Well, the facilitator obviously had something else in mind -- the dose administered was not a recreational dose, especially for a neophyte! I think this type of dose is usually referred to as a "fully committed dose."

I would say that the facilitator showed great skill and knowledge, and intuition. He obviously knew there was work to do, and it looks like that work was done. These things are always risky, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I would say the outcome validated the facilitator's intuition.



That's always a complicated issue. There is no question that music synergizes well with psychedelics, and the sum of the parts is sometimes an astounding thing.

I think one thing that influences that decision is the intent of the session. If the intent is ethneogenic--engendering feelings of the sacred--the right music can be very helpful. But when the session is a journey of self-discovery or of metaphysical exploration, in general I think silence is best. Or course, there are exceptions.

Personally I rarely play music during a ceremony, but I will sometimes make it. I find that I can go further and deeper when the environment is quiet. But that is ally dependent. When I take saliva (which I do rarely, truth be told), I find that music helps the journey unfold. But with ayahuasca I like silence, because (owing the the particulars of the medicine) I find that the music and sounds that come form the experience itself is incredibly more profound than any recorded, worldly music, and I can only travel to the heart of the mystery if I can connect with that music.

LW--Missed this one when you were posting it--pretty fascinating stuff--

Raised for me the issue of what psychedelics does for one, and what one does for one's self while experiencing the effects of the psychedelic. I tend to think of it as a collaboration between an amazing tool and a person--but sometimes that tool seems like it has some intentions of its own--so as you pointed out, it's complex stuff, and in the long run the tripper will decide once the most immediate of the effects of the psychedelic has worn off.

My point here, not directly pointed at your narrative, only prompted by it, is that some people seem to speak of psychedelics doing things to them--they personify certain ones and thus, to a degree, put off from themselves the experience and its aftermath. In sum, this being an opinion only, I prefer the collaboration idea.

The worry I have is how psychedelics are put into a special box as "sacred" and "spiritual" and thus given the lure of an alternative to church-going. So, in other words, they don't participate in our daily grind. Like dreams, they are away from the main run of days.

If we did just the opposite, integrated psychedelics and dreams and other soul-developing practices into our daily lives, then I think there'd be more shows like your imagined one actually on the TV, instead of the rude crap that takes up most (though not all) of its hours.

Thanks, LW

Thanks for the insight, cen. I agree with your sentiments and appreciate what you put into words.

As far as looking at psychedelics as a sacrament vs. an everyday occurrence, that's an interesting topic, imo. Psychedelics allow one to focus powerfully on the present. Could learning to "be here, now" be what's needed to make every day sacred, maybe?

lw

Lw: Could learning to "be here, now" be what's needed to make every day sacred, maybe?


yes, yes
and every moment
to keep the awareness of the sacred while living one's moments - this is the mission, if we should decide to accept it

Dang it; Where's my SAG card when I need it!!!!! Great story Willa

cen: Are you sure you don't have Reali-TV in your viewing area? Better check with your provider.

sal: No SAG card necessary. A passport will do.

lw

Yesterday's a purple haze
and tomorrow's just a pipe dream..... - the book of laughingwillow -

lw