Valentine's Day: Expanding the Definition of Love with Psychedelics

Ah, Valentine’s Day — has there ever been a more decisive holiday?

Certainly, while it fills some with warm tingles, for others it’s like a bucket of cold, icy dejection — poured right over the head.

Luckily, despite decades of rom-com indoctrination, the parameters of what kærlighed er, or what it kan være, is widening and softening. Love is a broad spectrum that comes in many forms and textures. All magical, and all worth celebrating.

Fejring af alle former for kærlighed på Valentinsdag

For anyone who’s tripped on magic mushrooms or magic truffles before, you’ll know all about the waves of love for life, the universe and everything that wash over you. Love is the deep connection that both grounds and frees us in the world. By recognizing it in all its forms we get to enrich our lives with its glow. Sounds pretty good, eh? But how do you get started?

From friendship-love, to familial love, to self-love, to nature-love, to yes, — of course — romantic love; we are going to explore the ways you can enhance these connections in your life. From wellness practices, to taking magic mushrooms, to reminders on how to support your loved ones: we’ve got it all covered.

Kærlighed er godt for dit helbred

If you’re still feeling skeptical, here’s something that might pique your interest.

Did you know that love is actually good for your health?

It turns out that having loving relationships in our lives — of any kind — can make big differences in the long-term. Spending time with loved ones can reduce stress, anxiety, Additionally, those with a strong social support tend to heal better if they er er blevet syg.

It is obvious to us that healthy eating and exercise can be beneficial to our health, therefore many people adjust their lives accordingly. However, it is worth remembering that some of the most important benefits are invisible. Looking after your relationships mean looking after yourself too. A relationship based on give og tage... Det er det, jeg kalder kærlighed!

Romantisk kærlighed

Romantic love is the bread-and-butter of Valentine’s Day but it doesn’t have to be commercial. A truly romantic gesture is to think about what your partner really loves. Pick out a movie to watch that means something to them — whether it’s their childhood favorite, one they’ve been longing to see for a while, or even the first one you watched together.

Or, think about what they’ve shared with you recently. It should go without saying, but sometimes simply listening to your partner and Høring det vigtigste er, hvad de har at sige. Har de været stressede og klaget over arbejdet? Book dem en massage eller en spa-dag. Har de talt om at udvide deres horisont? Giv dem et abonnement på en lydbogstjeneste, eller start jeres egen bogklub sammen!

Many couples also enjoy taking psychedelic trips together. Psilocybin, fra magiske svampe og trøfler kan dæmpe vores egoer og sænke vores hæmninger, hvilket betyder, at du kan genopfriske eller uddybe din intimitet as a couple. Psychologist and founder of rehabilitation centre TATVA, Kripi Malviya, fortalte Vice Magazine i et interview;

"Du føler dig mere attraktiv og flygtig på psykedeliske stoffer, så der er en følelse af selvtransformation, som så bliver til en transformation sammen med en partner,"

Mange par, der beskriver, at de rejser sammen, understreger, hvordan oplevelsen har hjulpet dem til at se ud over små, smålige forskelle og se det større billede, og hvorfor de valgte deres partner i første omgang.

Kærlighed til familien

Familial love can be a tricky one sometimes. For many people it goes without saying that their family is their first and most constant love in their lives. However, for other people family life isn’t always as smooth. Our parents, siblings and family dynamic can have far-reaching effects throughout our whole lives. Interestingly, by the time you reach the age your parents were when they had you, it’s easier to see that they were just doing their best.

If you have a good relationship with your family, the best thing to let them know this Valentine’s Day is to let them know they are appreciated — that you are grateful to be lumped together with them — for better or worse. Make plans to hang out with them, that aren’t based around obligatory holidays. As a rule, the thing that makes a parent most happy is simply spending time with their kids.

If your relationship with your family is not as close, you could make the effort to reach out or simply send a card.

Når det gælder psykedeliske trips, kan det hjælpe dig med at tænke på din familie, næste gang du tager svampe eller trøfler, så du kan få styr på dynamikken i dit forhold. I mange tilfælde kan du ikke ændre din familie, men du kan elske dem. Psilocybin og andre psykedeliske stoffer kan hjælpe os til at se det større billede. Din mors klagerier kan være mindre irriterende, når du kan se ud over den umiddelbare situation. Din brors drillerier (er han ikke for gammel til det?) is put into perspective when you are reminded of the love that runs deep through the history you share.

