Modern Psychonautics

Modern Psychonautics by Mydriasis

[psychonautics]

"We feel society would best be served, not so much by a pill for intellect or sexuality, but by one for compassion. A medicine for altruism. Perhaps we have one."

from page 197 of The Rose of Paracelsus: On Secrets and Sacraments (2015) by William Leonard Pickard

[vetyr]

Libations

Cover art commission for an upcoming TTRPG book detailing 1000 fantasy drinks. It's beautifully written and the creators put so much love into it—K!ckstarter here!

Thanks to @/httpaladin and @/clericalcleric for being so great to work with!!

[psychonautics]

"You are never the same after…"

Timothy Leary, High Priest (1968), p.34

[loish]

She either has no pupils, or just really huge ones. I haven’t decided which one it is yet.

[psychonautics]

"I'd forgotten that what comes to you when you take a psychedelic is not always a revelation of something new and startling; you're reminded of simple things you know and forgot you knew, old, basic truths that long ago became clichés, so you stopped paying attention." -Shura Borodin from PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story (1999) by Dr. Alexander and Ann Shulgin.

[psychonautics]

[psychonautics]

...allow me to clarify, I am not [a psychonaut]. I am no longer part of that cabal,... But, as a philosopher, I will write of it

Mydriasis Lambda Aletheia

[psychonautics]

Scoreboard

Compounds Assessed:

Depressants, Anxiolytics, & Dissociatives;

Ethanol / drinking alcohol Dextromethorphan / DXM / Benylin, Robitussin β-Phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid / PhGABA / Phenibut γ-Hydroxybutyric acid / GHB / Sodium Oxybate, Xyrem / G, Fantasy (3-methylbutyl) nitrite / Amyl Nitrite, Isoamyl Nitrite / Poppers Nitrous Oxide / N2O / laughing gas, hippy crack, whippets, nangs 3-Hydroxyphencyclidine / 3-HO-PCP 3-Methoxyphencyclidine / 3-MeO-PCP 3-Methoxyeticyclidine / 3-MeO-PCE 3-Methyleticyclidine / 3-Me-PCE Eticyclidone / 2'-Oxo-PCE / O-PCE / N-ethyldeschloroketamine Deschloroketamine / 2'-Oxo-PCM / O-PCM / DCK, DXE Deoxymethoxetamine / 3-Me-2′-Oxo-PCE / DMXE, 3D-MXE Methoxetamine / 3-MeO-2'-Oxo-PCE / MXE, Mexxy Hydroxetamine / 3-HO-2'-Oxo-PCE / HXE, Hexxy Methoxpropamine / 2-Oxo-3'-MeO-PCPr / MXPr Methoxisopropamine / 2-Oxo-3'-MeO-PCiPr / MXiPr Ketamine / Ket, K / Kitty Esketamine / S-Ket, Special K Tramadol / Ultram O-Desmethyltramadol / O-DSMT / Omnitram Quetiapine / Seroquel Etizolam / Etilaam, Etizest Thiopental / Sodium Pentothal Buprenorphine / Subutex, Suboxone 6α-Hydrocodol / Dihydrocodeine / DHC 3-Methylmorphine / Codeine Morphine / Papaver Somniferum, Opium 2'-Chlorodiazepam / Ro5-3448 / Diclazepam 4'-Chlorodiazepam / Ro5-4864 Diazepam / Valium Chlordiazepoxide / Librium Gidazepam, hidazepam Desalkylgidazepam / Bromonordiazepam N-Desalkylfluarazepam / Norfluarazepam Alprazolam / Xanax Bromazolam / XLI-268 Clonazolam, Clonitrazolam / Clam Flubromazepam Flubromazolam Flualprazolam Zopiclone / Zimovane Pagoclone Promethazine / Phenergan Cetirizine / Zyrtec Chlorphenamine, chlorpheniramine / CPM / Piriton Diphenhydramine / DPH / Benadryl, Nytol, Panadol Night Mirtazapine / Remeron Amitriptyline / Elavil Tianeptine / Coaxil, Stablon

Stimulants, Empathogen-Entactogens, & Nootropics;

