A detail showing the Holy Spirit from Cathedra Petri by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in St. Peter’s … [+]
We are living in a time marked by increasing financial instability and growing concerns about mental health. A discourse has begun, aiming to address both issues, and it is converging on the intersection of bitcoin and psychedelic research.
Though this combination may seem unexpected, many in the bitcoin community believe the two are naturally interconnected. This connection finds its roots during the Nixon era, a period of historical shifts and decisions that have shaped today’s world.
Maxx Mannheimer, a bitcoiner and holotropic philosopher, touches on the narrative in an article he published in 2022. He discusses the relationship between these topics, ”Today, very few recognize the direct link between the global mental health crisis and the mounting burden of debt placed upon individuals as well as nations. If more people understood this link and its full implications, I believe they would stop everything they are doing and focus on this.”
Tom Taber, co-founder of Montana Sagrada explains the concept further; “Bitcoin and plant medicine both encourage self-discovery and responsibility, emphasizing the pursuit of meaningful life values over instant gratification. While neither is a magical fix, if one walks such a path long enough, it can only result in positive outcomes.”
Shane Hazel brings first-hand experience to this discussion. As a former Force Recon Marine, he now advocates for natural medicine and bitcoin. Psychedelic therapy has helped him manage long-standing PTSD symptoms through various stages of his life.
Since learning about the existing monetary system through the lens of bitcoin, Shane has developed a different perspective on his experiences as a veteran, “The American Empire is backed by a war machine, built on the infinite lie of debt-based fiat money that it exports around the world. This system is used to lay claim to resources, topple governments, and slaughter innocent people.”
After spending 17 months in active combat and many more managing the consequences of what he experienced during two deployments, Shane has come to see bitcoin as a solution to ongoing military action. “Bitcoin is systematically burning out the fiat cancer that has incentivized never-ending war, and it is simultaneously igniting millions of souls to the mission of peace, freedom, and love of their fellow man.”
Maxx also characterizes bitcoin as a psychologically transformative technology. He says, ‘”Studying bitcoin has a tendency to cause people to question their assumptions. Following that process results in a continuous liberation from unconsciousness and subsequently from the seeming inevitability of violence. Profound psychedelic experiences often have a similar effect.”
SEA OF CORTEZ, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO – 2015/02/19: Sunrise with beautiful cloud formations at San … [+]
In offering a note of caution, Maxx added, “I want to be perfectly clear in what I communicate. Psychedelics are not a panacea and not everyone will benefit from using them, especially without proper precautions. People are waking up to the profound potential here, but I don’t want to see a repeat of the mess that unfolded in the 60s. These medicines need to be treated with respect.”
The current context into which psychedelics emerge finds its backdrop in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a defining era in American history. This period was marked by President Nixon’s War on Drugs and a significant economic shift as the U.S. officially departed from the gold standard in 1971.
Maxx links these two historical decisions, “Classifying psychedelics as a Schedule I drug in 1970 severed the connection between people and their intuition. When the US officially came off the gold standard in 1971, it severed the link between money and energy. It is my belief that these things cannot be kept separate.”
Nixon’s stance on drugs resulted in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which categorized psychedelics as a Schedule I drug, which meant psychedelics were classified as highly addictive with no medical use. Following that classification, research into the productive applications of these substances has nearly halted. However, recent studies that have resumed are showing positive results.
During the same time period, the U.S. dollar experienced significant debasement after moving away from being a gold-backed currency. The shift away from the gold standard in 1971 resulted in a huge increase in the U.S. government’s sovereign debt, from $398 billion at that time to exceeding $34 trillion today.
The U.S. defence budget during this period was over $21 trillion, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the current debt. This shift, which occurred in 1971, has had lasting effects, shaping the societal and economic challenges that Maxx, Tom, and Shane address through their work.
Maxx points out, “‘At their core, the psychedelic movement and the bitcoin movement have an ethos of liberation, sovereignty, and voluntary cooperation. Today they are viewed as taboo because they represent a fundamental departure from the constant societal turmoil most people consider normal.”
Despite their potential to improve mental health treatment, psychedelics are largely misunderstood and under-researched, hindered by decades-old legislation which is ignoring the benefits of psychedelics. Similarly, bitcoin’s potential to curb inflation, provide banking services to the unbanked, enhance financial inclusivity, and reduce global remittance costs is largely unrecognized, with public opinion on bitcoin still shaped by poorly researched opposition.
“In our society, many feel a sense of unease and disconnection, leading them to question their participation in society,” Tom says. “Psychedelics offer a path to introspection and healing, allowing individuals to untangle inner turmoil and gain a balanced perspective on life. In a similar way, bitcoin empowers individuals to take control of their financial future, providing hope, freedom, and stability that can enhance internal well-being.”
The historical decisions of the 1970s have contributed to a present where the need for alternative perspectives on value and health is increasingly apparent. Due to half a century of prohibition, some are more apprehensive about speaking publicly, but many within the broader bitcoin community share a passion for the potential of psychedelics.
The individuals pioneering new financial approaches and exploring psychedelic therapy may be paving the way towards a more holistic understanding of the social challenges we are facing.
The Converging Interest Between Psychedelic Therapy And Bitcoin – Forbes
