kaywhyellay wrote:And in it there's this one part where they say: drugs are really really really really bad, especially hallucinogens, they destroy your astral body, the damage of which will take many lifetimes for you to rectify.
Have you encountered any information like this? If so how do you feel about it?
A lot of everything else, the entire book really, was on the ball.
Greetings kaywhyyellayKaywhyyellay? Obviously, a word-play on that artificial sexual jelly stuff? What's the yellow for? You're probably too young to remember Mellow Yellow acid? BTW, Donovan's song is still considered an inside joke to most of us old hipster wannabes. I digress?
Anyway... this kind of warning sign is nothing new. And I hate to be the one to spoil the party and say that there is a (partial) truth to it. But there IS something to this idea. How so? Well, when I was a younger man, 30-32 years ago, I was very drawn to ingesting LSD-25 as many times as I could squeeze it into my college schedule. I have guesstimated that I tripped around 300 times in a 2 year period? And I'm talkin' about lots of it, in a sitting.
Now, this drew me even deeper into my spiritual practice and my desire to know God/Truth/Spirit. Not the "God" of anthropomorphic deification, rather, the living Self of all of us (behind/within the mirage of duality). Anyhow, for the next few years, psychics kept telling me that I had damaged my aura (astral body). How so? From forcing the evolution of my soul, intentionally. Basically, I was tripping too much and putting a lot of pressure on the subtle channels that transmute the kundalini (raw psychic energy) into fuel needed for my awakening. The bottom line truth is this, I was not ready to actualize the experiences I had been going through. Who ever is? Still, I began to prefer to be tripping, than to being straight. so much so, that I believed my physical life was a prison and a burden to me, instead of a gift. Another illusion of myself? So, I learned to love living without Medicines. The juice had become a crutch for me and I wanted to be free of all artificial influences in my world. This began with preference for organics. You know, no more chemical extractions... just mushrooms, cacti and herb. At the time, it was a judgement I made. Now I feel that it maters little, it is the INTENT behind the trip, which defines the experience, not the form of the Medicine. Even so, the Vine is pulling on me and I am eager to embrace the traditional methods of eclipsing myself with Ayahuasca and so, merging with the natural powers of DMT containing plants.
That being said, athletes often go through similar states of being, given that they push themselves to attain greater and greater levels of attainment. This can lead to damage and be counter-productive. Essentially, "going to the well" too frequently does cause a certain kind of damage. Is is permanent? Hell no!!! Will it travel with us to the next incarnation? A resounding, double Hell no!!! You see, without any preview of other realities... how is a good seeker to find any new, undiscovered planes of consciousness?
Ultimately, I feel this kind of talk is all about warning folks not to
over indulge. Why so? Because without integration, no realisation has value. It's really more a matter of respect. Respect for the Sacred process and the Sacred Medicine. Contrary to the message in the book you read, psychedelics help us to develop our capacity to access higher levels of awareness. I wouldn't take the opinion put forth in the book, as an absolute fact. Use your own intuition. All existence is destined to evolve and grow into something which is beyond it's present state of being. I am of the opinion, that these alarms are given to protect people who are not shamanically inclined, from taking Sacred Medicines. Say what you will... but I've had friends cross into mental imbalance from taking too many psychedelics. Some people just aren't meant to move so quickly or frequently, to the other side of the looking glass. So, pace yourself and
KNOW just why you approach the power of the Sacred Medicine. For kicks? That's OK but the Universe didn't create these Allies for fun and games. BTW, I do not advocate abstinence or over indulgence. Know yourself and do what is right for yourself. OK?
