ijahdan
Rising Star
Hi, I've been meaning to write an introductory essay for quite a while now but just dont have a lot of time. I'll have to keep it brief so probably missing out a lot of stuff.
Ive always had a fascination with altered states of consciousness, alternative realities, and the various means of exploring them, the main ones being religious practises and drugs, since I was a kid. Even when very young, what I enjoyed most was just being in the countryside, alone, kind of 'trancing out' on the natural world, although I actually lived in the inner city, so usually had to be somewhat 'streetwise' to survive.
Anyway, this natural inclination to introspection led me to an interest in mind altering substances..
My parents and most of their friends had lived through the sixties era and were still of that mindset. This meant that things like smoking weed and taking acid, mushrooms etc. were never taboo in our household,(not actively encouraged I should add). There were also books on the subject of psychedelics and medicinal plants around, which I read of course. Not to forget the Freak Brothers comics...still a big fan.
I grew some weed plants while still in primary school, just for fun, didnt try consuming any till I was about 11..Not recommending this by the way! Anyway I did start using cannabis fairly regularly in my teens (this unfortunately led to tobacco addiction), but my aim with this was always to reach higher states of consciousness, not just to 'get stoned'.
Finding weed not sufficiently psychedelic and unable to source acid I discovered that mushrooms grew abundantly right near the centre of London. On my doorstep, practically. Went picking with a friend and soon had a big jar of dried liberties in the freezer waiting for a good moment. That time came the day after the great storm (in London) of 87. Might do a report on that sometime, but suffice to say it blew me away completely. Id expected something like a very strong, colourful weed or hashcake experience but this was a whole new level entirely. Never couldve imagined..
Ill just briefly skim the next 30 years or Ill never get round to posting this.
I continued shrooming every october, eventually got hold of good acid (purple oms, wimdowpanes etc), spent a year doing too many e's, 1989, the peak of the uk rave scene, then gave up the party lifestyle and went to India in search of 'spirituality'. That was a trip in itself.
Back in UK I more or less stopped taking drugs for a few years at uni (already a bit jaded at 20!).
Spent the next couple of decades raising a family, with only occasional forays into psychs (mostly at festivals, couple of times a year maybe).
Recently, with a bit more time on my hands and less time left on the planet, Ive started to reexplore my interest in psychedelics. Ive also only got internet-savvy recently, still not really into it, especially social networks and the like, but so easy to access information. Started browsing this forum along with shroomery, mycotopia, bluelight and some others, but the immaturity of most of these groups put me off, the nexus stood out as being a serious project with knowledgable and articulate members.
Finally bit the bullet and joined after a couple of years. Tbh I would have done so sooner but was a bit paro about online surveillance, especially as I have a phone as my only internet access. Seems like a pretty secure site though anyway.
Ill leave it at that for now. Got some extraction stories, trip reports etc. Nother time...
Ive always had a fascination with altered states of consciousness, alternative realities, and the various means of exploring them, the main ones being religious practises and drugs, since I was a kid. Even when very young, what I enjoyed most was just being in the countryside, alone, kind of 'trancing out' on the natural world, although I actually lived in the inner city, so usually had to be somewhat 'streetwise' to survive.
Anyway, this natural inclination to introspection led me to an interest in mind altering substances..
My parents and most of their friends had lived through the sixties era and were still of that mindset. This meant that things like smoking weed and taking acid, mushrooms etc. were never taboo in our household,(not actively encouraged I should add). There were also books on the subject of psychedelics and medicinal plants around, which I read of course. Not to forget the Freak Brothers comics...still a big fan.
I grew some weed plants while still in primary school, just for fun, didnt try consuming any till I was about 11..Not recommending this by the way! Anyway I did start using cannabis fairly regularly in my teens (this unfortunately led to tobacco addiction), but my aim with this was always to reach higher states of consciousness, not just to 'get stoned'.
Finding weed not sufficiently psychedelic and unable to source acid I discovered that mushrooms grew abundantly right near the centre of London. On my doorstep, practically. Went picking with a friend and soon had a big jar of dried liberties in the freezer waiting for a good moment. That time came the day after the great storm (in London) of 87. Might do a report on that sometime, but suffice to say it blew me away completely. Id expected something like a very strong, colourful weed or hashcake experience but this was a whole new level entirely. Never couldve imagined..
Ill just briefly skim the next 30 years or Ill never get round to posting this.
I continued shrooming every october, eventually got hold of good acid (purple oms, wimdowpanes etc), spent a year doing too many e's, 1989, the peak of the uk rave scene, then gave up the party lifestyle and went to India in search of 'spirituality'. That was a trip in itself.
Back in UK I more or less stopped taking drugs for a few years at uni (already a bit jaded at 20!).
Spent the next couple of decades raising a family, with only occasional forays into psychs (mostly at festivals, couple of times a year maybe).
Recently, with a bit more time on my hands and less time left on the planet, Ive started to reexplore my interest in psychedelics. Ive also only got internet-savvy recently, still not really into it, especially social networks and the like, but so easy to access information. Started browsing this forum along with shroomery, mycotopia, bluelight and some others, but the immaturity of most of these groups put me off, the nexus stood out as being a serious project with knowledgable and articulate members.
Finally bit the bullet and joined after a couple of years. Tbh I would have done so sooner but was a bit paro about online surveillance, especially as I have a phone as my only internet access. Seems like a pretty secure site though anyway.
Ill leave it at that for now. Got some extraction stories, trip reports etc. Nother time...
