Consciousness and subjective experience (qualia) arise not from brain processes but from communication, problem-solving, and the creation of signs and mental realities, according to this philosophical article. The author rejects the physicalist framing of the brain as a generator of consciousness, instead drawing on cultural-historical, semiotic, and phenomenological approaches. Five case studies illustrate this: a child's concept of the 'painted sun,' Jung's adolescent religious experience, distorted-vision experiments, distinguishing sleep from reality, and mask therapy for schizophrenia. The brain is a necessary substrate, not the cause. Qualia is part of a holistic mental reality that can be transformed through changed meanings and awareness of boundaries between worlds.
Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, has a long history of use in spiritual ceremonies and neuropsychiatric therapy. After being classified as a Schedule I substance in 1970, research into its therapeutic potential has revived since the early 2000s, especially in psychiatry and palliative care. This review examines psilocybin's potential to improve quality of life for palliative care patients by reducing psychological distress and enhancing emotional well-being. The discussion covers its historical context, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, legal status, and future perspectives in palliative care.