guide and integrate ketamine therapy sessions. Ketamine therapy is not yet covered by insurance, and I was lucky that my family could help pay for the treatment.

At my first appointment, I was given a journal, a pen and art supplies, and was encouraged to use them to integrate what I learned in my explorations.

I wanted to treat the ketamine process with the same respect and reverence Id bring to synagogue or studying Kabbalah. Spirituality had helped pull me out of depression before: In the existential slog of my late 20s, studying Jewish mysticism brought confirmation of a beautiful cosmic order to the world and my place in it. It felt like evidence that there was a greater reason for my suffering, even if I couldnt always comprehend it. Perhaps ketamine didnt have to only be a clinical procedure; it could also be a renewal ceremony of sorts in the temple of my body.

My course of ketamine therapy included six sessions over three weeks, each one lasting 40-60 minutes. At the beginning of each session, a nurse took my vitals and gave me an anti-nausea pill before giving me an intramuscular injection of ketamine. My therapist wrote down the days dosage, my intentions and the time of injection, then sat with me for the duration.

As Id blast off into the darkness, my fingers and toes would tingle and grow numb and my mouth would go dry. I felt confused, a tightening and the sensation of my consciousness wandering around inside me like an ant in a dark theater.

Within hours of the first session, though it had been terrifying and exhausting, I felt the faintest clearing in my brain. I took my sheets to the laundromat and answered long-abandoned emails, tasks Id been unable to do for weeks. The ancestral dread was still there, but its grip was slightly looser.

Yet it was my fifth session, when I set the intention to encounter my ancestors, that was the most empowering and profound. In the darkness, at first I felt heat: it was the deep, dry, primordial heat of prehistory. Behind my eyes, neon green pixels became billions of grains of sand. I felt myself writhing to the rhythm of the music in my headphones, rhythmic, percussive and haunting. I was a snake, slithering up to the surface of the sand in the desert night.

If by this point youre thinking this all sounds a little out there I know. I was deeply skeptical for a long time, too. Yet I was determined to be open to this experience. What was the burning bush if not an inspired vision?

In the darkness, I couldnt see people, but I felt them around me - dancing in a wide circle around a bonfire, with the shadows of flame licking up the dusty cliff faces all around. There was a pulse connecting us and a communal bond I recognized from a place so deep and old inside me, I hadnt known it was there. I was ecstatic, and the energy radiated. I knew, somehow, that I was one of these people. It was as if I were present at the dawn of the Israelites in their native home and in their joy before the trauma of exile. What a revelation: there was a way of being Jewish, and being me, without the backdrop of fear and despair.

Suddenly my intense connection to the Negev, a desert Ive only visited once and briefly, made sense: Id felt home there, even though Id been raised in colonial New England. The soft smell of dust felt like a safe embrace, and hadnt I seen these craggy mountains in a dream? This desert this was the origin of my tribe. Id always imagined my ancestors would appear to me like ghostly figures. Instead, theyd brought me to them not to see, but to feel.

As I floated back down to earth, sensation returning to my hands and face, I was flooded with insight. All this time, Id sought external mentors and guides, convinced that I was defective and healing could only come from outside of myself. Now I knew that I was the composite of all those ancestors, my DNA was actually made of them. I had access to not just their trauma, but also their wisdom I brought them with me everywhere.

Over the course of treatment, I felt my brain regaining its balance, and my cortisol and adrenaline soften back to normal. My appetite returned, and so did my sleep. Ketamine didnt solve all my problems; there is no quick fix for clinical depression. But it did help synthesize a cerebral understanding of my ancestral story into more experiential knowledge. My pain is not just me, broken: it was in me before I was born.

My brain does feel restored, like ketamine cleaned the slate chemically so Im on more solid ground from which to chip away, do the work and keep healing, day after day. Its a marathon, not a sprint.

If my ancestors could wander the desert for 40 years for their own survival, and I am made up of them, then this journey through the desolate wasteland of my subconscious for my survival doesnt feel like a fluke in my path: it feels like my birthright. And Im so much wiser for it.

