Nitrous Oxide: A Gas With Mystical, Antidepressant, and Addictive Potential

Nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’) is a colourless gas with sedative, analgesic, euphoric, dissociative, and (if the dose is right) mystical effects. When used recreationally, the gas comes in canisters, known as ‘nangs’ in Australia and New Zealand, with other street names for the gas including ‘whippets’ (or ‘whippits’) and ‘hippy crack’. There is both a…

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Ketamine and Nitrous Oxide: A Synergistic But Potentially Harmful Combination

Among psychonauts, drug combinations are sought out, experimented with, and appreciated due to their potential to modulate or intensify psychedelic states, and perhaps introduce novel states of mind not yet experienced. But with these potential rewards – new mental realms explored – can come greater risks. Unexpected effects and intensity can carry a psychological risk…

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Metaphysical Insight: Psychedelics, Noetic Experiences, and Spinoza’s God

The feeling of gaining direct knowledge of something grand or important about reality is a common aspect of mystical experiences generally and psychedelic mystical states more specifically. This is known as a noetic experience, one of the four defining qualities of a mystical experience, as propounded by the American psychologist and philosopher William James in…

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