Hello people, since my last post I've done a lot of research and just generally a lot of thinking...
I've decided to try DMT but I need a guide to help me get prepared for the journey. I've never done meditation before and think I could do with some practice at it before I take the spice. So I was wondering where would I be likely to find a helpful guide or Shaman?
I know these people aren't just found on a street so I would need to look hard etc but would I find one willing to help in a religious place of somewhat.
Thanks for the help yet again people!
-Luke

Many of those who've experimented with DMT don't meditate, and you certainly don't need a religious setting for either DMT or meditation. Just try to calm/empty your mind and be comfortable, and you're good to go.

There are several threads on this forum discussing 'set &setting' that may be of help to you as well. That being said, meditation is helpful for all sorts of other things, thus highly recommended. If you want to see a well done presentation on its benefits from the perspective of modern neuroscience, look up the "How to think like a psychologist" videos published online by Stanford University (they're free).

Just as tango said. Do some research and get a feel for what you may expect.

You are your best shaman/guide.

You know what you should to work on, where your strong and weak points are, and where you can improve. Trust/accept yourself and all else will follow.

there's some great experienced people on the nexus that can help you

A simple breathing meditation may be of some help to you. It will help you relax and help with focus and concentration, though it takes practice to get better, like most things.

Find a comfortable position and relax your body as much as you can. Take a few deep breaths at the start, to relax you, then continue breathing at your normal pace/rhythm. You will continue breathing normally throughout the whole meditation.

Take a bit of time just to concentrate on the sensation and flow of your breathing. Now start to count your breaths (still breathing normally). Breath in and out then count 1, in and out then count 2 (counting in your head, not out loud) till you reach 10 and start again. Notice the release and relaxation of the out breath.

If you become distracted ay any point, just bring your focus back. Remember it's normal to be distracted. Praise youself for re-focussing, rather than annoyed for the distraction.

Follow this cycle of 10s for a little while, when you feel you've calmed yourself try the next part.

This time count in your head, 1 then breath in, breath out, 2 then breath in, breath out (again in cycles of 10) and this time really notice the energising and alertness of the in breath. Again, if you get distracted, bring your focus gently back and praise yourself for doing so.

When you have done this for a while, and really got into the rhythm of it, you can again move into the next part (when you're ready).

Next, do not worry about counting. Notice the breath coming in and out and focus on the moment when it changed from an in breath to an out breath. You are most likely to get distracted at the change from the in to out breath, so managing to maintain focus on this part helps you progress in your meditation.

Next try and focus on the process as a whole. Not an in breath then an out breath, but one fluid flowing motion and all the sensations that go with it.

Once you have carried out this part of the meditation, and have got into the rhythm and flow of it, then move on to the final part.

This time, just focus on the moment when the breath enters your body (the first moment the breath enters your nostrils). Once you manage to obtain this focus, keep going with this part until you feel ready to end your meditation.

To end the meditation, gradually start to widen the focus from the nostrils to the whole breathing process. Then gradually start to focus and become aware of your body as a whole. Eventually widening your focus to how you feel. Next bring some focus to your environment, spacial awareness, then any sounds and light. Then eventually opening your eyes and sitting for a moment just taking in the relaxation.

This is a simple breathing meditation that really works well as a pre-flight meditation. The first part calms the mind and helps you let loose, the second part energises your relaxed mind, the third part brings the first and second part together, and the fourth part works on one-pointed focus. The final part brings you calmly out of the meditation.

Be patient and only move from one part to the next when you feel ready. There is no rush, it is a relaxed and gradual process. Hope this helps.

Peace

Macre

if you want to learn meditation you dont need a shaman. just research it/watch videos and go to a few yoga/meditation places if there is any near where you live :]

Thanks to all the people who have replied to me. It looks like I'm getting closer to being ready to take the trip

With the Sacred Spice (+ Salvia etc) it's best to have a trusted + experienced sitter who can assist with creating a ceremonial space conducive to inviting the Spirit of the plant for a possible meeting, especially when it comes to a 1st time experience.

NOTHING can really prepare you.......

Close your eyes.........and jump, into the abyss.......

Also, if you do a sufficient dose, not only would your sitter be gone......so would you!!!

Happy Travels......

I agree with what most people are saying here, ultimately you will have to deal with what comes your way no matter how confronting it may be, though having said that if you can find a good shaman then that could also work well... with ayahuasca anyway. with smoking dmt there's not much need. The shaman won't decide the content of your experience, but rather help guide you through it

If you are working with Aya, intention goes a long way. When making the brew, take it very slowly and focus on what you are doing. In your mind, you're almost telling the brew what you hope to achieve from your journey. Respect the brew from start to finish.

Whether working with dmt orally or smoked/vaped. Pay very close attention to set and setting. Clean the place you are journeying in and make it a special place. It may help to have power objects around you, anything you could consider helping, sacred, protective or anything along those lines.

