My seven principles of psychonautics

[Flickering]

As a budding traveller of the mind, I have a few rules in place to make sure I get the most out of each introspective experience. They serve a twofold purpose: avoiding health problems and addiction, and keeping my mind focused on my psychospiritual quest (the bredth of which has expanded since I posted that thread), which I take quite seriously. In fact it's about the only thing in my life I do take seriously anymore.

So here are my current seven rules. I'd like to ping them off Bluelight for feedback from more experienced journeymen, and to see if anyone else has their own list of principles to abide by.

1. Minimum two-week space between psychadelic trips.

If I have a trip of any kind, I need to wait at least two weeks before the next one. This is mainly to absorb and reflect on each trip adequately. It has the added benefit of ensuring I don't turn into an eraserhead, and it's cheaper that way.

2. Minimum three-week space between dissociative trips.

If I down two bottles of cough syrup, I need to wait three weeks to do it again. Or, I can wait two weeks and take a psychadelic instead. Or I can take a psychadelic and then, two weeks later, down two bottles of cough syrup.

The extra week is mostly to avoid psychological addiction and the health problems that come with using dissociative anaesthetics. My experience with DXM so far is that it's quite a bodily taxing drug with a synthetic-feeling hangover and a pang in the head that lingers for a while. I'd like to give my brain a good rest for a while before punching fresh holes in it. If I end up doing ketamine, the minimum will probably be once every six weeks.

3. Very low doses are the only exception.

If there's nothing much to reflect on and the dose is mild enough, it doesn't factor into the above two rules. I made this one for marijuana, basically, trusting myself not to take much of it anyway (or to only take it in conjunction with other drugs) because its effect are comparatively negligable and it only goes so far towards my goals with psychoactive use anyway.

4. No opiates, stimulants, highly dangerous or irrelevant drugs.

This immediately and categorically cuts heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and even ecstasy and alcohol from the picture. I have no interest in any of them anyway. Some, I don't trust myself to not get hooked on. But mostly, fun as they would be, they don't factor in to what I'm trying to do. I don't see much self-developmental benefit from shooting heroin.

The list also includes some hallucinogens such as PCP and, obviously, datura. There may be some exceptions for crossovers like DOC, a psychadelic amphetamine.

5. Approach each trip ritualistically, with clear intent. And 6. Never simply get high for fun.

More specifically, I fast for twelve hours beforehand, and meditate briefly on what I've learnt from the last experience, and what I hope to gain from this one (keeping in mind that psychadelics are unpredictable). Basically, I remind myself that, fun as it might be, in the end it's not a game and I have to take it seriously.

My last DXM trip inspired a lot of these rules, but this one in particular. I came down with a sense of wonder and satisfaction, but also a sense that I need to not fuck around with what I'm trying to do. It was a strong impression, as you can probably tell from this list. It's as though the drug was saying, "I can help you, I can show you a lot, but if you get cocky, if you think you're the one in control, I will suck you in and you won't get what you're looking for."

Of course, just because I'm not doing it to have fun doesn't mean I can't have fun. %) I have my first 'shroom trip coming up this weekend. I've heard this can be an amazingly enjoyable experience. (Or a nightmare.) Looking forward to it. Not much point to self-discovery if you finish off some kind of uptight monk.

7. Have at least one referee.

This is where it gets a bit AA, but the idea with this one is, if I break any of these rules, I'm obliged to tell at least one friend who's volunteered, so I'm accountable to more than just myself.



So far, the list of drugs on my catalogue are:

DXM - Have done, will do a few more times and probably stop then.
Psilocybin - Coming up soon.
Mescaline - No idea where to find it.
DMT - Surprisingly accessible. Will only do once I have the gist of psychadelics.
Salvia - Very difficult to find in Australia. By the time I do, I'll probably be somewhat experienced on DXM, mushrooms, cacti and DMT.
Marijuana - Everywhere. One guy tipped me with weed a couple of weeks ago. Like I said before, this will be mostly for combinations, such as with DXM or mushrooms.
Ibogaine - I will probably have to travel overseas to find it. Obviously I'm not addicted to anything, but nonetheless, this is said to give the user profound insights and can change their life. My holy grail.
Ayahuasca / Acacia - Only found out about this one today, but acacia shouldn't be too hard to find around here. Like ibogaine, acacia is a shamanic experience.
LSD - May try very infrequently at low doses.
Ketamine - If all else fails. Probably won't end up needing it.

