Lifes True Sceptic,

Welcome to the Nexus.  I enjoyed reading your Introduction Essay.  I'm so pleased that the Nexus has had a recent minor influx of folks with over four decades life experience recently.

I encourage you to take a good long look around this place - I think you will be pleased at the depth and quality of resource(s) you find here.  As well as the people.

In terms of your concerns regarding a first experience. . . .it's okay to go slow and low.  Take your time - don't rush things.  Dose only when it and the time feels right.  Set and setting are perfect, etc.  Low doses are fine.  With low doses you can always take more later if it's not enough.  With too high doses . . . .

Be prepared for a heavy body load - a feeling of weight/heaviness, potentially a feeling that breathing or heartbeat have stopped or that you have left your body.  Try to understand that this is all your mind - you can trust your body to stay alive even if you disconnect from it.  You can also trust it to bring you back when the time is right.

Try to meet everything with letting go and surrender.  Try to return love, no matter what happens.

But, overall, I'd say don't worry too much.  DMT is fundamentally safe - it's a neurotransmitter and your body and mind know what to do with it.

I look forward to hearing about your first experience and seeing your posts around here.

Again, a warm welcome to you.