The Bonobonaut
Seeker of Understanding
Hi!!
Before I begin, let me say It is a real pleasure to be here, and to become involved with such a wonderfully unassuming centre of knowledge, education, and discussion around the very nature of existence is an honour. Thank you for including me in such an important and necessary conversation.
Personally, I believe that entheogens, or psychedelics, are one of, if not the most important tool that humanity has for understanding our most complex of organs: the brain. I am dumbfounded by the lack of modern research into such substances, and frightened by the amount of "book-burning" that has occurred in order to remove these most sacred of sacraments from the anthropological and botanical record. Since the dawn of humanity (and quite probably for a long time before that) people have utilised hallucinogenic plants, fungi, and liquids regularly, and within my own experiences with such things I have realised that the truth of reality is not necessarily apparent to us in our usual state of consciousness. I also find it very hard to believe that the invention of the Nuclear Weapons and the discovery of the hallucinogenic properties of LSD-25 in the same two-year period are a mere coincidence, especially considering their existences at polar opposite ends of the moral spectrum.
My history with entheogens began (as with most westerners) with Cannabis, which I had wanted to experience from a young age. However, circumstance and surroundings meant I had to be patient, and wait for the substance to find me of its own accord. Upon achieving my first "high", I came to realise that not only was it nothing like I ever expected or even hoped for, the exploration of myself and my perception of reality through altered states of consciousness was very much a natural calling for me. I enjoyed playing and journeying within my experience so much that within a week or two I was consuming Cannabis daily, and have done for the majority of my life since. I consider it a ritual, and am convinced I am entering a meditative state when I begin to set up my rolling equipment.
From that experience, I remember deciding, during long, drawn-out, stoned conversations with friends, that I would like to experience the altered states achieved through the consumption of Psilocybin Mushrooms, because at this point the idea of synthesised entheogens and entactogens was slightly worrisome to me. Natural only, I remember thinking... Being ever the contrarian (even to myself), and at that point slightly more immature than I am now, I ended up testing a pill in a nightclub around two years after beginning my voyages. I'm still not sure what it contained, although I know there was MDMA and a visual psychedelic of some description. Looking back, the low intensity and short-lifespan of the visuals I experienced (3-4hrs maximum, if memory serves) would suggest not a large dose, and potentially of the 2c variety.
I had an awesome time, although I found it hard to assimilate the experience due to not having any experienced friends (the pill was obtained through a well-trusted and experienced work colleague that couldn't accompany me that night, and my friends spent the whole night doing what most inexperienced witnesses do: asking me what it was like at thirty second intervals), and not having done much research into entheogens myself. Nor had I met any fellow travellers yet.
My experiences were wild contrasts to anything I had processed before. For example, at one point a favourite heavy band came over the soundsystem. Usually I would be the first into the mosh-pit, moon-kicking and windmilling away being the late nineties hardcore kid that I was. However I found myself staring at the massive, writhing throng of people in bewilderment, unable to understand why anyone would want to do such things to their fellow humans!! It took me a long time to process such a fundamental yet fleetingly temporary character change, and I think that moment changed something in me, taking me on my first steps to learning how to view myself objectively (a journey I have yet to finish).
So, my first experience of entactogens was a good one, but it took me a while to be comfortable with my experience. I berated myself for years about the "non-natural drug" I had taken. Such irony, now that I look back from this pedestal of chemicals that I reside on. I found myself trying Psilocybin Mushrooms a few years later and I enjoyed them immensely. I tripped many times with close friends, however I did have two very dark experiences. Looking back, it was because the close friends I had at the time were not as open with me as I was with them, something I hadn't consciously realised at the time. I am more careful with my partners and friends, now. I tried more pills and other powders or crystals such as Cocaine and non-pressed MDMA. I was using, not abusing, but my approach was immature and ill-informed, and my social group inexperienced and secretive. I had only a vague idea of quantities imbibed, and consumed hand-to-mouth. Admittedly, I was pretty sensible about amounts purchased, but it was worlds away from the precise science I have recently begun working towards in my studies.