In the larger picture, pay close attention to integration and it may help to be pragmatic and agnostic. If you fully believe what happens during your journey, you lend yourself to the possibility of delusion, fear of dark entities, misinterpretation etc (these are extreme examples, but possible). At the end of the journey, you still live here in this physical world carrying out your day to day life.

If you take a totally skeptic and atheist view, you are robbing yourself of something that could be extremely important, profound and even life changing. These are tools of self improvement that are not to be taken lightly, what you do with them is up to you, though I personally believe that the open approach is the best way (for me at least) to proceed with entheogen use.

Go into the experience, let go, and you will be awe inspired. These tools we work with offer us incredible experiences. After your experience, integrate what you have learnt or taken from it into your normal life. This is all of course just advice, it's up to you whether you take it or leave it. The most important person to help you with your personal growth is you. Happy travels my friend.

Peace

Macre

There are many different types of meditation and all have their benefits. The best thing would be to try and drive into some of the literature on the subject and try a few different techniques, but don't rush it. It takes time. Think of it as a journey inward.

Alan Watts: Meditation Lecture

The above link is a great lecture of Alan Watts on the subject, I found it to be enlightening. Hope it helps.

definitely ,

Have you tried the Yellow Pages!!!

yes.. only the best and most wisest teachers feel the need to advertise themselves to strangers (for a nominal fee, ofc)

HI,
BASIC ADVICE IS TO TRY DMT IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT,BEING NEAR WATER SEEMS TO ACT AS AMPLIFIER,
IT IS QUITE IMPORTANT NOT TO BE DRUNK OR HEAVILY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF OTHER NARCOTICS AS YOU WILL OFTEN BE REFUSED ENTRY
DMT RESETS YOUR BODY ALIGNMENTS AND OVER WASHES MOST OTHER CHEMICAL IMBALANCES COURSED BY STRESS,LIFE, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
THE GUIDES YOU NEED WILL BE THERE FOR YOU,EVEN IF YOU DON'T REALIZE IT,WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING THROUGH THE REALMS,IT IS A TRANSCENDENTAL BEING THAT IS SAFEGUARDING AND CARRYING YOUR SPIRIT AND RESPECT SHOULD ALWAYS BE GIVEN,DON'T WORRY ABOUT BAD OR SCARY TRIPS,IF YOU CONFRONT SOMETHING OR ARE TOLD OFF,ACCEPT THE TRUTHS THAT ARE SHOWN AND WITH DEATH IS BORN NEW LIFE,FROM THERE YOU CAN GROW STRONGER AND MORE AS ONE WITH THE REALITY'S OF OUR EXCISTANCE IN THE MATERIAL REALM WHICH WE LIVE OR THE MANY ALTERNATE REALMS THAT EXIST FILLING THE REST OF THE SPACE AROUND US.
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF MATERIALIZING IN ONE OF THESE REALMS,BE RESPECTFUL TO IT OCCUPANTS,
THEY WILL COME AND CHECK YOU OUT,WELCOME YOU,IF YOU PROJECT JUDGMENTAL THOUGHTS THEY WILL ENLIGHTEN YOU OR REJECT YOUR BEING FROM THERE REALM,AFTER ALL IT IS AWARENESS THAT WE SEEK BY OUR TRAVELING AND BY OPENING OUR EYES IN THIS FASHION THE UNIVERSE WILL UNFOLD ITS SELF BEFORE YOU,BE OPEN MINDED AND HUMBLE AND ONENESS WITH ALL THINGS WILL BE YOUR REWARD,
MAY YOU WALK IN LOVES LIGHT ALWAYS,SEEK NOT TEACHERS OR GURUS,IF YOU NEED GUIDANCE THEN IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU,OFTEN FROM THOSE YOU WOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED IT,YOU JUST HAVE TO HEAR AND SEE WITH OUT YOUR OWN OPINIONS,
HOPE THIS HELPS A BIT ,BEST WISHES
ORRIS

^ orris - Think you could reformat this w/o caps lock on?

Thanks.

i read it too loud and it hurts my ears

caps lock is cruise control for cool

My current reality tunnel indicates to me that we meet these type of people in good time and without physically searching.

Asking someone unknown to you to guide your psycho-spiritual endeavors seems a bit risky. Something akin to handing your wallet to a stranger on the beach, turning your back and counting to 50. That person MAY still be there when you turn around... but is it really worth the risk? It seems like one of those occasions that many unseemly folks like to take advantage of.

My advice would be to use the Nexus as your guide. There are a lot of well informed, genuine, and caring people here and that is the crux of the biscuit. ∞ heads are better than one.

Good luck and blessings

@HanksyTheYeti

I'm fairly new the the scene and have got to the threshold a number of times and broken through once.

I noticed you live in Birmingham. If your not living in Birmingham, Alabama but the other Birmingham (if you know what I mean), then I could try and help you out as I live near by.