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> All of this is mildly depressing though. It feels as though we are just our brains (maybe obviously), but just that we're the strange effects of the functions of a non-magical/soul-less organ in our heads primarily just meant to steer our bodies. Those thoughts make drugs both existentially liberating but at the same time also "imprisoning" for me

That is certainly one way of looking at things, and one of the more frequent perspectives I harbor. But I've also had enough trips down the rabbit hole to realize there's more to it than that. Way more to it.

We are definitely strange effects for sure. We are haunted atoms that formed in the core of a dying star. Weird, right? If you find that worldview imprisoning, I encourage you to question it. Magic is often simply what you need it to be, no need to get hung up on whether magic is "real" or not, because that doesn't actually matter.

Check out Discordianism if you haven't already. It's kinda like hot swapping reality tunnels. No need to commit to one ontology all the time :).

> that I probably have to go on a psychadelic trip to rewire my brain

Do you really need the permission of drugs to do what you want?

You already have your outcome. You know where you are. To what end do you need the drugs?

Let's say you do this trip.. and it turns out the thing blocking you from dating is that you were molested at a young age. Those memories come flooding back to you at 2am while you're sweating like a pig and vomiting repeatedly.

Is that the right outcome? Is that the outcome you want?

Worse yet, what if there is no deep seated reason why you're afraid of intimacy and dependence? What if you are just scared of it for no reason?

There is no secret enlightenment to be had. There is only you and your fear blocking the door, and the fear isn't real.

To sort of add to this, I’ve found that meditation has had far more profound effects than psychedelics ever did. Maybe they help to kick start things or show how much of yourself you don’t know.

You could just as easily be describing therapy. Of course people sometimes need external help to achieve their goals or change their perspectives! Sometimes it's therapy, sometimes a vacation, sometimes a heart-to-heart with a close friend and sometimes a bunch of acid.

Dropping acid is maybe not the same thing as therapy sessions with a well qualified professional who is board certified, licensed and so on.

If you just mean "try random things to see how it helps", I suppose you could start by finding Jesus or licking a cattle prod. Why limit yourself to just a few methods of magic insight?

Indeed why not try those things. People should be more open to new experiences as long as you're not hurting yourself or others. If you find that looking cattle prods makes you happy, more power to you

Well the thing about tripping is you can’t really predict what the result will be. I was able to realize I am cool and sexy because I have been doing a lot of work on myself to get over some past issues, and the trip just helped a few things click that I probably would have figured out in the next year or so either way. Success at dating is mostly about being comfortable with yourself, and that takes therapy and personal growth. If you’re doing those things, psychedelics can help make connections you are close to, but I would not think that any given trip is going to solve that particular problem if it’s not one you’re already making progress on.

>I have been struggling a lot with dating.

>I probably have to go on a psychadelic trip to rewire my brain to be able to show my interest romatically to others

u wot m8