Part II: Exploring Psychedelics with Daniel Grauer, Author of Psychedelic Consciousness
The Most Important Thing
When it comes to psychedelics - safety (set + setting), intention, & integration - are extremely important. If you are planning to participate in a legal psychedelic experience, check out Erowid Psychoactives or Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies for useful information. Daniel also includes a ton of helpful info in the appendix of Psychedelic Consciousness.
About Daniel Grauer
Daniel Grauer is a writer, teacher, and speaker who explores individual and collective transformation through the lens of philosophy, psychology, spirituality, and ecology. He teaches workshops on the transformative potential of psychedelics and is the cofounder of Marble Blue, a community-based think tank striving to harmonize human systems with ecosystems. He lives in a homesteading community in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains.
About Psychedelic Consciousness
An examination of the use of psychedelics for understanding ourselves, connecting with the world around us, and enacting outer change through inner transformation. Grauer explores sacred tools and technologies to help us reestablish a lost ideology of unity, with a specific focus on natural plant/fungi psychedelics. He then looks at the history of psychedelics and their role in facilitating natural intelligence’s ability to increase itself through ongoing analysis of its own experience. Finally, Daniel provides guidelines for safely using natural plant/fungi psychedelics and integrating them into society to access unified consciousness and restore balance to our world
Episode Overview:
This episode focuses mostly on the safe use of psychedelics, their potential for harm, set & setting, integration, and other best practices.
My Favorite Quotes:
“There is nothing dangerous that we absolutely 100% prohibit – except for drugs.”
“What’s the fear of people being able to explore these states of consciousness?”
“It is such an injustice that folks who are trying to gain healing, some kind of spiritual revelation, some kind of creativity to reimagine a better society have to work under the context an the fear that these substances are illegal. It’s terrible in my mind”
“It’s beautiful to have that “respectful trepidation” because you know how powerful and challenging these experiences can be.”
“Is this going to last forever? No, of course it’s not gonna last forever!”
“Give yourself a full day and a full night – be able to sleep in that same place, that same area.”
“If you just eat a little bit at a time, and you ease into the experience. When you hit that threshold it may not elicit so much fear and the emotional might be more comfortable.”
“Deep, deep gratitude for being alive – for what we have here, for existing, for even just being in this beingness that we’ve been gifted – and there are tons of tools to get there.”
“We are ALL part of the Earth; we are ALL part of the whole.”
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – Could you live 24/7 in a psychedelic state?
5:00 – The stickiness of psychedelic experiences & spiritual bypass
10:00 – The harmfulness of psychedelics vs. other drugs
18:00 – Resources for further learning
25:00 – Safety tips: Set & setting
35:00 – Dealing with Fear aka “Respectful Trepidation”
40:00 – “Nibbling in”
45:00 – Gratitude, deep breaths, and integration
48:00 – Daniel’s info
Episode Links:
Daniel’s Info
Other Resources & References
Emotions & Brain Function Altered Up to One Month After Heavy Psilocybin Dose
David Nutt: Alcohol more Dangerous than Heroin
Pyschedelic Explorer’s Guide by James Fadiman, PHD
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
MAPS: Psychedelic Integration List
ICEERS Guide Towards Better Ayahuasca Practices
Marc’s Info:
Marc Weinstein, host of the Look Up! Podcast is a public speaker for corporations, universities, and conferences. Click here to view past talks and to book Marc
