Altered States of Consciousness

[Roknrol]

Hopefully my input is welcome - I do not alter my state for religious reasons, but rather, for medical and I guess emotional ones. I'll explain - but please, if you don't want to hear some stoner talking about his drugs just say so

I didn't start smoking weed until I was well past the age of experimentation. I was - I believe - 32 at the time. Almost 8 years later, I'm a chronic smoker so generally spend most of my time in an "altered state" if you believe that that's what it is. I smoke enough though to where unless I really go to town and smoke a ton it doesn't really affect me too much...it mostly helps keep me from getting too irritated with outside stressors (that I admit, really aren't a big deal to begin with - but if I don't have an occasional puff it makes me a very angry person).

I do - occasionally - do mushrooms and I have done LSD once. The two are very different animals, and both of them were done after I converted to Atheism. I can certainly understand their appeal for the spiritual crowd though, and I imagine that my perception of the drugs would be slightly different if I had still been a believer.

Mushrooms are always hit and miss with me. I've had times when I've gotten the body high but no tripping, and vice versa. More often than not I end up feeling sick to my stomach - I might puke or might not, but generally that happens after they've worn off. I imagine a big part of that is just my state of mind at the time, but it's hard to say. I have an idea that maybe I'm resistant to hallucinogens, but there's more to it than 'shrooms.

I've done LSD once. I can say without hesitation that I believe that not only should LSD be legal, but every adult human being on the planet should have the opportunity to legally and safely try it at least once, if they should so choose. Yes, it was that amazing of an experience, but there are some caveats.

I mentioned above the resistance thing, and really, who knows? I know that when I took LSD - mind you, I've only done it the one time - that it was good stuff (plenty of other people with the same stuff tripping balls for 10+ hours), but it took me 4 hits before it did anything at all for me, and that only lasted about 4.5 hours. So, between that and the shrooms, I think there's something different about my chemistry or something.

I smoke weed to relax, destress, and of course for my bad back. The other drugs I do for the novelty and because they aren't addictive - I have no desire to have those kinds of problems. I'm an adult - let me try to act like one

[monsno_leedra]

Hopefully my input is welcome - I do not alter my state for religious reasons, but rather, for medical and I guess emotional ones. I'll explain - but please, if you don't want to hear some stoner talking about his drugs just say so

Can only speak for myself but I find your contributions to be very helpful and promoting of deeper consideration for me, so I very much welcome it.

I didn't start smoking weed until I was well past the age of experimentation. I was - I believe - 32 at the time. Almost 8 years later, I'm a chronic smoker so generally spend most of my time in an "altered state" if you believe that that's what it is. I smoke enough though to where unless I really go to town and smoke a ton it doesn't really affect me too much...it mostly helps keep me from getting too irritated with outside stressors (that I admit, really aren't a big deal to begin with - but if I don't have an occasional puff it makes me a very angry person).

I do - occasionally - do mushrooms and I have done LSD once. The two are very different animals, and both of them were done after I converted to Atheism. I can certainly understand their appeal for the spiritual crowd though, and I imagine that my perception of the drugs would be slightly different if I had still been a believer.

Mushrooms are always hit and miss with me. I've had times when I've gotten the body high but no tripping, and vice versa. More often than not I end up feeling sick to my stomach - I might puke or might not, but generally that happens after they've worn off. I imagine a big part of that is just my state of mind at the time, but it's hard to say. I have an idea that maybe I'm resistant to hallucinogens, but there's more to it than 'shrooms.

I've done LSD once. I can say without hesitation that I believe that not only should LSD be legal, but every adult human being on the planet should have the opportunity to legally and safely try it at least once, if they should so choose. Yes, it was that amazing of an experience, but there are some caveats.

I mentioned above the resistance thing, and really, who knows? I know that when I took LSD - mind you, I've only done it the one time - that it was good stuff (plenty of other people with the same stuff tripping balls for 10+ hours), but it took me 4 hits before it did anything at all for me, and that only lasted about 4.5 hours. So, between that and the shrooms, I think there's something different about my chemistry or something.

I smoke weed to relax, destress, and of course for my bad back. The other drugs I do for the novelty and because they aren't addictive - I have no desire to have those kinds of problems. I'm an adult - let me try to act like one

Never did anything stronger than MJ or a couple of shrums myself. Well not completely true early in my military career they gave us a lot more than just aspirin for headaches or pain but that was a different animal to me. Have to admit i've pondered a joint now and then for my back vice taking pain pills but haven't done so.

Spiritual / journey wise don't care to surrender to the drug I suppose.

[Roknrol]

As far as back pain goes, it's phenomenal. I have a bad back and a very active job - if I don't smoke pot (and even sometimes when I do) the muscles will get so tight that I'll pull them and be down for the count for a good couple of days. Not a good thing My muscles still hurt, and they're still sore, but I'm not pulling them because they're too tight - that's a significant difference.

When my back *does* go out (which it rarely does anymore - the physical therapy is working), the weed helps me find a comfortable position, or sometimes helps me walk without my cane. It doesn't "fix" anything, of course...a bad back is still a bad back, but it certainly makes it far more cope-able, if that makes sense.

For people that are inclined to think weed is addictive, I'd like to point out that I'm having a hell of a time quitting smoking (cigarettes), and various family members have had a hell of a time quitting booze, but the worst part about being out of weed is the last few days that you have weed. Once it's gone it's like, "meh, oh well" and you move on with your fucking life because after all, it's just weed

I really should detox - I enjoy getting high (which doesn't happen anymore due to chronic use ) - but four days without my meds could just piss off everyone in my immediate vicinity

[Torey]

My brain is a tragedy, really - unfortunately, I suffer from a semi-permanent ASC due to my mental condition. I often think that it's why I have been able to more easily slip into an actual SSC or meditative state. For journeying, I use excitative techniques (through drumming or fast breathing) - for meditation, I use breathing techniques.

During the time in my life when I was doing recreational drugs, I wasn't magickally or even spiritually inclined, so I'm not sure what my thoughts are on using substances to induce an ASC for ritual/journeying/etc. It's something that I wouldn't mind experimenting with if I ever find the time.