Hi and welcome Argyle!

Nice that you have decided to join the forum and introduce yourself. THis is a good place to gather information and enter into discussions and debates with other people. I hope you enjoy your stay here.

I always find it interesting that so many people put "prior influence" as something the think could be responsible for what they saw. When I first tried spice I had read all kinds of things about it, but what I encountered was not really like any of what I had read. I mean, certainly the fractal patterns and the colors, yes... but the types of entities I've met in general don't correspond to what is commonly encountered i.e. elves or aliens - so for me this question of yours never arose.

As to the other questions, I suppose those are the big ones, that so far no one has been able to answer with any real evidence. It's a matter of faith, and one can choose or remain agnostic about it. Whatever it is though, it is interesting for sure.

happy traveling!