A little about me, I'm a young guy closer to his 30's than he'd like to be. I'm very happily married with a solid friend base and a relatively loving family. I recently quit my job as a public school teacher (that's a post in and of itself) and am going to be starting a new job in tech in the coming weeks.

I'm at the point in my life where I feel like one chapter is ending and a new one is beginning. I liked my college years/early twenties. I had a lot of really great times with my friends and now wife and look back on them fondly. That being said I am very sad to see them go.

We're looking at buying a house sometime in the next year and will probably start trying for our first child soon after that.

I'm here to gain knowledge and wisdom on how to use substances to be the best version of myself in the coming hardships. I know buying a house and moving will be stressful, especially as it's looking more and more like we'll be doing quite a bit of work ourselves on it. I'm not worried about my relationship. We've always been incredibly strong and solid. We handle adversity well. Fatherhood is definitely something I'm dreading (I typed that word, then deleted it, then said ahh better to be honest ). I'm dreading the death of our freedom and not looking forward to all the stress that comes with children. That being said I am still excited for all the fun and exciting things it will bring. As I sit here dread probably does outweigh the excitement (just a little though).

I'd like to start experiments with DMT and mushrooms to help me navigate this upcoming part of my life. As I sit here I've only ever done mushrooms once, acid quite a few times, with some higher doses but nothing crazy. I’m hoping here I can learn how to find plant material in the wild to make my own free base (the main question I have currently and the reason I joined) as well as recommendations for safe tripping, and maybe even a place to make some online friends and vent a little from time to time (within the attitude rules of course). So that's about all that I can think of that pertinent to this little intro. If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read it!

You're most warmly welcomd!

I saw this with God replaced with DMT. I believe both are through and aspects of the same. 🙂

That literally made me lol

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Hello and welcome indeed, if I didn't say so in your other thread.

Just rest assured, you'll never be truly ready for your first child and it does change everything, so your feelings are quite understandable. For me that change was one of the best things ever to happen (alongside meeting their mother of course ) so rest assured you'll adapt just fine to parenthood once it arrives. Now, I already had a considerable degree of psychedelic mileage under my belt before becoming a parent so I don't know to what extent that influences my perception that psychedelics have helped me to be, and become, a better parent. There's a degree of openness that the kids have always responded well to - but I've always ensured that psychs have not directly impinged on my parental responsibilities.

Is parenthood something on the near horizon for you? It looks like you have around two years of freedom to explore things relatively uninterrupted so I'd say cut to the chase and grow some shrooms. Meanwhile, start growing that trichocereus collection for your middle age and retirement

Welcome stranger!

The most important thing I can recommend in terms of experimenting with plant medicines--but also in general--is working on self awareness. You won't gain anything from medicine if you don't administer it in a way that treats what ails you. Rubbing acetaminophen on the forehead probably won't cure a headache, right?

For me, the answer became obvious. My obsession with plants--and having recently left a job at a greenhouse--showed me that I needed to grow my own plant medicines before I would be ready to experience them. Six years later I was able to have a life changing experience with aya (and with only one sober sitter nearby). I didn't need to spend money, travel, or perform rituals with obscure rules. I only need to know what I wanted, and how to do it safely.

Consider what you want to get out of the experience before going for it. Most of the time it is impossible to anticipate what a medicine will do, but try to put yourself in a position where you are prepared for anything.

Very best,
Stuart Roelke

Welcome brother <3

I'm on my last year of the 20's myself, and it is kinda staggering to think about the next chapters, lol. However, they're going to be just as beautiful as the last, I'm sure.

I'm a single/full custody father of a 7 year old little girl myself. I never planned for or wanted kids, but now i have my absolute best friend on earth that i wouldn't trade for anything. I'll never have another kid of my own, but I'm so beyond thankful for my little girl. It really has been the coolest and most rewarding experience of my life to be a dad. Raising them right can give you a best friend you're proud to show the world, just focus on being the best parent you can be and not raising a brat, and you'll be elated you did <3

Much love though man, hope to see you around and grow with you!