I agree.

Terrence McKenna is over-idolized in the psychedelic community, IMO.

But I also don't understand why this topic discusses McKenna's view on astonishment or DMT, when it was something the "elves told him"... I believe he is a great person etc. but just as newb as everyone else here to DMT

I guess this time it's the original poster's views presented.

I like the advice. I am quite a noob, specifically in the sense that I haven't launched very often. The single most awe-inspiring experience I had was very much like what's described in the original post. My awareness and interest were complete as hyperspace unravelled in front of me. I was both attentive and unfazed, I had followed some communicated instructions to focus and, I guess, to not give in to astonishment. I felt I was connecting fully with the events when I was suddenly launched into some kind of timeless void. My best DMT experience by far. I don't think that would have happened if I had 'flowed like water'. I think I succeeded in following the instructions I perceived, and I think they led me to a state of meditative awareness.

One important nuance is that it's not as simple as repressing astonishment. I'm also of the opinion that that would lead to a very bumpy ride. The key is to cultivate a natural wakefulness, to belong. That's a lot more easily said than done, of course, and I do not expect to accomplish this the next time I pick up the GVG, whenever that is.

Then again, I can't speak for other people's experiences, but mine do echo the idea that there's more to it than to dwell in astonishment. Astonishment is just another way to remove oneself from the equation, and that seems a bit superficial in light of what DMT has to offer.

Might I suggest, for those seeking less astonishment in their experiences, switching to Budweiser, opium or television.

I agree with Art. McKenna was an wonderful and learned and experienced guy, but his gig was all about personal experience, not dogma. So to present his personal experience or feelings as a guideline or baseline of some sort really seems to me, to turn his experience into dogma and to go against what the guy's whole vibe was.

Whatever DMT is to you, is what it is. However you feel it should be treated, is how it should be treated.

Blessings

it's like his views on mushrooms. if you take his word, they're portals to different dimensions, and the goal of taking them is to telepathically colonize new planets inside these dimensions in the same way 'aliens' have by planting mushrooms on ours. it's almost like he's deliberately making a straw man of the nature of his experience so as to encourage people to read it's essence off their own experience

It's hard to believe that all these people on the nexus just want to sit back, be astonished and go "whoah". Do you mean to say that the exploration of consciousness using DMT stops at loading the GVG and going for yet another astonishing ride to be integrated later?

Wow I wasn't expecting such a dissection out of such a small suggestion, Not even sure why I threw it out there haha. Everyone has a slightly different understanding of the word astonishment. I hope I did not offend anyone, that was not the intent. I was describing how I was able to utilize my spice to its full potential(actually not even a fraction, but a glimpse), or at least what worked for me. All daisies and sunshine

I enjoy the astonishment as I think I could have lived my entire life never feeling that way.My first "thought loop"
I was stuck in involved astonishment.A being promised to show me something amazing and warned me not to be overwhelmed
or astonished as I would lose the meaning if I had.The loop had 3 or 4 steps,the middle steps I can't remember but they were causing me to forget the message every time.

After going through this loop several times I got my composure and really watched what the being was showing me.It
was a test the whole time and the being was very happy when I figured it out.The being was showing me astonishment
and nothing else.The being congratulated me and invited me deeper into the experience.

Afterwards it felt like a level I had to pass to get any further.

I feel as if this quote is often times terribly misunderstood.. I've heard certain terrance talks where he explains dmt is one of the only things that continues to astonish him over and over again. If I can find it (unlikely with the amount of Terrance speeches I have) I'll definatly post the title. I feel as if the meaning behind the quote is more or less excatly verbatim of what it says. "Don't GIVE IN to astonishment!" Not "don't be astonished..". That would be a very stupid thing to say in regards to a dmt breakthough lol.

noobs? McKenna? benzyme and Van D'Lay posting in the same thread? wait... somebody said sunshine? Welcome to DMT-Nexus.

I agree with space face. My 2c:

To "give in" to astonishment is to lose one's presence due to astonishment. Normally when we're startled we forget to be present, aware.

By all means, be astonished! But don't lose yourself, your presence, your awareness of what's going on.