I'm looking for advice from someone highly experienced with salvia on how to sort of ease your way into comfort with it.

I've tripped hard salvia before. Like over 5 years ago. Smoked it maybe 5 times. First time was fascinating, second time was peculiar. Third time was full engrossing in alternate dimension and scared the shit out of me, left it for a while. Came back with smaller dose a few months later which was uncomfortable but interesting. Had it again few months later which left me fairly good but was still very uncomfortable. Basically the name of the game for me has been uncomfortable.

I'm wondering for anyone who has found comfort in it, how did you do so? What extract percentage do you recommend, from what source? Did you start out doing small amounts. Did you use music? Is getting pure salvinorum A on a inert smokable material more ideal than whole leaf or whole extracts? How did you get comfortable with salvia?

I actually really enjoy any Salvia lol I have several ounces of plain leaf in a mason jar. I would recomend the plain whole leaf. That stuff will get you really intune with the plant. You can build yourself up to the full blown experience after a couple bowls. It is really enjoyable. I think 50x was a good thing for my permanant reverse tolerance as well lol its like a checkpoint you always remember more of the effects the more you smoke in your life time allowing you to get comfortable with the plant and she with you. Many people don't like salvia because they fight it. They hve trouble letting go of this reality. I would also recommend doing some sort of meditation before you partake. And ask the plant to guide you. It is a living thing just like you.

I'll second RoGu3, go the plain leaf option and build up by smoking in intervals.

I also don't smoke it now unless I have some harmala's in my system, it smoothes over the effects and potentiates it a little bit too (But probably not through MAO inhibition, more of a synergy if anything). Salvia's framestacking effect on the mind is made more fluid IME by the rue extracted harmala's I use and it adds a bit of euphoria to the mix and slows the onset down a touch too.

Ritual also helps to frame the experience, I do a simple sage smudge and meditate to state my intention and clear my mind. I find the Lady prefers an empty and observant mind to meld with. Anytime I have not had an empty mind the experience is more scattered.

I hope this helps and good luck on your future travels!

Some peeps also quid Salvia leaves, this being the only method use by the Mazatec Indians who have used the plant for a long time, and this makes the experience a lot more drawn out and gentle. I can't speak from experience as I tried this a few times and not much came of it. However growing your own plants is recommended if you want to get to know Salvia better, I found that my plant's whole leaves were powerful when smoked (a good water pipe is an ally here). I haven't tried Salvia in combination with botanical MAOI's but it does sound interesting. Some people find Salvia best taken in silent darkness while lying down. Hope you find what works for you.

Here's some things that I have found to make the experience less overwhelming and more enjoyable..

#1 Wear a mindfold. Most experiences I've had with closed eyed visuals are more enjoyable and less frightening. Some people turn off the lights but I think this method is better because if for some reason you do need to see you can simply take it off.

#2 Lay down on your back. The body load can be very overwhelming and disorientating in high doses. Laying down lets you remove the small factor of hurting yourself and suites for a smoother ride. Fluff up some pillows and get cozy.

#3 Have good music. This play a really key part in my experiences. It's good to block the outside noises. The music can act as a guide in your journey as well. Even noise mufflers would be better than nothing just so you can be in control of your journey more and not have outside car alarms or whatever throwing you off.

Good luck my friend, Safe Travels~

I agree with all these steps above..
I also find that sitting up can also effect the salvia trip in a positive way..[at least on stronger extracts]
I usually lay back when salvia hits but once i remained in a sitting position and some great relaxing native american music was playing...
As the music played I felt great.. and quickly observed a spinning vortex comming at me visualy ..
In the vortex was all kinds of images ...trees...people..birds and animals of all kinds..it was like all the images of a lifetime came spinning at me at a terific speed..
[the picture on front of moody blues record album cover] is similar to the vortex vision i experianced. [question of ballence?..or to our childrens children?]..not shure witch album..?
While this was hapining ..[still sitting up]..I felt this strong weightlesnes overcome me and felt a ..[very real!].. sense of moving sideways..or backwards out of my body and was sudenly in another room or place!
Durring this movement it felt like my soul left my body!
I think that ..[sitting up right].. may have contributed to this experiance..

wearing a mind fold..[or covering eyes] does bring the experiance deeper and more visual..
But i must admit that i often cant be shure if my eyes are open or closed durring the entire experiance?
I do know that often on 7x i get very quick OEVs that overlay normal open eye imagry when it starts up..
Salvia is serious stuff!