Hi Nexians!

Just wanted to pose a question to the Nexus, namely does growing your own sacraments lead to a more satisfying experience as opposed to say, buying them from a vendor. I would imagine that growing the entheogens yourself would lead to a more fulfilling experience.

What has your experience been? Is there a difference?

My homegrown cactus experience was considerably better than using purchased SP chips. And not one of my cacti was purchased by me, each was a gift from various dear friends. The satisfaction of growing them was itself beyond measure.

I find cultivating my own medicine adds a whole new level of depth and fulfillment to my experiences. There is something of yourself that gets put into tending a garden that makes enjoying the produce so much moar fulfilling than just buying some random commercial product.

There is no greater joy to my mind, than to harvest the fruits of my labor out of my own garden and enjoying them with a clear conscience.

Couldn't have said it better...

I second that

It seems like the general consensus is that growing your own sacraments does facilitate a better experience. I thought that that would be the case. It makes perfect sense.





It would appear that the personal investment in the growing process is what helps add to the overall experience. You have to be meticulous and hardworking (and have a lot of patience) to grow a plant(or mushrooms, for that matter) to maturity and the reward of a bountiful harvest makes all that effort and waiting worthwhile.

Don't you guys think that the satisfaction of being sustainable might also be a factor?

Indeed, but I also think that when you grow a sacred plant, you begin a "discussion" with the plant, when you take care of her. This discussion continues when you ingest/smoke the plant; it's like a wedding between my spirit and the plant spirit.
I also find that growing a plant with a clear intention gives a great experience when you ingest it. I particulary agree with downwardsfromzero statement about cactus: homegrown San Pedro give an incredibly profound trance compared to purchased San Pedro powder. And you can't make more sustainable: when you cut your cactus, you get at least two new ones...

Yeah, it was definitely worth the fifteen-year wait

In all sincerity.

In my viewpoint, it's all about ceremony.

Self-extracted / prepared from self-grown
is better than
Self-extracted / prepared from purchased plant matter
is better than
Purchased ready-to-use.

The psychedelic journey is a traumatic experience, and requires a ceremonial setting for full integration. The extraction or brewing itself is a ceremony, but the continuous work of growing a plant and harvesting is even greater a ceremony.

Also, if you set "ceremonial" rules for yourself about not using substance that you didn't raise and extract yourself, it also places a limit on your consumption, and can help avoid abuse.

So yes, if growing is a possibility for you, I do think it's a good thing.