Value of Low dose?

[TransistorBass]

Do we think there is any value in ultra low doses? Mentally, Physically etc?

A couple of 2-3 second hits on a vape give me a few subtle CEV patterns and a few short minutes of enhanced visual acuity where text on the computer screen becomes more bold and maybe a slight bend in the visual field with the brightness turned up a notch. But otherwise only the smallest of effects which don't really detract from the default state.

I did this same thing at the end of my Yoga session the other day and had a lovely relaxing Shavasana laid on the mat letting my mind do what it wanted, very relaxing and post-hit mood lift is nice in an open talkative way.

*Literally doing these small hits as I type this btw*

 

[blig-blug]

I think it could be "a problem" if done all the time, at very low doses, as if it were nicotine or something. I'm not sure how much of a problem it could be in practice, as it's so benign.

I find low doses extremely valuable when coupled with anapanasati meditaion. I like to use them just at the beginning and try to go "beyond the images", keeping my focus anchored in my breath (or trying to). When it fades, what remains in my case is a very strong meditative state, as a consequence of having dealt more or less successfully with the visions that come.

I have found more valuable those doses than higher ones, as I'm much more grounded with low doses.

 

[TransistorBass]

It sounds like I should try this again for my Post-Yoga but turn the music off and focus on either my Breathing (or my Tinnitus).

I'd say I'm more likely to low-dose cups of tea all day than I am to keep hitting the Spice, I've got what I consider to be a very non-addictive character to me.

 

[blig-blug]

It sounds like I should try this again for my Post-Yoga but turn the music off and focus on either my Breathing (or my Tinnitus).

With a low enough dose, you could also try it pre-yoga. I don't stretch ever (I should!), and low doses have sometimes had me stretching and doing yoga poses better than I usually would.

 

[TransistorBass]

Ahh, yeah, I think I wrote about my pre-Yoga test a little while back, pretty low dose but it was too distracting and i kept forgetting which moves I had to do. It was still relaxing, but a little weed before Yoga is more in-the-zone for me. *Not that I do that regularly as I feel my Yoga is very important for the health of my back so i try to give it my full attention. I should really start a Yoga thread in the appropriate part of the forum!

 

[blig-blug]

it was too distracting and i kept forgetting which moves I had to do

I can see that. As what I was doing wasn't really yoga (I don't know yoga), more like just going with whatever my body "asked" me to do.

I should really start a Yoga thread in the appropriate part of the forum!

Please do! I'm interested.

 

[Jamie01]

Dose is inevitably only one factor, and perhaps less relevant than what you actually experience.

Many deep and profound ayahuasca experiences could be argued as being low doses, if compared to vaporized breakthroughs. Breakthroughs are often chaotic and not always relatable. People talk about being ready for it, but my experience of it that it is what it is. You will never be ready for that. Smoking DMT at a high dose will always be about submission IME…and that can leave a BIG impact on a person but it’s not really where the work happens.

 

[new_science]

I would put it this way: a low dose has more potential to be *surprising* than a high dose does. Do you value the element of surprise?

 

[Panpsychic]

Dose is inevitably only one factor, and perhaps less relevant than what you actually experience.

Many deep and profound ayahuasca experiences could be argued as being low doses, if compared to vaporized breakthroughs. Breakthroughs are often chaotic and not always relatable. People talk about being ready for it, but my experience of it that it is what it is. You will never be ready for that. Smoking DMT at a high dose will always be about submission IME…and that can leave a BIG impact on a person but it’s not really where the work happens.

I really think it is primarily due to Mckenna that this attitude is pervasive...he sold the idea that you need to "take the third toke" and are supposed to 'breakthrough into another dimension'. People think this is what DMT is all about, and if you're not doing it like that you are doing it wrong or are a lightweight in some way.
It's actually more a reflection of his novelty seeking personality and stage persona than a genuine reflection of how to most effectively work with DMT, low dose and vaporhuasca being much less widely done than they should be in comparison to the typical attempt at a blast off, being an unfortunate consequence of this.

 

[Animistic]

I think low doses are absolutely delightful, insightful, inspiring and refreshing. My experience is that you need to meet the experience more though through awareness, bodily engagement etc. Qigong/yoga and various forms of meditation are key. Low doses can feel pretty meaningless unless actively engaged with ime. Also the afterglow, esp with harmalas in the system is a great time to work at expanding/contracting sensory gating as everything is looser in the psyche afterwards.

Personally I don't recommend doing low doses and just sitting around watching TV/using the computer/phone etc, which is possible to do in that state vs in a full blast off but ones mind is so much more open that I think it would be easy to feel a bit numbed out after such experiences. Think of it as a mini prayer for what one wants to cultivate more of in ones life. I think low doses require more discipline, high doses more courage lol.

