Welcome to the Psychedelic Blog. I write about the Impact of Psychedelics on Grieving, Relationships, Culture, and Death. This week, I’m diving into the five distinct types of Psychedelic users.
I appreciate this parsing. I search for healing and awareness, and I think I mentioned before that Ketamine and LSD literally saved me from suicide. I just had an acid trip over xmas, and it was somehow the worst I've ever had. And I left that experience pretty disappointed because it only ever teaches me about myself or helps me connect disparate ideas. I certainly have become more generous and light after every trip. My moods are more stable, despite there being sources of anxiety. Next adventure: ayahuasca.
It's fascinating how the experiences these medicines catalyze is highly variant. I had a similar experience with my last heroes journey of Psilocybin; very challenging trip (up until that point, they had all been cathartic & beautiful).
I suspect the anxiety never fully goes away, I have that as well, but the increased awareness from Psychedelics allows me to regulate it more effectively.
This is a real thing! I changed my dosage & moved up the time I eat my mushroom to earlier in the day to ensure my sleep wasn't adversely impacted.
Also, not sure if you read Matthew Walker's book, 'Why We Sleep', but even one glass of wine is preventing us from getting deep sleep, so while we may feel like we slept, even a little bit of alcohol is wreaking havoc on quality sleep.
Love this discussion! Although I see another category of the Party Trippers… those who use psychedelics to get high to dissociate, trip out and escape. 😵💫
Thanks for another great article. I'm on a very tight budget, made worse by our government's assault on us Brits, but have subbed as I need the lot! This is work I have done all my life, big time when needed.
My other regular is the wonderful Midwestern Doctor, who I have been following and subbing to for a couple of years and more.
Check him/her out. Especially on DMSO, which I am using very successfully to fix back pain and seems to be a cure all. Made from pine bark, and a side product of paper milling. FDA checked it way back it seems, and realising it would clobber the medical profession, allowed vets only to use it. Widely available now, and - well, ready MWD's papers.
I think I’d fall into #5 mostly. I’ve journeyed with close friends in beautiful set & settings, and that has been a lovely experience, but it is the solo journeys where I can go deeply inward where I have learned the most about myself and the universe of which I am a tiny part.
Beautifully said. There’s something uniquely profound about solo journeys—I enjoy them thoroughly. It’s in those quiet, solitary spaces that the deepest truths emerge. I resonate with that completely.
I like how you phrased how it all starts inwardly and then we must focus outwardly once we have identified what our core wounds are. I think these two go hand in hand and there will always be a need for introspection and self-healing regardless of the phase we're in our lives--they must happen organically. The real transformation happens once we have integrated our insights back into our wholeness and realizing how that wisdom is inspirationally impacting the life of the people around us. With that comes honesty and responsibility.
I'm a traditional at this stage and proud of representing those roots. Will be back in the jungle for 3 months soon and looking forward to how my story can hopefully positively impact someone else's life.
Thank you for the kind words! I couldn’t agree more—introspection & outward service really do go hand in hand. The healing process may begin inwardly, but the true transformation happens when we integrate those lessons & share that expanded version of ourselves with the world. And yes, honesty & responsibility are essential parts of that journey.
It’s inspiring to hear that you’re so deeply connected to your roots and embracing that traditional path. Three months back in the jungle sounds incredible—there’s something profoundly powerful about reconnecting with nature & community in that setting. I have no doubt that your story will positively impact others. Wishing you a transformative journey & looking forward to hearing how it unfolds.
Good article. I liked the breakdown on types of users, workout demonizing any given type of usage, and noting that it's somewhat of a fluid categorization
Shared the post about inward focused therapy culture vs benefiting society and the individual as a whole on Bluesky and credited you, linking back to this Substack. Great read!
Great article! What if we could bring these communities together? What if we could sit down and set a group intention to call upon more love for the planet, to call upon answers to these age old problems? What if we could stop judging one another as doing it wrong or differently than the way we would do it?
Of course there are more categories in these five. I appreciate the sentiment though. Spirit loves diversity. We each hold a piece of the puzzle. The more we can come together with different types of people, different beliefs, different ways of seeing things, the quicker we are going to help solve the problems of this planet. The quicker we’re going to realize the beauty of this world, the abundance, the magic that exists in it, in each one of us.
This love, this awareness, this joy, this compassion, this forgiveness snowballs, no matter who “achieves” it, no matter who gets it. It is meant to be shared. It is the natural result of tapping into truth.
