sasha shulgin – An Autonomous Agent / exploring the noosphere Sun, 26 Nov 2017 04:56:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3 PiKHAL: A Chemical Love Story and TiHKAL: The Continuation – Alexander and Ann Shulgin /2017/10/pikhal-and-tihkal/ /2017/10/pikhal-and-tihkal/#disqus_thread Sat, 14 Oct 2017 02:46:19 +0000 /?p=1945 Let me provide a context so that you may understand my amazement with the chemical explorations of Alexander Shulgin. Did you know that the two principal neurotransmitters in the human body are dopamine and serotonin? Did you know that they belong to the phenethylamine and tryptamine chemical families, respectively? I find this simple observation to be of fundamental importance in understanding the human mind/body relationship. And now consider that Ann and Alex Shulgins’ books: PiKHAL (Phenethylamines I have known and loved) and TiKHAL (Tryptamines I have known and loved) explore both these chemical families and their effects on the human mind and body. Quick summary of well-known psychedelic chemicals:

Phenethylamines Tryptamines
Dopamine Serotonin
Mescaline DMT
MDA Psilocybin
MDMA Psilocin
2C Family Ibogaine
LSD? LSD

LSD is complex and has both chemical structures, but most people emphasize that the effects of LSD are related primarily to its tryptamine backbone and interaction with human serotonin receptors.

Ann and Alexander Shulgin’s books are a groundbreaking revelation for their accounts of psychedelic exploration, therapy, and spiritual development. They are a mix of essays and stories. You will not regret reading the books and learning about the chemicals referenced in the second half of the books.

An interesting note: In PiKHAL, the fictional character Adam Fisher is based on Leo Zeff, a talented psychotherapist who worked with MDMA; you can read all about his therapy work in The Secret Chief Revealed by Myron J. Stolaroff.

]]> /2017/10/pikhal-and-tihkal/feed/ 0 The Scientist – Raphael Mechoulam /2016/11/the-scientist-raphael-mechoulam/ /2016/11/the-scientist-raphael-mechoulam/#disqus_thread Fri, 11 Nov 2016 02:13:07 +0000 https://anautonomousagent.com/?p=1629 The Scientist details the life and work of Raphael Mechoulam, the grandfather of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). He stands in that class of wonderful thinkers which includes people like Albert Hofmann, Alexander Shulgin, among others.

]]> /2016/11/the-scientist-raphael-mechoulam/feed/ 0 The Philosopher’s Stone – LSD documentary /2016/06/the-philosophers-stone-lsd-documentary/ /2016/06/the-philosophers-stone-lsd-documentary/#disqus_thread Mon, 13 Jun 2016 01:08:13 +0000 https://anautonomousagent.com/?p=1574 A wonderful collection of talks given at the 100th birthday celebration of Albert Hofmann in 2006.

The Philosopher’s Stone – LSD documentary : Part 1

The Philosopher’s Stone – LSD documentary : Part 2

]]> /2016/06/the-philosophers-stone-lsd-documentary/feed/ 0 Dirty Pictures (2010) – Alexander and Ann Shulgin Documentary /2016/03/dirty-pictures-2010-alexander-and-ann-shulgin-documentary/ /2016/03/dirty-pictures-2010-alexander-and-ann-shulgin-documentary/#disqus_thread Sat, 19 Mar 2016 17:59:04 +0000 https://anautonomousagent.com/?p=1481 Excellent documentary about Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin and his work!

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