I don't think he was the one who invented this analogy, but have you heard Michael Pollan's sledding analogy to make sense of canalization? It's my favorite way of visualizing it. I've definitely had that same experience you describe of becoming far more open to new and strange experiences than I ever used to be before psychedelics. In almost every regard, I was just a more cynical and closed-minded person before started to trip. Thanks for sending this one in, Melissa!