Isn’t it exciting to see how this will all play out? It’s such an exciting chapter of the book called life. The truth is each moment is a tipping point, each moment is a as a plot twist in humanity. It’s just sometimes you can see it clearly and other times you can’t. ❤️
Thank you! I think this merge happens organically. It won't involve everyone, many will remain firmly rooted in their current lifestyles. But it will be exciting to see the societal & cultural ramifications of more & more people 'waking up.'
i liked this. a high level meyers brigg for psychedelics. I wonder if there’s a correlation there actually? Could personality traits be a beginners or medical practitioners guide to starting the process. Like should the medicine be outcome based or enhance who we already are? maybe just for starting journey?
reading what i wrote, i think im in the optimizer category 🤷♂️
Thanks! Meyers Briggs has been debunked for what it is...absolute nonsense. But I have explored the connection between Big 5 Personality Traits & an interest in Psychedelics. It tells part of the story: someone who measures high in 'Openness to New Experience' is more likely to commune with Psychedelics than someone who measures low on this trait. But personality isn't fixed, it's dynamic. And the types of 'new experiences' people will pursue varies greatly based on culture, geography, trauma endured, hobbies & and other factors.
"Psychedelics have a way of showing us truths we’d rather avoid." I think that I know me... maybe I don't. I can be vicious, when required. Of course, my definition of "required" may differ from most.
It seems that I may be heading but stuck somewhere between micro- and macro-dosing. I am just starting reading your material; would you point me to some kind of general summary please. Yeah... I like to read instructions - not that I follow them, of course.
I appreciate this parsing. I search for healing and awareness, and I think I mentioned before that Ketamine and LSD literally saved me from suicide. I just had an acid trip over xmas, and it was somehow the worst I've ever had. And I left that experience pretty disappointed because it only ever teaches me about myself or helps me connect disparate ideas. I certainly have become more generous and light after every trip. My moods are more stable, despite there being sources of anxiety. Next adventure: ayahuasca.
It's fascinating how the experiences these medicines catalyze is highly variant. I had a similar experience with my last heroes journey of Psilocybin; very challenging trip (up until that point, they had all been cathartic & beautiful).
I suspect the anxiety never fully goes away, I have that as well, but the increased awareness from Psychedelics allows me to regulate it more effectively.
Wishing you the best of luck with Mother Aya!
I wish I could micro in the evening instead of wine , it keeps me up too late!
This is a real thing! I changed my dosage & moved up the time I eat my mushroom to earlier in the day to ensure my sleep wasn't adversely impacted.
Also, not sure if you read Matthew Walker's book, 'Why We Sleep', but even one glass of wine is preventing us from getting deep sleep, so while we may feel like we slept, even a little bit of alcohol is wreaking havoc on quality sleep.
Dude that’s so good to know!!
Anecdotally, I have read that it's possible to microdose right at bedtime so that you're asleep before the microdose takes effect. I've not tried this
Interesting idea… hmm
Interesting. I never thought of labeling the types of psychedelic users. I'm a bit of everything. Cool read. 👍❤️
Thanks! From your writing; I could see that.
Love this discussion! Although I see another category of the Party Trippers… those who use psychedelics to get high to dissociate, trip out and escape. 😵💫
Thanks!
And yes...that's a great addition!
Thanks for another great article. I'm on a very tight budget, made worse by our government's assault on us Brits, but have subbed as I need the lot! This is work I have done all my life, big time when needed.
My other regular is the wonderful Midwestern Doctor, who I have been following and subbing to for a couple of years and more.
Check him/her out. Especially on DMSO, which I am using very successfully to fix back pain and seems to be a cure all. Made from pine bark, and a side product of paper milling. FDA checked it way back it seems, and realising it would clobber the medical profession, allowed vets only to use it. Widely available now, and - well, ready MWD's papers.
Thank you so much, Jeremy. Your support means a lot.
I'll check out the Doctors page, always on the lookout for good writing.
Best of luck with the back pain & thanks again for your support.
Remarkably good shape for 73! Carnivore, cold tubs, river swimming, gardening and the dog keep me fit and chipper. DMSO really quite extraordinary!
Love all of this! Inspiring. I hope to be doing the same at 73.
No reason why not. Why change the habits of a lifetime. Plan to make a Huxley style exit, on to the next great adventure!
Yes, sir! I admire your perspective on life.
And I don’t plan on changing these habits.
I think I’d fall into #5 mostly. I’ve journeyed with close friends in beautiful set & settings, and that has been a lovely experience, but it is the solo journeys where I can go deeply inward where I have learned the most about myself and the universe of which I am a tiny part.
