Breaking through more about attitude than dosage?

[red_lego_spaceman]

I've been voyaging somewhat regularly with my girlfriend for the past few months now. Maybe 20-30 total trips, and I've only broken through once. My girlfriend breaks through much more easily than me, and the phrase "breaks through" seems appropriate- she told me that to get to hyperspace she has to push through sort of a chaotic layer. I know exactly what she's talking about- we've both seen the same kind of cartoony-demon type things, but while I always get tangled up in that space, she can will herself through it.

I'm coming to the conclusion that this intermediary space is essentially the chatter and lack of focus which is always present in my mind. The one time I did break through, it was on a much lower dose than I've been taking lately. (20mg vs 30-40). Two things were unique in that trip:

1) I had vaped 15mg about 5 hours earlier
2) I went in with the intention of trying to "feel" the space rather than observe it visually or intellectually.

Is there a skill to breaking through beyond simply smoking more? I never saw much reason to try to silence the mind with meditation, but it's becoming more interesting to me these days as a result of these experiences.

What about the pre-dosing a few hours earlier? I was under the impression that a tolerance builds up quickly, but I seem to have read accounts of people taking consecutive trips and having the second one be much more intense than the first. (I'm talking about freebase, not changa)

 

[۩]

Hyperspace is a bit of an interactive meditative maze of sorts at times. This, on top of personal neurochemistry, come into play. For people who aren't "breaking through" but want to, I usually suggest that they experiment with things like prolonged exposure to darkness or dim light before using DMT, or trying synergistic combinations with other drugs like ayahuasca and LSD and using DMT on top of them. There's something very vital about synergy to the explorer who seeks the finer details. I wish I knew why or could explain this better, but there is really something to it that seems to work very well for me and others.

Sometimes a breakthrough isn't about your dose, it's true.
Thanks for bringing this up red_lego_spaceman, keep us updated on your progress please!

 

[DeMenTed]

Depending on your smoking technique maybe it is your dosage. If you're using the gvg then i doubt it is.

When i would smoke dmt in a pipe 30-40mg would get me into the space you talk about but to really break through with a normal pipe i would suggest upping your dose to at least 55mg. Those extra 15mg really do make a difference. Just make sure you really finish the pipe and be deliberate in your intentions. Good luck

 

[red_lego_spaceman]

I am using a GVG. I'm not too concerned about whether or not I break through, because I know I could always load more, but I'm not trying to force my way through, partly out of caution, partly fear.

I felt very apprehensive before my first 10 or fifteen tries. I think it's been helpful to start with these sub-breakthrough trips and become more familiar with that before going deeper. So far, every single experience has been a positive one and left me wondering what I was so worried about. So now I'm comfortably smoking about 30mg at a time. The last trip was 40mg when I decided I was ready to try for a breakthrough again, but it wasn't too different from the other experiences. My one breakthrough was the most intense experience of my life, which is part of why I'm being cautious. I guess I'd rather slip into hyperspace when I'm ready rather than force myself into deeper waters than I can navigate and get freaked out.

It's beautifully weird, not being in my body, but still being inside of something else.

I always limit myself to one trip per day. The exception was my breakthrough day, and then I only smoked 15mg, followed by the breakthrough maybe 5 hours later with 20mg. That's only 35mg total, and I would have expected the second one to be much weaker due to tolerance. Not so? What are your experiences with multiple freebase trips in a single day?

 

[3toedsloth]

Not sure if you've already read it, but this thread discusses the difference mental state may make in allowing one to 'break through'. Some very good points were made, i definitely recommend reading it.

As for quieting the mind with meditation- I am looking into dmt and ayahuasca simply BECAUSE i have experienced the worlds and entities people who have tried them describe! The first few times were completely random, but i've learned to reach the same levels through meditation. I can't quite do it EVERY time, but it's become more and more accessible to me. I intend to try dmt and aya to compare and see if the worlds are the same, which if true would lead me to believe (and eventually want to prove) that astral projection is caused (or made possible) by release of endogenous dmt. Strassman hypothesized this, but as far as i know none of his volunteers were avid astral projectors. I'm eager to explore each and compare.

That being said, there's definitely HUGE amounts to be gained from learning to meditate. I highly recommend it.

 

[tele]

I believe feelings, thoughts and emotions have important impact on the journey, but:
Most people will need at least 22mg with a proper device to break through. For me personally it's 20-25mg.
Just in case you are going for a breakthru just try loading a higher dose. It's rare that nothing happens with high doses but it's possible. Meanwhile you are taking slightly lower doses and I don't wonder if it sometimes works and sometimes not.

What are your experiences with multiple freebase trips in a single day?

When I smoke, I do sessions, so I start with about 15mg warm up dose and then load more, 20-25mg. There's no tolerance, but if I use sublingual harmalas, after about 3rd or 4th blastoff visual aspect can be greatly diminished.

