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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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 Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:14 pm Post subject: Mushrooms and God. Johns Hopkins study... |
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Why couldn't i have been informed about this before it happened?
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Mushrooms induce mystical experiences
Subjects report direct experience of `beyond'
Psilocybin not `God in a pill,' scientists say
A recent Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study suggests "sacred mushrooms" can provide a religious experience that makes one see the world from a different, more positive perspective.
The study tested psilocybin, the active agent in so-called "sacred mushrooms," to determine whether it could induce "mystical experiences" in a group of 36 adults with religious backgrounds.
The answer, the study says, is an emphatic yes.
Except for scientific research, however, possession of the substance is illegal in Canada and in every state except Florida and New Mexico.
More than 60 per cent of the study subjects said psilocybin produced a "full mystical experience," and one-third said they enjoyed "the single most spiritually significant experience of their lifetimes." Some likened the occasion to the birth of their first child.
According to the scientists who conducted the study, the results were lasting. Two months after taking psilocybin, 79 per cent of the subjects reported a moderate or greatly increased sense of well-being or life satisfaction.
"Many of the volunteers in our study reported, in one way or another, a direct, personal experience of the `beyond,'" said study leader Roland Griffiths, a professor with Hopkins' departments of neuroscience and psychiatry.
The psilocybin did no apparent harm to the test subjects and produced only mild side effects, according to the researchers.
Hopkins scientists stressed the importance of proper supervision when taking psilocybin. Subjects were not aware what substance they took, but were warned as to the possible negative effects of hallucinogens.
The Hopkins scientists were quick to dismiss the notion of psilocybin as "God in a pill," and suggested that organized religion should hardly feel threatened by their findings.
"Far from being threatened, the only thing we can imagine being of greater interest to religions is whether people live more wholesome, compassionate ... lives in consequence of such experiences," Griffiths said.
Certain types of mushrooms have historically played a role in religious ceremony in ancient societies across the world, from Mexico to Egypt and Israel.
Some contemporary clergy suggest that the use of mind-altering substances to enhance religious experiences shouldn't necessarily be dismissed.
"Mystery is at the core of the religious experience for the individual," said retired United Church of Christ Pastor Brad Burris, a board member on the Council on Spiritual Practices in Berkeley, Calif. |
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1153345815736&call_pageid=970599119419 |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:45 am Post subject: Re: Mushrooms and God. Johns Hopkins study... |
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| from the article wrote: |
| Except for scientific research, however, possession of the substance is illegal in Canada and in every state except Florida and New Mexico. |
Legal in Florida as well? I heard of it in New Mexico.. but Florida? Interesting nontheless.
Regarding pysilocybin.. is that the same as mescalin? |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Regarding pysilocybin.. is that the same as mescalin? |
No. |
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hermes.trismegistus
Joined: 08 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:47 am Post subject: |
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Hooray for redundancy.
This was established way back in 1962 in Leary's famous "Good Friday" experiment.
Strassman's work in DMT: The Spirit Molecule covered most of the bases too.
Namaste. |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:16 am Post subject: |
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| I have never done mushrooms or LSD. I have heard 1 or 2 people mention their belief in God as LSD-related though. Haven't heard that about mushrooms, but man, some guys I knew seemed very happy when they consumed them. A friend told me he took a load of them one night and just could not stop laughing for hours. As he put it, "A cat was crossing the road, and I just fell down and rolled around on the pavement, it was just too funny. I almost died from laughter, but it was worth it." He was a funny guy, laughed a lot. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:59 am Post subject: |
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Psilocybin is the active ingredient in a psychedelic fungus, Psilocybe cubensis, commonly called "Magic mushroom" or simply "Shroom". Effects of psilocybin generally resemble a shorter LSD trip.
Related compounds (related experientially, not chemically): LSD, Mescaline
Mescaline... It is either extracted from the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii or Anhalonium lewinii), the San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi), the Peruvian Torch (Trichocereus peruvianus) or created synthetically (from 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, nitromethane, cyclohexylamine and acetic acid, initially) forming white crystals.
Both are quite entertaining. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| hermes.trismegistus wrote: |
| Strassman's work in DMT: The Spirit Molecule covered most of the bases too. |
I remember perusing this book a few years back. Seems they inject DMT into some subjects, most (all?) of whom reported intense spiritual experiences that were similar to whatever concept of spirituality they currently held. Reading this was one the great shatterings of my previous Christian beliefs.
But... DMT is not psilocybin. They are slightly different. I think DMT is the compound that can be naturally produced in the brain, especially during ... was it.. birth and death?
