Deep within the heart of a mystical realm lies a magical pin maple forest. This enchanting forest holds secrets and wonders beyond imagination, where reality intertwines with fantasy. As sunlight peeks through the dense foliage, creating a shimmering dance of rays, the air becomes thick with a sense of enchantment. Pin maple trees, adorned with vibrant leaves of gold, crimson, and amber, stand tall and proud, creating a kaleidoscope of colors. Each tree possesses its own unique charm, an intricacy that adds to the forest's mystical allure. Traversing the forest, one cannot help but notice the harmonious symphony of nature.
Additionally, each deck is built around a single, legendary creature, which is your ‘commander’ (hence, the name of the format). This gives each deck a unique personality.
Starting out playing commander and never dipping your toes into other 1v1 60 card formats is certainly something that can be done, but I honestly would not recommend it. For example If you want to build a 60 card zombie, cat or dragon deck, having a gander at the theme pages for zombies, cats and dragons will definitely provide some inspiration.
Traversing the forest, one cannot help but notice the harmonious symphony of nature. The gentle rustling of leaves, the soft chirping of birds, and the distant gurgle of a hidden stream create a soothing melody that serenades those who dare to venture into this magical realm. But it is not just the sights and sounds that make this forest truly extraordinary.
Want to Quit Smoking? Eat a Magic Mushroom, New Study Says
E arlier this month, Johns Hopkins researchers published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology a stunning success rate in a pilot study using psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, to help heavy smokers quit. The 12 of 15 recidivist smokers who managed to stop smoking for six months after three psychedelic sessions represented an 80% success rate—unheard of in the notoriously difficult treatment of tobacco addiction. The most successful current treatment—the drug varenicline, which reduces nicotine cravings—only has a 35% success rate.
This is big news as attention increasingly shifts to the use of psychedelic drugs for improving mental health. In the past decade—after thirty years during which research into possible benefits of psychedelics was virtually forbidden—clinical studies of drugs, including psilocybin, Ketamine, MDMA and LSD, have accelerated. (Never mind the now widespread medical applications of marijuana.) Food and Drug Administration-approved pilot studies and trials have shown such oft-maligned drugs could be used safely under controlled conditions, delivering promising, even extraordinary results, and not just in the treatment of tobacco addiction, but also for disorders such as autism, anxiety, depression and opiate addiction.
The use of MDMA (better known as Ecstasy) to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has had an 80% success rate in early trials. With as many as half a million service men and women returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with debilitating, life-threatening PTSD, better treatments for the disorder are urgently needed. Yet legal prescription of psychedelic therapy is almost certainly more than a decade away.
But for a quirk of history, it might not have been that way.
Before popular abuse of psychedelics exploded in the 1960s, prompting authorities to impose harsh criminal penalties for possession and halt all scientific investigation of medical use, psychedelics were considered the most promising psychiatric drug in history. In fact, in the Johns Hopkins findings on smoking cessation, there is an unmistakable echo of research done in Canada a half century ago.
Consider this from the lead author of the Johns Hopkins study, Matthew W. Johnson: “Quitting smoking isn’t a simple biological reaction to psilocybin, as with other medications that directly affect nicotine receptors.” Instead, Johnson said, it was the subjective experience the smokers had when taking the psilocybin that changed them— more like a religious conversion than getting a shot of penicillin to cure an infection.
This was exactly the conclusion psychiatrists at a Canadian psychiatric hospital, Humphrey Osmond and Abram Hoffer, reached back in the 1950s when they had great success using LSD therapy to help alcoholics stop drinking. LSD is a synthetic drug, not a natural psychedelic like psilocybin, but the user’s experience of the two is similar, if not identical. Hoffer and Osmond’s LSD treatments proved successful enough that the Canadian government would eventually issue a report saying the method was no longer an experimental treatment for alcoholism, but one that had proven effective.
The new Johns Hopkins smoking study prepped its 15 subjects with four weeks of pretty standard cognitive behavior therapy – things like visualization, keeping journals, focusing on intent to quit and reasons for quitting, etc. But it was the psilocybin that did the heavy lifting. Each participant had three psilocybin sessions, the first a moderate dose, and the final two a high dose. The subjects were encouraged to focus on their anti-smoking intent before taking the psilocybin in each session, otherwise they were simply encouraged to wear eyeshades and earphones (piping in music) and “go inside.” Therapists were there for safety and reassurance if necessary, but there was otherwise little direction—and no negative physiological outcomes. Five of the participants expressed moderate fear during the session (of losing control, losing grip on sanity) and one expressed extreme fear. The researchers reported that all of the anxiety reactions were successfully resolved before the end of the session, and did not preclude a successful outcome.
