The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide
by James Fadiman · first published 2011
93% recommend7% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Accessible, practical preparation guide covering set and setting, dosing, handling difficult trips, and the research behind it all; suggested reading before a first experience and as a reference for trip sitters.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"Psychedelics for spiritual, therapeutic, and problem-solving use"--Provided by publisher.
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Mentions per year
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…$25/multi-use test kit] -> One-time experience (every 6 months max.) LSD however requires one to literally read/understand/know everything about the substance before applying it (minimum literature: "The psychedelic explorer's guide" by Fadiman). Also, order a test kit and test before you ingest. Certain "edge cases"/people should not try it and educating yourself about everything will allow you to decide if it's a good idea in your…
on “Depression as hard on the heart as obesity and cholesterol” ↗…quality of life even further (it is less immediate with meditation). It however requires one to literally read/understand/know everything about the substance before applying it (minimum literature: "The psychedelic explorer's guide" by Fadiman). Also, order a test kit and test before you ingest. Certain "edge cases"/people should not try it. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kabat-Zinn [1] https://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4180277/Mindful_Way_Through...…
on “Ask HN: The habit adopted in 2016 that had the greatest impact on your health?” ↗Highly recommended: The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide, by Jim Fadiman (http://www.psychedelicexplorersguide.com/)
on “Psychedelics could heal brain cells in people suffering from depression: study” ↗…safe setting, with an experienced person you like and trust, and with confidence in the identity of the substance and that you're taking the proper dose. I'd strongly recommend reading James Fadiman's Psychedelic Explorer's Guide[1] for more detailed suggestions. Like the Prohibition of the 1920's, decades of the War on Drugs has utterly failed to make us safer. In fact, it makes us less safe because people have and will continue…
on “Santa Cruz decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms” ↗…make me a better coder. But they were very valuable. Some studies have actually been done on using psychedelics to enhance creativity. If you are interested, I recommend reading James Fadiman's "The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide", and Oscar Janiger's "LSD, Spirituality, and the Creative Process". On a humbler note, meditation has helped me to achieve calm (at least while I'm meditating and for some hours afterwards). I view…
…Benefits (mid- and long-term) are similar to those of meditation. It however requires one to literally read/understand/know everything about the substance before applying it (minimum literature: "The psychedelic explorer's guide" by Fadiman). Also, order a test kit and test before you ingest. Certain "edge cases"/people should not try it. In addition, you may be able to access your spiritual dimension, which increases quality…
on “Online CBT is no more effective than usual GP care for depression” ↗…$25/multi-use test kit] -> One-time experience (every 6 months max.) LSD however requires one to literally read/understand/know everything about the substance before applying it (minimum literature: "The psychedelic explorer's guide" by Fadiman). Also, order a test kit and test before you ingest. Certain "edge cases"/people should not try it and educating yourself about everything will allow you to decide if it's a good idea in your…
on “When You Are Depressed, Make Something” ↗…straightforward way to do this, unless you're willing to travel abroad where Ayahuasca/Psilocybin Mushrooms/5-MeO are legal and do your trip there. My recommendation would be to read How to Change Your Mind and The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide, join your local psychedelic club (meetup.com maybe), and ask around. The better informed you are, the more easily you'll be able to trust your gut and know you've found someone you can trust. If in any…
on “Magic Mushrooms Can Help Smokers Kick the Habit” ↗…mushrooms in your local area. Vote and put pressure on your politicians to make this happen, if you believe it should. To have the best, most constructive experience, I'd strongly recommend reading The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide by James Fadiman.[2] No brief summary can do this book or the subject of having a good trip justice, but at the very least be sure to have an experienced person you like and trust sit with you during…
on “Single dose of psilocybin eased cancer patients' anxiety, depression for years” ↗…should thoroughly (and I mean really thoroughly) educate themselves on what they're getting themselves in to and how to maximize their chances of having a good experience. For this I'd recommend "The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide"[1] by James Fadiman as a good start. Erowid[2] and PsychonautWiki[3] are good for experience reports and reference. People with pre-existing health and psychiatric conditions, and young people should…
on “Psilocybin repairs 'brains cells damaged by depression' in mice: study” ↗…pretty unpredictable. So it might work for you, it might not. A lot also depends on how they're used, where, and with whom -- what's known as "set and setting". I'd recommend reading James Fadiman's Psychedelic Explorer's Guide[1] for lots of good advice on this subject. [1] - https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Explorers-Guide-Therapeut...
on “The Psychedelic Experience: A new concept in psychotherapy (1962) [pdf]” ↗…someone who knows what they are doing, please please please: 1) start with small doses 2) do some reading BEFORE. Minimal list: Hudson Smith, "Cleansing the Doors of Perception" and James Fadiman The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys
on ““No convincing evidence” that depression is caused by low serotonin levels” ↗…Stafford Pikhal by Alexander Shulgin Acid Dreams by Lee and Shlain The Illuminatus Trilogy by Shea and Wilson Plants of the Gods by Richard Evans Schultes The Archaic Revival by Terrence McKenna The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide by James Fadiman That should get you started. Good luck, and have a safe trip.
on “Research into hallucinogenic drugs begins to shake off decades of taboo” ↗…Goldsmith's book Psychedelic Healing is pretty good. If you ever wanted to go back and revisit the experience it's one of the books you'd want to read first, along with James Fadiman's book is called the Psychedelic Explorer's Guide. These substances are reasonably safe and even beneficial, but only if you have a few books worth of knowledge before partaking and actually follow best practices.
on “The Psychedelic Experience FAQ” ↗…of arguments can be found in the book Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari. [0] See James Fadiman's studies performed in the 1960s before it all got shut down. A collection of these can be found in the Psychedelic Explorer's Guide.
on “FDA Agrees to New Trials for MDMA as Relief for PTSD Patients” ↗