The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide

[Elemotion]

Greetings y'all!

As I am new to this online community, I am not sure if this has been discussed elsewhere already. But for those who are not familiar with the work of James Fadiman, feel free to continue reading!

I attend graduate school at Sofia University in Palo Alto, CA. The school was founded in 1975 under the name of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP). ITP was co-founded by Robert Frager and James (Jim) Fadiman, who are prominent figures in the field of Transpersonal Psychology; Fadiman is also a well known and respected researcher of entheogens and their ability to serve as a catalyst for personal growth and healing. Anyway, he recently released a long overdue book titled The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys. The book's title pretty much sums up its contents; it serves as a guide for the psychedelic explorer, as well as a tutorial on how to be a good guide or "sitter" for others. I believe this book is a must have! I know that I wish I would've had it when I was a much younger psychonaut. Anyway, I just thought I would reach out to the community to see who else is talking about these things. I've posted two links below - first link goes directly to Fadiman's homepage, the second link is a Youtube video of him discussing his research and the need for the book. Enjoy!!

P.S. Oh, if there are any other folks from ITP/Sofia U here on this site, please reach out and say hello!

Welcome to Dr. James Fadiman's Web Page

Lecturer, psychologist, and author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide & Your Symphony of Selves. Information on his schedule, recordings, interviews, articles, and more.

www.jamesfadiman.com

 

[wanderingbuddha]

I haven't heard of James Fadiman, but thanks to your YouTube video I am now acquainted. Going to buy his book and research some more. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Elemotion]

You are very welcome, wanderingbuddha!

 

[Guyomech]

I think I remember you mentioning how he was working with creative people... Artists, inventors, scientists, who were stuck on a problem of some sort. If I've got my story straight, he basically got his subjects into a comfortable controlled setting, gave them music and darkness and a bit of lab grade LSD (this is before prohibition),
Then turned on the lights after the peak and set them loose on solving their problems, usually with a high level of success. Am I getting this straight?

I think this is interesting because as an artist I've tried to use psychedelics in a deliberate manner to evolve my work in a positive direction- basically, pushing past the problem of creative block. For a long period I used to work on paintings that were intended to be viewed on acid, then have a scheduled high dosage solo session with them. All the room lights would be dimmed except a spot on the painting. I'd stare at the thing as I came into the peak, and often it would flow and blur and disappear, eventually being replaced by the next, more sophisticated vision. It's sort of the same kind of application- using psychedelics to enhance intuition, creativity, problem solving, lateral thinking.

Just imagine if more of mainstream society were solving problems this way...

 

[Vodsel]

I have the book and I found it clear, accessible and with lots of common sense. It's not groundbreaking in contents but it is a great introduction to psychedelics work, the type of book you would recommend to new people with interest in the subject. And a good preparatory read for sitters as well.

 

[ChemisTryptaMan]

I also own this book and loved every page. The author explains in great detail what is necessary to safely and effectively guide a newcomer to psychedelics through the experience. I think this is a must own for all psychonauts. Thanks for posting.

 

[Elemotion]

I think I remember you mentioning how he was working with creative people... Artists, inventors, scientists, who were stuck on a problem of some sort. If I've got my story straight, he basically got his subjects into a comfortable controlled setting, gave them music and darkness and a bit of lab grade LSD (this is before prohibition),
Then turned on the lights after the peak and set them loose on solving their problems, usually with a high level of success. Am I getting this straight?

I think this is interesting because as an artist I've tried to use psychedelics in a deliberate manner to evolve my work in a positive direction- basically, pushing past the problem of creative block. For a long period I used to work on paintings that were intended to be viewed on acid, then have a scheduled high dosage solo session with them. All the room lights would be dimmed except a spot on the painting. I'd stare at the thing as I came into the peak, and often it would flow and blur and disappear, eventually being replaced by the next, more sophisticated vision. It's sort of the same kind of application- using psychedelics to enhance intuition, creativity, problem solving, lateral thinking.

Just imagine if more of mainstream society were solving problems this way...

Yes, you have your story straight! One thing that is probably good to note is that they were "micro-dosing" their participants (usually between 10-100 mics), so they weren't necessarily sailing through the threshold, but a breakthrough nonetheless. The participants (engineers, physicists, architects, psychologists, etc) were asked to bring a problem to the table that they have been stuck on for at least three months. When they began to settle into their trip, they went to work on their problems. I believe that many of our technological wonders that we use today were the result of some of these experiments. I mean, it was Silicon Valley in the 60's!

So here we are in the year 2013, and a renaissance of psychedelic research is underway. We are now beginning to legitimize some of Fadiman and Co.'s research by utilizing psychedelics in many different areas of problem solving. From drug addiction to PTSD, creative expression to spiritual advancement, you name it! In my own experience, I believe that my journeys with LSD, psilocybin, and DMT have greatly helped me along my path. I can't say that I would have decided to become a therapist without the guidance of these medicines. I think it's important to keep this vision alive. If it worked for me, it can work for you, and so on.

 

[Guyomech]

I've never tried less than 100ug. I've tattooed on that dosage many times and find that it helps me to hold the bigger picture in my mind while I work. 50ug? Maybe. 10? Hard to imagine... But of course, this ain't Sandoz.

 

[Elemotion]

Right, and McKenna theorized that the micro-dosing of mushrooms could have been the catalyst for successful hunting in archaic times. Solving problems, one small dose at a time!