I return to you as a scorned boy...
I'm still a bit woozy from it all, so I'll give you a brief run-down:
- I needed more filtration, as the final brew was full of bits. This proved detrimental.
- THE TASTE! My word, the taste! Nothing but nothing could prepare me for the intensity. I thought I was able to stomach bitterness as I'm a prolific coffee drinker, only ever drinking it strong and black. This was something else entirely.
- I managed to keep some down for about 10-20 minutes, but unfortunately I lost some due to being a tad too eager; as mentioned above, I wasn't prepared for the taste and my gag reflex kicked in quite literally the nanosecond the brew passed my lips. This caused me to lose a few 'sips' straight off the bat. I wrestled with it the best I could but unfortunately it was too little too late.
- Being a little too over-keen was also an error. I began to feel a warmth inside of me (placebo, perhaps?) but I wanted to finish what was in the glass (I was struggling, seriously; there were only a few oz but
my lord the taste
)
I was feeling relaxed and good, but against my better judgement I thought "No, I'll finish it". I say "Against my better judgement" because my better judgement was saying "No - you have had enough. Seriously. You have... no... what are you doing? PUT THAT GLASS DOWN!"
Mistake!
Suddenly this "Whelp, now you've bloody done it!" sensation swept over me and within a fleeting moment it all came rushing back up through my system. Barf-o-rama didst commence. I felt rather stupid to say the least; 11-12 hours prep time and it's all over within the space of 30 minutes. Duh.
Whether it is down to the Aya (which I think I accidentally made WAY too strong - long story; bottom line = knackered scales) or down to my diet / lack of caffeine, the whole ordeal has left me feeling spaced out, peaceful, somehow more confident (I really, really went balls to the wall today - it was a huge leap of faith on my part) and also rather humbled.
I am a humble person by nature in many respects, but this has made me more so. It came with a flood of realisations. I intended to learn my place in the world whilst journeying with Mother Aya, but the premature purge left me with feelings of "Why are you asking me for answers to questions you already know, and why are you asking me for the path to walk when you are already walking it?" I realise that I've been so caught up in conversing with Aya that I've forgotten how to think for myself, inadvertently neglecting things in the day to day which bring me closer to my goals and fulfilment.
Sorry - this is really incoherent - my brain hurts.
Finally, I was left with the sensation of being a scorned child. You know how a toddler reaches out for something they really shouldn't have, and the adult taps them on the hand and says "No! That isn't for you!" Well, that's exactly how I feel.
I know some here will look at this experience as another idiot doing it wrong - and that's fine! To each his own, but to me it was more profound than that. It was more profound because I know my own mind, and I know that the sensations I felt today were not normal. I have the overbearing sense that today I was told "One day, but not today - you aren't ready for this journey".
Meanwhile I've started to feel happier, more relaxed, you name it. There has definitely been some easily discernible and positive effect on me... but as for going deeper... well, let's see what the future brings
Peace <3
- AD.
[EDIT]
P.S. - this was my first ever foray into anything even remotely related to drugs or psychedelics, some marijuana aside when I visited Amsterdam back in 2010. This is what I meant by "A leap of faith". For me it was embracing the unknown 100%