To contact the author, email editorial@forward.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward.

Link:

What ketamine therapy taught me about my Jewish intergenerational trauma - Forward

Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of Rolling Stone editors or publishers.

As another psychedelic renaissance begins to take flight, it seems that myths and misconceptions rise to meet it. As a molecular pharmacologist studying cannabinoids and psychedelics with training in psilocybin-assisted therapy, I believe its vital to dispel these misconceptions.

Whether you are a consumer, an investor or simply interested in navigating the chaos that surrounds this burgeoning industry, below are a few mind munchies (aka food for thought) intended to provide some accessible guidance and insight.

This is not a ploy this is an avenue to ask for permission to do research, cultivate or produce. Anyone could, in theory, conduct an investigation on psychedelics. They can create a company, apply for a research license and generate data. Basic research underpins these endeavors. Much of the medicinal chemistry and basic research is outsourced to international contract research organizations. There is a recent push for investing in research for the development of intellectual property.

The main focus on naturally occurring psychedelics has been on a few dozen species identified in North and South America. For example, the Western world knows of roughly 100 species of psychedelic mushrooms. Is this a bias from our bioprospecting or a true distribution of psychedelic plants and animals?

I hesitate to mention the vast collection of psychedelic flora and fauna that grow and live around us, which could encourage their overuse by humans. Any advancement or discovery in this realm should be done responsibly to mitigate the risks to these species. Modern history has focused on a small population of natural producers of psychedelics when in reality this is a vast area with opportunities.

The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. Do I qualify?

Before you start a psychedelic venture or adventure, keep in mind that there are many psychedelic gimmicks that have long preceded the current shroom boom. As Alan Watts is purported to have said, Anybody who tells you that he has some way of leading you to spiritual enlightenment is like somebody who picks your pocket and sells you your own watch.

The emergence of e-psychonauts and online purveyors of entheogenic products has created controversies and misconceptions. When it comes to marketing and online drug sales, fact can be difficult to separate from fiction.

One fascinating example is the Sonoran Desert toad, which is often discussed as an ancient psychedelic. While toads have been revered by ancient cultures, this particular backstory of toad licking was conjured up by purveyors of 5-MEO-DMT. Because of this misinformation, the Sonoran Desert toad has become an unregulated commodity whose populations have been threatened, if not endangered. These toads could be licked out of existence. Their venom-derived medicine is brutally extracted while the toads environment is also being destroyed by illicit market influences. Conservationists have pleaded with the public regarding the threats to this species.

The future and evolution of psychedelic creatures on the Earth are very uncertain and precarious. Will we allow this amphibian to continue to evolve as a living psychedelic organism? Or will the lineage of psychedelic toads end with our generation?

Another myth being commercialized is that psychedelic drugs will make you a peaceful, righteous human. The notion that the worlds problems would be solved if more people took entheogens is a hallucination in and of itself. However, there are countless examples of psychedelics that prove time and again that psychedelics, in and of themselves, are not used to facilitate peace with some experts calling the trend a false promise.

For instance, researchers believe Vikings could have used psychedelics for unearthly abilities before going to war. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson credited toad venom, or DMT, for inspiring a return to fighting at the age of 54. Scientific literature is filled with examples of hallucinogenic experiences that are not innately peaceful. In my research experience, when a psychedelic therapy session confronts trauma or ego death, it isnt always a tranquil experience. There are also oppressive, racist groups that seem to be linked to overuse of psychedelics.

The use of these substances does not suddenly turn people into peaceniks. Taking psychedelics will not inherently make someone better at things they do not already know how to do well. Mostly, they will just get better at taking psychedelics. Practice is the path to mastery.

We live in an exhilarating time for psychedelics. Society has begun searching for drugs that act outside the common psychedelic serotonin receptors, the targets of LSD and mushrooms. Almost anyone can join the search, provided we are careful about navigating the gap between speculation and science. In short, theres a lot of promise, so lets avoid the traps and do things responsibly.

