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RE: 10 Tips from a Psychonaut: How to Have an Awesome, Safe Psychedelic Experience
Thank you for posting this, it will help a lot of people have the best experience possible. Staying hydrated is generally a good thing when on psychedelics. I was in a peyote ceramony years ago and they wouldn't let us drink water until halfway through the night when we each received about a cup. They shaman said it is a fire medicine so drinking water reduces the effects. At one point, I literally felt like a cactus in the middle of the desert, standing strong as the heat of the sun beat down on me, thirsty as hell. It was a good part of the experience, being thirsty.
Oh wow, I would love to hear more about your peyote ceremony! Definitely an uncommon venture. How would you compare the experience to San Pedro cacti?
It was a traditional ceremony in a giant teepee led by a native american shaman. It was somewhat strict: you weren't allowed to lay down, take bathroom breaks, eat or drink anything for most of the night. I think part of it involved overcoming discomfort, sitting up straight through the night without giving in, focusing on the medicine. Many of the attendees were native american so a lot of traditional songs were sung. They passed around a rattle and small drum filled with water (water that some people drank in the morning). There was a fire keeper whose whole job was to keep the fire going. There was also a younger man with a bag of cedar chips, he would throw them in the fire anytime there was an interruption or if someone was acting poorly.
I took a heroic dose that night. First he gave us dried peyote that we washed down with peyote tea. It was passed around twice. I wasn't sure how much to take so I just copied the older man sitting near me. The experience was more colorful and visual than the experiences I've had with san pedro. Also being in the ceremony with a shaman watching over us made it even more powerful. I was very sick at the time with borderline kidney failure and over the course of that night I released many toxins. It was actually very painful. However, in the morning I felt better than I had in a long time, full of energy, clear vision and head and feeling extremely creative.
I don't know exactly how I would compare the two cacti since my experience with Peyote is somewhat limited. It seems more powerful though.
Wow, I would upvote your comment twice if I could; it's not very often I encounter a first-hand account of a traditional peyote ceremony. It does sound like the setting provided plenty of structure and guidance. That's really interesting you felt physically cleansed the next day after the medicine had passed through your system.
Whew, just reading your post brings back memories of horrible nausea from some of my San Pedro ceremonies. I've heard that Trichocereus bridgesii (vs. the pachanoi in your garden) species provide an experience closer to peyote based on the wider alkaloid profile. If you try that species, I'd love to hear your experience. Perhaps even a topic for a future Steemit post of yours! I'm glad we've connected here and I'm excited to see your future posts.
Yes, it was well structured and intense. As far as medicine goes, it gets a lot done in 24 hours. I get nausea from San Pedro too and puke every time I drink it. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Good to know about the other cactus. It will be a few years until it's big enough to take cuttings from though. I'm glad we've connected too, see you around :).