Combine this with MDMA to supercharge the intensity and speed of connection. This can also be done with a group of 3 to create a tight group that instantly has each other’s backs.
1. Longevity. The longer you’ve been friends the more likely you’ll be friends in the future.
2. Trust. Trust in a relationship is anti-fragile. The more times trust is partially damaged but restored, the stronger it becomes.
3. Meaning. The story “we met while looking for friends to do MDMA with, and now we are attached” is cute when you’re 23. What those people mean to you is that you are lovable and able to form bonds out in the world. Good! But shallow.
TLDR; it may be an effective way to have intense but shallow and short-lived connections
MDMA + the 36 questions is deep intimacy, vulnerability, and often going through some shit together.
We’re also not seeking friends to do MDMA with. On a few occasions, we’ve met interesting people that there is a strong initial spark of connection with and let them know about the practice. These friendships are now very deep and loving even if only a year or 3 old. They are anything but shallow.
As for short lived, only time will tell, but even if they were to end tomorrow I will have deeply cherished the present experience of these connections. I have one 10+ year friendship that is fading and while it breaks my heart from time to time, I still love this person and would do it all over again.
I imagine it’s the kind of thing that has been studied!
It's not like that.
Roughly speaking, MDMA doesn't exactly create an artificial closeness, it's more like it breaks down artificial walls. The effects can last far longer than the high - if you're taking it in the right setting, with the right intention, etc.
> why not just be high on life and try it?
There's a lot to be said for living life drug-free. However, MDMA has genuine therapeutic potential. If a doctor prescribed your friend Prozac, would you say, 'Have you tried not being depressed?' - similar thing. (Yes, some doctors prescribe MDMA.)
There are 8.2 billion people alive on Earth ;getting drunk, high or otherwise taking psychoactive drugs is universal among human societies and you think no one has ever had a meaningful or enduring friendship result therefrom?
I am sure there are ways to test this but I wouldn't trust myself. Not to mention the illegality of it.
At this point, it is simply criminal MDMA is not available for therapy the way ketamine is.
There is also a history of cutting drugs with other substances to give them a unique effect which brings back return customers (i.e. cutting heroin with fentanyl).
And then there is the possibility that whoever produced the LSD screwed up and/or the end product is not pure.