Prying Open My Third Eye

I found this in my Drafts:

Researchers at the John's Hopkins School of Medicine released a paper today [July 11, 2006] discussing the spiritual effects of psilocybin (better known as magic mushrooms).

The study showed that the compound "can induce spiritual experiences descriptively identical to spontaneous ones people have reported for centuries".

While religious types were quick to criticize the study, I think it's important to note that none of the participants said their experiences devalued their religious traditions, but rather the opposite. The study also seemed to confirm the idea that set and setting have a major effect on the experiences that are had while using the compound.

Studies like this are good steps in the exploration of the links between the spiritual and metaphysical.