Hello all,

So several years ago I was in my university library and stumbled across a book on peyote (mescaline). I had no idea what it was about, decided to read though it because I was curious. Since reading that book I've been quietly fascinated with psychadelics, their effects and potential benefits. The fact that these substances are ancient, used by a large range of cultures and capable of giving users very real benefits was astonishing.

I came upon DMT in a discussion with a friend over some coffee, who recommended that I read more about it. His description of it sounded terrifying (brief and ferocious like Salvia Divinorum) and I didn't really look into it more because I made a faulty assumption that it was unpleasant, brutal dissociative. Of course I was wrong, but I was not ready anyway.

A few years later, marijuana is legal in my state and I'm over the legal age. I started smoking, but then I started vaporizing marijuana on a regular basis. I have found that my academics have not suffered as I've been told, my mood has greatly improved (I was taking stimulants for ADD and anxiety) and my sleep got better (although I remember my dreams far less frequently). The great success I've had with careful, controlled use of marijuana in my life was a great boon, I have even stopped taking my stimulant medication and wow, I feel great! Over the summer I picked up lifting and I was in the best shape of my life and was rocking my internship. Then school started and weather got cold, but weed has allowed me to sleep far better at night than I used to, keep cool and collected (I would often get massive anxiety near exams even though I was perfectly ready).

To say the least, I decided to dust off my research on psychadelics, seeing that I benefitted from one (marijuana) in my daily life. I returned to reading up on DMT, reading things here, on BL and the psychonaut wiki only to learn some really interesting things about this substance (previously I could not research on the internet because it was being monitored by my parents). One by one the assumptions I had made were overturned with facts, primarily the fact that DMT is not synthetic, but pervasive in nature.

The more I read about DMT the more I wanted to explore it personally. However, I am aware that as far as psychadelics are concerned, DMT deserves a lot of respect and should be used very carefully. Even though the effects are brief, they are dramatic, totally encompassing and the experiencer undergoes a profound shift in perceiving the passage of time, really stretching out that half-hour. I have read about how one could extract the chemical from a variety of plants, I have also read that it is against the rules to discuss purchasing MHRB. As a result, I have considered growing my own plants and extracting from them, but that's a separate discussion. The more important thing I'd like to ask the community here is this: what is the best way to work up to taking DMT? That is, should I try other hallucinogens first, or should I just go right for DMT?

Anyway, thank you for reading my post. I hope to learn as much as I can.

Welcome, your question of working up to it, also interest me. I'd love to hear any responses people may have.
I liked hearing your story of realization regarding cannabis. I think there are probably many others like you out there, this is positive feedback surely. Legalize cannabis to liberate consciousness! be well man.

Welcome Strigform!



IMHO... the best way to work up to taking DMT is to practice meditation. If you haven't done it before, just sit quietly for awhile and observe. Just observe. Notice your breath going in and out. Notice the sensation as it does this.

Also, take a weekly yoga class. I prefer Iyengar yoga personally. It will help strengthen your mind, body and spirit; straighten you out; and open you to the secrets DMT has to offer. You are preparing the vessel for the teachings to come.

Take your time. Do lots of research. The Nexus itself has plenty worth exploring.

Starting with other psychedelics is optional and by no means necessary. Nothing can prepare you for DMT. If you want to dabble, try 2-3 grams of shrooms. And grow them yourself, it's not that difficult.

One last note... I don't consider DMT a drug that does something to you. What "I" experience during such synchronistic events seems to "me" to be beyond the realms of causality. All I am left with is a profound gratitude and deep love... and a completely renewed outlook in my everyday life.

Enjoy the mystery!

I wish MJ was legal where I am . It should be legal, period. It's helped me through many things as well. DMT has helped me ten-fold, but I'm only three trips in so far and time is scarce for me. Regarding preparation- I also agree that meditation is a must. If you can dig deep into your consciousness, it will help lots. Mental discipline will help you navigate and handle the unexpected, and will help keep you in a positive light. When I started, I took it orally and micro-dosed at first just to see how my body would react. After that, I went half-dose with a spotter, then full dose, then breakthrough dose.

Also, don't dismiss ACRB as far as sources go!

Love and luck in your journey

......this (music link) ...and also here (second music link).

You were born ready - biologically. When the time is right, you'll know.

There are many things you can do to prep, but nothing that really can compare to THAT. IMO.

If you want to try other psyches first, maybe mushrooms or LSD would be a fine place to start. Mushrooms are ideal, because they are easy to grow and the process has a lot to teach about life and patience.

I agree. Meditation is great, especially for someone like me who has ADD. It's good to just try and settle the mind, and I definitely see how that can help improve a psychedelic experience. As for the yoga suggestion, I have been toying with that idea for a while already. My girlfriend does Yoga (I have no idea what kind), so I've been trying to learn a little from her.


Thanks for the music suggestion, Intezam! I have to admit I really don't get into reggae, though.


I hope to try some LSD this winter break, actually. I do want to try growing my own plants/fungi, but since I live in an apartment that doesn't get much light (and I don't have much room for indoor growing), I'd just rather wait until I have a house and then just have a few interesting specimens innocuously growing in the garden and/or basement. As you might guess, I prefer naturally-occuring substances over synthetic ones.