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Journal - How do you do it?

pantostao

Established member
Hello!

I've been on the psychedelic journey for more than a decade. But I've never had a system that I can use consistently to take notes from my trips. Maybe three years ago, I started taking notes during longer trips (shrooms/LSD), that I used to write on a piece of paper. I used this kind of system:

00:24 - Dosed X mg
00:51 - First effects - I feel like...
01:02 - One liner commentary
01:25 - Half a sentence without ending...
02:13 - Life is beautiful
And so on.
This is useful for longer trips, where I can take a quick note and then go back to tripping. However, I dont find this kind of approach useful for DMT.

And then there's another problem: I'm messy. I started taking those notes on blank pieces of paper. Maybe others are on notebook pages. Some of them are on napkins. All over the place. I lost some of them.

So recently, I started taking notes on my computer, on a plain txt file. I usually write those a day or two after the experience, and reflect on the meaning of the stuff I saw. Some of them are very enjoyable to re-read, some of them are very detailed, some of them are sparse or boring.

The problem with this method is that it's very indirect. I'll only write after I'm totally baseline, so all my new notes seem to lack "some magic" in comparison with my "live" notes. But, on the other hand, they're much more coherent.

I'd like to have a method so I can take notes live, and then expand the notes later on my computer. How do you do it?
 
Might it be an option to create a subforum called "Real-Time Trip Journals" for this?

We might even add some custom fields for threads in that subforum, like substance used and amount.


What do you and others think about this?


Kind regards,

The Traveler
 
Might it be an option to create a subforum called "Real-Time Trip Journals" for this?

We might even add some custom fields for threads in that subforum, like substance used and amount.


What do you and others think about this?


Kind regards,

The Traveler
I was talking about private notes for myself, but this also sounds like a good idea. I like reading reports.

If you're including a substance field, I'd leave it an open list, you can't possibly account for the thousands of different substances nexians are probably using.
 
Turn on a voice recorder. When something comes up, just state it, it'll be recorded, and you have your record, even if incoherent, it's at least more authentic.

One love
I've seen that recommended sometimes, and sometimes also thought about it. I have a field recorder that could be used for this, but never tried it.

I believe that trying to vocalize what I'm experiencing, while on it, detracts from experiencing it fully, if you know what I mean. Is this a valid concern? I've never tried, really.
 
What do you think will distract you from the experience more, trying to write or trying to speak?

I align with your feelings. It's why I don't take notes myself during DMT trips. If I readily recall it then cool, but otherwise it resides within me, and every now and then a memory of a forgotten journey will pop into my mind and that's a beautiful gift in itself to me.

One love
 
Hello!

I've been on the psychedelic journey for more than a decade. But I've never had a system that I can use consistently to take notes from my trips. Maybe three years ago, I started taking notes during longer trips (shrooms/LSD), that I used to write on a piece of paper. I used this kind of system:


This is useful for longer trips, where I can take a quick note and then go back to tripping. However, I dont find this kind of approach useful for DMT.

And then there's another problem: I'm messy. I started taking those notes on blank pieces of paper. Maybe others are on notebook pages. Some of them are on napkins. All over the place. I lost some of them.

So recently, I started taking notes on my computer, on a plain txt file. I usually write those a day or two after the experience, and reflect on the meaning of the stuff I saw. Some of them are very enjoyable to re-read, some of them are very detailed, some of them are sparse or boring.

The problem with this method is that it's very indirect. I'll only write after I'm totally baseline, so all my new notes seem to lack "some magic" in comparison with my "live" notes. But, on the other hand, they're much more coherent.

I'd like to have a method so I can take notes live, and then expand the notes later on my computer. How do you do it?
I started taking notes this past year and half, primarily from my LSD trips and sometimes from my DMT-Harmala trips. Previously I never took notes when I was younger, but when I think back to the 30+ psilocybin trips I had when in my 20's there are a few insights here and there and recollections but otherwise memory is not great as a whole.

With recording these recent LSD trips, making notes definitely helps with later recollection. Sometimes I only really recall a specific memory when I see the note on it so it acts as a prompt.
I generally do it the next day, sometimes though I will do it immediately after but I don't generally do it during as I don't want to spoil the flow of the experience. I find that doing it during the next day afterglow is not an issue and the experience is still quite present.

I am only making short notes though, more like a few lines that summarise the essence not a detailed account. Usually this is just fine. LSD trips are generally easier for me to make notes from as there is more of a narrative to the experience I find. For the smoked Soma it is less journal reports but more specific existential insights and one liners that hit home and go to the core. I think it's also part of being more experienced with LSD so it's easier currently for me to integrate and more clearly recollect what happens, I liken it to a skill that develops over time.
 
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What do you think will distract you from the experience more, trying to write or trying to speak?
I guess both. Even without trying to write or speak, just trying to find a name/word for what's happening distracts from the experience.

I'm fine with taking notes shortly after coming back down, or during the next day. But I would like to have quick prompts, as Panpsychic mentions.

I guess I'm just trying to hold water in my hands :)
 
Yeah, I've found it best to simply bear witness, whatever sticks sticks, but best to remain unattached, even from memory. 😁

One love
I've remembered some points in previous journeys: In those moments, right after the flash, I might begin to think again in words, something like "how would I describe this?" "how can I tell this to my friends?".

I believe that these kind of thoughts are pointless, or even worse: they're detracting from the experience. Trying to report back might be wasting valuable time.
 
I have wondered for a long time why we think such thoughts. And has this facet of our minds (that wants to share), if it has been emboldened in the modern age with voyeuristic global societies. We live in an age where everything is on display, better have something to show yourself 🤪

One love
 
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