Before I entered into a community such as this or met others like you, I thought - for the most part - that I was alone. As far back as I can remember, I have journeyed to other planes of existence. I have soared and searched my consciousness for years in dreams (what I consider more like "visions" or "trips" ), meditation, and thought. I wouldn't call it lucid dreaming. Until recently I didn't think that dreams were something you could control. I wouldn't call them nightmares, though feeling limitless is in many ways terrifying. I wouldn't consider myself lucky, because I believe there is a reason that I have these visions.

I had never met anyone who had experienced anything close to this, until I met a kindred spirit nearly four years ago. I had never tried any mind-altering substance. Initially, I resisted, fearing that it might somehow detract from what I considered at the time to be more "organic" trips. But he was patient, allowing the spice to come to me. Since enjoying quite a few varying spices and traveling new planes of existence, suffice to say that I have taken an interest in them.

Sometimes we travel using the same vessel, other times we choose different paths. He has shown me new ways of travel, and I have told him of places he must go. Rather than "needing" each other, we fill one another's cup with the joy and mystery that we have beheld. He was the first person I met that knew the places - the deep recesses of consciousness - I had known for so long.

Sometimes I lose sight of this great gift, a traveler like me. Many of us travel alone, for years. We beat a silent drum, we sing a forgotten hymn, we point towards a sun that shines only for those with minds wide open. We think no one is watching, listening, feeling, but you are here after all.

With grace and an openness to learn and discuss more, I introduce myself, the untimely ethos.

Hello untimelyethos,

Welcome to the Nexus. Thank you for taking the time to write and submit an Introduction Essay - I really enjoyed reading that.

Well, it certainly sounds like you have an amazing dream/meditation life and a wonderful friend.

There are a number of threads here on lucid dreaming which you can search for/on if you desire. I myself sometimes go lucid and it was as simple as getting in the habit of doing reality checks.

So, it sounds like your friend turned you onto DMT and you two continue to journey together? Does he extract his own DMT? Have you ever assisted or done your own extraction? Ever tried oral spice?

What other entheos have you tried? What other things interest you? What is your focus in work or education or hobby? Anything else you might be willing to share about yourself will allow us to get to know you better.

Please be sure to read in depth all those links in your welcome pm. They are also on the top of your Forum pages. They are a great introduction to what this place is about, what we have to offer, our culture, the rules, etc.

Also, please check out all the sub-fora - there's a lot of interesting things going on here.

I hope you like what you see and choose to become an active member over time. Again, welcome to the Nexus.

Pandora -

I will certainly check out the topics on lucid dreaming - sometimes I find that topic difficult to find here though.

Yes, we do continue to travel with DMT. I have watched the extraction process, but have not yet participated. Hopefully, I will be extracting some Caapi soon. Personally, I have found smoking Caapi and DMT creates my optimal trip. The effects are long enough to let me explore, but not necessarily debilitating (not always desirable). I have also tried oral DMT with syrian rue, but experienced some stomach discomfort and fever-like symptoms that clouded my experience.

As for other ethnoes, besides those above, I have enjoyed both large and small doses of LSD (unforgettably spiritual, inner warmth and awe) and psilocybin (tried these orally and unaltered, in honey, and in tea - most experiences were light and uncomfortable if anything).

My soul is contemplative, so I reach for philosophy regularly. Over the years, I have been so focused on "the way", and finally I am learning to let go. But this transformation is difficult. I would love to speak with others that have broken from the shell recently as well. Recently, my focus has been on Nietzsche. His works have moved me in many ways and I am continually interested in self-development and exploration.

One of the most interesting tidbits that Nietzsche let onto in his works (that struck me especially as a spice-user) is the fickleness and hackneyed nature of language. Before I tried spice, I could not understand why people could not "explain" or talk about their experiences. After trying it, I realized that one could hardly put to words what really happens when you travel - how ever long or short your stay. I greatly enjoy reading trip reports and still do my own, but I have a greater appreciation now for what language I choose when I speak about it.