This excerpt is taken from Sky Gods and the Recipe for Immortality: the unseen impact of psychoactivity on science, society, and spirituality.

The realms of psychoactivity, spirituality, and psychology are intricately intertwined. Similar to shamans and religious leaders, psychologists aim to confront and alleviate inner turmoil. Pioneers of contemporary psychology, Sigmund Freud and William James, were enthusiastic explorers of the mind.

James' investigations into psychoactive substances contributed significantly to understanding human consciousness and religious experiences. His explorations even played a role in forming the philosophical movement of pragmatism. As described by OpenAI's GPT-4:

> “In philosophy, James is renowned for developing pragmatism, articulated in various writings, including Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking. Pragmatism asserts that the truth or worth of an idea should be assessed based on its practical impacts and benefits, rather than abstract or metaphysical standards.”

The unconventional psychologist from Harvard engaged with a variety of psychoactive substances throughout his life, including nitrous oxide (often referred to as laughing gas), ether, and peyote. These substances were tools for him to explore fundamental questions of consciousness and to gain insights into mystical experiences.

Among these, laughing gas was particularly favored, enjoying popularity as a psychoactive agent during the Victorian period.

Today, laughing gas is often used recreationally. However, due to concerns about potential neurological harm and anti-social behavior, UK lawmakers recently categorized its possession as illegal. According to the BBC:

> “Nitrous oxide is frequently utilized as an anesthetic in medical and dental settings, as well as a gas for whipped cream in culinary applications.”

Why do humans persistently seek out and often attempt to control the vast array of psychoactive experiences?

Psychology traverses ambiguous, psychoactive, and supernatural domains, complicating its scientific examination. Human behavior is unpredictable, and consciousness possesses nearly infinite complexity. Freud and James, though deeply engaged with psychoactive experiences, were also meticulous observers of the intricate tapestry of human life.

Research into the supernatural, like that of Harvard psychologist John Mack or DMT researcher Rick Strassman, reveals that individuals frequently encounter remarkably peculiar phenomena.

By employing pragmatic and systematic approaches to study the psyche, we can glean significant insights about humanity at large, extending even to political realms. Dr. Mark Plotkin, a protégé of the Harvard psychonaut Richard Schultes, humorously remarked:

> “One often overlooked aspect of William James is that he actually took peyote; thus, its exploration at Harvard started with him 50 years before Schultes. That said, I must point out that James didn’t have a favorable reaction to peyote; it made him very ill. He much preferred nitrous oxide. In fact, he noted that it was only after taking nitrous oxide that he began to comprehend Hegel. Personally, I also indulged in plenty of nitrous oxide in college, and I still don’t grasp Hegel!”

Hegel's dialectical process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis permeates modern political and philosophical discourse as a method to reconcile differences. In the political sphere, this mystical framework ideally leads to bipartisan cooperation. OpenAI further elucidates:

> “Hegelian dialectic illustrates the progression of human consciousness: from an instinct-driven primal state as the thesis, to the emergence of self-awareness and existential inquiry as the antithesis. These opposing states ultimately merge into a synthesis — a refined state of consciousness.”

As initiates of the Eleusinian Mysteries, figures like Solon and Plato contributed to the Atlantean legacy preserved by Egyptian scholars. Democracy itself has roots in the mystical Eleusinian concoction, which included opium and LSD-ergot. Concurrently, the concepts of psyche or soul articulated by ancient Greek philosophers often challenge the principles of logos or pragmatism.

Psychology, as a discipline founded by esoteric explorers like Freud, Jung, and James, is riddled with paradoxes. Subjective human experiences frequently transcend spatial and temporal boundaries, defying objective rationality. For centuries, shamans, priests, and artists have attempted to articulate higher states of consciousness through mystical art, sacred texts, and rituals.

Is it possible to study the supernatural using objective scientific methods? Consider the notorious site known as Skinwalker Ranch, which has been a focal point for investigating supernatural occurrences, often with government backing.

Backed by advocates for UFO disclosure, including the late Senator Harry Reid, this site has garnered pop culture fame, rivaling other paranormal hotspots like the Bermuda Triangle. An article from the University of Alabama in Huntsville elaborates:

> “The mere name evokes chills for enthusiasts of the paranormal. Located in northeastern Utah, this 512-acre area is notorious for a range of phenomena, from poltergeist activities and crop circles to UFO sightings, dangerous electromagnetic anomalies, and cattle mutilations… it is also rumored to be cursed by an ancient Navajo spell invoking frightening shapeshifters called Skinwalkers.”

Colm Kelleher, an immunologist who researched the ranch, once speculated on the sensational reports of cattle mutilations extending far beyond Skinwalker. In his book Brain Trust, he posits:

> “When the cattle-related illness known as Mad Cow Disease emerged in America in 2003, officials quickly assured the public that the outbreak was contained and posed no threat to the general populace…

> What was not disclosed was that the origins of the illness may have existed here for over twenty-five years… potentially hidden in the significant rise of Alzheimer’s cases since 1979…

> Are the cattle mutilations reported over the past thirty years part of a covert program aimed at monitoring how far these deadly prions have infiltrated the nation’s livestock and beef supply?”

The speculation connecting cattle mutilations to clandestine government activities is not entirely new, and historically, it has been associated with occult, religious, and supernatural explanations. A researcher from Pennsylvania State University noted in 1991:

> “Between 1973 and 1980, vast stretches of the American Great Plains experienced intense excitement, sometimes escalating into panic, as ranchers reported peculiar deaths among their cattle. The animals seemed to be slaughtered and drained of blood; in numerous instances, their reproductive organs, eyes, or tongues appeared to be excised with surgical precision.”

While many skeptics argued that the cattle had died of natural causes and were subsequently scavenged by common predators, numerous ranchers and investigators leaned towards three more sinister possibilities:

1. Satanic cults sacrificed the cattle as part of bizarre religious rituals, drinkin