So there you go. I've just started with drugs and I'm hoping a few years down the track, with these guidelines, I'll have shaped the experiences into something positive, and have found what I'm after. Or I could end up a crack addict train wreck. I get easily addicted to all sorts of things so that's why I'm being pre-emptive and methodical. Any thoughts, or equivalent models of your own, please share!

 

[atara]

That sounds reasonable and safe. It's more caution than I personally choose to exercise but I really don't recommend anyone emulate my... er... stunts.

As long as you keep an open mind you should be okay. My main concern reading your post is that you don't seem to have much experience and you might be coming at things with too many expectations. If you're anything like me you'll give up DXM the instant you taste an actual psychedelic and you'll never have much real interest in dissociatives. That said, most people here don't fit that previous sentence.

I think, though, that you've spent enough time thinking about taking psychedelics for someone who's never had their 5-ht2a receptors activated beyond any natural or reasonable level. Come back in a few months and I assure you you will have a lot more to discuss.

Incidentally, DOx compounds are not stimulants in the traditional sense -- they have no DAT affinity. DOM has some very weak SERT affinity, IIRC, but that's irrelevant. I wouldn't worry about them w.r.t. stimulant psychosis or the other nasty effects that come with abuse of DAT ligands.

 

[knock]

Incidentally, DOx compounds are not stimulants in the traditional sense -- they have no DAT affinity. DOM has some very weak SERT affinity, IIRC, but that's irrelevant. I wouldn't worry about them w.r.t. stimulant psychosis or the other nasty effects that come with abuse of DAT ligands.

Whereas I believe Mescaline does affect the dopamine system, so is to some extent a stimulant. Seems odd to rule out MDMA in this light. And then there's alpha-methyltryptamine, which is another sad loss to the "no stimulants" rule, one more obviously psychedelic than MDMA. And ketamine is stimulating via dopaminergic activity (more noticably at the sub-hole doses).

I've been using stimulants of one kind or another for a number of years and have yet to get into any serious problems with them (there have been minor problems, but all drug use can lead to problems) they can be very enjoyable when used in moderation, but YMMV.

 

[Flickering]

These experiences are definitely going to change my view of things - I'm counting on it, in fact, that's the point. :D But there's always something to be said for being the new guy to an age-old practice. The naivety of it is exciting, and the prospect of it all feeling normal in a few years... well, as normal as drugs can feel... is alien. Still, partly I want the introductory phase out of the way already so I can have a better idea of what the hell I'm talking about.

I don't want to be rigid and bureaucratic with any of these principles, though. That kinda defeats the purpose of opening your mind. My rule #4 is there to keep on track; probably better to avoid heroin and ice if you're concerned about your health, but as for ecstasy, I see it being lots of fun but not actually helping me. Basically, a distraction, which is why I rule it out as irrelevant. As for mescaline being a stimulant, I'm flexible there because the point of it is to go on a vision quest, not to PARTY HARD! It has a reputation as being one of the more serious, shamanic drugs.

I also get a euphoric high in the aftermath of DXM. After the first time, plateau 1, I had a sense of confidence and daring. Leads me to think it might be something of a stimulant too. But yeah, the guidelines are all about intent, and that's more or less a side-effect.

My aim with the seven rules is to balance health (like you say, all drugs can be dangerous, so essentially this is about harm minimization, not elimination) and introspection. Thanks both of you too for your input. Some of the brain and substance chemistry there still goes over my head, but I'm getting the hang of it.

