One more comment on the subject of self, while the gears are still turning.

I've often sat, pipe in hand, ready for my next spice travel, and experienced some level of anxiety, or even fear. I've even backed out for the night, or sat around so long I've just given up or fallen asleep. Even the most experienced spice travellers will have gone through this a time or two. This forced me to examine why?  Spice travel is intense, but wonderful. There is no threat of death, there is no threat of getting lost out there, never to return to this body, or this ego. So what is the rationalle for any amount of anxiety or fear? Well, I believe it's derived in the ego. It comes from me facing the fact that for the next 10 minutes or so, the "I" from my perspective will cease to exist.  And more often than not, when I return my perspective of my current reality will have changed. It's in our nature to protect the "I", protect the ego, and protect our current grasp on "reality." Our natural fight or flight response of course will manifest itself as fear or anxiety.... we either back out, or we say "fuck it" and hit that pipe as hard as we can.

To travel to the unknown, we must COMPLETELY give up the known.

Incorporate this practice in your travels and in your everyday life, and see where it takes you.

Thanks again.