Today’s batch features fall colors of both plants and birds, with the photos taken by UC Davis ecologist Susan Harrison. Susan’s captions are indented, and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.
Fall colors, and a different kind of travelogue
As the events of November unfolded, I went off on an alternative type of nature appreciation trip: that is, I availed myself of Oregon’s opportunity to legally consume psilocybin mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis) in a safe and guided therapeutic setting. Michael Pollan’s recent book had made a good case for the value of “changing your mind” via taking such a journey (as its practitioners call it).
Ineffability, or the sense of meaningfulness far beyond words, is one of the hallmarks of psychedelics. So all I’ll say about my journey – since it’s relevant to a Reader’s Wildlife post – is that it engendered all-consuming feelings of appreciation for these things: the world’s astonishing beauty, the sharing of beauty with others, gratitude, and laughter.
In the ensuing days, what better way to nurture such thoughts than to wander around in the fall colors with a camera? Here is some of the beauty that I’m grateful for the chance to share, mainly from Ashland’s Lithia Park (the last two are from North Mountain Park).
The red foliage is various ornamental maples (Acer), the large yellow leaves belong to the native bigleaf maple (Acer macrophylla), the tall conifers are coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), and there’s a late-blooming azalea (Rhododendron):
The birds are courting Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa), a Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) and a Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus):
These photos are incredibly lovely…even to my staid, unaltered consciousness. Thanks, Susan!
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Agree!
Thanks for this one. Yep, sure can be fun. the smallest things quite remarkable. Why, I remember back when we…
As someone said: if you remember the sixties, you weren’t really there…..
Sure, I get that, but I never liked that cute slogan because it’s simply not true — unless it was blackout drunkenness or narcotics/depressant abuse. Plenty of that. If you remember the sixties — or 70’s — it’s because it was truly memorable. In 1970 Feb 14 in Madison Paul Krassner led an interesting discussion around acid & memory.
Jeez. Lighten up please. I always saw it as simply a joke.
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Just gorgeous photos!
Love the composition, the color palette, the wild symmetry – a feeling like being home, in a way… opening the doors of perception..
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Beautiful, beautiful photos. I really miss autumn up north.
Thanks Susan, autumn colours indeed the cameras eye gives a little insight into Psilocybe cubensis and its workings 😁 That striking wood duck on the goldern pond shot, nature just turns it on even when no one is looking (or does it, hehe)
… my OB kicks in I want to tilt it down on the right 😊 Incessant brain chatter IS anoying when you just need to observe… or listen.
Your photos are beautiful and moving, thank you.
I would be interested to hear more about your psilocybin experience, maybe it could be a whole post?
The world is astonishingly beautiful, and I’m grateful to you for sharing your journey and photos!
Beautiful photos and colors. Tell us more about your Psilocybin experience! Mentioning that but not getting into it leaves us wanting.
I have always wondered if mystics throughout history were individuals who had unusually high levels of endogenous psilocin or DMT. It has been speculated that those who work hard at disciplines such as Tantra sometimes acquire some minimal ability to voluntarily increase their levels of these endogenous substances. But who knows?
I too would love to learn much more about a Psilocybin experience, both specifically to your own “trip” and more generally. And is Oregon the only state where this experience is legal?
Thanks for the nice comments and interest. Colorado is the other state besides Oregon where these guided journeys are legal. There’s pre-journey preparation (discussing your intentions and issues with your facilitator; plus as much meditation, journaling, etc. as you choose to do) and also post-journey “integration” (more of the same activities, to help hang onto what you learned). The facilitator stays with you through the journey but keeps quiet unless you need help. I’d be happy to write more at some point!
Absolutely fascinating; I had no idea!
Thanks Susan, autumn colours indeed the cameras eye gives a little insight into Psilocybe cubensis and its workings 😁 That striking wood duck on the goldern pond shot, nature just turns it on even when no one is looking (or does it, hehe)
… my OB kicks in I want to tilt it down on the right 😊 the Incessant brain chatter IS anoying when you just need to observe… or listen.