Comment by pjio

8 months ago

Those studies should also include if the individuals taking substances become better or worse for the lives of the people around them in a sustainable way.

They did, if you read the study linked in the article. The individuals who took psilocybin mostly became more open, compassionate, and grounded in their spiritual roles. They reported feeling more deeply connected to their faith communities, more empathetic in their pastoral care, and more authentic in how they engaged with others. And the changes were still evident over a year later, long after the acute effects of the substance had passed. What shifted wasn’t just mood or perspective but the felt sense of purpose and interconnection. Many described themselves as more present, more patient, and more attuned to the emotional and spiritual needs of those they served. Their beliefs became less rigid, their egos softened, and their sense of service deepened. For the people around them the net result was almost universally positive. Not in a grandiose or abstract way, but in the quiet, daily patterns of being more available, less judgmental, and more aligned with what they had always claimed to teach.

“Participants often described becoming more open and understanding toward others’ beliefs, feeling greater love for those they serve, and experiencing renewed clarity in their spiritual leadership.”