Psilocybin and Meditation

I linked to this research a while back (Psilocybin: Help with Depression, Decreased Connectivity) but I thought I'd post another look at it from the Happiness Beyond Thought blog posting "magic mushrooms work like meditation? the latest science."  A bit more of a discussion than my brief intro.

Nitrous Oxide Harm Reduction

With Demi Moore in the news for going to rehab for Nitrous Oxide, or whippets, we begin to see a bit of a horror story spin, emphasizing a couple of deaths out of 12 million users.  I certainly don't want to overly discount any danger, but I think it is irresponsible to use scare tactics while providing zero information about harm reduction, given that people are going to use it.

1. Take B12 beforehand, no exceptions, sublingual preferred
2. Take methionine, this may be as important as B12
3. Take B6 and folic acid as well
4. Take neuroprotectant substances such as curcumin, carnosine, various polyphenols, and cannabis.
5. Always breathe in more air than nitrous oxide.  Don't use a tank or any method that could lead to asphyxiation.
6. Limit it your use of it.  Frankly, in a balanced life, I'm not sure recreational drugs of any kind are justifiable for everyday use.

LSD found successful in treating alcoholics

By way of Kurzweil's Accelerating Intelligence newsletter, a meta-analysis of old LSD studies shows that a "a single dose of LSD had a positive treatment effect that lasted at least six months."  Actual paper here.

Mindfulness useful in Bipolar Disorder

Mindfulness based cognitive therapy improves frontal control in bipolar disorder: a pilot EEG study.  From the conclusion, "these data are the first that show, MBCT in BD improved attentional readiness, and attenuated activation of non-relevant information processing during attentional processes."

More on Openness and Psilocybin

Psilocybin and Personality Change -- What Do Increases in Openness Tell Us About Potential Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Applications? seems to be a further exploration of the study Mystical Experiences Occasioned by the Hallucinogen Psilocybin Lead to Increases in the Personality Domain of Openness.

Complex Visual Feedback for EEG Biofeedback

Meditation Wall video EEG biofeedback installation based on software developed by the Global Mind Project.  Reminds me of Bill Scott's BrainPaint software that translates neurofeedback into fractal imagery.  Here's the pitch for BrainPaint.

Psychedelic Trip Guides

A comprehensive listing of Psychedelic Trip Guides and related sources, intended to improve one's chances for a positive, spiritual/therapeutic experience and reduce harm by understanding proper set and setting.

My simple recommendation would be to lie down and trip with your eyes closed ("lay down and stay down"), go within, feel your feelings, and let everything be as it is.  Let go.  And although it is not commonly mentioned in these guides, having a regular meditation practice prior to tripping can be really helpful.

Lying down and tripping with your eyes closed while listening to appropriate music (or silence) can be very powerful.  It greatly helps to internalize the experience and makes visuals more apparent.  I first came across this recommendation by way of Stan Grof.  While many will trip exclusively in other contexts, I would strongly suggest you try this some time, or particularly if it is your first time.  Music playlists at the bottom of the page.

Listing of Trip Guides:

• EntheoGuide - recommended (Guild of Guides / Fadiman) or here
• The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide (Amazon: James Fadiman)
• Session Games People Play (Classic 1967, Lisa Bieberman) or here
  
• Psychedelic Experience FAQ (erowid)
• Psychedelic Crisis FAQ (erowid)
• Using LSD to Imprint the Tibetan-Buddhist Experience (Timothy Leary)
• NeuroSoup (not a specific guide, but related info, Krystle Cole)
• Using Psychedelics Wisely (1993 Myron Stolaroff)
• Flight Instructions - Navigation within Consciousness (2004 William Richards)
• Are Psychedelics Useful in Buddhism? (Myron Stolaroff)
• How to Prevent a Bad Trip (youtube: Jonathon Twiz)
• A Guide To Psychedelics (LSD and Shrooms) (reddit)
• How to Use Psychedelics for Personal Development (youtube: Actualized.org)
• TripSafe.org
• The Essential Psychedelic Guide (1994 D. M. Turner)
• The Bad Trip Guide (archive.org)
• Zendo TripSit Card 
• How To Have a Mystical Experience 
• Best Practices for 5-MEO-DMT 
• psychedelic.training including lists of therapists
• Towards Better Ayahuasca Practices 
• Using the Psychedelic Experience for Personal Growth (trippingly)
• Checklist for Preparing for a Psychedelic Experience (rational psychonaut)
• Psychedelic Information (third wave)
• How To Use Psychedelics
  

Regarding the use of psychedelic drugs in psychotherapy:

• Handbook for the Therapeutic Use of LSD (erowid: 1959 classic)
• Mostly LSD Psychotherapy, from the Primal Psychotherapy site
• The Secret Chief Revealed about Leo Zeff, underground old school psychedelic therapist
• LSD Psychotherapy (Amazon: Stan Grof)
• LSD Psychotherapy (Amazon: W.V. Caldwell)

• Manual for MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD (MAPS) 
• Human Hallucinogen Research: Guidelines For Safety
• Yale Manual for Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for Depression - recommended - one of the better guides for therapeutic use, long, but it contains a lot of wisdom
• Researching Psilocybin's Effect On Depression - recommended (youtube: Dr. Rosalind Watts interview)
  

Particularly in the context of tripping at events:

• The Manual of Psychedelic Support, a practical guide to establishing and facilitating care services at music festivals and other events.
• Zendo Project and Zendo Psychedelic Harm Reduction Manual

Psychological Support & Tripsitters:

• MAPS Psychedelic Integration practitioners
• Spiritual Emergence Networks
• Tripsitters.org 
• Fireside Project 

Psychonaut Wiki

• Psychonaut Wiki

Music Playlists specifically used in Psychedelic Research

• Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Studies (spotify)
• Psilocybin Research at Johns Hopkins, Sacred Knowledge, William A. Richards (spotify)
• NYU's Psilocybin Trial (spotify)
• William Richards (youtube)
• Psilocybin for Depression, Michael Kaelen, Imperial College London (youtube)
  

Other useful music sources and playlists

• SomaFm has some relevant channels, i.e. Drone Zone, Deep Space One, Space Station Soma, and others
  
• Some Spotify lists designed specifically for tripping: Inner Peace | Trust | Gratitude | Release | Opening | Inward || Trip Heal |
  

May you be peaceful and at ease, may you be safe from harm, may you be healthy in body and in mind. May you bravely face the difficulties in life, may you wisely avoid unnecessary problems. May you be happy, and free from suffering. May you awaken in this life.