Eventually I stumbled across LSD in its liquid form, even before I had tried blotters, and had an incredible night. Although not so much for my brother, who I woke up to crying in the corner, and instantly began the process of helping to come back around. Bless him, he's never done it since, and I don't think we've ever really discussed what happened before I woke up beyond him being worried about his girlfriend (now mother of his children and life partner, many years down the line), as she'd said she'd leave him if he ever tried LSD.
My love of LSD developed over the years, and I began to actively research my beloved entheogens. Multiple fantastic experiences within the LSD sphere of existence convinced me of a need for research into the "Mysterium Tremendum et Fascinans", and seeing how the established science community had all but given up on research into human consciousness and how it is affected by entheogenic substances, I realised that the responsibility for this great task falls on us, the psychedelic and entheogenic community at large.
Since then, DMT has found me. What an incredible molecule!! I have partaken and enjoyed a few times, however I am yet to breakthrough completely (a trip report is coming). I'm still waiting for my senses to regain enough composure to make a fresh attempt at a breakthrough, but I'm in no rush.
I love the educational and spiritual experiences that all entheogens (even endogenous) have the capacity to induce, and I have so many questions! I won't list them here, but they all stem from one key thought: I find it very hard to believe that we can all go to an incredibly similar place, with almost identical experiences and symbols and motifs, and yet still consider this to be a subjective hallucination.
Myself, I feel that this is the greatest gift that the omniverse has given us: a way, with our tiny human minds, to perceive and understand the multidimensional construct that is reality.
I hope to continue my journey for as long as my psyche and physiology allow, and have every intention of writing up my experiences (both past and future) as a layman's experiences within the many transcendental psychedelic worlds. Here's to the many, many more happy and beautiful experiences, and the pure knowledge and understanding that this wonderful world has to offer us.
Thank you again for including me, and I wish you all love, peace, and happiness in your journeys.
Before I begin, let me say It is a real pleasure to be here, and to become involved with such a wonderfully unassuming centre of knowledge, education, and discussion around the very nature of existence is an honour. Thank you for including me in such an important and necessary conversation.
Personally, I believe that entheogens, or psychedelics, are one of, if not the most important tool that humanity has for understanding our most complex of organs: the brain. I am dumbfounded by the lack of modern research into such substances, and frightened by the amount of "book-burning" that has occurred in order to remove these most sacred of sacraments from the anthropological and botanical record. Since the dawn of humanity (and quite probably for a long time before that) people have utilised hallucinogenic plants, fungi, and liquids regularly, and within my own experiences with such things I have realised that the truth of reality is not necessarily apparent to us in our usual state of consciousness. I also find it very hard to believe that the invention of the Nuclear Weapons and the discovery of the hallucinogenic properties of LSD-25 in the same two-year period are a mere coincidence, especially considering their existences at polar opposite ends of the moral spectrum.
My history with entheogens began (as with most westerners) with Cannabis, which I had wanted to experience from a young age. However, circumstance and surroundings meant I had to be patient, and wait for the substance to find me of its own accord. Upon achieving my first "high", I came to realise that not only was it nothing like I ever expected or even hoped for, the exploration of myself and my perception of reality through altered states of consciousness was very much a natural calling for me. I enjoyed playing and journeying within my experience so much that within a week or two I was consuming Cannabis daily, and have done for the majority of my life since. I consider it a ritual, and am convinced I am entering a meditative state when I begin to set up my rolling equipment.
From that experience, I remember deciding, during long, drawn-out, stoned conversations with friends, that I would like to experience the altered states achieved through the consumption of Psilocybin Mushrooms, because at this point the idea of synthesised entheogens and entactogens was slightly worrisome to me. Natural only, I remember thinking... Being ever the contrarian (even to myself), and at that point slightly more immature than I am now, I ended up testing a pill in a nightclub around two years after beginning my voyages. I'm still not sure what it contained, although I know there was MDMA and a visual psychedelic of some description. Looking back, the low intensity and short-lifespan of the visuals I experienced (3-4hrs maximum, if memory serves) would suggest not a large dose, and potentially of the 2c variety.
