"Death is a twirl; death is a shiny cloud over the horizon; death is me talking to you; death is you and your writing pad; death is nothing. Nothing! It is here, yet it isn't here at all." - Carlos Castaneda

Don Juan said that Death is a presence, with you always. Constantly over your shoulder, waiting to tap you when it is your time.

Death and dying is a common theme and experience in Shamanism. It doesn't surprise me at all that you are experiencing this on high doses of "shamanic" hallucinogens. I think most people who do try this stuff will have to face such things at one time or another.

I had a "near-death experience" of my own without being under the effects of any substances. This happened years ago. I had just woken up from sleep, in between states, I guess. Suddenly I just felt an energy pushing me, I was pushing myself, like the pressure was building up in my head. I felt like I was blasting off in a way, and as I went, I saw all the little things that were important to me in my life fade away, and get smaller and smaller. I was about to break-through, and at that point I felt myself pushing through a wall - a big infinitely huge barrier in a black void. As I was about to break through it, I suddenly had a realization that if I went any further I would die. I felt that on the other side was death. It was a palpable sensation, though perhaps that was just my terror. I was overcome with fear, and I turned back. I opened my eyes in bed and was scared shitless... I felt like there was a malevolent presence still lurking in the darkness of the room around me. I must say that at the time, I was also in a bad state in my life. Dealing with a lot of negative energy, so that could have had something to do with it.

As any Terrence McKennophile knows, the realms of DMT have often been compared to the bardos of death and dying in Tibetian Buddhism. In a sense, we are experiencing a mini death. At least I hope we are. We would be so lucky if the realms after death resemble anything like a DMT state, in my humble opinion.

I think your problem is fear. Fear and attatchment. The ego is fighting back against its dissolution. Creating paranoid stories in your mind. Let go of the fear, accept death. But also make sure you are ready for it, and have comes to terms with it. If you do, I think you may discover that the experience will not be so fearful. It may even be enlightening.