Adrenaline, Epinephrine Ephedrine / Ephedra Pseudoephedrine / Sudafed Benzoylmethylecgonine / Cocaine / Erythroxylum Coca, Coke / Charlie Bupivacaine / Marcaine Lidocaine / Xylocaine 3,7-dimethylxanthine / Theobromine / Theobroma Cacao, Chocolate 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine / Caffeine / Coffea, Coffee / Camellia, Tea N-Ethyl-L-glutamine / L-γ-glutamylethylamide / L-Theanine / Green Tea (2R)-2-acetamido-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid / N-Acetylcysteine / NAC 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium / Choline bitartrate L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine / Alpha-GPC, Choline alfoscerate Cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine / CDP-choline, Citicoline 2-Dimethylaminoethyl (4-chlorophenoxy)acetate / Meclofenoxate, Centrophenoxine / Lucidril Propranolol / Inderal 4-Phenylpiracetam / Phenotropil, Carphedon Coluracetam / BCI-540, MKC-231 N-Phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester / Omberacetam / Noopept Adrafinil / Olmifon Modafinil / Modavigil, Provigil, Modalert, Alertec Armodafinil /  Artvigil, Nuvigil, Waklert Nicotine / Nicotiana Tabacum, Tobacco Venlafaxine / Effexor Fluoxetine / Prozac Sertraline / Zoloft Escitalopram / Cipralex, Lexapro 5-Hydroxytryptophan / 5-HTP / Oxitryptan NSI-189 Moclobemide / Amira, Aurorix, Clobemix, Depnil, Manerix Mesembrine / Sceletium Tortuosum, Kanna 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine / MDMA / Ecstasy 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone / MDMC / βk-MDMA / Methylone 3,4-methylenedioxypentedrone / βk-MBDP / Pentylone 3,4,8-Trimethoxyphenanthrene-2,5-diol / Dendrobium Nobile [extract] Lisdexamfetamine / Vyvanse, Tyvense, Elvanse α-Methylphenethylamine / Amphetamine / Speed N-Methylamphetamine / Methamphetamine / Meth Methythiolpropamine / MPA / Blow 3-Methylmethcathinone / 3-MMC / Metaphedrone 3-Methylethcathinone / 3-MEC 4-Methylmethcathinone / 4-MMC / Mephedrone 4-Methylethcathinone / 4-MEC 4-Methoxyamphetamine / para-Methoxyamphetamine / PMA / Death 4-Chloromethcathinone / 4-CMC / Clephedrone 3-Chloro-N-tert-butyl-cathinone / Bupropion / amfebutamone 2-Fluoromethamphetamine / 2-FMA 3-Fluoroamphetamine / 3-FA /  PAL-353 4-Fluoroamphetamine / 4-FMP, 4-FA / PAL-303 / Flux 4-Fluoromethcathinone / 4-FMC / Flephedrone Methylphenidate / MPH / Ritalin, Concerta 4-Fluoromethylphenidate / 4F-MPH 4-Fluoroethylphenidate / 4F-EPH 3-Fluorophenmetrazine / 3-FPM / PAL-593 4-Fluoro-α-methylamino-valerophenone / 4-Fluoropentedrone / 4-FPD α-ethylaminocaprophenone / N-Ethylhexedrone / NEH / Hexen alpha-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone / α-PHP / PV-7 alpha-Pyrrolidinoisohexaphenone / α-PiHP, α-PHiP 3,4-Methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone / MDPHP 5-Methoxy-2-aminoindane / MEAI / Chaperone, Pace 5-(2-methylaminopropyl)benzofuran / 5-MAPB 6-(2-Aminopropyl)benzofuran / 6-APB / Benzofury 6-(2-Aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran / 6-APDB / 4-Desoxy-MDA

Hallucinogens;

Cannabidiol / CBD / Cannabis Cannabigerol / CBG / Cannabis Cannabinol / CBN / Cannabis Hexahydrocannabinol / HHC Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol / THC / Cannabis, Marijuana / Weed, MJ AM-2201 / Spice, synth-'noids, c-liquid NM-2201 / CBL-2201 5C-AB-PINICA Harmine / Peganum Harmala / Syrian Rue Salvinorin A / Salvia Divinorum / Diviner's Sage d-Lysergic Acid Amide / d-Lysergamide / LSA / Ergine Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / Lysergide / LSD / Delysid / Acid, Lucy Lysergic acid 2,4-dimethylazetidide / LSZ / Diazedine, Lambda, λ 1-Acetyl-N,N-diethyllysergamide / ALD-52 / 1A-LSD / 1A-LAD 1-Propionyl-lysergic acid diethylamide / 1P-LSD / 1P-LAD 1-Cyclopropionyl-N-Methyl-N-isopropyllysergamide / 1cP-MiPLA 6-Allyl-6-nor-lysergic acid diethylamide / AL-LAD / Aladdin 2,3,6,7-Benzo-dihydro-difuran-8-bromo-ethylamine / 2C-B-FLY 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromo-β-keto-phenethylamine / βk-2C-B 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromo-β-hydroxy-PEA / βOH-2C-B / BOHB 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine / 2C-B / Nexus, Venus, Bees 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine / 2C-C / Callisto 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylphenethylamine / 2C-E / Eternity, Europa 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine / 2C-I / Infinity, Io 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylphenethylamine / 2C-D, 2C-M / Matrix 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylthiophenethylamine / 2C-T / Tesseract 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine / 2C-T-2 / Rosy 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-fluoroethylthiophenethylamine / 2C-T-21 / Aurora 2,5-Dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-4-bromoPEA / 25B-NBOMe / 25B 2,5-Dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-4-chloroPEA / 25C-NBOMe / 25C 2,5-Dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-4-iodoPEA / 25I-NBOMe / 25I 2,5-dimethoxy-(N-(2-hydroxybenzyl))-4-ethylPEA / 25E-NBOH 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine / DOB / Aphrodite 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine / DOC / Doctor 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine / DOM / Dominus 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methyl-α-ethylPEA / 4C-D, 4C-DOM / Ariadne 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylthioamphetamine / DOT / Aleph 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / MDA / Sally, Sass 3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine / Mescaline, M / Peyote 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethoxyphenethylamine / Escaline, E 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-methallyloxyphenethylamine / Methallylescaline, MAL α-Methyltryptamine / αMT / Indopan N,N-Dimethyltryptamine / DMT / The Spirit N-Methyl-N-ethyltryptamine / MET / The Colour N,N-Dipropyltryptamine / DPT / The Light N,N-Diisopropyltryptamine / DiPT / The Sound N-Methyl-N-propyltryptamine / MPT N-Ethyl-N-propyltryptamine / EPT N-Methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine / MiPT / The Touch 4-Phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine / 4-PO-DMT / Psilocybin 4-Acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine / 4-AcO-DMT / Psilacetin 4-Hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine / 4-HO-DMT / Psilocin 4-Acetoxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine / 4-AcO-MET / Metacetin 4-Hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine / 4-HO-MET / Metocin 4-Acetyloxy-N,N-dipropyltryptamine / 4-AcO-DPT / Pracetin 4-Acetoxy-N-methyl-N-cyclopropyltryp. / 4-AcO-McPT / Mecypracetin 4-Acetoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine / 4-AcO-MiPT / Mipracetin 4-Hydroxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine / 4-HO-MiPT / Miprocin 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine / 5-MeO-DMT / The God 5-Methoxy-N-methethyltryptamine / 5-MeO-MET / The Vision 5-Methoxy-N-diisopropyltryptamine / 5-MeO-DiPT / Foxy 5-Methoxy-N,N-diallyltryptamine / 5-MeO-DALT / Foxtrot 5-Methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine / 5-MeO-MiPT / Moxy