You have great tool for the job, I guess now it's a question if you can conquer your fear to take the leap.

 

[DMT777]

What are your experiences with multiple freebase trips in a single day?

When i first started i was able to breakthrough multiple times in a day with 30-50mg freebase using a bong. After about 2 months since i first used DMT i was no longer able to breakthrough no matter how high the dose. I thought it was because of my excessive use, so i took a 4 month break only to find out that i still can't breakthrough.

 

[entheogenadvocate]

When I first started smoking spice, I would do 4-5 sessions a night separated by an hour, about 3 times per week. During this period, I would start each consecutive session precisely where I had left hyperspace the previous journey. Essentially, I was being walked through many of my underlying issues by helpful entities/spirit guardians.

After about 5 weeks of this, I could no longer break through. I did not know it at the time, but I was being "locked out" of hyperspace because I was beginning to view the sacrament as an escape from reality, rather than a powerful medicine. In short, I was failing to integrate the lessons learned on previous journeys, and more or less became preoccupied with just leaving my body behind.

I in NO WAY RECOMMEND this method, but I did finally find a way to break back into hyperspace: I gave the spice an ultimatum... Unbelievably scary, but definitely one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had. AGAIN, I don't recommend this.

I do believe your attitude has a huge impact on your experience. I vividly remember the journey where I said to myself: "forget the anxiety, forget your fears, stop worrying about dosage and inhaling long enough, and just relax and experience something extremely beautiful and rare".

With a calm heart rate and a smile on my face, I took the first hit. Before I could even attempt a second, my spirit shot out of my chest to experience a 15 plus minute unification with the white light. One of my top three journeys for sure. I must also add that this was when I was smoking very impure spice out of a glass bulb... a poor option compared to smoking 3x re-x spice out of the GVG or Machine to say the least.

In conclusion, I would say dosage is important, but your mindset, attitude, and preparation are capable of greatly altering the experience. DMT is weird medicine. Poor preparation and 50 mgs may do nothing, whereas the right tools and mindset may make 15 mgs an earth shattering experience.

Peace and Happy Journeys

 

[Hiyo Quicksilver]

Breakthroughs are an enigmatic, challenging thing for a lot of people. In my experience, it's most definitely more important to be in the proper state of mind... though many say the opposite. Though we're talking about the same thing, every person experiences, approaches and handles the experience in totally different ways. What most everyone can agree on is that the effective dosage may vary wildly, even to the point of unpredictability. What is most important is that you are knowledgeable enough to be comfortable and confident in your dosage, and to do what you feel is right for you in the moment when it counts.

I would suggest following your heart, taking your time and being at peace with the experience before toking. Be open to what you come to and dig it... don't give way to gawking in disbelief, but join in on the fun before you. The way forth will present itself to you in its own way, it is up to you to simply allow the happening to continue without second-guessing yourself or taking it for granted. Letting go of your preconceptions and having an attitude of open courage may help you recognize and receive whatever insight or inspiration that you seek. Sometimes it is best just to take an honest peek to see "what's up with it all, anyway".

Most importantly of all: Respect yourself.
You know what DMT means to you, and to use DMT properly is to use it in a manner that honors that meaning. When you trust and respect yourself and your substance, you will absolutely receive that energy back during your voyages. You will not be prepared, for the point is that the experience is unreal.

 

[VisualAnemia]

There's the breakthrough, and then different levels of breakthrough.
IME the breakthrough dose has always been above 40mg, with 60mg+ being very intense and 80mg+ often overly so for the inexperienced.

For me along with my friends below 30mg is nothing but simple CEV's, patterns and such, a very dull experience without any real depth.

15mg would do little, close to nothing (visually speaking), the physical threshold is around 5-20mg for most people. For example, one of my friends began at 20mg and gradually increased until he reached 55mg, experiencing little difference in effects and moreso in intensity.

Careful attention was paid to the method of administration etc., we concluded that he wasn't "ready" because of some mental blockage and that we will probably try to override this blockage with a higher dosage the next time. I've had similar experiences in the past and even though the higher dosages are terrifying they do serve their purpose.

If you're not utterly terrified everytime you take DMT, you're not taking enough. I believe McKenna said something like that.

DMT is like anyother psychedelic, first there's the physical threshold, the visual and then the range of different spectres with more product naturally rewarding more effects.
This to has a limit, after which the duration is simply prolonged.

 

[acolon_5]

Iv'e found that mindset only has an impact on low dose voyages for me.

Once I get above 50mgs it doesn't matter where my headspace it at. I go where I am taken and the rest is left behind.

Bless the magic reset button that is SPICE.

 

[Macre]

Bless the magic reset button that is SPICE.

Nicely put, and good to see you acolon_5

Peace

Macre