Myths & mysteries
Discover facts about myths & mysteries. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Myths & mysteries
Historical mystic Saint Nicholas angrily punched a rival theologian in the face during the Council of Nicaea
According to the story, Nicholas struck Arius during the 325 Council of Nicaea after disagreeing with his teaching about the Trinity. The punch is part of…
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Members of the elite Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn were required to painstakingly craft their own magical weapons
Initiates had to make and paint their own elemental tools, such as a Fire Wand or Air Dagger, following specific occult colors and symbols.
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Medieval alchemists viewed turning lead into gold primarily as a metaphor for purifying the human soul
The Philosopher’s Stone represented the means of that inner transformation, though some alchemists also pursued literal wealth.
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Ibogaine treats addiction by inducing a full-day waking nightmare
Derived from a West African root, the psychoactive drug can cause a day-long waking nightmare and intense self-reflection.
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Toad venom contains a schedule one hallucinogen
The secretion is a defense against predators, but people harvest it for its powerful psychedelic effects.
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Certain reptiles actually possess a literal third eye
Unlike a metaphorical “third eye,” the tuatara’s parietal eye is a real organ on top of its head, complete with a lens and retina. It detects changes in light.
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Intense candle gazing burns the image into your retina
The afterimage is temporary: staring at the flame bleaches visual pigments in the eyes rather than trapping its spirit.
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Morning glory seeds contain a natural acid precursor
Those lovely climbing vines on suburban fences are quietly harboring an organic secret. The seeds naturally contain LSA, a close chemical cousin to…
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Wormwood in absinthe barely affects your cognitive brain
The wormwood compound thujone occurs at levels too low to cause hallucinations. Absinthe's high alcohol content was a likelier explanation for the visions.
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Burning frankincense slightly alters your baseline mood
Frankincense smoke contains incensole acetate, a compound associated with lower anxiety and a mild calming effect. So the ritual’s atmosphere may come with a…
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Peyote takes decades to grow for just a single trip
In the wild, peyote can take up to 20 years to mature enough to produce a single button.
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Eating cheese on ayahuasca can legitimately kill you
Ayahuasca contains compounds that inhibit the enzyme that breaks down tyramine, which is found in aged cheese. That interaction may raise blood pressure, so…
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Holding your breath drops oxygen levels to induce euphoria
Prolonged breath-holding can lower oxygen and produce euphoria, but that feeling comes with the body's survival response to oxygen deprivation.
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Sitting in lotus posture mechanically locks your leg joints
The posture’s deep external rotation brings the knees and hips into a rigid triangle, which is said to help keep the body upright. The explanation is…
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Ayahuasca vines require an exact chemical partner
One plant supplies the hallucinogen; a second vine blocks the digestive enzymes that would otherwise break it down, making the combination work.
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Chewing raw myrrh casually numbs severe physical pain
Myrrh resin was chewed or applied to wounds for pain relief, which may help explain why classical tales prized it beyond its fragrance.
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Blue lotus flowers contain very mild psychoactive agents
Its aporphine is described as a mild sedative that relaxes muscles and can slightly alter visual perception; the petals were steeped in wine.
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Burning incense fills your lungs with toxic fine particulates
Incense smoke releases fine particles and other combustion byproducts, which can build up in a small, unventilated room.
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Strict vegetarian commune diets rely heavily on cheap carbs
Communal meals may rely on inexpensive staples like rice, bread, and potatoes rather than costly superfoods.
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Floating in salt water actively alters brain waves
A dark, quiet saltwater tank cuts down on sensory input while letting you float. Some people describe the experience as spiritual ascension, but it doesn’t…
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Total ego loss chemically suppresses specific brain networks
Ego dissolution has been linked to reduced activity in the brain's default mode network, which is associated with self-referential thought and…
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Segmented sleeping forces immediate hypnagogic vision states
The practice deliberately interrupts sleep, then uses meditation while the mind is groggy; practitioners may interpret the resulting dreamlike thoughts as…
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San Pedro cacti hide potent mescaline directly in their skin
The highest concentration of mescaline sits just beneath the tough outer peel, only millimeters below the surface.
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Deep meditative states shrink your perception of room size
Practitioners report feeling enormous or tiny, as if the room has suddenly changed scale.
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