How do you think about your existence? Are you a concoction of atoms and molecules that magically organise themselves into cells and tissue and organs and bone, only to eventually disperse back into the universe? Are you a child of God, a descendent of Adam and Eve, awaiting to reunite in the heavens with your childhood pets? A soul on its karmic wheel of reincarnation? A character in a very believable simulation? A cog in a machine? Or maybe just a normal person on their toilet break, hoping for something a bit more lighthearted between zoom meetings?
Regardless of your answer, you’re just as likely to be right about it as the next person. The nature of consciousness, and thus of existence itself, is probably the most fascinating mystery our minds can ponder. There’s really no way to truly know, although physicists, philosophers, cognitive scientists, meditators and dudes who got a bit too high at a music festival all attempt to catch a glimpse of the matrix that reality is woven into.
And yet, some theories ring truer than others. Read enough psychedelic literature (or try them out yourself - responsibly) and a fascinating common theory begins to emerge. This theory of consciousness is beautiful, elegant and inclusive - and I was lucky enough to experience it myself a month ago, when a tea made of 2g of dried psilocybin mushrooms, lemon and ginger initiated me into the core nature of consciousness itself. This newsletter is an attempt to share this experience with you and continue to make sense of it - so please hold my words lightly . Let’s begin.
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