Wonderful to see this initiative gaining steam! While the FDA decision not to approve MDMA-assisted therapy was disappointing, I also believe the medicalization approach has its downsides. So much of the recent "psychedelic renaissance" conversation has focused on medicalization, with some airtime also given to the ceremonial and religious/spiritual use of psychedelics. Of the two, medical v. ceremonial, I think the latter is far more likely to be the more transformative pathway for our civilization. But usually left out of this conversation is the role these chemicals can play in catalyzing scientific and philosophical breakthroughs by dramatically amplifying creativity in the well-prepared mind. Psychedelics can function in many ways depending on set and setting: medicines, sacraments, and indeed, scientific and metaphysical instruments akin to particle colliders, except for ideas rather than protons!
except that the FDA decision was the right one. they didn't reject mdma. they rejected the MAPS Lykos scam, which was, since it started, a attempt to monopolize and control this valuable medicine. doblin pulled off this scam for 40 years. he used public money solicited through non profit donations to get MDMA in the pipeline, then switched to a for profit scheme, with no benefit to his gullible donors who fell for his schtick that he was going to legalize it. in fact he was one of the main reasons mdma became illegal in the first place. i know because he got his first mdma from me, in what was a secret underground project, trying to build anecdotal evidence of its dramatic effects. but Doblin snitched on us to the Feds, inserted himself into what became a huge sensational controversy. the question we need to ask is why has this valuable medicine been squandered all these years? who benefits from the corruption? you're smart enough to figure it out. i sure have. to say nothing of the numerous instances of scientific fraud and sexual abuse of him and his dishonest, profiteering, exploitation of these potentially sacred and vastly misunderstood drugs.
Thanks for weighing in Robert. Your perspective on Eleusis and the Greater Mystery's role in sparking the genius of classical civilization is a story that MINDS draws from, with the caveat that we don't know the sacrament used there. One day I will visit the Telesterion (and perhaps you too as you are now based in the same region)
Wonderful to see this initiative gaining steam! While the FDA decision not to approve MDMA-assisted therapy was disappointing, I also believe the medicalization approach has its downsides. So much of the recent "psychedelic renaissance" conversation has focused on medicalization, with some airtime also given to the ceremonial and religious/spiritual use of psychedelics. Of the two, medical v. ceremonial, I think the latter is far more likely to be the more transformative pathway for our civilization. But usually left out of this conversation is the role these chemicals can play in catalyzing scientific and philosophical breakthroughs by dramatically amplifying creativity in the well-prepared mind. Psychedelics can function in many ways depending on set and setting: medicines, sacraments, and indeed, scientific and metaphysical instruments akin to particle colliders, except for ideas rather than protons!
Thanks Matt for your comment, it seems to be a mostly underground phenom and we hope that MINDS brings some light to it.
Would love to host a gathering in Portugal @Dr. Bruce Damer!
That would be lovely John! Got a suggested location? I know Simon Ruffel works there occasionally as well.
except that the FDA decision was the right one. they didn't reject mdma. they rejected the MAPS Lykos scam, which was, since it started, a attempt to monopolize and control this valuable medicine. doblin pulled off this scam for 40 years. he used public money solicited through non profit donations to get MDMA in the pipeline, then switched to a for profit scheme, with no benefit to his gullible donors who fell for his schtick that he was going to legalize it. in fact he was one of the main reasons mdma became illegal in the first place. i know because he got his first mdma from me, in what was a secret underground project, trying to build anecdotal evidence of its dramatic effects. but Doblin snitched on us to the Feds, inserted himself into what became a huge sensational controversy. the question we need to ask is why has this valuable medicine been squandered all these years? who benefits from the corruption? you're smart enough to figure it out. i sure have. to say nothing of the numerous instances of scientific fraud and sexual abuse of him and his dishonest, profiteering, exploitation of these potentially sacred and vastly misunderstood drugs.
Thanks for weighing in Robert. Your perspective on Eleusis and the Greater Mystery's role in sparking the genius of classical civilization is a story that MINDS draws from, with the caveat that we don't know the sacrament used there. One day I will visit the Telesterion (and perhaps you too as you are now based in the same region)