[sgurrman]

First, the bad news. Whether or not I attend the World Psychedelic Forum will probably have little impact on the overall state of life on the planet, or the way that most of our deluded politicians set about policing what we can or cannot do with our minds. Though you never know.....Coincidentally, I was trawling through the internet just 2 days ago, wondering whether Albert Hoffmann was still alive, and thereby came across details of the 2006 forum. It gladdens my heart that such events take place, and I admire all those who stand up to be counted in the current political climate. As for my reasons for wishing to attend the forum, they are connected with the pattern and priorities of my life, as it has played itself out during the past 50-plus years. Consciousness has clearly been of prime importance in life. I spent 15 years mainly involved with Buddhist meditation and other practices, but ended up with mixed feelings about that whole scene. I feel that exploration of consciousness is the prime goal of human life, and that psychedelics can have an extremely important role to play in fulfilling that goal. I guess I would personally love to have the opportunity to see folk whose work I have read, such as Hoffmann, Christian Ratsch, and which has struck so many chords. Also the chance to meet others who are, at least to an extent, like-minded folk. I am at a bit of a crossroads in my life just now (one of many....) so who knows where that might lead.I might end up losing my job if I went to the forum ("Er, sorry, I'll need to take next week off, I've got a psychedelics conference to attend") but I guess we need to keep in mind the more existential priorities. What the hell.I take my hat off to the folk working with Casey Hardison. I consider myself fairly literate, and could write reports, though not an a personal laptop, since my personal system was first owned by Fred Flintstone, and is in constant danger of undergoing its final, terminal bad trip.