 

[Jamie01]

I like to vape a light dose around 3-4 am when I am still tired and dreamy but cannot sleep. This is when my nervous system seems primed. Don’t even leave the bed or turn on lights just grab a vape and hit like 7-10 mg… after vaping weed even better.

I go on pretty great journeys this way every few weeks.

 

[Voidmatrix]

Ahhh... low doses. I've purposefully and mindfully been primarily low dosing for years. I find there's deeper work there. With heavier doses of psychedelics, there's a way to blow past certain things that might make us feel uncomfortable or even hurt in some way, but that's where the work is, and that is what low doses can provide. Simultaneously, they can shake up the nervous system to then allow relaxation after. You just have to allow it to happen. It does seem to have a kind of learning curve.

One love

 

[TransistorBass]

Dose is inevitably only one factor, and perhaps less relevant than what you actually experience.

Many deep and profound ayahuasca experiences could be argued as being low doses, if compared to vaporized breakthroughs. Breakthroughs are often chaotic and not always relatable. People talk about being ready for it, but my experience of it that it is what it is. You will never be ready for that. Smoking DMT at a high dose will always be about submission IME…and that can leave a BIG impact on a person but it’s not really where the work happens.

I doubt, least personally, that I'll ever be fully ready for it but low and slow works as a lovely warm-up.

I would put it this way: a low dose has more potential to be *surprising* than a high dose does. Do you value the element of surprise?

If we class surprise as shock, yeah I'm never ready to be startled!

I really think it is primarily due to Mckenna that this attitude is pervasive...he sold the idea that you need to "take the third toke" and are supposed to 'breakthrough into another dimension'. People think this is what DMT is all about, and if you're not doing it like that you are doing it wrong or are a lightweight in some way.
It's actually more a reflection of his novelty seeking personality and stage persona than a genuine reflection of how to most effectively work with DMT, low dose and vaporhuasca being much less widely done than they should be in comparison to the typical attempt at a blast off, being an unfortunate consequence of this.

Fair points, I've yet to go that deep, no rush.

I think low doses are absolutely delightful, insightful, inspiring and refreshing. My experience is that you need to meet the experience more though through awareness, bodily engagement etc. Qigong/yoga and various forms of meditation are key. Low doses can feel pretty meaningless unless actively engaged with ime. Also the afterglow, esp with harmalas in the system is a great time to work at expanding/contracting sensory gating as everything is looser in the psyche afterwards.

Personally I don't recommend doing low doses and just sitting around watching TV/using the computer/phone etc, which is possible to do in that state vs in a full blast off but ones mind is so much more open that I think it would be easy to feel a bit numbed out after such experiences. Think of it as a mini prayer for what one wants to cultivate more of in ones life. I think low doses require more discipline, high doses more courage lol.

Agreed, it has to have some intention behind it even if the only intention is to explore.

I like to vape a light dose around 3-4 am when I am still tired and dreamy but cannot sleep. This is when my nervous system seems primed. Don’t even leave the bed or turn on lights just grab a vape and hit like 7-10 mg… after vaping weed even better.

I go on pretty great journeys this way every few weeks.

Back in my youth every weekend morning was started hitting the weed pipe and it did make for some good music listening and fairly productive mornings. I'm not going to keep my Vape next to the bed, if I'm awake early it's usually cos the cat wants to snuggle by my head.

Ahhh... low doses. I've purposefully and mindfully been primarily low dosing for years. I find there's deeper work there. With heavier doses of psychedelics, there's a way to blow past certain things that might make us feel uncomfortable or even hurt in some way, but that's where the work is, and that is what low doses can provide. Simultaneously, they can shake up the nervous system to then allow relaxation after. You just have to allow it to happen. It does seem to have a kind of learning curve.

One love

The 2-3 second tokes, first one just gets you some feels, the second one introduces subtle visuals and a heightened awareness with more body feels. I was amazed that even low doses can bring the mood uplift and post-session clarity, kinda feels like a little Vape connects all the dots mentally a bit like fixing a slight deficiency.
I had this exact effect, though much longer lasting, when I started using Medical Cannabis I felt more mentally balanced like I'd been missing something in my brain for years and it just came back, clarity and flow of thought improved, things felt less inhibited, I've got my F***ing Spark back!! The deficiency probably dates back to a Car crash I had years ago, I had a mental shift afterwards and seemed to have more apprehension about driving. *I'm a pretty careful driver these days, I was a nob-head back then!*