Link:

Debunking Myths and Misconceptions of the Psychedelics Industry - Rolling Stone

Here at Concentrate we're all about keeping on top of what's next for Washtenaw County, so we've made a bit of a tradition of ending each year by looking to the year ahead. With 2022 upon us, we've asked each of our staffers to weigh in on what they're most excited for in Washtenaw County in the new year just as we did in 2019, 2018, and 2017. And we were surprised by the diversity of results, ranging from new parks and trails to advances in criminal justice policy. Take a gander at our staff's picks and then tell us your own in the comments. Happy New Year!

The following views are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent Concentrate as a whole.

Sabine Bickford Brown, news writer: Im looking forward to seeing what Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is going to do with his second year in office. Since he took office in January 2021, his groundbreaking policies, like the elimination of cash bail, have been making headlines. He has several new efforts set to begin in 2022, most notable of which might be the new Conviction Integrity and Expungement Unit. The unit will focus on both investigating wrongful convictions and clearing old criminal records, which are often used to discriminate against disenfranchised individuals. Savits office also recently introduced a new Economic Justice Unit, which will focus on protecting workers and consumers by holding those who commit economic harms, like wage theft, accountable. Im excited to see the positive effects that these policies and units will hopefully have on our communities.Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit.Doug Coombe, managing photographer: Im most excited for the Amplify Fellowship class of 2022. The goal of the fellowship, sponsored by Ypsilanti's Grove Studios and Ann Arbor's Leon Speakers, is to nurture and give a leg up to African-American musicians in Washtenaw County. When the fellowship's 2021 class was announced I was excited to see one artist I loved (Dani Darling) and two fantastic artists completely new to me (London Beck and Kenyatta Rashon). Similarly, the class of 2022 consists of one of my favorite local artists (Ki5) and a new artist I look forward to hearing more from (Lorian Janine).

It was exciting to see the success of the 2021 Amplify Fellowship. All the artists put out great records and enjoyed high-profile gigs with the help of mentorship from Grove Studios and Leon Speakers. Southeast Michigan has always been a hotbed of musical talent. Its exciting to see all the generational and institutional knowledge getting passed on to new talent. And in a day and age when a lot of great albums are recorded (or at least demoed) at home, its nice to see some technical knowledge being passed along to the artists too.

Jaishree Drepaul-Bruder, chief news writer and feature writer:This past year I wrote an article that was especially powerful for me. I had the privilege to interview 10 of Washtenaw County's women leaders of Asian heritage. Their willingness to honestly share their experiences, challenges, hopes, and dreams for themselves, their families, and every resident in Washtenaw County was astounding. Within our community these women work tirelessly in their respective sectors to make our county better, not just for today, but for the future. Confined by a word limit, I was unable to share everything I wanted to about the deep thinking, insight, and initiatives these women are championing. After the article was published, I heard from many of these women about their commitment to continue to dismantle barriers and address issues head-on in tangible and impactful ways. I don't know what that will look like, but I'm excited to find out.Trista Van Tine, Nhu Do, Linette Lao, Linh Song, Praveena Ramaswami, and Yen Azzaro meet at Gallup Park. Patrick Dunn, managing editor: While researching a feature story on Michigan's growing acceptance of psychedelic medicine earlier this year, I was impressed to see how much of that movement is centered in Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor is notably only the third city in the U.S. to decriminalize entheogens an umbrella term for psychoactive plants like psilocybin, peyote, and ayahuasca. And the advocates who led the Decriminalize Nature Ann Arbor campaign have now launched a statewide movement called Decriminalize Nature Michigan. This past November, their efforts helped lead to a successful ballot proposal to decriminalize entheogens in Detroit. They've also seeded efforts in Grand Rapids, East Lansing, and Hazel Park, and they're also working with state Sen. Jeff Irwin as a sponsor of a statewide decriminalization bill.

