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InnerWisdom



Registered: 08/09/19
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Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms
#26614298 - 04/20/20 03:56 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hello everyone. Looking to deepen my understanding on the psychedelic experience with some reading while I wait for my mushrooms to grow. I first thought of Michael Pollan's book but then realized I want something more of a guide to teach me how to use these mushrooms. I came across Learys book the Psychedelic Experience and a much more recent book The Psychedelic Explorers Guide by James Fadiman. Anyone read these? What would you recommend? Also any tips for future trips are appreciated although I have read a lot around here and have some experience myself.
Thanks for reading. Have a great day!
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Shenmue
Dark Lord of the Sith
Registered: 12/21/18
Posts: 2,514
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: InnerWisdom]
#26614304 - 04/20/20 04:09 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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I think we're living in an age where the spoken word is more powerful than the written. There's like a million YouTube videos on this topic and it'll teach you a lot. A book only gives you one person's point of view but YouTube will give you hundreds.. I purchased books like dmt the spirit molecule but they were kind of lame and boring. The documentary is great though...
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: Shenmue]
#26614425 - 04/20/20 06:01 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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I’ve read both Leary’s and Fadiman’s books and they are great but quite different.
The psychedelic experience (Leary) is a nice, quick, read. It is almost a “spiritual” guide for doing psychedelics. I read it before my New Years trip and, although I had a great trip, I did not feel that the book influenced it all that much. You need to buy into his vocabulary for his book to be effective.
The psychedelic explorers guide (Fadiman) is much more centered on the guide or “sitter”. It is a book on how to be a good Guide to someone who is tripping. Great book to have for reference. It’s not a book you need to read cover to cover in one sitting but a book you can open and go to the chapter you need when you need it. Nothing I learned in the book about the experience itself I didn’t already know from either these forums or just having an experience. Perfect book if you want to be a good sitter though.
I’m in the process of reading Pollan’s book and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. I recommend it, his writing style is great and easy to read.
Terrence Mckenna is also great to read.
Ultimately I don’t read books on “how” to trip. I trip to find out “how”. I read books on how to become a better me. Because a better me will be more present and prepared to let go and have a meaningful trip.
I love Ram Dass and recommend his books. I think by learning your inner landscape, you will intuitively know how to navigate a psychedelic experience.
Also:
I personally do not use YouTube as a source for this stuff. Do not watch endless videos of people’s trip reports. This will do no justice nor will it give you any insight on the subjective nature of the experience. Ultimately, those people want/need views and many of them will embellish for more views.
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InnerWisdom



Registered: 08/09/19
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: Socrateshroom]
#26614563 - 04/20/20 07:48 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Thanks for the comprehensive answer! Yeah I am definitely not into watching videos of other's trip experiences. I think I found the best advice already from the Amazon comments of one of those books, I think it was the psychedelic experience: "This book will show you what the psychedelic experience is really about. If you don't feel like getting the book (although I highly recommend you do) the jist of the book is simply to turn off your mind and "float down stream" (in other words meditate). So the answer to the common question "what should I do during my trip?" Is simply: nothing. Don't draw, don't try to figure out your life or the universe or whatever, just keep your mind as a blank canvas for the psychedelic and it will paint a beautiful picture you will not soon forget"
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: InnerWisdom]
#26614672 - 04/20/20 08:45 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
InnerWisdom said: Thanks for the comprehensive answer! Yeah I am definitely not into watching videos of other's trip experiences. I think I found the best advice already from the Amazon comments of one of those books, I think it was the psychedelic experience: "This book will show you what the psychedelic experience is really about. If you don't feel like getting the book (although I highly recommend you do) the jist of the book is simply to turn off your mind and "float down stream" (in other words meditate). So the answer to the common question "what should I do during my trip?" Is simply: nothing. Don't draw, don't try to figure out your life or the universe or whatever, just keep your mind as a blank canvas for the psychedelic and it will paint a beautiful picture you will not soon forget"
As much as I love, and mainly imbibe in the way you've mentioned (pitch black room, in bed, some light music and let the journey unfold) I think that there is no "right way" to do it.
To say "don't draw, don't do this or that" is a bit close minded. Sometimes, the beauty of a trip is playing like a child and feeling that innocence again. Sometimes it is feeling like you've gone stark raving mad, and on the comedown you are so happy to be sane again. The spectrum of experiences and how to do it is so wide, it is wrong to try to confine it to "this one way is the right way".
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DJ Ed
Mushroom Engineer


