expanding consciousness through phyche drugs

[LePatron7]

Hello everyone. I recently met an interesting woman. She's pagan and feels strongly about expanding her consciousness using phychedelic drugs.

I have no reason to get her to stop. In fact, I'm considering joining her lol.

She uses a lot of the mushrooms of the pychedlic variety. Fortunately not the ones I took, that make you hallucinate.

I'm curious if anyone can direct me to links supporting these "special shrooms."

I'd like to research them before hand.

My plan was to do my version of raw paleo for a few years, then try them. But who knows, maybe I'll benefit from taking them ahead of time.

[CitrusHigh]

There are two main category of entheogenic fungi. Psilocybe and Amanita.

I'm assuming the ones you'd had were psilocybe, and the one's she's talking about, IF they are indeed different are the amanitas.

Have you been to erowid.com? Lots of good info there. Otherwise just read around with those two key words as your search terms. The psilocybes grow where you are, and it's high season right now for them. Amanitas grow up here in more temperate climates, and it's also time for them, they are a spring and fall mushroom.

Amanitas can put quite a load on the body though, and in rare cases can even kill you so please be careful if that's what you're thinking about. She is probably versed in them if she's pagan, but maybe not, I'd do tons of reading like you said, before actually going on that journey! Best of luck!

[Projectile Vomit]

You can achieve an altered state of consciousness without psychoactive drugs. Drugs are used by lazy people who want the benefits of altered states without having to do the inner work to get there without them.

[CitrusHigh]

Wow, shamans are super lazy! Careful you don't fall off your stump, and think about not judging others. These 'drugs' are plants (usually!) and it's super bizarre that they just happen to tap on our brains so peculiarly.

Maybe someone else here needs to do some inner work (ahem)...

[LePatron7]

Lol let's not argue guys.

I think I figured out what led to my horrendous psychedelic trip.

I just red psyche drugs can give you flash backs.

I almost died at birth. And the feeling I got was probably that. Yeah it was deffinitely that.

I feel better just knowing that.

[jessica]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/24/145731952/your-brain-on-psilocybin-might-be-less-depressed

there are a ton of studies about psilocyibn and depression and how it is helpful, i think it is because the experience, when taken in small doses(definitely not an eighth!) and in the proper setting with the right intention they can unify you to the unknown...connect you to the universe and give you the trust and courage to accept that we really are here just to be, just to experience...nothing to strive for and nothing to fail.  they can open up different faucets of our mind, and mostly bad trips that are due to taking too many shrooms are just lessons that we need to learn.  in my experience, eating small amounts in the woods with trusted friends who i felt comfortable around have been some of the more awakening and enlightening times in my life and have really helped to combat some of the mental/spiritual issues i have struggled with for as long as i can remember

[Wattlebird]

Hi DaBoss88,
 yes, mushrooms and many other plants will change brain chemistry, and alter perception and have been used by Shamans over the eons.
There are sundry other ways to bring about these alterations also: fasting, meditation practices, breathing techniques, drumming rituals, prolonged solitude, lucid dreaming practice to name a few.
For what its worth however, many Shamans are 'called' to Shamanise, not because they use such plants, but because they had/have certain neurological 'abnormalities', which may include epilsepsy, schizophrenic leanings, and/or other brain wiring quirks, which mean the individual concerned often perceive (or have the ability to readily slip in or out of trance states easily) in 'non-ordinary' ways.
Insights from the resulting journeys to 'other worlds' are then used to help/heal folk back 'here'.
The results of ingestion of plant substances for altered states also varies from individual to individual, and can be quite disastrous depending on emotional states also.
Kind wishes, J