Hi everyone, I've been a 'lurker' on this site for over a year now and I'm pleased to say I've finally decided to sign up. My reasons for this are that I have learned a great deal from this site, and now, some time down the line, I feel I have things to contribute back.
DMT itself is a wonderful compound with it's seemingly infinite depth and profound source of wisdom. I'm aware I still have much to learn with DMT which is another reason I am here.

So, moving on, I'd like to tell you a little about myself and how I arrived at all of this. I'm pretty sure there will be a thread for this somewhere which I would post in if I could, so for the time being, it'll be right here.

My drug use started off with cannabis. I very quickly became fascinated with its effects and noticed my perspective widening and understanding deepening, along with more and more questioning (regarding - consciousness, existence, the human condition). I was brought up in what one may call a 'privileged' family, however this was something I rejected over and over causing immense problems between me and my parents and forcing me 'underground' into crowds who were quite frankly drug addicts. Throughout this time, up until recently, I have dabbled/regularly used - Cannabis, Cannaboids, Ecstacy, MDMA, Amphetamine, MPA, 3FPM, Mephedrone, Cocaine, Ketamine, MXE, MXP, 2-CI, BK-2CB, LSD, 1P-LSD, 4-AcO-DMT, Psilocybin (Mushrooms + Truffles), AMT, Mescaline, Ayahuasca, Harmala Alkaloids (rue extract), Caapi, Salvia, Iboga, Benzodiazepines (manyyyy kinds), Nitrous and finally an extensive list of psychoactive botanicals.

Looking at my use in a timeline manner, it went from purely recreational (with the occasional psychedelic), right through to non recreational ayahuasca sessions, getting my hands dirty with the BIG questions. Nowadays, I do not participate in anything that I deem (in my opinion only) 'packaged happiness' or 'unhelpful', substances. The turn came when my father died of horrific causes. I suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also suffering from depersonalisation and a total loss of identity. This led me (after around a years worth of addiction), to ditch these unnecessary substances and move towards healing. This was a great move as I then moved from recreational drug use to studying alternative medicine systems and healing the mind, something that I partly owe to this website and it's posters, along with my own study (especially with psiloybin).
As far as my experience goes with the Nexus and it's activities, I have extracted full spectrum mescaline from san pedro (great success), DMT (Acetate, with many failures!), made Ayahuasca, experimenting with both just vine and also different additives (with success, esp with THP), attempted to extract LSA, extracted bufotenine and made changa both with and without bufotenine and numerous other simple IPA extractions on herbs.

Within the time of my dads death there was something that really drove and motivated me and that was Buddhism. I'll restrain myself from going absolutely all in on this right here right now but in short I truly do feel that I understand what is going on here in terms of existence, suffering and its sources, release from suffering and questions regarding the cosmos itself. I do not undermine enlightenment itself here as my understanding is merely a mundane one in comparison to penetrating true nature. I simply can not express in words or any other form of communication how little doubt I have in the Buddha's teachings. This leads me on to say my future intentions with psychedelics and also Buddhism:

Psychedelics for me have taught me so much and helped me heal my deep wounds, yet I realise I am close to a point of cessation of these activities. This raises what I think is a very important question that we all have/should ask ourselves - Why do I/you continue to take psychedelics/drugs? The answer to this, for myself, is that I was seeking answers, answers to the things I mentioned before (existence, how 'we' work, the cosmos, the human condition). What has happened in fact, is psychedelics have acted as a precursor to comprehending the principles of Buddhism, therefore, what I seek in psychedelics has just about been fulfilled. For this reason, I announce something that may be viewed as unusual to write in an introductory essay, I announce that on the 1st of January 2017, I shall cease my use of mind altering substances altogether, (specifically psychedelic drugs or other plants that affect consciousness/awareness).

So, another major question, "one more year of psychedelic use, why"? The answer is I have one area that I still wish to develop, an area that is accentuated every time I take psychedelics, especially DMT and Psilocybin and that is connection.
When I was younger, my love was bought with money and possessions, as I became an adult, I noticed the imprint this had on my behaviors and tendencies, I was quite 'cold' in my approach, insensitive in some areas, almost like the love and affection section of my being had atrophied or maybe stunted. Despite this I was always filled with compassion,(although not so much for myself until recently) which seems contradictory. While I have improved this over time with great effort, I notice the greater realignment with psychedelic use.
Getting to the point here, I seek connection and love for all beings along with a strengthening of my already deep compassion.

Ceasing the psychedelic drugs in 2017 is a small part of the bigger picture. At some point in the near future, I will take up the Buddhist monastic life and work tirelessly towards ending suffering once and for all. After really coming to terms with the perceived futility of the mundane life and now understanding the extreme rarity and preciousness of this human existence, I rest in peace in my mind knowing that I am working towards this option.

I wish to note at this point that whatever your background, faith, beliefs, opinions and body that you occupy, I completely respect you and I appreciate the fact that anything I write is open to debate/can be challenged.

I apologise if it appears I have just delivered my whole life story, I do believe every part of it was relevant.I am very pleased to be here in this great community, I'm sure in time I'll become acquainted with most of you.
Maybe there's one thing you can help me with before you go - I am in the middle of completing the new member questionnaire, however I have come across a question I can't find the answer to. The question is - "What was the name of the forum that was the precursor to the the DMT Nexus"? If anyone can answer this question for me so I can progress I would be very grateful.

Thanks for reading.

May you all find happiness and freedom from suffering.

Samvega.