 

[atara]

Whereas I believe Mescaline does affect the dopamine system

While it affects certain dopamine receptors, it does not act at DAT or at D1, the latter being a (perhaps the) primary reinforcing receptor. It also does not lead to stimulant psychosis or anything of the sort even at high usage levels (see "Mescaline Bends but does not Alter Minds").

I see it being lots of fun but not actually helping me.

I've had two plus-fours ever; one was on ecstasy. MDMA is an astounding experience.

 

[cryptix420]

Lots of good goals you've set for yourself.

However, it's a bit difficult not to just nibble down some blotters on those pesky, rainy days for the sheer recreational value.

 

[Incunabula]

Yeah, I don´t really see what´s wrong with taking psychedelics for fun.

Why so serious?

 

[Legerity]

I think it can helpful to have a set of rules to follow if you are able to figure out what works for you. I consider this to be an individual matter and what may work very well for one person can be extremely problematic for another.

If you remain self-aware during your experimentation process you will most likely be better able to modify certain rules if you find that any of them are either too lax or too stringent. For example, maybe dissociatives may turn out to be best only once every 4 weeks while tryptamines may be fine for you to use a couple of weeks in a row. Or whatever else you notice along the way.

All the best in your voyages

 

[Flickering]

Why so serious? Well, there's nothing wrong with taking psychadelics for fun, and I'm sure I will have lots of fun along the way, but I'm approaching it as a vision quest. So it's like if you were at an ayahuasca ceremony, you wouldn't muck around with it, that would be equivalent to racing a dirty motorbike through church during a sermon. (Mind you, I'm an atheist, so maybe that's a bad example.)

I suppose the most pragmatic reason for all these rules is, I have an escapist mentality and I get addicted to the stupidest things very easily. Give me free reign over dissociatives, I just about guarantee I'll be shooting up ketamine every day. Plus I have a strong drive to find something in particular here. Leaving that drive unchecked is playing with fire.

But really, it's the drive itself that counts. I have a goal here and I've never been so focused on anything in my life. I was depressed from 2008 through 2010, suicidal for about eighteen months of that time. Now I've recovered, but I'm in some strange dissociative limbo where I rarely feel emotion and nothing matters much. Never horrible like it used to be, but never great either. (Sorry if that comes across angsty.) I'm not taking medication, so I don't know where this neutrality comes from. But I believe there are answers in some ineffable feelings I've had my entire life, which have become particularly noticeable lately. See the thread I linked to under 'my psychospiritual quest' at the top, called 'Childhood Memories on Drugs' if you're interested - that's my first step along the way, if all goes to plan. Which it almost certainly won't.

Basically, I'm doing this for a reason, and the only thing that can take priority over that reason is health. It's using the drugs, not letting them use me.

But I'm all for everyone else tripping out for fun. It is really fascinating stuff.

For ecstasy - everyone here is pretty for it, huh? I may have had some prejudice towards it for its reputation as a party drug. But now I think of it, boundless love and compassion for four hours would probably have all sorts of benefits for a psychonaut, wouldn't it? Haha. All right, I'll take it off the list, especially since some of the effects listed on Erowid are actually just what I'm after. Maybe I'll try it. When I get more advanced, I might mix it with something else as I would with weed - or mix it with weed for a session of Deep Thought. It's 42. I would however prefer a guaranteed pure source, and that looks pretty unlikely. Thanks again everyone for your recommendations.

Edit: And to Legerity too, that's exactly what I'm expecting with these rules, some of them will definitely be modified (like they just were.) I'm absolutely against absolute doctrines (paradox) and after all, these guidelines are supposed to serve my health and progress. Things like this can so easily end up serving themselves in a loop, as laws tend to. Best to avoid that.

 

[cryptix420]

^ you're an atheist?

Sounds like you need some high-dose shroom action. Or maybe DMT.


I only speak from personal experience.