I temporarily stopped imbibing with acid, mushrooms and mescaline for almost 19 years. This was not a decision born of a state of imbalance or any "damage" to my aura. It was just my time for a change in focus, or rather, a change in the process of my focus. After 15 years of exploration and integration... it had become time for a sabbatical. Yes, the very plants that had drawn me into the quest for higher understanding, abruptly released me from the way of the Wounded Healer and the process of voyaging into subtler and far subtler frequencies of consciousness (with the promise of an eventual reunion). Not because of any damage to my astral body or anything ridiculous like that. We have physical bodies for a reason and it was my own personal lesson, at that juncture in the illusion of time, to touch the earth and embrace different challenges. For me it felt right and I was patient with the knowledge that I would return to the realm of the psychonaut, when the appropriate moment had arisen. Until I heard
THE CALLING. Why? Because I honestly needed to ground myself, for a stretch (after many, many voyages with several of the Sacred plants and their extractions). Not my choice, I must admit. I was literally commanded to take a break, by the personification of the loving Mushroom Goddess (but that's another story... ). It was necessary for me, then and i don't suggest it would be for anyone else. Why? Because I had work to do in places I refused to go. Hey, I served my time in earthly REALITY and it's time to journey further, into the beyond, with a fresh perspective. I really didn't choose to smoke DMT, it chose me. And thank God for that!!! There is new work to be done and new journeys to take. Now I am back in the saddle and loving it! It's really a matter of balance and wisdom. Like the old saying goes, "Too much of a good thin is a bad thing."
Quote:My beef is, I don't want to lose many lifetimes' worth of experience, but I feel like I've gained a lot, I do not doubt that everything I've ever taught myself with the help of drugs has helped me cope with reality. To what expense though?
Am I trying to get something across to myself?
I am just afraid of my own ignorance really, afraid that I might have done some irreparable damage
Do you feel damaged in any way? Do you end an experience feeling broken or healed? Personally, I feel reborn and healed. I suspect you are being given the fine tuning you need, as plants are compassionate beings. I would only warn others about MDMA (ecstasy). X can definitely damage you if you do too much of it. As will alcohol or anything else. Permanently? Nope. That's science fiction. I don't have t tell you that you need to decide for yourself. Life is free choice (or so it would seem sometimes). Just be clear-minded and respectful. You will be fine. Don't trip if you are not intending on approaching ego-death or self-obliteration, though. Having subjectivity yanked-out from under you, too many times, does a number on your natural rhythms. Essentially, one has to die, to be reborn again. True enough? Now, will I embrace the Sacred Medicine again? Oh yes!!! But... not with out a purpose or a clear understanding of what the journey is really about:
enlightenment. Whatever you decide, do not fear the possibility of damaging your astral body/ aura. Also, make sure YOU decide for yourself. Fear is the gravity that keeps us attached to the mundane (ignorance and delusion). Take care of your body, mind and spirit! Medicine is a blessing for our advancement, so not to worry. Let the power of the spirit lift you into the Sacred home, your own self. Our own selves as ONE. The only "damage" I have experienced, was the damage of sacrilege. Meaning? Tripping on a whim and being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Keep it Sacred... and all will be well in your kingdom. Adding meditation and other spiritual practices will help you to build up your capacity to traverse the cosmos. To quote Saint Jimi Hendrix, "Keep on thinking free."
Hey, it's your call, man. Follow your soul's calling. Your own inner voice will guide you. IMHO, psychedelics are gifted to those who are ready to awaken to a higher frequency of consciousness, as the Creator (in Divine compassion) created these Medicines for our spiritual benefit.
For healing and awakening. Just don't take it for granted and act with frivolity. Be cool and everything will flow beautifully. Like Alan Watts used to say, "psychedelics are medicines, not our daily diet". Again, keep it Sacred. And remember, don't believe everything you read. I suspect that many of these authors have agendas of their own and wish to keep the attention upon themselves. Most of them are not very experiences travelers and cannot speak with authority, about that which they do not know. Right? Eckhart Tolle is one of those chaps. He didn't transcend into the Light, when he dropped acid, so he states it is NOT the way. He uses the word "stimulates", so he never had a breakthrough experience. Now, I find this an intense irony, that a "spiritual" person would not merge with the infinite, while tripping on acid! Maybe it wasn't really LSD? Who really knows... and I digress, once more. I'm just speaking from my own experiences and I would only caution you to be AWARE of your intentions, before merging with the juice (whichever Sacred path you walk and whichever Medicine you imbibe). Alright then, walk in the Light, speak the truth and be ever ready to love your sentient fellows. Be well my friend. Fear not the damage of your astral body, fear the limitations and gravity of
your own mind.
Peace, Love & Light... Rising SpiritThere is no self to which I cling, for I am one with everything.