Proto Gods: Exploring the Human Potential through Psychedelics

The quote “A man is but a god in ruins” by Friedrich Nietzsche raises the question of how close we are to being a god. What exactly does it mean when the Bible says that we were made in a god’s likeness? Investigating the effects of psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, on the human brain, is one way to answer this query.

The powerful psychedelic drug LSD, also known as lysergic acid diethylamide, was first created in 1938. It is renowned for causing abrupt shifts in consciousness, which can lead to altered states of perception, thought, and emotion. With some studies indicating that they may be helpful in treating mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and addiction, there has been renewed interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of LSD and other psychedelics in recent years.

One study that has drawn a lot of attention was carried out by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and his group at the Center for Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London. In this study, volunteers took LSD, and imaging methods were used to analyze their brain activity. The scientists discovered that the LSD-affected subjects’ brains shared some similarities with infant brains. The drug specifically appeared to “uncompartmentalize” the brain, allowing for increased connectivity and communication between various brain regions that are typically divided and specialized for various functions.

It’s strange to imagine how things must appear to a baby; for instance, synesthesia is a phenomenon that LSD users sometimes experience. Aldous Huxley writes about his own experiences with synesthesia in “The Doors of Perception,” a condition in which the stimulation of one sense results in an uncontrollable experience in a different sense. Someone who has synesthesia might, for instance, taste colors or see sounds.

Under the influence of mescaline, Huxley describes his own experiences with synesthesia, particularly those involving colors. He claims that the colors were more vibrant and intense than anything he had ever seen before, and that they appeared to have a “inner light” that gave them an almost lifelike appearance.

Huxley contends that the experience of synesthesia is a natural mental state and that our daily perception of reality is a kind of “reduction” of this natural state, rather than being unique to those who use psychedelic drugs. He contends that we can comprehend the world and ourselves more fully if we can free ourselves from the constraints of conditioned perception.

Our parents serve as our first god or proto-god in many ways. They are the ones who look out for us, keep us safe, and lead us on our journey through life. They are the ones who mold our morals, worldviews, and values. They are the ones who give us the resources we need to deal with life’s complexities. They assist us in realizing our own divinity and potential in some ways.

This study advances our knowledge of how LSD affects the brain and may shed light on our mind and its nature. LSD is a potent and potentially hazardous substance, though, so more study is necessary to fully comprehend its effects and potential dangers.

Interesting questions about the nature of the human mind and its potential are raised by the concept of being a “god in ruins” and the experience of an uncompartmentalized brain while using LSD. What does it say about our inherent abilities as humans if our brains can process more information and work in a different way depending on the situation? Is it possible that we have unrealized potential and undiscovered abilities? Furthermore, the notion that we are created in the likeness of a god implies that we possess some divine qualities, possibly including the ability to be great, compassionate, creative, and knowledgeable about the mysteries of the cosmos. We have only begun to fully comprehend the capabilities of the human brain, which is an incredibly complex and potent organ. Perhaps we as humans are more divine than we currently believe.