Thighs of Steel and Microdosing Psyence
THEME: CHALLENGE ANNEKA
Life on the road.
Happy Friday! Sunday!
EXCUSES
Sorry for missing my own Friday deadline. In my defence, I was stuck on a MegaBus that decided to take a 110 minute detour through Slowsville. London Bank Holiday.
I've got a slightly different layout this week, divided into two main sections - ON THE ROAD and IN THE MIND. Let me know what you think. I'm hoping that it makes things more interesting for y'all. Love a little structure.
Without further...
ON THE ROAD
Remember last year, when I set off from London to cycle to Syria and only got as far as Vienna?*
Well, around the same time, the first Thighs of Steel rode all the way from London to Athens for charity. And they're doing it all again this year.
Earlier this week, I met Harri Symes, one of the organisers, over a couple of Old Rosy's in a Camberwell pub. It only confirmed what I already knew: This is Epic.
Thighs of Steel raises money for Khora, a community centre in Athens run by local, refugee and visiting volunteers.
I don't have to tell you what a shit storm the war in Syria (and beyond) is creating. And since the Macedonia-Greek border was closed in March 2016, tens of thousands of refugees are stuck in Athens with little in the way of support.
As Khora's co-founder Liska says: 'Look at the reality all over Europe. People will be stuck here for a really, really long time.' Everybody needs a safe place for a hot meal and a friendly chat. Everybody needs a Khora.
Last year, the ride managed to raise £48,000 - enough to cover the rent on Khora's seven storey building. How wonderful!
What's even more wonderful is that I'll be riding with the guys tomorrow on their last training ride before Le Grand Depart on 14 May. Stay tuned (or hook up with their news channels IG / FB) for more info on how you can cheer them on their oily way. (Or just go straight on and sponsor the 80-odd cyclists!)
*I will be polishing that ride off this summer, leaving from Vienna sometime in early July.
IN THE MIND
Over the last fifteen months, the idea of self-administered psychedelic microdoses has been getting more and more attention in the media.
So I was delighted to see Jim Fadiman and Sophia Korb present the results of their enquiry into microdosing (see the video below). Jim developed and popularised the standard psychedelic microdosing protocol, so yay. And now the Beckley Foundation and Imperial College London have announced the first ever scientific trial on the subject!
This is tremendous news for people who are self-administering psychedelics in this way, and for others who are interested, but understandably reluctant to try a dosing protocol for which there is no body of scientific support. Until now, there was just one abysmal study that seemed to show a risk of heart failure.
Despite decades of research demonstrating the extremely low toxicity of psychedelics, distortions in popular culture have clouded the picture. I'm looking forward to some clarity!
For those of you who don't have the time to watch Jim and Sophia's presentation (or read this excellent Vice write up), their research (based on self-reporting) seems to indicate that microdosing psychedelics can encourage positive mood in people with mild depression, but might make those with anxiety more anxious.
People without such pre-existing conditions can just enjoy the experience for a really good day - or "enhanced wellness".
James Fadiman and Sophia Korb present their results to MAPS. 1 hour viewing time, but you can listen without losing too much. If you just want Fadiman's mischievous "surprises", head straight for the last 10 minutes :)
POSITIVE CONSTRAINTS: AN UPDATE
A positive constraint is a conscious choice to restrict your behaviour in some way. Why? Because it's only by trying new modes of behaviour or exploring new environments that we learn. Besides, it's fun.
All games are bound by positive constraints - golf without the sticks is just a walk, Mouse Trap without the dice is just pest control.
NO EGO
I've just completed the first ten (free) lessons on Headspace. I won't be paying them any actual money, but those first ten x ten minutes were another refreshing toe-dip into a world of stillness.
One of my reasons for pursuing meditation is that the number one factor in whether a subject will have a "mystical-type experience" while using a psychedelic is the degree to which that person can surrender to his or her experience.
And one of the possible ways of training this ability to surrender is through meditation. Another is giving in to good music, which sounds a lot more fun.
I started counselling training this week and was struck by how similar active listening is to meditation. Meditation is about gently bringing the mind back to the process when it's monkeying around. Active listening is about gently bringing the mind's attention back to whoever is speaking.
Our tutor introduced us to a list of 12 common blocks to listening. I do ALL of these. That doesn't mean I'm winning.
NO SHAMPOO
I haven't used shampoo for a couple of weeks. My hair doesn't stink. I use bicarbonate of soda (an alkaline) mixed with water to cleanse, and lemon juice (an acid) mixed with water to condition. It's been fascinating to learn what shampoo and conditioner actually are, how they work and why we need to use them - or not. I used this guide to transition.
NO PANTS
I did this once this week. A metal zip does not a pleasant five hour bus ride make.
All of us do these little experiments, you don't have to call them positive constraints, but it'd be interesting to hear how you're messing around with remoulding your behaviour.
Inexplicably Popular on the Blog This Week
This was written after my first visit to Calais, my first encounter with the deadly realities of Fortress Europe. It was inspired by a comment made by a guy living in a squat in Calais. He'd grown up in London, but was kicked out when he turned 16.
“What’s with all this No Borders stuff? Why do you bother? It’s obviously not working.”
It’s a good question, until you see that it’s loaded. You might as well ask why the government bothers with borders, because they’re obviously not working either.
They're still not working. I still agree with 90% of what I wrote 3 years ago. I still don't really know what to do.
Cycling and talking is fun. Sometimes minds change, but mostly things stay still the same. Any ideas?
Thanks for reading! Now what?
I've really enjoyed putting together this week's missive - I hope you've enjoyed pulling it apart.
Drop me a line if you want to come cycling with the Thighs of Steel crew tomorrow. Otherwise - have a great Bank Holiday (just stay off the MegaBus).
- DC
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