Venskab Kærlighed

Romantic relationships may come and go — and you can’t pick your parents — but you kan choose your friends. Often overlooked, our friendships are actually key relationships in our lives that often endure for the longest.

Who have you cried laughing with? Who gave you romantic/career/ DIY advice? Or who will come and buy hangover snacks with you in your PJs?

Your friends, that’s who!

It’s easy to forget that friendships need care and nourishment just like romantic relationships. That’s because they often come so easily. They do not have the pressure of a romantic relationship, or the obligation of familial ones. But, they often bring the most joy.

Did you know that in some countries — Finland, Estonia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Mexico — Valentine’s Day is actually celebrated as Venskabsdag? Pretty cool, huh!

Finally, tripping on magic mushrooms with friends can be really fun. You catch each other’s vibes, and enhance your experience by chatting, playing, and sharing ideas. Equally, being with close friends can ground you and help you feel safe. A psychedelic experience with friends could cement your bond for life.

Kærlighed til naturen

If you wanna get super philosophical — naturen er kærlighed, kærligheden er naturen.

Hvis det ikke var for denne smukke blå planet, ville vi trods alt ikke have alt to love anyway! Here are some ways you can treat your ‘other mother ‘— natur — with love and care this Valentine’s Day.

Udforsk udendørslivet

Lige fra noget så simpelt som at gå en tur i parken, til camping, cykelture eller en picnic, hvor du udforsker naturen kan minde dig om naturens nærende godhed og din kærlighed til den til gengæld.

Spis naturligt

Uanset om du dyrker din egen mad eller går på lokale markeder eller restauranter, så spis de produkter, der er vokset der, hvor du også vokser. Sæsonens råvarer er friske og fulde af liv, og de vil forbedre din madoplevelse, naturens kræfter, som vi ofte tager for givet.

Saml noget skrald op

OK, it’s not sexy or romantic, but picking up trash is one of the sweetest things you can do for Mother Nature. Gather some friends, some trash sacks, put on some gloves, and get busy.

Plant Flowers, Herbs, or Even a Tree

I stedet for at købe en buket i år, hvorfor så ikke plante nogle af dine egne? At plante blomster, der blomstrer på ny hvert år, er en gave, der bliver ved med at give, både til dig og til vores planet. Hvorfor ikke plante noget grønt eller blomster til ære for en elsket person? Det er en dobbelt Valentins-dobbeltkrydser!

Rejse i naturen

Tripping på psilocybin i naturen er dybt dybtgående. Brugerne oplever en nærhed til jorden, som ikke kan måles. Selv videnskabelig undersøgelse backs it up! Become one with nature this Valentine’s Day — or any day for that matter.

Selvkærlighed

Despite ‘self-care’ being a buzzy-buzz word in the wellness world, for many of us it’s something we still overlook. It’s very easy to put others’ needs above your own, især i kærlighedens navn. Men at vise os selv kærlighed og påskønnelse er nøglen til lykke og hjælper faktisk alle af vores forhold i det lange løb.

Give yourself a break, practice self-care, and treat yourself with the compassion you would give to a loved one. As well as føler sig good, it also has many medical benefits. It lowers your stress levels and increases those much coveted ‘happy hormones’: serotonin, oxytocin og dopamin. It also can improve cardiovascular health and even strengthen the immune system.

Selvfølgelig, du know what your dream self-care Valentine’s activity is. But here are some starting suggestions:

Tag dig selv ud at spise: Vælg dit yndlingskøkken, bestil det, du har lyst til, og nyd lidt tid med dig selv.

Øvelse: For nogle mennesker er det ikke en godbid, men det vil give dig det ekstra dopaminhit, som føles Godt.

Tag et bad: Lys, bobler, bobler, det hele. Du har fortjent det!

Sig "nej": Det er en lille ting, men for nogle mennesker er det at sige "nej", selv når de virkelig don’t want to do something, is hard. Taking time for yourself and making boundaries takes some getting used to, but it is key to maintaining balance. It means the next time you gøre say ‘yes’ — you’ll be your best self.

Rejse alene: Vil du lære dit rigtige jeg at kende? Tag på en date med psilocybin - det kan ændre dit liv.