How do you adequately respect psychedelics that command respect?

[Sapphires]

This is a question I've been trying to figure out for nearly a year and it is the one thing preventing me from wanting to touch another psychedelic.

If you look at nearly every thread about a psychedelic (and the majority of drugs in general) the most important advice people give is that you need to respect your drug. At the surface, this could simply mean that you should take care of basic harm reduction and be well informed about the drug and not to overdo it, however I know from personal experience that other drugs (2c-i for myself) require a level of respect infinitely beyond that. What I'm having trouble figuring out is the best way to accomplish this and what exactly total respect entails.

Is it preparation? Ensuring a clear and ready frame of mind, a safe environment, and creating outlets in case things go wrong (a trip sitter, benzos, distractions)? It seems that this is less about respecting the drug and more about trying to achieve a positive trip and could be seen as selfish. If a drug truly commands respect then I would think trying to sway it's course and atmosphere is actually a selfish and offensive thing to do. What if it needs and wants to show you the negative?

Is it knowledge? Learning about every possible effect of the drug as well as a clear understanding of the psychedelic experience so you'll be able to appreciate the experience more seems like it would be showing respect, but so many of the concepts and ideas are unexplainable with a sober mind. While tripping, new things can distract from the actual lessons like seeing visuals and having different ways of thinking as well as interpreting concepts like time differently. Because all of these experiences are new, it causes confusion and detracts from being able to focus fully on the trip and in my experience creates fear.

Or is it just trust? So many experience reports and threads say that one of the biggest things that cause a difficult trip is the failure to 'give in' and trying to fight the trip. I was guilty of this and because of it I don't know what exactly I was supposed to be shown but I was definitely berated and punished for deciding not letting go. Would the ultimate sign of respect for a psychedelic have less to do with preparation and more to do with just letting it do its own thing with 100% trust?

I'm interested in hearing how other people interpret what respect means.

 

[jecra]

This is a question I've been trying to figure out for nearly a year and it is the one thing preventing me from wanting to touch another psychedelic.

If you look at nearly every thread about a psychedelic (and the majority of drugs in general) the most important advice people give is that you need to respect your drug. At the surface, this could simply mean that you should take care of basic harm reduction and be well informed about the drug and not to overdo it, however I know from personal experience that other drugs (2c-i for myself) require a level of respect infinitely beyond that. What I'm having trouble figuring out is the best way to accomplish this and what exactly total respect entails.

Is it preparation? Ensuring a clear and ready frame of mind, a safe environment, and creating outlets in case things go wrong (a trip sitter, benzos, distractions)? It seems that this is less about respecting the drug and more about trying to achieve a positive trip and could be seen as selfish. If a drug truly commands respect then I would think trying to sway it's course and atmosphere is actually a selfish and offensive thing to do. What if it needs and wants to show you the negative?

Is it knowledge? Learning about every possible effect of the drug as well as a clear understanding of the psychedelic experience so you'll be able to appreciate the experience more seems like it would be showing respect, but so many of the concepts and ideas are unexplainable with a sober mind. While tripping, new things can distract from the actual lessons like seeing visuals and having different ways of thinking as well as interpreting concepts like time differently. Because all of these experiences are new, it causes confusion and detracts from being able to focus fully on the trip and in my experience creates fear.

Or is it just trust? So many experience reports and threads say that one of the biggest things that cause a difficult trip is the failure to 'give in' and trying to fight the trip. I was guilty of this and because of it I don't know what exactly I was supposed to be shown but I was definitely berated and punished for deciding not letting go. Would the ultimate sign of respect for a psychedelic have less to do with preparation and more to do with just letting it do its own thing with 100% trust?

I'm interested in hearing how other people interpret what respect means.

It sounds like you already have a very good understanding of the meaning of "respect" for a psychedelic. I can't speak for experience regarding 2c-i as I've never tried it.

"I was guilty of this and because of it I don't know what exactly I was supposed to be shown but I was definitely berated and punished for deciding not letting go."

Ah. Do not expect for there to be something "exact" that you are supposed to be shown. You guide your own trip, and learn what you want to. But do not try to steer the trip. In what ways were you punished?

"While tripping, new things can distract from the actual lessons like seeing visuals and having different ways of thinking as well as interpreting concepts like time differently. Because all of these experiences are new, it causes confusion and detracts from being able to focus fully on the trip and in my experience creates fear."

The actual lessons will not come from visuals, nor from the different way of thinking alone. It's up to you. You fabricate this fear. You have nothing to fear but fear itself . Sure, confusion can happen, but accept that it probably will, and hopefully the folks around you have an understanding.

Best of luck

 

[Sapphires]

I hope this thread doesn't turn into a personal trip report/advice thread as I legitimately wanted to hear how different people tackle this problem. Nonetheless, I'll go into details for you and eagerly await an analysis!

Ah. Do not expect for there to be something "exact" that you are supposed to be shown.

It's hard to describe, but it always felt like I was one step away from what I was supposed to be shown. The only way I can explain it is a cold and empty room(that's an understatement) that is infinitely large with a very menacing and horrifying atmosphere. The scariest part about it for me was my fear that there was no time there (I was sure of this) and that if I went there I'd never be able to come out. My only assumption is that whatever this room is ultimately contains what I"m supposed to be shown.

n what ways were you punished?

A 10 hour long panic attack filled with fear and anxiety wherein seconds felt like years, countless confusing and horrifying thought loops. An entity who I personified as controlling time made me guilty that I had broken time and said it would take him forever to put it back together, saying that I didn't belong here and was wasting everyones time. Not to mention full blown schizophrenic effects in which the TV talked to me and explained that I needed to respect the drug more. It wasn't directly saying it, but when I would think of things like "You were just toying with me the whole time," something around me would confirm this such as a TV character saying "You bet." This happened more times than I can count and drilled in the fact that I should learn from my mistake.

You fabricate this fear. You have nothing to fear but fear itself

There's fear and then there is unnerving and exponentially multiplied fear, and the latter is hard (dare I say impossible) to cope with. I'm not afraid of the psychedelic experience, letting go of my ego, and learning to appreciate another aspect of life. What I'm afraid of is offending and angering something or someone who plays a role in this, and the only way I've learned that I could appease them is through respect, however there are so many facets and variations of respect that I don't know which play the most important role when it comes to this sort of thing. I want to make sure that every aspect is covered this time.

My full trip report from a year ago is here if you want more info: http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/...is-and-Bad-First-Trip.-Try-again-or-stay-away