Reddit mentions of Animals and Psychedelics: The Natural World and the Instinct to Alter Consciousness

You should read this book. Animals and Psychedelics. It's a look into the evolutionary instinct for altered consciousness. And has some incredibly silly stories about animals drugging themselves.

I know it's not 100% related to the topic, but there's a book called Animals & Psychedelics, short & interesting, which I recommend you to read.

Here's an Amazon link.

It boils down to personal responsibility. Sadly, this is not something taught anymore in the home for whatever reason.

Cannabis is something I enjoy fairly regularly and it is no secret to anyone in my life. I make sure all of my responsibilities are done for the day before I sit down to relax (I love to write music, program, or play the uke when partaking) so I can be 100% in the moment. This provides me clarity about things that I may otherwise have had an extremely biased take on. I, however, do not put myself at the point of being a blabbering idiot if I am going out into social settings; it's not cool to do that to anyone who just wants to hang out. The point someone reaches where they appear unable to handle basic tasks is when they should be alone, lost in thought...not trying to function :) Introspection is such an important thing, shame more don't appreciate what you learn from it.

I had a friend, F, who used to be baked to the point of having the spins and passing out almost daily. He was great for playing video games with and that was about it. I hated his usage patterns but it was his choice and I made mine and broke off our friendship.

P.cubensis have helped me reach a state of understanding myself that I would never have reached on my own. Now I don't view either cannabis or psilocybin as a drug but rather a medicine. Both allow me personal insight that I hold very near and dear. Perhaps this is because of the age I was when they found me, I don't honestly know.

I view a weekly mushroom trip as my church. While some use religion as a means to better understand life and circumstance, I turn to my own mind and the insight into my own mind that nature provides through fungus. I will eat a small meal around 6am, meditate in the rising sun on the beach, and when I know things are aligned correctly, I will make myself some tea and return to meditating.

I understand why people think all drugs are bad and detrimental but it does sadden me that such indoctrination exists.

As kids we are taught that all drugs are bad. As an educated adult I fully appreciate how the FUD machine works and wish they would teach kids that "you will most likely put a substance into your body so the best weapon to have on your side is education, not abstinence.".

Wanting to be in an altered state is not a sin, it is not a malformed behavior...it is part of nature. Some animals wait for fermentation to occur and get drunk while others enjoy a psychedelic experience (http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Psychedelics-Natural-Instinct-Consciousness/dp/0892819863 - great read btw).

Be respectful, be responsible, be educated...then become enlightened.

http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Psychedelics-Natural-Instinct-Consciousness/dp/0892819863/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211076276&sr=8-1

apparently it's a habbit.