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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: Socrateshroom]
#26614929 - 04/20/20 10:32 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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I’ve read so many, OP!
I would recommend the first psychedelics book I ever read, Aldous Huxley; The Doors of Perception.
There is also a great guide on The Psychedelic Exprience FAQ in Erowid >>here.
I am currently reading through all of H.P.Lovecraft’s short stories; Aldebaran put me into this, as someone to read for those who have been beyond the heroic dose
-------------------- “It’s like when you see a mountain lion,” he suggested. “If you run, it will chase you. So you must stand your ground.” Michael Pollan: How To Change Your Mind “The problem is not to find the answer, it’s to face the answer.” Terence McKenna

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InnerWisdom



Registered: 08/09/19
Posts: 1,936
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: DJ Ed]
#26614961 - 04/20/20 10:49 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Thanks. Love the quotes in your sig btw! McKenna was an interesting person for sure. I still like to listen to him some times.
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The Blind Ass
Bodhi



Registered: 08/16/16
Posts: 26,657
Loc: The Primordial Mind
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: InnerWisdom]
#26614967 - 04/20/20 10:51 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Doors of Perception is a must read.
-------------------- Give me Liberty caps -or- give me Death caps
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InnerWisdom



Registered: 08/09/19
Posts: 1,936
Loc: North EU
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: The Blind Ass]
#26614984 - 04/20/20 10:57 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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holy shit! it's 2.19usd Kindle version currently!!
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The Blind Ass
Bodhi



Registered: 08/16/16
Posts: 26,657
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: InnerWisdom]
#26614993 - 04/20/20 11:01 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Doors?
If so, I’m dLing it today.
-------------------- Give me Liberty caps -or- give me Death caps
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Shenmue
Dark Lord of the Sith
Registered: 12/21/18
Posts: 2,514
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: Socrateshroom]
#26615800 - 04/20/20 04:45 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Everyone on YouTube is after your money lol? Only a few YouTubers use the platform to make money! Yes people like "psychedsubstance" and "dakota of earth" make shit up for views but most people understand that. You do realize people write books to make money don't you lol?
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: Shenmue]
#26615823 - 04/20/20 04:59 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Shenmue said: Everyone on YouTube is after your money lol? Only a few YouTubers use the platform to make money! Yes people like "psychedsubstance" and "dakota of earth" make shit up for views but most people understand that. You do realize people write books to make money don't you lol?
So it looks like you either misunderstood me or skimmed over what I wrote.
I said most, not all. I said views, not money (although yes, views generally translate into money).
My point being that social media is a platform for attention (thus view counts) and people who want attention may embellish to get more of it (mainly because Youtube is competitive and the more compelling your content the more views/attention/opportunity/money you'll make).
And of course books are written to make money. Nothing wrong with that. But they are, generally, more comprehensive and require much more investment (time-wise) from both the writer and consumer than a 5 minute Youtube clip.
Also, please note: This is my opinion NOT fact. Your response to me seems to have a gaff tone. Maybe you thought I was trying to peddle facts. I'm not. I'm presenting the OP with my opinion and if they like it cool, if not, just as cool. To each their own.
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Lord.of.loops
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Re: Looking for good books on psychedelic use - particularly mushrooms [Re: Socrateshroom]
#26621537 - 04/23/20 05:33 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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you should try The teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui way of knowledge Carlos Castenda
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