 

[thoughtsUnThought]

i support the practice of ritualistic and intentionful use of psychedelics, by all means.

i also dig the discipline of 'not using drugs for fun'. to each their own, but to me it feels healthier to find fun in the world through simple enjoyments, rather than chemical inebriation. for myself, and it seems as though this is what the OP is aiming for....psychedelics are to be used for personal evolution and healing, centering, realigning purpose only, not for fun.

while fun often finds its way to me under the influence, i can only rightfully partake of a psychedelics with the full intention of development and interacting with the earth energy in a solemn manner.

in my early years i had fun and tripped acid running around town...it was enjoyable, and i regret not my experiences. its just as i've developed myself and matured i feel more and more compelled to use these experiences sacramentally. and this disciplining serves not only to do what i feel is respectful, but it doubles as a means of providing for myself what is the most safe and encompassing setting, or launch pad for an experience.

i've had far too many life-changing and mind-transforming experiences to ever take the psychedelics for granted. and while when younger i felt a certain acid-frenzied excitement in tipping the bucket of insanity and going to the edge just to look over it....but as i've grown i feel less and less inclined to 'push my mental limits just for the fuck of it'...lol, while it still feels necessary, and beneficial to transform my mind from time to time, i can't help but to want to prepare MySelf more and more before my meetings with the psychedlics.

that's the main addition i could offer, preparation of the self...however necessary. with some plants i feel better fasting, though less extreme preparation methods can be valuable as well. just waiting until 'everything is lined up' in one's life before partaking feels healthy to me.

i almost always feel it is appropriate to balance my diet, my sexual energy, my drug use (lol, herb and caffeine), and my sleep cycle before approaching...as to be in my most energetic and healthy state before 'going to the other side'

while occasionally i feel 'called' to some psychedelic (which obviously overrides preparations), for myself, disciplined self-preparation is a valuable ally.

also, the not using drugs for fun is the driving mentality behind cutting those drugs you mentioned off your list acceptable intake....and i am the same way.. :D....i have no interest in 'mere intoxication' or 'feel good drugs'....no pharms, no ecstasy, no alcohol, etc... for myself though, i generally do whatever i can to consume nothing toxic. that goes for drugs, as well as diet.

the 'drugs' that i let myself consume, i don't consider 'drugs' at all. just plants and (the exception, lsd) which i meet with from time to time for evolutionary purposes :D to me, a drug is something you take to experiece a desired sensation...i don't know what i'm getting myself into when i partake of my plants...:D

best of journies friend...
work hard, and pursue your disciplines, i believe it will pay off in insightful and rewarding experiences :D
but that's just how it works from my own experiences..maybe some people it is right to party or have fun as a purpose for psychedelics...inherency in right or wrong goes beyond my understanding on the topic

 

[Winding Vines]

cryptix, I don't believe it is ethical for you to say "take a bunch of psychedelics and you'll meet your maker" or even correlate as such with DMT or any psychedelic. Obviously OP is being proactive and introspective on their approach to the ways of altered states of consciousness, which I find quite refreshing.

Kuddos.

 

[thoughtsUnThought]

the only other 2 cents i have is, it is probably better to not trip every 2 weeks...lol
not with consistency at least.

 

[allium]

OP, you definitely should trying doing psychedelics purely for fun and recreation.

 

[thoughtsUnThought]

mdma does cause damage though, from what i've read (seritonin firing degredation among other things i think)....maybe i'm mistaken. but it's always been on my no-no list.

to each their own...but i am a non-x enthusiast :D just to rep this side of the coin.
i won't touch any amphetamines or alterations of such, but really i'm a minimalist on my consumptions all around..certainly on the conservative side lol.

 

[Flickering]

^ you're an atheist?

Sounds like you need some high-dose shroom action. Or maybe DMT.


I only speak from personal experience.

Hah! My post of the day.

It so happens I used to be into spirituality. But eventually I decided I'd taken that route for irrational reasons and besides, my teacher turned out to be a fraud. However, I remain open to the possibilities of universal consciousness and life after death. Part of my little journey will hopefully involve experiencing such things.

