The Usborne Magic Art Book is a fantastic creative resource for children that introduces them to the world of magic while also encouraging their artistic abilities. The book is filled with captivating illustrations and step-by-step instructions for creating magical artworks. The main idea of this book is to inspire children to think outside the box and use their imagination to create unique and enchanting artwork. Each page of the Usborne Magic Art Book features a different magical theme, such as fairies, dragons, or unicorns. The book provides children with the tools and techniques needed to bring these magical creatures to life on paper. From drawing and painting to collage and mixed media, there are various art forms explored throughout the book to keep children engaged and entertained.
His team is hopeful that, one day, psilocybin may be developed as a drug to use in therapeutic settings under the care of a trained guide.
In the non-drug group, participants were most likely to choose God or an emissary of God 59 percent as the best descriptor of their encounter, while the psychedelics group were most likely 55 percent to choose ultimate reality. The surveys asked participants to recall their single most memorable encounter experience with the God of their understanding, a higher power, ultimate reality or an aspect or representative of God, such as an angel.
From drawing and painting to collage and mixed media, there are various art forms explored throughout the book to keep children engaged and entertained. What sets this book apart from others is its interactive nature. Children are not only encouraged to create their own artwork but also to engage with the book itself.
Experiences of ‘Ultimate Reality’ or ‘God’ Confer Lasting Benefits to Mental Health
People over the millennia have reported having deeply moving religious experiences either spontaneously or while under the influence of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms or the Amazonian brew ayahuasca, and a portion of those experiences have been encounters with what the person regards as “God” or “ultimate reality.” In a survey of thousands of people who reported having experienced personal encounters with God, Johns Hopkins researchers report that more than two-thirds of self-identified atheists shed that label after their encounter, regardless of whether it was spontaneous or while taking a psychedelic.
Moreover, the researchers say, a majority of respondents attributed lasting positive changes in their psychological health-- e.g., life satisfaction, purpose and meaning--even decades after their initial experience.
The findings, described in a paper published April 23 in PLOS One, add to evidence that such deeply meaningful experiences may have healing properties, the researchers say. And the study’s design, they add, is the first to systematically and rigorously compare reports of spontaneous God encounter experiences with those occasioned, or catalyzed, by psychedelic substances.
“Experiences that people describe as encounters with God or a representative of God have been reported for thousands of years, and they likely form the basis of many of the world’s religions,” says lead researcher Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “And although modern Western medicine doesn’t typically consider ‘spiritual’ or ‘religious’ experiences as one of the tools in the arsenal against sickness, our findings suggest that these encounters often lead to improvements in mental health.”
The historic and widespread anecdotal evidence for their benefits led to the research team’s latest effort to research the value, and possible downsides, of such encounters, Griffiths says.
For the new study, the scientists used data from 4,285 people worldwide who responded to online advertisements to complete one of two 50-minute online surveys about God encounter experiences. The surveys asked participants to recall their single most memorable encounter experience with the “God of their understanding,” a “higher power,” “ultimate reality” or “an aspect or representative of God, such as an angel.” They also asked how respondents felt about their experience and whether and how it changed their lives.
About 69 percent of the participants were men, and 88 percent were white. Of those who reported using a psychedelic, 1,184 took psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), 1,251 said they took LSD, 435 said they took ayahuasca (a plant-based brew originating with indigenous cultures in Latin America), and 606 said they took DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), also a naturally occurring substance found in certain plants and animals.
Of the total participants, 809 were those who responded to the non-drug survey, whereas 3,476 responded to the psychedelics survey. Respondents were an average age of 38 when they took the survey. The people who said they had a God encounter experience when on a psychedelic reported that these experiences happened at age 25 on average, whereas those whose experience was spontaneous reported having it at an average age of 35.
Among other key findings:
- About 75 percent of respondents in both the non-drug and psychedelics groups rated their “God encounter” experience as among the most meaningful and spiritually significant in their lifetime, and both groups attributed to it positive changes in life satisfaction, purpose and meaning.
- Independent of psychedelics use, more than two-thirds of those who said they were atheists before the experience no longer identified as such afterward.