I had an awesome time, although I found it hard to assimilate the experience due to not having any experienced friends (the pill was obtained through a well-trusted and experienced work colleague that couldn't accompany me that night, and my friends spent the whole night doing what most inexperienced witnesses do: asking me what it was like at thirty second intervals), and not having done much research into entheogens myself. Nor had I met any fellow travellers yet.
My experiences were wild contrasts to anything I had processed before. For example, at one point a favourite heavy band came over the soundsystem. Usually I would be the first into the mosh-pit, moon-kicking and windmilling away being the late nineties hardcore kid that I was. However I found myself staring at the massive, writhing throng of people in bewilderment, unable to understand why anyone would want to do such things to their fellow humans!! It took me a long time to process such a fundamental yet fleetingly temporary character change, and I think that moment changed something in me, taking me on my first steps to learning how to view myself objectively (a journey I have yet to finish).
So, my first experience of entactogens was a good one, but it took me a while to be comfortable with my experience. I berated myself for years about the "non-natural drug" I had taken. Such irony, now that I look back from this pedestal of chemicals that I reside on. I found myself trying Psilocybin Mushrooms a few years later and I enjoyed them immensely. I tripped many times with close friends, however I did have two very dark experiences. Looking back, it was because the close friends I had at the time were not as open with me as I was with them, something I hadn't consciously realised at the time. I am more careful with my partners and friends, now. I tried more pills and other powders or crystals such as Cocaine and non-pressed MDMA. I was using, not abusing, but my approach was immature and ill-informed, and my social group inexperienced and secretive. I had only a vague idea of quantities imbibed, and consumed hand-to-mouth. Admittedly, I was pretty sensible about amounts purchased, but it was worlds away from the precise science I have recently begun working towards in my studies.
Eventually I stumbled across LSD in its liquid form, even before I had tried blotters, and had an incredible night. Although not so much for my brother, who I woke up to crying in the corner, and instantly began the process of helping to come back around. Bless him, he's never done it since, and I don't think we've ever really discussed what happened before I woke up beyond him being worried about his girlfriend (now mother of his children and life partner, many years down the line), as she'd said she'd leave him if he ever tried LSD.
My love of LSD developed over the years, and I began to actively research my beloved entheogens. Multiple fantastic experiences within the LSD sphere of existence convinced me of a need for research into the "Mysterium Tremendum et Fascinans", and seeing how the established science community had all but given up on research into human consciousness and how it is affected by entheogenic substances, I realised that the responsibility for this great task falls on us, the psychedelic and entheogenic community at large.
Since then, DMT has found me. What an incredible molecule!! I have partaken and enjoyed a few times, however I am yet to breakthrough completely (a trip report is coming). I'm still waiting for my senses to regain enough composure to make a fresh attempt at a breakthrough, but I'm in no rush.
I love the educational and spiritual experiences that all entheogens (even endogenous) have the capacity to induce, and I have so many questions! I won't list them here, but they all stem from one key thought: I find it very hard to believe that we can all go to an incredibly similar place, with almost identical experiences and symbols and motifs, and yet still consider this to be a subjective hallucination.
Myself, I feel that this is the greatest gift that the omniverse has given us: a way, with our tiny human minds, to perceive and understand the multidimensional construct that is reality.
I hope to continue my journey for as long as my psyche and physiology allow, and have every intention of writing up my experiences (both past and future) as a layman's experiences within the many transcendental psychedelic worlds. Here's to the many, many more happy and beautiful experiences, and the pure knowledge and understanding that this wonderful world has to offer us.
Thank you again for including me, and I wish you all love, peace, and happiness in your journeys.
