In the development of historical consciousness we extend our awareness through time, gaining both greater insight into how we got here, as well as better control over our present and future.
Thus, here's a basic proposition I'm making in my work:
Just as extending our historical consciousness gives us greater control over our present and future, so too expanding our awareness via altered states of consciousness can improve our chances of present and future success. How so?
For those who've had critical life-changing experiences with psychedelics, and continue to have their lives drastically improved with these experiences, whether with mild or heroic doses, I think the answer here is obvious and needs no further explanation or proof. What is more, recent (and past) clinical evidence with psychedelics (as Pollan's new book reveals) supports this claim as well.
Thus my proposition is less a matter of confirmation and proof, and more a segue to further questions involving therapeutic modeling, counseling, and public education, which the work herein directly addresses.