- Most participants, in both the non-drug and psychedelics groups, reported vivid memories of the encounter experience, which frequently involved communication with some entity having the attributes of consciousness (approximately 70 percent), benevolence (approximately 75 percent), intelligence (approximately 80 percent), sacredness (approximately 75 percent) and eternal existence (approximately 70 percent).
- Although both groups reported a decreased fear of death, 70 percent of participants in the psychedelics group reported this change, compared with 57 percent among non-drug respondents.
- In both groups, about 15 percent of the respondents said their experience was the most psychologically challenging of their lives.
- In the non-drug group, participants were most likely to choose “God” or “an emissary of God” (59 percent) as the best descriptor of their encounter, while the psychedelics group were most likely (55 percent) to choose “ultimate reality.”
For future studies, Griffiths said his team would like to explore what factors predispose someone to having such a memorable and life-altering perceived encounter, and they would like to see what happens in the brain during the experience.
“Continuing to explore these experiences may provide new insights into religious and spiritual beliefs that have been integral to shaping human culture since time immemorial,” says Griffiths.
Griffiths and the research team caution that the study relied on self-reported responses to a questionnaire, a method that carries substantial possibilities for biased or inaccurate responses among participants. They don’t advocate that people use hallucinogenic substances on their own because they carry not only legal risks, but also behavioral risks associated with impaired judgment under the influence and the possibility of negative psychological consequences, particularly in vulnerable people or when the experience isn’t safeguarded by qualified guides.
In addition, says Griffiths, “We want to be clear that our study looks at personal experiences and says nothing about the existence, or nonexistence of God. We doubt that any science can definitively settle this point either way.”
Griffiths has been researching psychedelic drugs for nearly two decades. Some of his earlier studies have used psilocybin to explore mystical-type experiences and their consequences in healthy volunteers, and the therapeutic potential of the drug in helping people to quit smoking or to ease mental distress in people due to a cancer diagnosis.
His team is hopeful that, one day, psilocybin may be developed as a drug to use in therapeutic settings under the care of a trained guide.
Additional authors on the study include Ethan Hurwitz, Alan Davis and Matthew Johnson of Johns Hopkins and Robert Jesse of the Council on Spiritual Practices, an organization that brings together religious scholars and scientists.
Funding for the study came from the Council on Spiritual Practices, the Heffter Research Institute and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA03889 and T32DA07209).
Griffiths is on the board of directors of the Heffter Research Institute. Jesse is chairperson of the Council on Spiritual Practices.
There are hidden surprises, flaps to lift, and prompts to follow, making the process of creating art even more exciting. The Usborne Magic Art Book also includes a range of tips and tricks to help children develop their artistic skills. The book teaches children how to use different materials effectively, experiment with color and texture, and even how to create special effects with their artwork. Overall, the Usborne Magic Art Book is an excellent resource for children who have an interest in art and magic. It provides them with a platform to explore their creativity while also introducing them to different art forms and techniques. By incorporating elements of magic into the artwork, children are encouraged to think imaginatively and create their own unique masterpieces..
Reviews for "Delve into a world of enchantment and creativity with Usborne's Magic Art Book"
1. Emma - 2/5 - The Usborne magic art book was a letdown for me. The magic part was pretty minimal, and the art activities were not very engaging. I found the illustrations to be underwhelming and the instructions were not very clear. I was hoping for more interactive and creative projects, but instead, I was left feeling disappointed. I don't think I would recommend this book to others looking for a magic art book.
2. Ryan - 3/5 - I was excited to get my hands on the Usborne magic art book, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The magic tricks included were simple and didn't feel very magical. The art projects were also a bit lackluster and didn't hold my interest for long. While the book had some potential, it fell short in terms of delivering on both the magic and art aspects. I would suggest seeking out other options if you're looking for a more captivating magic art book.
3. Laura - 2/5 - The Usborne magic art book was a bit of a letdown for me. The magic tricks were basic and not very impressive. The art activities were also quite simplistic and didn't offer much room for creativity. I was hoping for a more comprehensive and engaging book, but unfortunately, this one fell short. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a truly magical and artistic experience.