Meditating as a Perfectionist

Different forms of meditation can be helpful for perfectionism. Mindfulness can interrupt ruminative thinking focused on perfectionism – stopping an initial thought spiralling into a distressing chain of thoughts, or cycles of thoughts. Compassion (karuna) or loving-kindness (metta) meditation can challenge the default attitudes and emotions behind perfectionist thinking – regret, self-blame, and self-criticism –…

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Revisiting Terence McKenna’s Idea of the ‘Archaic Revival’

The ‘archaic revival’ is one of Terence McKenna’s most popular ideas, and it is the title of his 1991 book that explores a variety of topics related to psychedelics. The core of the idea is that several 20th-century movements represent a return to the spiritual and ecological sensibilities of Paleolithic and Neolithic shamanistic societies. The…

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Would Widespread Psychedelic Use Help Solve the Climate Crisis?

It is common to associate psychedelics with environmentalism. In the popular imagination, psychedelic users might be viewed as tree-hugging hippies and Gaia worshippers. But beyond these stereotypes, there is also research to support the links between psychedelic use and connection to nature, which has led some to argue that psychedelics could help us solve the…

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The Harms of Wellness Culture

Wellness culture is all about healing – healing from stress, dissatisfaction, trauma, toxic relationships, and poor physical health. However, wellness culture can also encourage an obsession with healing that ends up being counterproductive. When you’re constantly focused on healing – getting better, working on yourself, going from one healing modality to another – your mental…

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The Egocentrism Behind Belief in Astrology

Astrology is one of the most popular New Age beliefs and is commonly embraced by the general public (national newspapers still feature daily horoscopes, and publicising your zodiac signs is often an option on dating apps). Its popularity persists, despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that astronomical phenomena…

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