My first psychedelic experience was out of pure curiosity. I ended up being deeply touched in a way I didn't know was possible. Now I am changed forever. Now my life has become psychedelic. Everything seems beautiful, everything special and with purpose. I feel liberated knowing that I don't know anything, that the rabbit hole goes on seemingly forever.

How important are altered states of consciousness for you and why?
Do you believe altered states of consciousness are necessary for evolution?

-I've noticed after each DMT session I feel slightly more conscious/aware. I am better able to connect the dots and analyze things I'm focused on. I am becoming more efficient at interpreting data picked up by my physical senses. This is cool...has anyone else noticed?

Peace

The whole notion of 'altered states of consciousness' is predicated on the idea that there is some 'normal' state of consciousness.
The more time you spend self-analyzing and thinking about how you think, the more you realize that even 'normal,' sober consciousness is made up of dozens (maybe hundreds) of distinct varieties of consciousness. Sure, they're subtle, and not nearly as in-your-face as a psychedelic experience, but they're all still different.

Blessings
~ND

This will inevitably sound weird to most people but I think we're looking at it backwards, and that this is actually the altered state. These states we gradually reconnect with through various techniques seem more functional, aware, and close to some kind of deep beingness/self to me... Not really something we're evolving into or growing (although on one level it could be seen that way), more like a re-awakening or re-accessing functions of consciousness that are already lying dormant within us.

Well put.