Great topic El_Gostro and kudos to Rhyme or Reason for encouraging you to start a thread. I'll share my experience from having been a poster child for 'Just Say No' to mindful psychedelic user / shaman.
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I've been wondering how many people associate or even advocate the use of drugs (legal and illegal) with states of creativity and inspiration.
I ,of course, am also implying how many times,I-as a person who does art-been asked what kinds of drugs I took to get inspired and how much
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And if I could use my pencils it was in spite rather than because of my temprary intoxication and in general the results were quite shitty and my memory from being under the influence of a drug is always one of haziness and disorientation,not of creativeness.
What I consider my most twisted or greatest work whether we are talking simplicity,subtleness or complexity comes from a very sober state of mind.
I believe that we are all totally awake, real, creative, and natural the moment we are born. Babies are magical for this reason and why psychologically health people love being around children. They remind us of our own child-like innocence and openness. But most of us also experience trauma throughout our lives which might cover up our light or make us believe we've lost our creativity completely (which isn't ever true). The light doesn't go out, but we might not shine as brightly so like a window washer, it's important to find the tools that work best for us to clear away the junk that covers our brilliance without causing more trauma in the process! I wrote a post about uncovering your unique talents or genius.
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I find inspiration through a combination of 1) being in nature 2) infrequent & intentional psychedelic journeys 3) daily spiritual practice / physical exercise 4) having playful relationships and dialogue with other creative people. Sometimes it's women I date, sometimes talks online, sometimes stand-up comedy, sometimes taking a drive, or walking on the beach, or hiking in the mountains, or a wild night out in a group, or grocery story talks with people I'll never meet again. I used to be very shy and didn't engage people but I was missing out on a lot of potential connections and inspiration, plus sharing my gifts – just your presence, a smile or laugh can be a gift to someone and inspire them.
Psychedelics are a powerful healing medicine known for millenia to clear away internal blocks that would impede creativity and inspiration, plus are powerful aids to spiritual awakening. I think anyone who has used psychedelics can agree that you generally become more relaxed, open, and engaging with the world - at least the more natural psychedelics like mushrooms, cannabis. The more 'electric' or man-made substances (or natural ones taken in excess or in a dark mindset or chaotic setting) can be very disembodying and cause more trauma. Using psychedelics as a crutch (along with alcohol, drugs, sex, food, whatever) is too easy for artistic / creative / tortured souls and that misuse creates dependency and more misery. Some of us have to go down that path for a time (I have, several times) and hopefully recover so we don't get lost in the darkness. Having a good friend to provide support and keep you honest is priceless, which this forum can assist with. If someone feels they NEED any substance to be creative then perhaps therapy (and there are various ways) or spiritual practice are needed more.
I'd encourage an aspiring artist to read Rainer Maria Rilke's 'Letters to a Young Poet'. Probably the most beautiful and inspiring works from a man who was deeply committed to his art and wanted to inspire others to discover and live theirs.
http://www.carrothers.com/rilke_main.htm
I also really like David Deida's take in this 'Function Flow Glow' series. He makes clear the difference between therapeutic modalities to correct dysfunction, energetic . artistic practices to move energy and express our creativity, and spiritual practices to realize we are the Light (to awaken to our true nature). Sometimes someone who is very artistically talented might be rather dysfunctional (drinks, abuses women, chain smokes i.e. Salvador Dali). Their dysfunction may fuel their creativity, but can also lead to self-destruction. I like how Deida says that often it’s in temporary moments of extreme contrast that our creativity comes forth. So putting yourself in situations where you’re outside a normal routine can trigger … something! ‘Function Flow Glow’ also relates to creating dynamic relationships. I’ve been to a Deida workshop - pretty good stuff.
I find listening to Terence McKenna to be hallucinogenic, mostly in a positive way but listening too much can be a bad trip (IMO). If you listen to him describing his views of reality and experiences in altered states it'll feel like you're going there. I believe he is a bit too 'mother gaia' focused and anti-capitalism to relate to most of us but that goes into another realm and off-topic. I say this to acknowledge I feel McKenna has great value but is not infallible or omniscient.
McKenna's descriptions about the Eleusinian Mysteries are compelling viewing / listening. These Mysteries were part of an annual ceremony in the Greek world held for over 2,000 years. It focused around what is almost certainly an orally ingested psychedelic brew taken by everyone entering the Temple of Eleusis at the beginning of the ceremony. The distinctive elements of this rite are 1) it was open to everyone from slaves to senators, 2) you could attend but once in your lifetime, and 3) you could tell no one else about under pain of death. This ceremony would be like the acid trip to end all trips and seems to have energized rather than debilitated the Greek culture. There is widespread evidence of mindful psychedelic use and a strong likelihood that psychedelics were partly responsible for the inspiration of cave art going back tens of thousands of years. McKenna's 'stoned ape' theory is interesting. There is modern medical evidence that psilocybin (the primary psycho-active ingredient in magic mushrooms) grows brain cells, and small doses are responsible for improvements in visual acuity.
On the personal side, I have had a limited number of trips - about 5 come to mind of varying strength and inspirational power. I definitely respect the power of cannabis taken orally vs. smoked. I was goofy and loopy when smoking but had an ‘outer limits’ type trip when eating even 1/8th of a cookie in a solitary context. Very powerful, very disorienting, but you feel when you come back that you’ve passed through some ordeal. I could write stories or paint pictures of things I saw on several journeys and that’s certainly where art can come from.. but again, it’s not something to play with or take lightly (IMO/IME).
Dan Hardy, an MMA fighter, has a great talk on London Real about this. Really dig his approach!
Graham Hancock's 'Supernatural' is a great work that ties in psychedelic usage to tribal societies around the world. Shamans who take ayahuasca often create amazing paintings afterward.
Alex Grey is famous for his art inspired by (I believe) ayahuasca. I found this TEDx talk by him which I haven’t yet seen:
I would advise anyone who plans to use psychedelics to first find someone they can trust as a guide and also start very slowly. It's always easier to add more than to take too much and wish you'd backed down. I have not done a 'heroic' dose of magic mushrooms yet (only 1/5 of a bag so far) but even that little amount opened me up, made me feel cleaner, more creative, more loving, and more calmly determined. Just like with lifting weights, you don't start off going for the moon. Also, consider if you need therapy first or in conjunction with psychedelics.