The first phase 2a clinical trial with BPL-003, a novel intranasal benzoate salt formulation of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), was conducted as an open-label proof-of-concept study for the treatment of moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. The aim of this study was to assess safety and tolerability of BPL-003. Twelve participants received a single dose of 10 mg intranasally via a dry powder intranasal spray device with 3 pre-dose preparation sessions and 3 post-dose integration sessions over 12 weeks of follow-up. Reduction in alcohol use was reported, with abstinent days increasing from 33.2% at baseline to 80.8% at week 12. Reductions in craving, and improvement in quality-of-life measurements were also reported; however, all efficacy outcomes were exploratory, and confirmation will be needed in larger controlled clinical trials. Mild to moderate adverse events were reported as expected in most patients on the day of dosing and included administration site pain (30%), transient blood pressure elevation (30%), nightmares (15%), and nausea (15%). Two participants reported short flashbacks days after dosing, with one reported as seeing lights and experiencing “non-distressing” physical sensations; participants were aware of their surroundings during the events. Overall, BPL-003 was safe, well tolerated, and shows promise as a new treatment option for alcohol use disorder. Marsden J, Kelleher M, Dunbar F, et al. 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) for alcohol use disorder: An open-label, phase 2, proof-of-concept, clinical trial. Addiction. 2025 Dec 10. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70260 Phase 1 BPL-003 trial: 10.1038/s41598-025-22620-z

L1: For the desired outcome of a ceremony to occur, your intention must be fully congruent with your current neurocognitive, emotional, and physiological states. L2: There are no shortcuts, you have to place your foot on all the rungs of the stepladder. You may spend more time on those you have skipped in the past. L3: The "outcome" might have a form you will only recognize days after the retreat. I don’t know if this makes sense to anyone.

We've all heard the spiritual talk: "Meditation can dissolve the ego," or "True enlightenment is just a moment away." But how does that stack up against a chemical shortcut, like a powerful psychedelic? ​Imperial College London, led by Dr. Chris Timmermann, decided to find out. They put one of the world's most advanced Mahamudra meditators—a Lama with 17 years and over ten thousand hours of practice—into the lab. ​The question that drives this research? Can the sense of self switch off in more than one way? ​The Experiment: Nond Gual vs. 5-MeO-DMT ​This was a first-of-its-kind experiment. They directly compared the Lama's brain and self-awareness across three different conditions, all within one protocol: - ​Nond Gual Meditation: The Lama entered a deep meditative state where the boundary between "me" and the world softened. He reported clarity and equanimity. - ​Low Dose 5-MeO-DMT: A small dose of the psychedelic, which brought imagery, emotional shifts, and a quieter sense of self. - ​High Dose 5-MeO-DMT: A stronger dose that completely removed the body and the environment, leaving only a bright, empty awareness. The Lama described the awareness as subtle, with no notion of the "gross aspect of self". ​They tracked brain data, psychological ratings, and interviews moment-by-moment. ​🧠 What the Brain Waves Told Us ​Brain rhythms are just electrical waves that shift with different states of mind. The recordings revealed some seriously intriguing differences: - ​Nond Gual Meditation & Low Dose 5-MeO: The brain became quieter and more stable. Alpha activity (linked to calm focus and a quiet mind) increased, and gamma activity (linked to active thinking and intense sensory processing) dropped. - ​High Dose 5-MeO: This was a different beast entirely. Gamma activity increased, and the signal became chaotic. The brain signal showed high Neural Entropy (a measure of chaotic brain signal), matching the flood of intense internal experience. - - The Big Takeaway: An AI trained on the Lama's nond Gual brain activity recognized the low dose of 5-MeO as similar—they shared an overlapping neural signature. But the AI did not recognize the high dose.

For somme months now, the first minute after waking up or the one before I fall asleep, I experience a vibratory sensation, as if a slight and pleasant electric current is traversing my whole body. This sensation has gone another dimension during the last retreat, one sleepless night (they all were), as I felt like a rain of sparkling water was entering my body and stayed there sparkling for a while. As long as this sensation lasts, I feel peace, almost bliss. I reminds me of what I experienced during my second ceremony, last year. Then the mind starts its working day and the bliss quickly fades away. Sometimes during tre day, I can perceive from the heights of the cerebral cortex the sparkling water set to work... This morning, for the first time, I could temporarily quiet the mind and reconnect with the sensation. The light is gaining ground.

Before you were born, your soul made a sacred agreement to enrol in the Divine Curriculum of Earth School for the purpose of transformation and healing. Within this journey, your shadow is one of the most powerful teachers, revealing the parts of yourself you resist or hide, unhealed wounds, hidden fears and untapped potential. Your shadow mirrors the duality of your existence, the contrast between light and dark that is you. And it shapes the human experience. By embracing it, you reclaim the power it holds. This integration is the alchemy of transforming pain into purpose, and darkness into light. You are not your darkness, but I trust what you’ve learned there to be the tool to spark this. Your shadow shows me the height of your light. We’ll spin and we’ll freeze, melt, break, and bring the sun into night. Inquire with purpose, bring light to the circus. The moments truth speaks make all doubt sound worthless. It’s all such a dream. Breathe, stitch the seam. So what is the beam that your belt’s down from star? It illuminates love and stands right where you are. What is that scar that you wear on your chest? Hang on to love and let go of the rest. You are not your pain, but I see the wisdom it left behind. Every scar, a map, a memory, a guide to the truth you’ll find deep inside. Your wounds let the light seep through, revealing the beauty of all you’ve been through. Bring God to the surface in all that you do. Allow unconditional love to flow through all parts of you. Embrace every shadow, every flaw, every part. For within them lies the whole of your heart. Trust in the journey both calm and wild. Through the depths you free your inner child. This life is a dance between peace and stress. Hold on to love. Let go of the rest.