Transcend

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Colourful photo with three people in sunglasses. Blurred effect, room number 101 visible, two seated in the background.

How to have a safe psychedelic trip

A psychedelic experience can be deeply rewarding, but also carries real risks. Here’s how to avoid a bad trip

by Christian Jarrett

Close-up photo of a mushroom in an autumn forest surrounded by fallen leaves and trees in the background.

The fungal mind: on the evidence for mushroom intelligence

The evidence for fungal intelligence is in: they can operate as individuals, make decisions, learn, and have short-term memory

by Nicholas P Money

Painting of a man in a top hat sitting on a path with a walking stick, backpack and countryside view in the background.

How to cope with an existential crisis

Has the world gone grey? Are you wondering what life is for? Kierkegaard’s philosophy could help you rediscover your zing

by Skye C Cleary

Black and white photo of a man and woman sitting at a café table in conversation, looking thoughtfully to the side.
FILM

How to find great films to watch

Bored with Hollywood and Netflix? Becoming an adventurous and informed explorer of the cinema world is in everyone’s grasp

by Geoff Andrew

A window with light streaming through sheer curtains, partially covered by a red curtain tied back with a rope tie.

How to find your mindfulness

With so many approaches to mindfulness, it can be difficult to know where to start. Explore these methods to find what suits you

by Gill Johnson & Willem Kuyken

A man wearing glasses and a brown jacket who is Charlie Watts playing drums in a TV studio.
MUSIC

True musical virtuosos are minimalists who put roll before rock

Musicians like Muddy Waters and Charlie Watts played fewer notes than showoffs like Jeff Beck, but they were the right ones

by Mike Edison

Painting of a man relaxing against a large leafy tree in a grassy field.

How to be useless

Follow the Daoist way – reclaim your life and happiness by letting go of the need to produce, strive or serve a purpose

by Helen De Cruz & Pauline Lee

Cubist painting of fragmented books and a glass on a table with geometric shapes in blue, brown and grey tones.

How to gain more from your reading

There’s more to words than meets the eye. Deepen your appreciation of literature through the art of slow, attentive reading

by Robert DiYanni

Drawing of a man in profile with a mustache sitting by a window resting his head on his hand, sketched in green and brown.

How to read philosophy

The first thing to remember is that the great philosophers were only human. Then you can start disagreeing with them

by Charlie Huenemann

Abstract collage painting with colourful geometric shapes, text and patterns. Includes elements like a pear and “ENTRADA” sign.

How to plan your novel

Inspiration rarely comes as a mysterious visitation from the muse. Far better to learn the techniques and habits of the craft

by Jason Whittaker

Photo of people in a sunny square with bikes and scooters, near Les Tontons and a large building advertisement in Bordeaux.

Your life is not a story: why narrative thinking holds you back

Our stories help us make sense of a chaotic world, but they can be harmful and restrictive. There’s a liberating alternative

by Karen Simecek

Painting of a woman in a yellow dress and hat sitting with a guitar against a green background.
MUSIC

How to start making music

It’s never too late to play an instrument or learn to sing. Take the leap from listener to maker in the way that suits you

by Gayla M Mills

A candid photo of three smiling children slightly out of focus, showing joy and togetherness against a dark backdrop.

How to laugh more

You don’t have to wait to be amused, there are ways to train yourself to enjoy the ‘cheap medicine’ of laughter every day

by Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky

A painting depicting a cosmological diagram with an abstract human figure and various mythical creatures.

Ancient Indian texts reveal the liberating power of metaphysics

Indian metaphysics presented a philosophical route to a higher level of existence beyond limits of space and time

by Jessica Frazier

Photo of wooden bookshelves filled with books, small decor items and framed pictures in a cosy room setting.

How to nurture a personal library

An escape, a sanctuary, a place of pleasure, a memoir. Take these steps to ensure your library is just what you want it to be

by Freya Howarth

Photo of a bookshop exterior with green columns and a window displaying books. A person reads inside.

Reading books is not just a pleasure: it helps our minds to heal

Through my own struggles and in teaching bibliotherapy to students, I know that books can help to heal minds and hearts

by Peter Leyland