Beautifully said. There’s something uniquely profound about solo journeys—I enjoy them thoroughly. It’s in those quiet, solitary spaces that the deepest truths emerge. I resonate with that completely.
Great job 👏
Thank you!
Psychiatrists are using LSD to heal people with traumas and addictions.
They give them a dose and a team stays with them to make sure they are in a safe zone.
Man, will that fuck up your high.
Great piece Andrew, thanks.
I like how you phrased how it all starts inwardly and then we must focus outwardly once we have identified what our core wounds are. I think these two go hand in hand and there will always be a need for introspection and self-healing regardless of the phase we're in our lives--they must happen organically. The real transformation happens once we have integrated our insights back into our wholeness and realizing how that wisdom is inspirationally impacting the life of the people around us. With that comes honesty and responsibility.
I'm a traditional at this stage and proud of representing those roots. Will be back in the jungle for 3 months soon and looking forward to how my story can hopefully positively impact someone else's life.
Cristiano
Thank you for the kind words! I couldn’t agree more—introspection & outward service really do go hand in hand. The healing process may begin inwardly, but the true transformation happens when we integrate those lessons & share that expanded version of ourselves with the world. And yes, honesty & responsibility are essential parts of that journey.
It’s inspiring to hear that you’re so deeply connected to your roots and embracing that traditional path. Three months back in the jungle sounds incredible—there’s something profoundly powerful about reconnecting with nature & community in that setting. I have no doubt that your story will positively impact others. Wishing you a transformative journey & looking forward to hearing how it unfolds.
Good article. I liked the breakdown on types of users, workout demonizing any given type of usage, and noting that it's somewhat of a fluid categorization
Thank you so much! Appreciate this.
Shared the post about inward focused therapy culture vs benefiting society and the individual as a whole on Bluesky and credited you, linking back to this Substack. Great read!
Thank you so much! That is much appreciated.
And at the end the sacred medicines tear all the labels apart
Absolutely, that is the goal.
Great article! What if we could bring these communities together? What if we could sit down and set a group intention to call upon more love for the planet, to call upon answers to these age old problems? What if we could stop judging one another as doing it wrong or differently than the way we would do it?
Of course there are more categories in these five. I appreciate the sentiment though. Spirit loves diversity. We each hold a piece of the puzzle. The more we can come together with different types of people, different beliefs, different ways of seeing things, the quicker we are going to help solve the problems of this planet. The quicker we’re going to realize the beauty of this world, the abundance, the magic that exists in it, in each one of us.
This love, this awareness, this joy, this compassion, this forgiveness snowballs, no matter who “achieves” it, no matter who gets it. It is meant to be shared. It is the natural result of tapping into truth.
Isn’t it exciting to see how this will all play out? It’s such an exciting chapter of the book called life. The truth is each moment is a tipping point, each moment is a as a plot twist in humanity. It’s just sometimes you can see it clearly and other times you can’t. ❤️
Thank you! I think this merge happens organically. It won't involve everyone, many will remain firmly rooted in their current lifestyles. But it will be exciting to see the societal & cultural ramifications of more & more people 'waking up.'
Thank you for reading & sharing this!
i liked this. a high level meyers brigg for psychedelics. I wonder if there’s a correlation there actually? Could personality traits be a beginners or medical practitioners guide to starting the process. Like should the medicine be outcome based or enhance who we already are? maybe just for starting journey?
reading what i wrote, i think im in the optimizer category 🤷♂️
Thanks! Meyers Briggs has been debunked for what it is...absolute nonsense. But I have explored the connection between Big 5 Personality Traits & an interest in Psychedelics. It tells part of the story: someone who measures high in 'Openness to New Experience' is more likely to commune with Psychedelics than someone who measures low on this trait. But personality isn't fixed, it's dynamic. And the types of 'new experiences' people will pursue varies greatly based on culture, geography, trauma endured, hobbies & and other factors.
"Psychedelics have a way of showing us truths we’d rather avoid." I think that I know me... maybe I don't. I can be vicious, when required. Of course, my definition of "required" may differ from most.
It seems that I may be heading but stuck somewhere between micro- and macro-dosing. I am just starting reading your material; would you point me to some kind of general summary please. Yeah... I like to read instructions - not that I follow them, of course.
Thanks for this! Appreciate you reading & sharing your thoughts.
I linked my best performing articles of 2024 in my end of year article: https://thepsychedelicblog.substack.com/p/2024-in-review-and-whats-ahead-for
Michael Pollan,…the psychedelic renaissance poser. He was the mannequin author needed for the “renaissance”.
Even if true; his book positively changed society.