James Fadiman PhD was one of the people involved with totally legal psychedelic research during the 1960s. Known for his wit and lively conversations, he is a popular guest and presenter. Dr. Fadiman delights in entertaining, educating, and enlightening audiences wherever he speaks, and is considered among America’s wisest and most respected authorities on psychedelics and their use. He did his undergraduate work at Harvard and his graduate work at Stanford, doing pioneering research with the Harvard Group, the West Coast Research Group in Menlo Park, and Ken Kesey. A former president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and a professor of psychology, he currently teaches at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA, which he helped found in 1975. An international conference presenter, workshop leader, management consultant, novelist, and author/editor of a number books and textbooks, Dr. Fadiman lives in Menlo Park, CA, with his filmmaker wife, Dorothy.
Here is a link mentioned in our discussion: http://entheoguide.net/wiki/Main_Page
The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide by James Fadiman
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Do you think the healing potential of the psychedelic experience occurs because it effects the tendency towards addictive behavior or because it resolves the distress about past traumatic events that led to the addictive behavior originally?
to Kizzleelee
It seems to be that the need to remain addicted diminishes in part because of a different understanding of earlier events and also because of a new way people have of seeing themselves as far more than \"an addicted person.\"
so some of both is the best answer.
I’m glad you mentioned the personality and ego side of things after the interview. While my methods of psychonautics have always been without drugs, last night I found myself in a sort of between states (perhaps a twilight state) on that verge between conscious and unconscious. Without the ego in the way, I was able to make a series of observations that I otherwise wouldn’t, definitely being in that big bottom chunk of the Freudian iceberg! 😉
I had that experience of “oh yeah, that’s what this is like, how could I forget?”. But later on, with the ego back in place and its constraints on personality, I have no idea what my observations were last night!
It was cool to hear about Huxley and Leary – those are some serious bragging rights!!!
This is one of those interviews I’ll return to again and again, and which will hopefully lead to fruitful future journeys. Thanks Dr Dave!