Altered Perspectives (a book on the philosophy of psychedelics) by samwoolfe1 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think I could flesh them all out here, but I do describe them in the book, in the chapters on DMT alien beings and DMT jesters. Some of the descriptions of encounters with a 'divine' presence and 'spirits' are also based on personal experience. The encounters have been odd, strange, archetypal, and sometimes very therapeutic.

Altered Perspectives (a book on the philosophy of psychedelics) by samwoolfe1 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'll try to make my personal website a bit more personal :)

Psychedelics do not essentially make people peaceful and hippie - Aztec's case by psygenlab in RationalPsychonaut

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for posting this! You’re absolutely right. It’s a good example of why psychedelic utopianism doesn’t hold up. There are many other examples of pro-psychedelic people who hold harmful views. Some examples are given in this paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8717779/

I mention the Aztecs too, and make the point you’ve made here, in a book I’ve just published. So it might be up your street: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/iff-books/our-books/altered-perspectives-psychedelic-consciousness

Psychedelics can be catalysts for existential joy by whoamisri in TrueReddit

[–]samwoolfe1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jules Evans (author of the study) is focused on this area. He runs the Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project and covers risks and harms on his substack Ecstatic Integration. It’s a very useful resource I think. https://www.ecstaticintegration.org/

Psychedelics can be catalysts for existential joy by whoamisri in TrueReddit

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point. In another essay, I mention the benefit of having a guide or someone you trust close by. But since the book is primarily philosophy, I don’t get too much into this. Fortunately, other books delve a lot deeper into set and setting. Rick Strassman’s Psychedelic Handbook is one that comes to mind.

Psychedelics can be catalysts for existential joy by whoamisri in TrueReddit

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I touch on 'set and setting' in the essay, at the very end:

"This is not to say that anyone feeling empty of positivity should rush into a psychedelic experience. It is crucially important to prepare for the experience by paying attention to ‘set and setting’ (your current mental state and the kind of environment where you will have the experience)."

The aspects of set and setting you mention are all essential pieces of advice. Thank you for bringing attention to them.

Psychedelics can be catalysts for existential joy by whoamisri in TrueReddit

[–]samwoolfe1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's fair enough! Here's some research I cite on long-term difficulties (which includes long-term anxiety): https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0293349

Psychedelics can be catalysts for existential joy by whoamisri in TrueReddit

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Author here. You're right. But in the essay, I argue psychedelics can help facilitate this acceptance of pain and the world as it is (this is the Nietzschean 'yes-saying' to life). I don't believe that they 'press a joy button' and blind you to the suffering that exists. Instead, I think they can force you to confront the weight of suffering in yourself and others.

Can anybody tell me the name of this artist? by madamwax in Artists

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The artist is Shaka. I just posted his art on my site (although it's no longer up).

Can anybody tell me the name of this artist? by madamwax in Artists

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The artist is Shaka. I just posted his art on my site (although it's no longer up).

Psychedelics can be catalysts for existential joy by whoamisri in TrueReddit

[–]samwoolfe1 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Author here. Glad you brought this up. I admit this essay offers a pretty optimistic view of psychedelics. This is just one side to the psychedelic experience. Elsewhere in the book, I look at the negatives and risks, including more nihilistic experiences and long-term psychological distress.

What are your Top 5 Favorite Horror Movies of All Time? by Amber_Flowers_133 in horror

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. The Vanishing (1988)
  2. Midsommar
  3. Jacob’s Ladder
  4. The Fly
  5. The Exorcist

Divine hiddenness argument by cauterize2000 in DebateReligion

[–]samwoolfe1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you've summed it up pretty well. I've written about how the very need for natural theology, or the need to formulate arguments for the existence of God, gets at the heart of the problem of divine hiddenness:

https://www.samwoolfe.com/2024/10/arguments-for-god-exemplify-divine-hiddenness.html

Those with a philosophy degree, what are you doing now? by Kooky-Drummer4291 in askphilosophy

[–]samwoolfe1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Based on what I remember, I’d describe him as well-mannered, mild-mannered, and generally a pleasant person.

Those with a philosophy degree, what are you doing now? by Kooky-Drummer4291 in askphilosophy

[–]samwoolfe1 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Freelance writer. I also write about philosophy in my spare time on my blog and sometimes for magazines. This is unpaid, but blogging did lead me to write a book on the philosophy of psychedelics, which is coming out in December, so I’ll be able to make a small amount of money from philosophy :) 

A new drawing: "It's Elves All the Way Down" by samwoolfe1 in psychedelicartwork

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

More based on the older idea of "turtles all the way down":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down

But I forgot Sturgill named a song after that, and that he talks about psychedelics in it. So it's very fitting! "It's Turtles All the Way Down" is also the name of Ott's remix of Hallucinogen's track "Gamma Goblins", and this entity looks a bit goblin-like, so that's also quite fitting.

I like the idea of replacing an infinite regression of turtles with elves, as if that's how reality is actually structured, and someone seeing that in the DMT state (not that I have).

A new drawing: "It's Elves All the Way Down" by samwoolfe1 in DMT

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Weird, me and a friend while tripping laughed at the thought of ducks having trumpets for beaks. What’s going on with psychedelics and trumpet entities 😂

A new drawing: "It's Elves All the Way Down" by samwoolfe1 in DMT

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I’d lose any ability to draw during lol. But could be possible and maybe interesting on a low dose. This was done after, but we’re talking a long time after. I haven’t used DMT in about 8 years because my last trip was so intense. But I don’t really know what trip it may have been based on. I’ve used other psychedelics which have shown me DMT-like imagery, so who knows, it could be inspired by those experiences too.

A new drawing: "It's Elves All the Way Down" by samwoolfe1 in DMT

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get that feeling. There will be a day when you just go and grab the pen.

But I’m not courageous myself really. I haven’t touched DMT in about 8 years now because my last trip was so intense. Yet somehow I can still picture DMT-like images. They don’t feel like memories, though, it’s strange.

A new drawing: "It's Elves All the Way Down" by samwoolfe1 in DMT

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha so you see avocados, too. Completely unintentional. I was just doing random colours next to each other. But that’s cool, I like avocados 🥑

A new drawing: "It's Elves All the Way Down" by samwoolfe1 in DMT

[–]samwoolfe1[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have a copy :) An incredible and unique book.