Given the strong therapeutic effects these substances can have, and the sacred cultural traditions tied to them, I'm looking forward to seeing what else local advocates can accomplish to make them more accessible and safe to use.

Monica Hickson, feature and news writer: In the past six years that I have lived in Washtenaw County, I have been thankful to work in both technology and diversity fields. I have had the pleasure to interview several people in both of these fields and I have appreciated their candidness. Im looking forward to seeing all of the hard work that people are doing in both fields. The intersection of technology and diversity is where true creativity and collaboration begins.

Organizations such as Cahoots and the nonprofit Tech[Inclusive], among others, are shaking up the tech industry in Washtenaw County. I am thrilled to see what is happening in these traditionally white male-dominated areas, and eager to see the new faces in these tech spaces. When I heard the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners had approved three new diversity positions to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives I was elated. I like the direction the pendulum is swinging. I am excited to see the next generation from all backgrounds reach new heights in all aspects of technology, including artificial intelligence and programming.Brandon Martin at Cahoots.Jenn McKee, feature writer: You may not realize it, but a seismic shift in the local theater community is now underway, and Im on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens in 2022. Chelseas Purple Rose Theatre, founded by Jeff Daniels in 1991, has been fielding accusations of abuse and discrimination from a number of artists, designers, and former apprentices, as reported in an extensive, seven-part OnStage Blog series. Artistic Director Guy Sanville the person at the center of the controversy, and the public face of the Rose for more than 25 years is stepping down from his post, according to a letter sent to Rose donors. His departure marks the start of a new era at the professional theater.Will the company continue its mission to produce new plays, with an eye toward highlighting Midwestern voices? Or will it chart an entirely new course under the guiding hand of a different artistic director? And in either case, will Rose theatergoers come back? Theres no telling which is the upside of shake-ups, I suppose. The Rose, previously a known quantity, is suddenly all potential and possibilities again. Pass the popcorn.Rob Najarian and Aphrodite Nikolovski in Talley's Folly at The Purple Rose Theatre Company.Sarah Rigg, On the Ground Ypsilanti project manager: I have always enjoyed using Washtenaw County's parks and trails, so seeing some of the projects I've reported on come to fruition has been fun. In 2022, I'm looking forward to seeing the completion of projects that help pedestrians and cyclists connect safely between the city of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township, improvements to the Border-to-Border trail, and more. Access to safe outdoor spaces for recreation has been such a blessing during the pandemic, and I'm so grateful Washtenaw County's people and government invest in our parks and trails. On a selfish note, I recently adopted a puppy, so I'm hoping for some progress on Ypsi Township's plans for an off-leash dog park in 2022!

See original here:

What are you most excited for in Washtenaw County in 2022? - Concentrate

This article by Emily Jarvie was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight, and appears here with permission.

A new bill filed in Florida has proposed the decriminalization of psychedelics, along with the rest of currently illegal drugs, and the promotion of rehabilitation instead of criminalization for drug-related offenses.

Democratic RepresentativeDotie JosephfiledHB 725, titled the Collateral Consequences of Convictions and Decriminalization of All Drugs Act, last Tuesday.

The bill proposes that crimes associated with the personal use and possession of controlled substances that do not involve production, distribution, or sales be decriminalized in favor of civil fines or referral for drug rehabilitation.

The Legislature intends the prioritization of rehabilitative health intervention in lieu of criminalization for personal usage of controlled substances, including but not limited to, stimulants, including cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, heroin, fentanyl, depressants or benzodiazepines, and other addictive controlled substances, the bill states.

It would also compel the Department of Health to conduct a study on more effective methods of addressing drug addiction instead of criminalization. This study shall include but not be limited to supervised drug consumption in facilities, which have been proven to reduce public disorder associated with drugs, and lead to a drop in the behaviors linked to HIV and Hepatitis C transmission; programs that have been successful in Seattle, San Francisco, and Philadelphia; and any other rehabilitative centered solutions, the bill says.