These compounds and their many uses contribute to a fascinating branch of human knowledge.

[psychonautics]

Psychonautics

Psychonautics is an act of configuration. It refers to a methodology for describing and explaining configurations of consciousness, And a research cabal in which adherents explore and harness those configurations. The power of psychonautics is that configurations of consciousness have resonant effects on meaning and belief. The psychonautic cabal emerges from a recognition of this. Psychonautic exploration is not without risk to the physical and psychological well-being of the researcher, to their essence and beliefs. An experienced and trustworthy practitioner can provide a tether to your shared reality, Advanced practices require caution and patience to navigate safely; “There is no casual experiment”. In the Western paradigm, classical psychonautics was defined by contemplative and ritual techniques, The religious or spiritual practices of a tribe or society. Modern psychonautics has been increasingly defined by the use of psychoactive substances, which is likely the result of secularization, advances in pharmacy, and the war on drugs. In contemporary society psychoactives are a valuable commodity that many people use (or misuse) for a variety of reasons. Some will seek out drugs they have not tried before. Few shall devote themselves entirely, investing their time and resources in learning about, acquiring and assessing psychoactives. This latter cohort aligns with the methodology of psychonautics, they commit to understanding through practice. Indeed many become well-versed in Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), some academics assume this is the mark of a modern psychonaut but it is mere specialization rather than characteristic of. As more initiates into psychonautics emerge from drug experiences so does the cabal become more chemical. Nevertheless, it still draws adherents from a diversity of practices. With regard to ontological risks, the ranks of the cabal are full of disordered, misguided, or warped adherents whose heedless practice undermines the meaningfulness of consensual reality. This is not uncommon as there is no formal training for initiates. The cabal is decentralized, without singularly defined leadership or ideals, it operates through intrigue. Among its adherents there are differences in practice, and so internal politics wherein the ethos of configurations are disputed. Within the cabal there exist ethical stances: Cognitive liberals who believe anyone using responsibly should be allowed their methodology and be able to practice. Universalists or absolutists who believe everyone should be initiated, if not adherent. Elitists and psychocrats who hold that only their method and practice is valid. Cognitive dissidents who believe the methodology and its praxis must not be vested in nation-states, corporations, or religions if it is/they are to retain its power. The cabal’s politics of intrigue represent an unspoken power struggle where the stakes are unclear, if even communicable. It is ancient, perpetual, an eternal conflict over consciousness, An infinite crusade over mind and psyché, and as the war on drugs comes to an end, psychonautics will again be redefined by its next wave of initiates, may they be wise and kind.

[psychonautics]

Psychoactives

A psychoactive substance is a chemical substance—other than a nutrient or essential dietary ingredient—that alters brain function to produce temporary changes in sensation, perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior.

Psychoactive substances have been used by humans for a variety of purposes since recorded history (e.g. as medicine, for recreation, as entheogens, or for research.

The Psychoactive Substance Index (PSI) is designed to catalog and provide relevant, accurate, and unbiased information for any and all mind-altering substances known to humankind, with a special focus on those with potential applications as mind-expanding tools.

The individual articles detail not just the history, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and legality of each substance, but also its user-reported subjective effects (i.e. phenomenology). This is achieved in accordance with a standardized system of definitions and terminologies proposed in the Subjective Effect Index (SEI).