The 13 participants (80%) who managed to quit and remain smoke free for six months were asked to identify the reasons for their success. The most frequently chosen answer was, “by changing the way you orient yourself toward the future, such that you now act in your long-term holistic benefit, rather than acting in response to immediate desire.”
The answer chosen as the most important was, “by changing the way you prioritize values in life, so that reasons to smoke no longer outweighed reasons to quit.”
These rather basic changes in personality orientation are usually extremely difficult to achieve, in daily life, and in traditional therapy. The fact that such a high proportion of participants managed these perspective shifts is most likely attributable to life-changing mystical-type experiences catalyzed by the psilocybin. Astonishingly, all but two participants (87%) rated at least one psilocybin session among the ten most meaningful experiences of their lives. This tracks with the results of earlier work by the Johns Hopkins team, published in 2006, in which 70% of three dozen healthy people who were given psilocybin with no therapeutic goal described it as “one of the five most significant experiences of their lives.”
Johns Hopkins researchers concluded — just as had their Canadian predecessors half a century earlier — that this was more than incidental to the outcome of the therapy: Those who had a transcendent experience tended to have more success.
Inevitably, the success of studies using psychedelics to treat dangerous conditions like alcoholism, tobacco addiction and PTSD will raise fears that positive news coverage will promote illicit and uncontrolled use. Researchers on these studies are always quick to point out that uncontrolled, self-administration of psychedelics— still a criminal act— not only present the danger of psychological damage, but are unlikely to be effective in treatment without medical supervision.
Still, the dramatically positive experience that so many people in these closely monitored and supervised experiments have had, even healthy people with no psychiatric issues, do raise some interesting questions about the future potential of psychedelics in our culture.
Tom Shroder is an award-winning journalist, editor, and author of Old Souls, a classic study of the intersection between mysticism and science. As editor of The Washington Post Magazine, he conceived and edited two Pulitzer Prize-winning feature stories. His book, ACID TEST: LSD, Ecstasy and the Power to Heal, is out this month.
More Must-Reads From TIME- The Families of Israelis Held Hostage By Hamas Speak Out
- A Photographer Captures Grief in Gaza
- Jim Jordan’s Dilemma Is What Happens When Bullying Backfires
- One Year Later, Where's the Adderall?
- For Many, India's Coal Damage Is Done
- The Human Toll of Poland’s Strict Abortion Laws
- The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at [email protected].
TIME Ideas hosts the world's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. We welcome outside contributions. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.
Other formats you might hear about are:
Legends speak of the magical properties imbued within the pin maple trees. The sap that flows within their veins possesses a remarkable ability to heal, to rejuvenate, and to bring visions of the past and future. It is whispered that those who know the ancient ritual can harness this power and experience a profound connection with the forest itself. The magical pin maple forest is also home to mythical creatures. Beneath the emerald undergrowth, fairies flit about, their ethereal wings creating a blur of iridescent hues. Gnomes and whimsical creatures play hide-and-seek amongst the towering roots, their mischievous laughter echoing through the stillness. It is said that the forest's magic has granted these creatures the gift of eternal youth, allowing them to dwell in this realm untouched by time. But this mystical paradise is not without its dangers. The forest holds secrets that are not meant for mortal eyes. Daredevils who venture too deeply may fall under the spell of the forest, never to return to the land of the living. The pin maple forest is a realm that demands respect and reverence, for its magic can be both a blessing and a curse. As night falls, the forest takes on an ethereal glow. The enchanting pin maple trees illuminate with a warm, otherworldly light, casting dancing shadows that seem to come to life. It is during this mystical hour that the true magnificence of the forest is revealed, as it becomes a gateway to infinite possibilities. The magical pin maple forest is a place of wonder, mystery, and untold beauty. Its allure captivates the hearts of all who pass through its enchanted borders. It is a reminder that the world still holds untamed magic, awaiting those who are willing to seek it out. The forest beckons, inviting dreamers and adventurers to step into its realm and discover the extraordinary..
Reviews for "Awakening your senses in the magical pin maple forest"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magical pin maple forest". The concept sounded interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. The writing was overly descriptive and dragged on, making it hard to stay engaged. The characters lacked depth and were difficult to connect with. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious and uninteresting read.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I absolutely did not enjoy "Magical pin maple forest". The plot was incredibly predictable and offered nothing new or exciting. The dialogue was forced and unrealistic, making it hard to believe in the fictional world the author created. The pacing was also off, with slow and uneventful scenes followed by rushed and chaotic moments. This book simply did not live up to my expectations.
3. David - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magical pin maple forest" but unfortunately, it fell short. The writing style was choppy and inconsistent, making it difficult to follow the story. The plot itself was lacking in originality and felt like a carbon copy of other fantasy novels. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed by this book.