A criticism leveled against using psychedelics for therapeutic work, efforts towards enlightenment, spiritual connection, and meditative practices is that it is a shortcut. The implication is that shortcuts are bad, that we deserve good things only if we spend decades of herculean effort to achieve them.

Some people get to live early adult lives with regulated emotional systems, solid self-esteem, and a belief in the general goodness of the world and its ability to meet their basic needs. They get that from good enough parents who love them sufficiently and reliably and from a stable home situation that is free from significant trauma. That is really fabulous and what we all hope to provide for our own children.

Most of us, however, enter adult........

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