Psychedelic experience
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A psychedelic experience, or trip, is characterized by the perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ordinary fetters. Psychedelic states are one of the stations on the spectrum of experiences elicited by sensory deprivation as well as by psychedelic substances. On that same spectrum will be found hallucinations, changes of perception, synesthesia, altered states of awareness, mystical states, and occasionally states resembling psychosis. The word psychedelic comes from a combination of two Greek words: psyche (ψυχή) and delos (δήλος). Literally, it means "mind manifesting".
The psychedelic experience is an intimate experience, but there are many common themes, and ranges from a sense of connectedness to everything in the immediate vicinity, to a sense of oneness with everything in the universe. Potentially, the range of the drug-induced psychedelic experience goes far beyond other drugs, illicit in particular. Simply because "trip drugs", or hallucinogenic drugs have these effects, in contrast to say heroin, and its depressant effects.
Many who undertake such experiences come to see them as an ordeal, and mentally overbearing. For many, such experiences come to be seen as personal re-enactments of the hero's journey. Psychedelic drugs can be used as a means to achieve states of mind in which different perceptions unhindered by everyday mental filters and processes can arise. Hallucinations and the mental, emotional and long term impact of the experience are positive and enduring for many.
There has been research, largely during the 1960s, suggesting that psychedelic drugs may be able to lead to breakthrough experiences during psychotherapy and or have documented pharmaceutical advantages.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies or MAPS is a more current organization that studies the effects of psychedelics. They have a number of books and other scientific journals that have documented psychedelic experiences and information.
- Altered states of consciousness can also be reached through other means; See meditation, yoga, spirit quests, etc.
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[edit] Levels of psychedelic experience
The Psychedelic Experience FAQ describes five different levels of psychedelic experience:
[edit] Level 1
- This level produces a mild "high" effect, with some visual enhancement (e.g. brighter colors). Left/right brain communication changes causing music to sound "wider," or more piercing to the ears. This level can be achieved from a normal dose of cannabis or a very low dose of a classic psychedelic such as psilocybin.
[edit] Level 2
- Bright colors; visuals (e.g. things may move or breathe); some 2 dimensional patterns become apparent upon shutting eyes. Confused, cyclic or reminiscent thoughts. Change in short term memory leads to continual distractive thought patterns. Vast increase in creativity becomes apparent as the natural brain filter is bypassed. The need to see 'normal' reality becomes less, the urge to venture 'beyond the void' becomes more. Level 3 tripping can intersperse with level 2 as long as eyes are shut. This state can be achieved from a high dose of cannabis or a low dose of psilocybin.
[edit] Level 3
- Very obvious visuals, everything looking curved and/or warped, patterns, kaleidoscopes or fractal images seen on walls, landscapes, faces, etc. Closed eye hallucinations become 3 dimensional. There is some confusing of the senses (synesthesia). Time distortions and "moments of eternity". Movement at times becomes extremely difficult (too much effort required). A normal dose of psilocybin can produce this effect.
[edit] Level 4
- Strong visual effects, e.g. objects morphing into other objects. Dissolving or multiple splitting of the ego (e.g. things start talking, or feeling of contradictory things simultaneously). The loss of sense of self can bring a shift in the sense of reality, often accompanied by a sense of ineffable lucidity. Time becomes meaningless. Out-of-body experiences and ESP-type perceptions and abilities. A high dose of psilocybin can produce this effect.
[edit] Level 5
- Total loss of visual connection with reality. The senses cease to function in the normal way. Total loss of ego. Merging with space, other objects or the universe. Reaching to the beginning or the end of space and time. The loss of reality becomes so extreme that it defies explanation. Dream or movie like states, people have been reported seeing themselves in entirely different settings than their original setting. Earlier levels are relatively easy to describe in terms of measurable changes in perception and thought patterns. The only thing still reported to be working at a recognizable level, is the mind's voice of thought.
Much is unknown about what a person actually experiences during this period, because most people actually come back explaining the experience as "unexplainable" or "uncommunicable". This effect can be produced in very high doses of psilocybin.
[edit] Psychedelic drugs
- AMT
- Ayahuasca
- Cannabis
- DOM
- DMT
- Ergine/LSA
- Ibogaine
- LSD
- Mescaline
- MDA
- MDEA
- MDMA
- Peruvian Torch cactus
- Peyote
- Psilocybin
- Psychedelic Mushrooms
- Salvia Divinorum
- San Pedro Cactus
- THC
[edit] Notable mind explorers
- Stanislav Grof
- Alexander Shulgin
- Zoe7
- Robert Anton Wilson
- Syd Barrett
- Simon Bralee
- Peter Carroll
- William S. Burroughs
- Carlos Castaneda
- Francis Crick
- Hunter S. Thompson
- Ram Dass
- Allen Ginsberg
- Jimi Hendrix
- Bill Hicks
- Albert Hofmann
- Aldous Huxley
- William James
- Chad Withee
- Ricky Kaufman
- Jack Kerouac
- Ken Kesey
- Timothy Leary
- John Lilly
- Terence McKenna
- Ralph Metzner
- Alan Watts
- Brian Wilson
- William White
- The Grateful Dead
- The Beatles
- DJ Breaker
- The Doors
- Pink Floyd
- Mr. Bungle
[edit] See also
- Entheogen
- Monomyth
- Psychedelic
- Psychedelic art
- Psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants
- Psychedelic drug
- Psychedelic era
- Psychedelic literature
- Psychedelic music
- Psychedelic psychotherapy
- Psychonaut
- Recreational drug use
- Meta-universe
[edit] External links
- Mental FX Trippy Psychedelic Movies (pay site with free content)
- Drugs-plaza Many Drugs Experiences reports
- PsychedelicJones One man's experiences exploring psychedelic consciousness with magic mushrooms, salvia divinorum and other substances.
- Artist draws man portraits while under the influence of LSD.
- World Science (Jan. 31, 2007). How drugs cause hallucinations
