I have been hosting a monthly salon for the past seven months called the Capacitor Lab: Psychedelics and Creative Process. I have been inviting scientists, artists, therapists, and activists to share what they know about psychedelics. I share what I am learning and discovering about creative psychedelic guiding. We also show some repertoire from Capacitor - my arts non-profit - as examples of what psychedelic-supported art can look like.
After last month’s Capacitor Lab, I thought I should write about what creativity is since psychedelic research and the neuroscience of creativity are nascent fields and this question needs to be answered before they can measure it.
I have a pretty broad definition of creativity. I believe that the life force is creativity. Nature is a life force. The energy that courses through various life forms, is creativity. Nature grows and reproduces. After death, it grows again into something else. Nature is creation.
The psychedelic journey unblocks life force. The psychedelic journey unblocks creative flow. During the journey, you may or may not have a vision. But afterward, you should be unblocked, at least for a while. Then you will find yourself more creative - more in the state that you were as a young child before you acquired blocks, issues, inhibitions, habits, limiting thoughts, and narratives.
I know this isn’t an easy concept to measure in a lab.
Or is it?
Creativity is growth and growth is change. Maybe change is the vector that we need to measure in the lab. How much professional, personal, experiential, emotional, and living change occurred in the weeks and months following a journey? Maybe co-workers, family members, and friends are interviewed after the journey as well to capture testimonials and gather evidence of real change.
I will soon be working with psychedelic researchers in Europe who are tackling the question of whether psychedelics make you more creative. I can venture forth with confidence that I have a clear theory and perspective on the matter based on my own experience, those of my creative collaborators, friends, and the clients I have been working with for the past years.
Stay tuned for more findings!