DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT ADVOCATE OR ENCOURAGE THE DOSING OF CHILDREN WITH ANY KIND OF MIND ALTERING SUBSTANCE. THAT IS A TERRIBLE IDEA

Ahem.

Does anyone know what would happen if a young child (pre-puberty) where to consume something like LSD or magic mushrooms, both short term or long term? Thinking back to my own childhood, and then about the children I work with, I am unsure how radically different a psychedelic headspace is from a child's.

...
Blessings
~ND

I do not have any first-hand feedback, however, I have found some extremely insightful thoughts from this person -- Her background was ritual abuse through most of her childhood including forced and high ketamine dosing.

http://www.thespiritualcatalyst.com/about-teal

What it has done to/for her is profound though who knows how much of who she is now is a product of the abuse, drugs, recovery, or original persona that would have come through regardless of background.

My first taste of acid was at about 16 and pretty inconclusive. But I have a friend, a hippie tattoo guy, who was raised by hippie tattoo parents. His father offered him his first taste of acid at 10, and after that went well he started having it regularly, often without adult supervision.

Now, this was a pretty loose family, really no rules or anything. At the time they lived in Goa with no power or plumbing, and ran their tattoo operation off car batteries. Anyway, one day this ten-year-old takes a hit of acid and walks down to the Ganges to watch people burning their dead. He parked himself in a spot where he could get a really good view of a particularly fancy funeral pyre setup, just as they were lighting the fire. At this point he's starting to peak pretty hard. The family is milling around the deceased man, pretty much ignoring the tripping ten-year-old hovering nearby. The fire quickly overwhelms the fabric dressings and a wave of flame comes and goes; as it settles the body starts smoldering.

At this point my friend is entirely focused on the man's head. The hair has been burned away and the skin is tightening and darkening. Suddenly it gives way, breaking apart into animated black ornamental fractal spirals curling around the face. Next the fat starts to boil, becoming infinitely intricate churning golden ornament, morphing and crawling over the face in rapid motion, a mask of living jewelry. Finally the fats dry up and give way to layers of white spiraling Art Neuveau embellishments.

Ever since he told me this story I've wondered how it must have effected him as an adult. No doubt there were many other occasions as well. He is now a brilliant and successful artist, who specializes in (among other things) jeweled skulls. Other artists draw them too, but his have far more life and vitality, more personality. As far as how all that acid at a young age might have effected him outside his art, that's impossible to say- so many things about his upbringing were just completely outside the normal definitions. Acid or not, he was destined to be a bit different.

And yes, he still trips. He's now I'm his late forties.

He never spoke to anyone, made no eye contact and lived exclusively in his own world. What was unique about this boy's psychedelic experiences was his ability to enjoy sensory experiences that are commonly experienced by the normal person. During the first two hours he would delight in the visual and auditory experiences and constantly comment about what he was experiencing.

We soon discovered Stevie had an extensive vocabulary which he never used in his usual state. He would say such things as "the music is following the designs," he would laugh and say, "I love you, designs. Heart designs, ahhh, what a beautiful lady, a whole house full of changes." He rhythmically moved his body very gracefully to the music. He became extremely animated, smiling, sometimes giggling and appearing very much enchanted by his experiences. The long duration of this type of reaction was most unusual with these children. He would also become extremely quiet and peaceful, radiating a serene countenance that is witnessed when individuals are experiencing transcendental states…

However, a strong cautionary word is offered. These materials are so potent that a person interested in using them must have very clear his intention and needs to have guides attend him who are experienced travelers in the realms of consciousness that are unfolded and revealed. We used to say that the most important ingredient in LSD was the person taking it. The second most important ingredient is the guide who sits with that person.

my best friend took acid and ayahuasca through her pregnancy. She has one of the smartest kids I know. Make of that w/e you will I guess. Just my observations.