Evidence Builds for Medicinal Use of Psychedelic Drugs A single traumatic experience is enough to rattle people hard, but it rarely takes them down. In the face of subsequent ordeals, however, we become more vulnerable: a new study suggests that a second trauma has a critical role in leading to posttraumatic stress disorder, a condition that can include flashbacks, nightmares and intense anxiety, enough to disrupt a person's life. When scientists gave rats one painful electric shock, the rodents' memories and stress response temporarily became blunted but returned to normal as expected. But after a second unpredictable harrowing experience, the animals began to show fear and anxiety similar to what is seen in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). "Having repeated traumatic experiences is likely a critical factor for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder," said coauthor Cristina Alberini, a neuroscientist at New York University. The stress curve (image) Alberini and her colleagues found that this is the case in rats, too.
7 Day Authentic Ayahuasca Retreat in Iquitos, Peru | Kapitari We invite you to join a traditional shamanic Ayahuasca retreat of healing, transformation and altered states of consciousness in the Amazon Rainforest of Peru. Length: 6 Nights / 7 Days / 4 Ayahuasca Ceremonies Dates for 2016 are now available, see down the page for details and registration. Cost: $750 (pay by credit or debit card) Overview Dear friend Welcome to Kapitari, a beautiful ayahuasca healing center in the Amazon rainforest close to Iquitos, Peru. You’re invited to attend our traditional Ayahuasca retreat for a profound week of healing and transformation. Over the week you’ll take part in 4 Ayahausca ceremonies led by Don Lucho, a brilliant Amazonian shaman with over 40 years experience of working with the medicine. As well as taking part in the Ayahuasca ceremonies you’ll be fully cleansed during the week from a combination of plant medicines, mud baths, fruit baths, while also eating a traditional Ayahuasca food diet. The Retreat Includes: The Ayahuasca Ceremonies The Shaman Food
How LSD Microdosing Became the Hot New Business Trip Let's call him "Ken." Ken is 25, has a master's degree from Stanford and works for a tech startup in San Francisco, doing a little bit of everything: hardware and software design, sales and business development. Recently, he has discovered a new way to enhance his productivity and creativity, and it's not Five Hour Energy or meditation. Ken is one of a growing number of professionals who enjoy taking "microdoses" of psychedelics – in his free time and, occasionally, at the office. A microdose is about a tenth of the normal dose – around 10 micrograms of LSD, or 0.2-0.5 grams of mushrooms. At a conference on psychedelic research in 2011, James Fadiman, author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide, introduced microdosing to the popular discourse when he presented the results of survey data he had collected from self-reporting experimenters. The reports come from all over the world, but Fadiman says there's a steady, consistent stream originating in the San Francisco area.
What is Kundalini Energy? The Sanskrit word, kundalini, means coiled, like a snake. Kundalini energy is not recognized by medical science, and is often little understood even among teachers of Yoga and meditative traditions. It is, however, mentioned extensively in the literature of Yoga and Tantra (both Buddhist and Hindu). Because the word "kundalini" has become widely used, many people, I believe, consider it to be metaphoric or legendary. This statement by Yogi Bhajan, for example, suggests a somewhat metaphoric view of kundalini: "(Kundalini is) the creative potential in the man." Here is the story of kundalini as found in the Hatha Yoga literature , and as I have experienced it: Kundalini can be "awakened" or "aroused" from its "slumber" at the base of your spine by intense meditation or intense breath control practices. The yogi or yogini who successfully and safely arouses their kundalini gains a great ally on their spiritual journey. back to top
DMT – A Tool to Extend Survival in Clinical Death? Via Indiegogo Imagine your loved one underwent a heart attack, suffered a stroke, lays in coma after an accident, or got electrocuted while changing a light bulb and the doctors are telling you they wish if they had more time to save their life. This project is for those who have gone through something similar, know well how it feels losing critical minutes, and for those who think ahead and want to be in a better position if something fatal happens to them or around them. We are a group of basic and clinical researchers who follow the line of investigation started by Stephen Szara’s groundbreaking clinical studies with DMT. The core of present proposal is that one of the physiological roles of endogenous DMT is protection against oxidative stress (e.g., hypoxia, lack of oxygen).
23 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Meditation Be sure to read the Meditation for Beginners page, as well as other pages on this website for a much more in-depth look into all these questions. 1. What is meditation? Meditation is a balancing technique. 2. Meditation is important for many reasons. 3. The short answer is yes. 4. The general answer is: as long as you are comfortable doing so. That being said, you need to pay close attention to what we call your peak level of tolerance. More is not always better. 5. You should meditate on a daily basis. But again, pay attention to your peak level of tolerance. 6. Some of the benefits of meditation will begin to unfold immediately -- such as a reduction in stress, which you will notice simply by closing your eyes and focusing within. 7. No, you do not need to be a monk or renunciant. You can have a very profound meditative journey within your life experience as it is. 8. Meditation is suitable for everyone. 9. 10. But again, whatever works for you is how you should sit. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Nothing Medicinal About Marijuana (Unless it is 100% Organic) This post originally appeared on Cannibad. Marijuana is getting more and more of a good rap these days. With its legalization in states like Colorado and Washington, economies are booming as demand for the plant increases. Glowing reports abound in regards to marijuana’s medicinal properties, ranging from immediate pain relief for terminally ill people to the curing of cancer. Yet many cannabis consumers are quite ill informed in regards to how the plants are most commonly grown. Here’s a partial list of the toxic substances that Marijuana plants are commonly exposed to: Avid: a miticide used to combat Spider Mites, the bane of every pot grower. Forbid: also a miticide. By U.S. law, only active ingredients (AIs) are reported. No telling how our health is compromised when these mysterious, inert ingredients are smoked. Eagle 20: a fungicide designed to combat powdered mildew. Sulphur: Pellets are burned in greenhouses to combat powdered mildew. Pyrethrum: used to kill caterpillars.
