deleted by creator

Crocodiles are reptiles, right?

They actually joke about it in the show, screaming “Aah, a crocodile”, and it’s just some woman working there. Same with the director being a lion, I believe.

The exhibit has turtles and penguins.

https://streamable.com/emqc0v

That is perfectly fine, you do you.

However, if your mind is already set that way and you don’t want to expand your knowledge on the topic, there is nothing to be gained by simply expressing your disagreement and inability to understand another viewpoint - none of that benefits our discussion, and people may feel offended by the stubborn and quick dismissal of their stance.

That being said, spirituality is not a faith. Etymologically, we could argue that spirituality is closely related to religion, to Christianity even, and the desire to bridge the gap between man and god. That’s not how the term is typically used nowadays and would in fact confuse many people who are not aware of its original meaning.

It is absolutely possible to still interpret spirituality in a religious context, but it is no longer necessary to do so. Many people consider themselves to be non-religious or atheist and still express confidence and trust in spirituality. What spirituality means for these people should be defined on a case by case basis, but it can simply be about becoming a better person, finding ways to be content (or even happy) in life, or to find a greater, existential meaning. None of these things are necessarily connected to faith or any idea of a pantheon, salvation etc.

I do not know where you get your ideas about spirituality, about psychedelics etc., but I must say I find those views somewhat antiquated and maybe a bit hostile - they remind me a bit of the criticism the Hippie movement faced, and they’re certainly not overly nuanced. I can only implore you to try and find something positive in those things, something that speaks to you and that you can accept - you don’t have to agree with the conclusion, the lifestyle, or any individual aspect of it, but any time someone dismisses an entire field / movement / idea etc., it’s probably time to step back a bit and reconsider. I feel that should also be true for both psychedelics and spirituality.

I assume you don’t have a lot of experience with psychedelics, based on the fact that you believe these substances help you avoiding reality. Part of the recently re-discovered, therapeutical properties of psychedelics are due to the fact that they make you face your realities (and their general effect on the default mode network, of course).

Also, A. muscaria has been used for thousands of years, e. g. very likely as part of the Vedic Soma, or as ingredient in Haoma in Iran. The use of the mushroom has also been documented in Siberia, where, if your beliefs align with Alice Beck Kehoe, the only “real” shamans are located.

This is not a new development.

That being said, the effects of A. muscaria are probably not what people would think of when they think about psychedelics. As such, I don’t believe the majority of users would believe they are “connecting with the cosmos” in the first place.

Edit: Marketing the product as psychedelic alternative under the guise of allowing consumers to “connect with the cosmos” is a completely different (and despicable) beast, sure.

I’d like to propose the theory that being naked with your partner in a hotel room, on shrooms, might not be exactly the environment / setting most conductive to personal growth and introspection.

As you said, it’s fun, so you might have just marveled at the experience. The medical setting is a controlled environment, with clear goals, setup, protocol and licensed professionals on site. Also, the integration step after the experience is crucial for therapeutic success.

High-fiving your partner after having what can potentially be amazing shroom sex doesn’t count as integration / therapy. Mind you, I don’t mean to be offensive in any way, what you described is amazing and fun, but probably not therapy. It’s okay to do every so often though.

Also, very experienced people can attain therapeutic effects tripping on their own, but that’s generally not recommended at all. Shrooms have incredible potential, but it’s not a cure-all medicine that mystically solves all mental issues simply by tripping - you still have to put in the work.

I’d like to dispel the notion that shrooms replace therapy - they assist it greatly.