But you know, in the end, it's just a substance tweaking chemicals in your brain to make you experience things. What you see is always going to be phantasms of your own brain's bizarre functions, no matter how powerful or believable. So what I'm aiming to gain from all this is not an insight into the other worlds of salvia land and DMT space and the dextroverse, but reflections gained from radically altering my state of mind. If, along the way, I happen to see things differently and realise we really do survive death (hey, maybe we're really cosmic beings that took a biiiig joint of metaphysical DMT, and the trip ends our human forms die) all the better, I guess.

Also, I know about The Spirit Molecule and plan to read it.

To thoughtsUnThought: Yeah, MDMA is possibly detrimental to seretonin levels with repeated use. I've put it low on my list, next to acid and ketamine. Chances are I won't end up taking it, but now it's not a Big No to my guidelines if I do.

I'm definitely with you on the preparation. It just makes it feel better. More disciplined, or sacred, or something.

The two-weeks rule is only a minimum. When I take mushrooms this weekend, it will have been almost a month since my last trip. I take however long feels necessary to sort through the last experience.

allium: A day may come when I've figured out things enough and I feel drugs have taken me as far as they can. After that, I have no idea, I might drop them permanently or continue to use them once in a while, recreationally.

 

[thoughtsUnThought]

meditation can also be a powerful ally with regards to the proper integration of experiences.

 

[acidclouds]

But you know, in the end, it's just a substance tweaking chemicals in your brain to make you experience things. What you see is always going to be phantasms of your own brain's bizarre functions, no matter how powerful or believable.

Psychelics are a significant part of the reason I would now consider myself agnostic rather than atheist, not because of any entity contact or visions or whatever but precisely because 'its just a substance tweaking chemicals in your brain' which has helped me realise how subjective (as humans generally and as individuals) our view of the world is and how little we do or can really "know".

As for mdma I used to think that it was just a party drug with very limited potential for valuable insights etc. but when I was in the US recently (I live in Australia also) I had by far the cleanest and strongest pill I've ever had and I had a very valuable experience (in a Las Vegas hotel room of all places) so I think there is huge potential there and I wish I could experiment further (damn Australia's mdma drought).

Finally, if you can get DMT easily then I am very jealous.

Mescaline - No idea where to find it.

Buy a san pedro cactus and extract it. Do it while you still can - the govt is planning to outlaw them soon

 

[Thorns Have Roses]

You know, someone once said that there is absolutely no evidence to support the belief that life is serious. There's nothing wrong with tripping for the sole aim of fun (I am now of the general position that psychs are for fun, and insight is a just a bonus/form of fun). Trying to find insight never really worked well for me, I just let it happen if it happens. Also, taking your psychs too seriously can very easily lead you down a path of delusion (which many of us have gone down at some point or another, for varying lengths of time). I know you said you realize it's just chemicals messing with your brain, but the fact you're on a quest to achieve something from them tells me you may one day lose the plot chasing some ''truth'', be mindful in avoiding that sort of thing.

Good luck to you though!


Also, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly do you learn from DXM? I love dissociatives, but I view them as the ultimate tools for escapism/hedonism, they may have taught me a thing or two, but what I learned was possibly delusion, and maybe even a danger to me. Also, what plateau do you usually aim for/find the most valuable?

Oh, and in regards to your other thread, I've found that 4-meo-pcp at high but not hole causing doses enhances the range of memories available to me to recall, the detail of recollection, and allowed me to reexperience the emotions I felt when the memories were formed. I don't know if this effects is reproducible amongst most users or just me, but I can reliably achieve this affect time and time again (well now it's becoming difficult due to increasing tolerance...), usually with the help of some object, video, or song of some emotional attachment that reminds of what/when I want to recall and prompt reminiscing. I also think it is a very dangerous thing, reexperiencing the past even to that degree has become a bit of an obsession for me, and I feel slavishly tied to the experience, I'm half looking forward to running out of the drug and hopefully never purchasing any more again.

 

[johannes kreisler]

In fact it's about the only thing in my life I do take seriously anymore.

you should "invert" this statement and add it to your list of principles...