The aim of the legislation is prioritizing treatment and safety in an effort to preserve lives rather than discard them through criminalization and incarceration . . . in the interest of the health and public safety of the residents of Florida, preserving individual freedoms without sacrificing community costs, allowing law enforcement to focus resources on violent and property crimes, generating revenue for education, substance abuse prevention and treatment, freeing public resources to invest in communities and other public purposes rather than continuing to overburden prisons with a population that needs medical attention, seeking corrective equity on the impact of the war on drugs, and identifying real people-centered solutions to various drug crises like the opioid epidemic.

There is evidence that the widespread decriminalization of all drugs can lead to a dramatic drop in drug overdoses, HIV infection, and drug-related crime, as demonstrated by Portugal, whichdecriminalized all drugsin 2001.

Should this legislation go into force, Florida would become the second state in the United States to decriminalize all drugs. This comes after Oregon passedMeasure 110on November 3, 2020, which downgraded the personal non-commercial possession of controlled substances to a Class E violation a maximum fine of $100 whichcan be waivedif a person undergoes a health assessment that leads to addiction counseling.

Abillintroduced in the U.S. Congress in June has also proposed an end to criminal penalties on a federal level for the personal use of illegal substances, including Schedule I and II drugs.

To date, other jurisdictions in the United States have adopted less radical drug decriminalization measures, with cities such asDetroit,Seattle, andWashington, D.C.voting for the decriminalization of psychedelics including fungi and plant-based entheogens.

More:

Looking Into The Florida Bill That Proposes Decriminalization Of Psychedelics (And Every Other Illegal Dr - Benzinga

I was born and raised in an Evangelical Christian home and was taught from childhood that the Bible, from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation, is a flawless, divinely inspired, and literal narrative of Gods fractious relationship with his greatest and most tragic creation: the human race.

My perception of reality was shaped overwhelmingly by my family and church community. Over time, however, my exposure to the world outside of that bubble generated increasing cognitive dissonance. Despite embracing the core of Christianity through my adolescent yearsparticularly its emphasis on acceptance of divine grace in faith as necessary to salvationI never lost my sense of skepticism and need to reconcile the seeming contradictions concerning Gods nature and engagement in the world, as described in the purportedly inerrant Bible.

To me, the Book of Joshua was one of the most difficult books of the Bible to reconcile with what Id been taught about Gods loving and compassionate nature. Essentially, it describes a divinely-sanctioned campaign of genocide and territorial conquest that annihilated various pagan nations, in which God explicitly commands the ancient Israelites to slaughter even women and children (as well as their spiritually tainted livestock). In the 21st century, we are rightly horrified by such conduct as practiced by Islamist extremists, yet this same conduct is embedded in the first six books of the Tanakh, as Jews refer to it, or the Old Testament, as Christians refer to it.

Christian apologists have justified these acts of genocide on the basis that thepagannations then populating what would become the land of ancient Israel practiced reprehensible rituals including child sacrifice to theirfalse idols.Their logic beggars belief, presupposing that the omnipotent Creator of the Universe for some inexplicable reason could not communicate their ignorance to them and that to stop this practice, it was necessary to kill the very same children whose sacrifice was so repulsive to God.

The Book of Job was another difficult book to integrate into a coherent belief system.In this story, God allows the Devil to test his servant Jobs faith by killing hischildren and his livestock and cursing him with painful and humiliating physicalafflictions. Job maintains his loyalty but when he finally asks God why hes been punished so severely and arbitrarily despite his faithfulness, God launches into a reproachful, patronizing extended monologue on his omnipotence, in contrast with Jobs diminutive human perspective, essentially evading the question.I believe the lesson the author of this perplexing book was attempting to communicate, in a highly convoluted way, is that we cannot comprehend the mind of the Creator of the Universe and why he allows or causes the righteous to suffer.

