Dear nexians, though nowhere near as intense as my "phalaris project" I have been on a journey with some nightshades and I feel the need to share about it. I only have experience with local datura and Mandrake, and I also am interested in meeting the local henbane which I see from time to time. These plants are ascribed powerful healing properties which interest me. I am mostly interested in Mandrake which I feel is safer and saner than datura.
Of course, the danger of death or going permanently insane is great with these plants, and I don't recommend anybody to experiment with them. Besides, the experience they give in safe doses is nothing like a psychedelic trip, probably subtle and boring for most people. With higher doses, aside from the very high risk of death or permanent damage, even if you are lucky enough to get to the other side alive and unscarred, the physical aspects are extremely unpleasant - completely dry mouth and nose, inability to shit, piss, or perspire, total loss of muscle control, involuntary twitching, and unconsciousness... So just read as if you are reading a story and don't think about trying what I did!
A few years back I tried dieting Datura metel leaves, and once also drank a flower tea. I stopped when I noticed that my vision started getting blurry. It is said that the eyesight loss can be permanent with these plants... The Datura metel spirit felt cold and "witchy" to me, a consciousness of acquiring power over others in contrast to the love and unity consciousness I get with rue. I did not like that and lost interest in this plant. I also experienced the ability to read people's intentions, how their words did not match their inner dynamics... I was not interested in that...
Another time I ate 8 Datura stamonium seeds. It felt very euphoric/antidepressant and drunken. Flight felt imminent. I also did not try this again because I did not feel the calling.
But with Mandrake, I felt a call even before experiencing it, and after experiencing I established a trust relationship. So I ingested it numerous times and twice I crossed the line to experience very unpleasant side effects, and one time it actually felt life threatening.
The Mandrake spirit is not an egoic consciousness like Datura, and it brings a lot of love. Like deep pure love. It feels like a connective doorway to Spirit and has a very noticable guiding wise voice.
Very interestingly, I did not get side effects from eating fresh root at a dose which had me crying of contact with a deep emotional wound and dancing uncontrollably. It also was not sedative, but rather stimulating. All my other experiences were with dried root and all were sedative and at least had a hint of side effects (dry mouth) even with the tiniest dose.
Once I combined it with rue, hoping that the ache inhibition of rue would cancel out the side effects of Mandrake. I was completely wrong and it potentiated the side effects, leading to my most dangerous experience with Mandrake, in which I was completely immobilized and unconscious, with a racing heart for a few hours. Before the side effects kicked in, I had the most realistic visions I ever experienced.
I've also had interesting experiences with leaves, never had side effects, and again it was stimulating if fresh and sedative if dried. Profound prophetic dreams...
I think next time I try it, I will try a cold soak of the fresh root and see if my hypothesis on fresh vs dry material holds. In contrast to my rue experiences, my average tropane plant experience frequency has been like once/twice a year so far. Some sources do warn of stupification from long term use and it could or could not be true in all cases.
Mandrake is seen as a cure all, and extremely is sacred in the middle east. It is not seen as dark at all, to the contrary it is seen divine and godly.
I am pretty certain there are components other than the tropane alkaloids in the plant which builds it's characteristic effects.
Of course, the danger of death or going permanently insane is great with these plants, and I don't recommend anybody to experiment with them. Besides, the experience they give in safe doses is nothing like a psychedelic trip, probably subtle and boring for most people. With higher doses, aside from the very high risk of death or permanent damage, even if you are lucky enough to get to the other side alive and unscarred, the physical aspects are extremely unpleasant - completely dry mouth and nose, inability to shit, piss, or perspire, total loss of muscle control, involuntary twitching, and unconsciousness... So just read as if you are reading a story and don't think about trying what I did!
A few years back I tried dieting Datura metel leaves, and once also drank a flower tea. I stopped when I noticed that my vision started getting blurry. It is said that the eyesight loss can be permanent with these plants... The Datura metel spirit felt cold and "witchy" to me, a consciousness of acquiring power over others in contrast to the love and unity consciousness I get with rue. I did not like that and lost interest in this plant. I also experienced the ability to read people's intentions, how their words did not match their inner dynamics... I was not interested in that...
Another time I ate 8 Datura stamonium seeds. It felt very euphoric/antidepressant and drunken. Flight felt imminent. I also did not try this again because I did not feel the calling.
But with Mandrake, I felt a call even before experiencing it, and after experiencing I established a trust relationship. So I ingested it numerous times and twice I crossed the line to experience very unpleasant side effects, and one time it actually felt life threatening.
The Mandrake spirit is not an egoic consciousness like Datura, and it brings a lot of love. Like deep pure love. It feels like a connective doorway to Spirit and has a very noticable guiding wise voice.
Very interestingly, I did not get side effects from eating fresh root at a dose which had me crying of contact with a deep emotional wound and dancing uncontrollably. It also was not sedative, but rather stimulating. All my other experiences were with dried root and all were sedative and at least had a hint of side effects (dry mouth) even with the tiniest dose.
Once I combined it with rue, hoping that the ache inhibition of rue would cancel out the side effects of Mandrake. I was completely wrong and it potentiated the side effects, leading to my most dangerous experience with Mandrake, in which I was completely immobilized and unconscious, with a racing heart for a few hours. Before the side effects kicked in, I had the most realistic visions I ever experienced.
I've also had interesting experiences with leaves, never had side effects, and again it was stimulating if fresh and sedative if dried. Profound prophetic dreams...
I think next time I try it, I will try a cold soak of the fresh root and see if my hypothesis on fresh vs dry material holds. In contrast to my rue experiences, my average tropane plant experience frequency has been like once/twice a year so far. Some sources do warn of stupification from long term use and it could or could not be true in all cases.
Mandrake is seen as a cure all, and extremely is sacred in the middle east. It is not seen as dark at all, to the contrary it is seen divine and godly.
I am pretty certain there are components other than the tropane alkaloids in the plant which builds it's characteristic effects.