Psychedelics and Society

[Daniel123]

Recently I noticed what a shame it is to not be able to be more open about psychedelic explorations with most other people in society. I guess this is kind of the nature of inner work in general and psychedelics specifically because of the illegality or stigma attached to them. For me, it feels pretty isolating having to hide this part of myself from most others around me.

I am reading this book right now titled 'LSD and the mind of the universe' where the author also laments that all his deep explorations had to be kept hidden for most of his life and that conversations with colleagues and even friends started to fizzle out quicker and quicker the more deeply he went on with his experiences.

How do you experience this, can you be open with friends, family, colleagues? Does it bother you at all if you can't be?

[Pineal]

Haha, yeah—you get used to it, like the ache of a breakup that eventually becomes a scar you stop noticing. At first, you wanna scream it from the rooftops. But with time, silence becomes part of the sacrament. Like carrying a sacred relic no one else can see.

 

You’d probably dig PiHKAL and TiHKAL by Sasha and Ann Shulgin—deep dives into the chemical, emotional, and spiritual fabric of the psychedelic path. Less about impressing others, more about becoming indigestible to shallow culture.

 

Truth is, the more you expand, the more rarefied your circle gets. But that doesn’t mean you’re alone—it means you’re upstream.

[Jodistrict]

I have found that it is best not to talk about your experiences with psychedelics.  Nothing good comes of it.  It was meant for you and won't make sense to anybody else. 

[halfknots]

Those who know don't talk, and those who talk don't know.

Also it's not so different from any other hobby. To generalize, most people aren't open to a deep conversation on a topic about which they're inexperienced, uninformed, or uninterested.

That together with the subject and strong opinions surrounding the subject, it's no wonder conversation isn't forthcoming.

Try meeting people where they are, being interested in them and their lives.

[Daniel123]

Thank you for your perspectives, that is really helpful!

On 4.8.2025 at 2:29 AM, Pineal said:

You’d probably dig PiHKAL and TiHKAL by Sasha and Ann Shulgin—deep dives into the chemical, emotional, and spiritual fabric of the psychedelic path. Less about impressing others, more about becoming indigestible to shallow culture.

I'll take a look at these books, thanks!

[WonderSeeker]

On 8/3/2025 at 8:35 AM, Daniel123 said:

I am reading this book right now titled 'LSD and the mind of the universe' where the author also laments that all his deep explorations had to be kept hidden for most of his life and that conversations with colleagues and even friends started to fizzle out quicker and quicker the more deeply he went on with his experiences.

How do you experience this, can you be open with friends, family, colleagues? Does it bother you at all if you can't be?

Yeah this is just one of those things where you have to accept the reality of it.

A good question to ask is "Even if people were more open to it, would that be a good thing? Why or why not?" It personally helped me out quite a bit when I stopped assuming it'd be a good thing if it were mainstream.

Great book by the way. Chris Bache was ahead of his time.

[Daniel123]

@WonderSeeker Thanks for the input, that is indeed a good question to ask. 

I think what bothers me most is having to be so secretive about it. It's not even really that I want to talk about psychedelics with others at length.

But for example, when someone asks about my wweekend plans and I am going to do a session, I am forced to veil reality / lie about it. It feels like this pulls me out of alignment a bit and feels contracting, because I have to be careful not exposing part of myself to not get in legal trouble or societal trouble.

But maybe this is just a worthwhile sacrifice that is necessary to do this kind of work.

[Cireeric]

Obviously it always depends on the situation and the people youre talking with and you probably dont want to make your first impression talking about psychedelics, but besides that Im at a point where Im increasingly less interested in hiding and Im more into affirming my reality. You need to develop a certain sensitivity in how you talk about psychedelics, but I think were at a time where we should start to affirm our reality and bring the change into society thats needed -  not just regarding to psychedelics but as a part of it.

[theleelajoker]

On 8/3/2025 at 5:35 PM, Daniel123 said:

Recently I noticed what a shame it is to not be able to be more open about psychedelic explorations with most other people in society. I guess this is kind of the nature of inner work in general and psychedelics specifically because of the illegality or stigma attached to them. For me, it feels pretty isolating having to hide this part of myself from most others around me.

I am reading this book right now titled 'LSD and the mind of the universe' where the author also laments that all his deep explorations had to be kept hidden for most of his life and that conversations with colleagues and even friends started to fizzle out quicker and quicker the more deeply he went on with his experiences.

How do you experience this, can you be open with friends, family, colleagues? Does it bother you at all if you can't be?

I experienced all sides of the spectrum:

I talk about it, people look at me and are like

• WTF? I don't care
• Interesting but only interesting for you, not for me
• It's a drug! A bad, mean drug! 
• Interesting, but I am scared
• Interesting, tell me more
• HOLY SHIT TELL ME MORE PLEASE
• Please tell me more + I want to do it
• I do it, too! (that's when the fun begins)

Quote

For me, it feels pretty isolating having to hide this part of myself from most others around me.

My experience: The more open you are about it, the more people you meet that are open about it. Don't go on an ideological crusade telling people what they should do, or how great it is. Stick with your own experience and everything is good. 

Never felt like hiding it. You have A LOT OF POWER AND INFLUENCE on if and how to present it in your life. 

Other then this: +1 to @Cireeric

Edited August 14 by theleelajoker