People might think that Lewis Carroll was inspired by psilocybin mushrooms to write “Alice in Wonderland” because the story is known for its imaginative and surreal elements, which are similar to experiences reported by those who have taken the drug. However, this is just speculation and has not been proven. Carroll himself never mentioned any connection between his writing and drug use.
However, here are a few examples of similarities between “Alice in Wonderland” and experiences reported by those who have taken psilocybin:
- Distortions of time and space: The story of “Alice in Wonderland” features a series of bizarre and unpredictable events, with Alice growing and shrinking in size and time appearing to slow down or speed up. These are similar to some of the hallucinations and disorienting effects reported by people who have taken psilocybin.
- Surreal and dreamlike imagery: The story is full of imaginative and often nonsensical characters, objects, and landscapes that might be seen in a dream. This is similar to some of the vivid and surreal experiences reported by those who have taken psilocybin.
- Loss of control: In “Alice in Wonderland,” Alice often finds herself at the mercy of strange and powerful forces, with her body and surroundings constantly changing and her sense of identity shifting. This is similar to the feelings of loss of control and altered sense of self that can occur when taking psilocybin.
- Non-linear narrative: The events in “Alice in Wonderland” often occur in a random or non-linear fashion, which is similar to the way that thoughts and perceptions can become fragmented or disjointed when taking psilocybin.
- Interplay between logic and absurdity: The story features a mix of logical and absurd elements, with characters engaging in logical conversations about seemingly illogical things. This is similar to the way that reality can seem to become distorted and lose its coherence when taking psilocybin.
- Playful and childlike atmosphere: The story has a lighthearted and whimsical tone, with characters engaging in games and other forms of play. This is similar to the feelings of playfulness and childlike wonder that can be experienced when taking psilocybin.
- Perception of objects and surroundings changing: Alice in the story experiences the changing sizes of objects and surroundings, which is a common hallucination reported by those who have taken psilocybin.
- Interactions with strange and fantastical creatures: Alice encounters a cast of strange and imaginative creatures in “Alice in Wonderland,” including talking animals, playing cards and a hookah-smoking caterpillar. This is similar to the experience of encountering seemingly animate objects and fantastical creatures during a psilocybin trip.
- A sense of personal insight or spiritual awakening: At the end of “Alice in Wonderland,” Alice gains a greater understanding of herself and the world around her. This is similar to the feeling of personal insight and spiritual awakening that some people report after taking psilocybin.
