Hi all.

I was reading some beautiful trip reports here, really enjoyed it, but as I compare my own experience with what I read, it raises one question:
How can people remember their trips in such detail?
When I trip, I can remember only low dose trips. If it's breakthrough dose (to be honest I've only been there twice, it's scares the soul out of me), I can't remember anything apart the feeling while tripping and very few moments of the trip.
is there a level of experience that a person reaches when he/she can start remembering trips?

thanks for your thoughts.
Likl

It comes with practice. I've found that teaching yourself to remember your trips is a lot like teaching yourself to remember your dreams. Write down everything you experienced as soon as you're back in consensus reality. Go into the experience with the intention of holding on to as much as possible.

I also find that often, in the immediate aftermath of a trip, I won't remember much, but with time and active integration, the memories slowly start to come back.

thanks for your answer!
You talk like lucid dreamer, actually. do you do that? I have my dream diary that I constantly write and having trip diary is actually a great idea.
in my experience, the more time after the trip, the less I can remember. Even if I talk to someone straight away and tell about my experience, later on I remember telling them about it but not experience itself.

When it comes to Dreaming (with or without sleep or entheogens), there seems to be a part of my Self that always remembers, so I don't use too much energy trying to bring everything into conscious awareness in this reality.

Besides, Power exists in the present moment.

I tend to write it down during the come-down or while the effects are still apparent. I guess that is the same like a dream. It's best to write just after you wake up. And then to write it down in the most detailed manner with a clear head. Not just gribbling down some strange notes, I have those non-sensical lines in my dream diary and they don't really serve as memory aids. They are more of an abstract form of Art i suppose.

But I clearly remember parts from longer trips. When I am fearful I can avoid scary things that come at me and choose to ignore them. And then there are others things which I find more beautiful and put my full attention on at the time. I find that those more beautiful things I can remember in full detail while the scary ones which I have consciously attempted to avoid seeing. Those scary things I can not remember in detail at all! Just the feeling that there was something scary.

So something to do with the attention you put in the experience. I am positive that this can affect memory in intrigueing ways. I once asked this question actually while tripping. This is aproxamitaly the answer that I returned. Full attention allows growth while avoidance inhibits memory.

Remember that the reports you are reading are subjective memories of ineffable experiences... Much of the detail is distorted by memory and by translation into language. But it's important to try, even knowing that the memory will be flawed. And as Nathaniel mentioned, you get better recall with practice, in part because you will build a language for your own use in remembering these things.

There's also a practice known as "planting a flag", where in a particular moment of the trip you make a point of stopping, looking, describing to yourself. This will happen at the cost of the rest of the trip, which you are essentially pre-empting for the purpose of active remembering. But every now and then you may see something that you think merits this treatment. Again, practice.

Last but not least, if you are a weed smoker, try laying off for at least half a day beforehand... This can make a huge difference in recalling both trips and dreams.

I tend to recall the peak of my experiences(both dreaming and of entheogenic realms), everything else is faded. Life-changing trips I can recall intensely. Sometimes not though, and the experience is still incredible, and life moves forward. I think when you learn something big yet subtle about yourself, it tends to stick with you. Psychedelics are full of meaningful ideas that reside as memories, or like faded dreams.

There is sometimes action taken place after each experience, usually from an idea off of the last psychedelic experience and then it all connects together, however that may present itself. So, integrating each experience is a really good idea. Writing it all out works too. If you had enough material, you could write a book/story, really. But it all depends on each individual's courage and perspective.

thank you all for replies. I've been away from civilization a bit, so just now have a chance to catch up. You have written few things that really makes sense and I will try it out.

thanks again,
likl