Cannabis and Spirituality: A Smoking Exercise! Everyone explores Consciousness and Reality in their own way. For those who like to use Cannabis to expand their consciousness, this is an article you will probably find interesting. If you’re a usual smoker, then I’m sure you probably already know that Cannabis works by intention. You need to consciously decide what effect you want it to have before you smoke, otherwise your subconscious will choose for you. If you want to have it increase your appetite, that is what it will do. Another wonder of Cannabis is that it can improve the “energy body”, not just the physical one. This fact is not merely psychological, it is the actual psychic effect of one person to another, as facilitated by chakra to chakra subatomic energy streams. What to do: Focus on the feelings in your heart after a puff. Start by focusing on the top of the head, (seventh chakra) or the heart area, (forth chakra) and feel the high there after taking a puff.
Aldous Huxley’s wife wrote this letter about injecting him with LSD right before he died On the same day President Kennedy was assassinated, the world lost a second giant in time. Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World and other stunning works of literature died after a 3-year battle with cancer. It was 1963, and on his deathbed Huxley asked to be injected with multiple doses of uncut LSD. An emotionally heavy letter written by his second wife, Laura, documents the final hours of his life. Laura Huxley writes, “‘I am going to give him a shot of LSD, he asked for it.’ The doctor had a moment of agitation because you know very well the uneasiness about this drug in the medical mind. After being introduced to mescaline and LSD in 1953, Huxley began experimenting with psychedelics’ ability to expand the fences of awareness momentarily like the opening aperture of a camera lens. “I had been warned in the morning that there might be some up-setting convulsions towards the end, or some sort of contraction of the lungs, and noises. Dearest Julian and Juliette: “If I die.”
Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical Tips for Quieting the Mind Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Todd Goldfarb at the We The Change blog. Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of your attention in one area. The practice comes with a myriad of well-publicized health benefits including increased concentration, decreased anxiety, and a general feeling of happiness. Although a great number of people try meditation at some point in their lives, a small percentage actually stick with it for the long-term. The purpose of this article is to provide 20 practical recommendations to help beginners get past the initial hurdles and integrate meditation over the long term: 1) Make it a formal practice. 2) Start with the breath. 4) Meditate with Purpose. 5) Notice frustration creep up on you. 6) Experiment. 7) Feel your body parts. 8) Pick a specific room in your home to meditate. 9) Read a book (or two) on meditation. is terrific for beginners. 10) Commit for the long haul. 11) Listen to instructional tapes and CDs. 13) Make sure you will not be disturbed.
Clinical Trial Approved for MDMA Psychotherapy The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has approved the first clinical trial using MDMA along with psychotherapy to treat anxiety among people with life-threatening illnesses, researchers told Al Jazeera on Tuesday, adding that public support for the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs is rapidly growing. "The tide has changed for psychedelic research," said Brad Burge, the communications director for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a California-based nonprofit research group that studies medicinal uses for psychedelics and marijuana and is sponsoring the study. The DEA approved the project on Friday, he said. Unlike Ecstasy or Molly — names for MDMA sold on the street and often mixed with dangerous adulterants — pure MDMA has been proved “sufficiently safe” when taken a limited number of times in moderate doses, MAPS says on its website. The DEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Samhain, The Witches New Year – Witchcraft & Pagan Lifestyle Blog, The Magick Kitchen Samhain Thy soul shall find itself alone ‘Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone; Not one, of all the crowd, to pry Into thine hour of secrecy. Be silent in that solitude, Which is not loneliness — for then The spirits of the dead, who stood In life before thee, are again In death around thee, and their will Shall overshadow thee; be still. An excerpt from Spirits of the Dead Edgar Allan Poe, 1809 – 1849 Time of the year/Date: October 31 – November 1 What is Samhain? If you are a Witch, you feel it; we are well into what is called The Season of the Witch. Samhain (usually pronounced Saa-wn, Sa-ween, or Sa-ven) is the Gaelic festival honoring the darker half of the year when the harvests are complete or at their very end. Cultures (modern and ancient) all over the world have their own similar celebrations to honor the dead. Some festivals are dark and mysterious, while others are bright and cheerful. It is easy to see why Samhain or Halloween could instill fear and reluctance in most.