Anyway, it's the one thing I've always wanted to try but haven't.
As for the OP, yeah, I'd say I've had some meaningful "spiritual" experiences on mushrooms, though I don't believe in any sort of spiritual planet or whatever. But I used to be really involved in charismatic Christian services, and some of the "filled with the Holy Spirit" experiences I had were exactly the same as some psilocybin peaks.
Q. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:47 am Post subject: |
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I read this article a week ago and was thinking of posting it. I'm glad somebody did.
My experiences with marijuana and mushrooms really helped me realize my own spirituality. A mushrooms trip I had three summers ago (almost to the day) was one of the top three most important events in my life.
I haven't done shrooms since, but that experience was a life changer. The introspective journey one takes while on a mushroom trip is both a physical and spiritual one, and I fully understand how one could become aware of God through the experience.
This understanding also led me to examination of religion and the psychedelic experience.
I actually wrote a couple papers in university about this. I don't want to get too in depth with the subject, but when you think about a "forbidden fruit"; or the ancient prophets of Israel having "visions" (psychedelic experiences) you start to see a connection.
Even more so if you've experienced the drug first hand. |
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hermes.trismegistus
Joined: 08 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:18 am Post subject: |
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| Qinella wrote: |
| But... DMT is not psilocybin. They are slightly different. I think DMT is the compound that can be naturally produced in the brain, especially during ... was it.. birth and death? |
Not slightly different - entirely different. Reference Shuglin's work.
Endo:
Try to find you some Copelandia cyanescens. The king of mushrooms, and a strong contender among entheogens. You might also try Forte's Entheogens and the Future of Religion.
Namaste. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:54 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice hermes.trismegistus.
I haven't tried any of the Hawaiian species yet, but i'll take your reccomendation into account. Still don't know if I want to do mushrooms again (but I know I will).
And thanks for the book recomendation.
Were you aware that the fly agaric grows on the Koreal Peninsula? I went searching in late spring on one of the islands on the south coast with a thick evergreen forest, but came up empty.
However, I later learned that the growing season for that particular species was from late August to early November. So I will likely be headed back there in the fall. |
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Satori
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Location: Above it all
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:11 am Post subject: |
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I had a breakthrough experience once after taking two tabs of acid and an e and dancing for 12 hours to house music on a remote mountain on new years eve, mid summer, there was a huge fire at the centre with people dressed as elves, pixies, wizards, dragons, aliens, a guy juggling seven balls continuously, and a bunch of naked people...all the trees had green luminescent faces and were talking to me, something about peace, love, togetherness, connection, spirit, and house music if I remember rightly...
Last edited by Satori on Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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captain planet
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:39 am Post subject: |
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our existence is based on our perception. limiting our minds from experiencing alternate versions of this perception, versions which we have been exposed to numerous time throughout man's evolution, is probably unhealthy. unfortunately, there aren't many guides for this sort of thing anymore.
also, amphibious rodents, within the city, that ain't legal either, dude. |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:11 am Post subject: |
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| I ate mushrooms while backpacking and suddenly I heard a recurrent jam band riff playing in my head the whole time. It made me really appreciate jam bands. Afterward, I heard a jam band cassette and was like "Boooooring" |
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jacl
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: |
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Did you ever hear the story about the guy who's been inside a beer bottle since 1969?
It's all quite spiritual until you come down.
I did blue microdot, ying yang, blotter, etc. Spinning globes with close ups like mapquest or something, rides in a taxi as if it were a boat on water, people's eyes and hair color changing and hair growing, trees growing and making crazy growing noises, etc.
Boooooooooooooooooooring. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| Psilocybin is the active ingredient in a psychedelic fungus, Psilocybe cubensis, commonly called "Magic mushroom" or simply "Shroom". Effects of psilocybin generally resemble a shorter LSD trip. |
Mescaline, LSD and Mushrooms are very, very different trips altogether. The only people who think they are remotely the same are people who have only done them once or twice, and "lost their minds" to the drug. These are the same people who think that hash, oil and weed give the same high, or drinking whiskey and beer produce the same drunk.
One must do LSD a number of times before they can tame the drug enough to really explore what it can do. Mushrooms are much milder than LSD on your mind; they are kind of "playful" and don't have near the level of freakiness that can accompany LSD and were more popular because of it. That, and they were more "natural" than LSD, which was made in a basement lab somewhere by an unknown person whom a high level of trust was placed; one wrong dose, and you could have a vegetable where a person used to be. I have never eaten E for this reason; it's too synthetic and it really came about well after my time. |
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