I joined this forum for a variety of reasons, but one that I think merits an appropriate introduction involves an intense spiritual experience I had, for which I would appreciate your perspective, opinion, or input.
To begin, allow me to say that I have experienced and developed a deep personal relationship with a number of entheogens over the course of several years, including DMT. I have had a number of "break through" experiences and a very familiar and comfortable with a number of spiritual techniques, but there is still one experience in particular that will forever be ingrained in my mind, and what I find interesting is that, first of all, I wasn't seeking that type of experience at the time, and, secondly, it was induced by one monstrous toke of marijuana.
At this point in time I had never experienced any drugs other than marijuana, and wasn't expecting much from this particular smoke sesh other than to get a little high an relax. I was a freshmen in college and my friend and I skated across campus to another dorm to pick up. This guy we met up with pulls out a 2 foot bong and packs it, and hits it. Once it came to be my turn, I fill it up with a dense yellow cloud, and upon inhalation I was instantly choked up and stoned out my senses.
Probably within ten or fifteen minutes is when it happened. I was headed back to my dorm, and a strange feeling of premonition swept over me. In a very sudden manner reality as I knew it melted away before my eyes and I entered a state of being that completely obliterated my ego. I felt as though I simultaneously microscopic in size yet swollen with energy to the point that I felt like I was experiencing the entire universe at once. All I retained was a singular state of awareness, a constant insistence that "I am", yet I did not want "to be". It was excruciating for my young and fragile mind. I was having flashbacks to memories I never knew existed. Part of what made is so intolerable was that it lasted for a solid 30 minutes. I was literally laid down in the street blocking traffic on campus. No one had any idea what the hell was wrong with me. Eventually I was taken to a hospital, in vain, until I came to after a comedown that lasted hours. The whole trip felt like 30 years. It was similar to a DMT experience, yet unique.
Reflecting on this years later, its significance still resonates strongly. It encouraged me to begin experimenting with entheogens and has led me down a path of spiritual transformation and inner peace. It felt like a calling... I didn't ask for it to happen and it altered my perception greatly. It has taught me to be more passionate about life, art, music, people, the Earth and the universe at large. I'm sure a lot of you here have had similar events in their own lives. and hope you found mine interesting. I look forward to learning and sharing with the open minded individuals on this forum. Thanks for reading.