As a cadet pursuing a dual bachelor of science degree in Middle East studies and political science at the Air Force Academy, I was deeply immersed, from a birds eye view, in the historical and current conflicts of the region. It seemed to me that although Gods ways might be higher than ours and that he might move in mysterious ways, placing such absolute trust in religious leaders interpretations of Gods will could be very dangerous, particularly in the arena of international relations.

In the modern as in the ancient world, this blind faith is one of the critical variables that have made it possible for political and religious leaders to start and perpetuate wars.Religious absolutismis what motivated the barbarism of the Crusades and it is what continues to draw the Judeo-Christian world into theself-fulfilling prophecy of a conflict of civilizations with the Muslim world over control of Jerusalem, roughly a millennium after the First Crusade. I find this profoundly tragi-comical, particularly within the context of an escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, which the US, under the Trump regime, exacerbated and is likely to continue to get sucked deeper into.

Mygrandfather died of cancer when I was 20.The deep sense of grief I experienced from hispassage from this life was not the reason why I parted ways with my faith but it did dramatically increasethe intensity and urgency of the existential questions Id been seeking answers to.Myreaction felt absurd in a wayall one has to do is read the news to know that suffering and tragedy are constants in the worldbut I was no longer able to view human suffering as a relative abstraction or something I could emotionally distance myself from.

I began to ask how God could allow such a good man to suffer, despite all ofmyfamilys earnest prayers for him to be healed. I turnedmyfocus outward, attempting to reconcilemyunderstanding of the Abrahamic deitys ostensibly loving but deeply enigmatic nature and purported engagement in human affairs on the side of justice with horrific events such as the Holocaust. How could a loving God allow (or cause,according to some highly influential religious leaders) six million of his Chosen People to endure such unconscionable horrors?

I asked what the purpose of our existence is. If the world was foreordained to be destroyed because of the sinfulness of the human race, as I was taught to interpret the Book of Revelation, what was the point of creating it in the first place? It seems to me that only the most monstrously narcissistic deity would deliberately do such a thing.

I spent several months feverishly seeking answers to these questions before concluding that existential meaning is something we must define for ourselves.Sartres articulations of existentialist philosophy offered a logical, albeit ultimately unsatisfying, alternative to the contradictions of the Bible and served me relatively well over roughly the next decade.

Parting ways with the Abrahamic construct is liberating but is also unsatisfying in terms of answering various ontological questions: Where did this universe that we exist in originate from?Did a vastly higher intelligence create it or did it actually come about from nothing,as some hypothesize or speculate? (I am much more inclined to believe in some form of vastlyhigher intelligence but am not sure how to characterize it except in contrast with the contradictory nature of the Abrahamic deity, which is aprojection of the human (or at least male) psyche.) When we die, do we transition into another form of existence or do we cease to exist altogether? Will we be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us? Will we be judged for the things we have done or not done in this life?

As an agnostic, albeit a spiritually inclined one, my humble answer to all of these questions is, I dont know, and Im not sure whether it is ultimately possible to know the answers to them. Scientists have developed a Big Bang theory to describe the formation of the universe, which I accept (to some degree on faith, ironically but necessarily, given my lack of expertise in astrophysics and related disciplines). However, they have yet to explain where it came from, why it happened, or what exists beyond its frontier. All they have are hypotheses for these deeper questions, which are often conflated with theories; the latter connoting a greater degree of confidence than I think is warranted. I wonder if the explorationand, critically, scientific analysisof inner space via psychedelics/entheogens will provide us a more complete picture of these great ontological mysteries.

I dont know what lays beyond the frontier of this existence but I do know that when I feel a sense of existential dread toward the vastness and perplexity of such questions and in the suffering of this life, I find rootedness in the abundant beauty that also exists within itof nature, art, music, friendship, love, and of those who passionately struggle to make the world a more just, peaceful and inspiring place.

I often havemydoubts but I still believe in us.Who or what else is there to believe in?

See the article here:

The Wisdom of Agnosticism - The Humanist