Chrysopoeia: A Transcendental Metamorphosis of Consciousness
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Abstract
As of 2024 the world is in a mental health crisis. Now more than ever mental health is an
incredibly important topic, especially after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the
situation as dire as it is, places like Oregon have started to turn to using psychedelics in treating
mental illnesses due to their proven effectiveness in healing the mind. As of January of 2023,
Oregon passed legislation that allows for the use of a psychedelic compound known as
psilocybin at licensed service centers. With psilocybin still being classified as a schedule one
drug under federal law, its use is limited to the grounds of licensed service centers. Since patients are only allowed to engage in this type of therapy at these service centers, it is crucially
important that the design of these service centers creates an environment that significantly aids in a patient’s mental healing journey.
The goal of this project is to propose a design and typology of architecture that can assist
in the transformation of a person’s consciousness for the sake of better mental health and
ultimately attaining a more fulfilling life. We have long distanced ourselves from our inner being
due to the lives we live today with modern technology and due to the way that we are used to
thinking in society. By better understanding our minds through the work of Carl Jung and
tapping into our consciousness and unconsciousness, we can vastly change the way that we think and become whole with ourselves through the practice of individuation. The practice of the use of psychedelics and other forms of wellness and therapy such as cold exposure therapy, nature immersion, community building, and exercise can help people navigate the inner depths of their mind to work past the mental barriers that hold them back from becoming mentally healthy.