Altered States of Consciousness

[YmirGF]

Thanks for the description. I've seen you talk about those states before.

What triggered you to start getting all those various altered states of consciousness for the first time? Did it just happen to you, or did you actively bring them about?

It was my curiosity about the playground of the mind and wondering how far one could go while keeping both feet planted firmly on the ground. I spent decades reasoning through it all. Arrogantly thought I had found "god" more than a few times... after several times one begins to see that "god" is just our projection onto a reality that there is no way to validate. We flatter ourselves thinking we have figured it all out. Then, if one remains honest, one realizes it's not like we are experts on the subject. But, still, many will feel an affinity with something "divine" while remaining ignorant of the reality that "divinity" is an expression of.

In the beginning, we only pretend to understand - and the certainty acts as an intellectual coffin, of a sorts. It takes time and considerably more experience to realize we are trying to grasp a slippery marble with our inner hands. As soon as you think you've snatched it; it slips away... and the chase continues...

 

[outhouse]

The problem is that the mind is much more powerful than we can be conscious of. Once we can understand the issue we are able to tap into its potential.

I wont argue that.

but I also dont attribute unfounded supernatural claims either.

 

[outhouse]

Consciousness is perception. A "perceived state of consciousness" is consciousness, and therefore a state of consciousness.

Some experiences reported by people, are not simply imagined stories. They're perceptions so powerful that they can motivate a person to follow a given religion for life, or to take up meditation, or to change careers, etc.

Some states can be measured. Like observing brain waves, or by observing activity in the parietal lobe of the brain. Unfortunately, the only types that can generally be scientifically observed are ones that are brought up at will, rather than the typically more powerful ones that seem to occur spontaneously.

I agree, I think you summed up what I said in another format really.

percieved consciousness affects emotions and can drive these states into weird mental territory.

take the brain on LSD, chemically induced, the brain will do many weid things. Its explainable though. this just shows the potential of what the brain without LSD can do as well, different states of consciousness will produce different reactions in the mind.

 

[Alceste]

I wont argue that.

but I also dont attribute unfounded supernatural claims either.

Who in this thread is attributing altered perception to supernatural causes?

 

[Thief]

Who in this thread is attributing altered perception to supernatural causes?

And you assume it's ALL chemistry?
(we are in the religious debate section)

 

[Gjallarhorn]

And you assume it's ALL chemistry?
(we are in the religious debate section)

As in religion must reject science in favor of fairy tales?

 

[Thief]

As in religion must reject science in favor of fairy tales?

No.
God created the chemistry.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

No.
God created the chemistry.

Does religion require belief in gods?

 

[Alceste]

And you assume it's ALL chemistry?
(we are in the religious debate section)

I don't assume anything. I formulate opinions based on empirical evidence. This thread is about altered states, which is an interesting subject in and of itself. Would you mind not turning it into another debate about the evidence or lack thereof for the existence of your God? It's pretty far off topic.

 

[outhouse]

Who in this thread is attributing altered perception to supernatural causes?

OP did ask about mystical experiences related to such.

I know it was a open ended question, but it will come trust me. OOP's here it comes

 

[Penumbra]

The thread is about altered states of consciousness in general, both religiously interpreted ones and secular ones. It can be for debate or not; if I don't know how a thread will go beforehand I generally stick in an area that is high-traffic and least restrictive.

 

[Sunstone]

Does religion require belief in gods?

What a silly question! If I did not believe in god, how could I possibly stroke my petty ego by believing that my religion brings me closer to him than yours brings you?

 

[mycorrhiza]

The altered state of consciousness I've reached is a feeling of oneness, awe and reverence beyond my natural state. It's like if the world slowed down so that I have time to fully enjoy every detail. My thoughts are collected and calm, not flying everywhere. Rain stops being uncomfortable, cold stops nipping at my ears and starts caressing every part of my body. It's like if the world is faintly glowing. I think that's the best way I can describe it.

Mostly reached through meditation, either regular or walking. The feeling lasts a while after the meditation too, though.

I don't attribute it to anything supernatural. It's just a natural process that allows me to become calmer and more focused.

 

[Aquitaine]

Haha, thats awesome. I was into that at one point. I read a book about it by Stephen LaBerge and his techniques were really good. The best lucid dreaming moment I had was when I was in a kind of cave with a tall cliff wall in front of me. At that moment I became lucid and decided to kind of jump/float over it. I flew! It was awesome, one of the best things Ive ever experienced.

I havn't been doing it much lately, but that would be great to get into it again and get better and better at it.

Are you having any success? Have you had a lucid dream yet?

Unfortunately I've had no luck with it so far :/

 

[839311]

I spent quite a bit of time trying to lucid dream before, since the descriptions sound pretty fun, but I could never get it to work.

I hope it will happen for you. Galantamine and choline are highly recommended by stephen laberge, and I was taking a dreaming supplement that had both of those. I also drank protein shakes before I went to sleep on the days I had the lucid dreams, coincidentally. I think either the supplement or the protein shakes, or maybe both together, caused my lucid dreams.

Unfortunately I've had no luck with it so far :/

I hope your luck changes. I recommend the latest book by stephen laberge, without that I wouldn't have had my lucid dreams.

One last fun tip. If you do find yourself becoming lucid in one of your dreams, and you get to the point where you begin to sense your dream fading, start spinning in a circle. That technique was recommended in the book and it worked for me :yes:. My dream sharpened after that for a little while longer.

I would like to get into it again at some point. I think that maybe the mind works much differently in that state, and it may be possible to learn things about reality, or about ourselves, or about whatever, that might otherwise be beyond our grasp. I dunno. But even if not, its really, really awesome

 

[Aquitaine]

I hope it will happen for you. Galantamine and choline are highly recommended by stephen laberge, and I was taking a dreaming supplement that had both of those. I also drank protein shakes before I went to sleep on the days I had the lucid dreams, coincidentally. I think either the supplement or the protein shakes, or maybe both together, caused my lucid dreams.



I hope your luck changes. I recommend the latest book by stephen laberge, without that I wouldn't have had my lucid dreams.

One last fun tip. If you do find yourself becoming lucid in one of your dreams, and you get to the point where you begin to sense your dream fading, start spinning in a circle. That technique was recommended in the book and it worked for me :yes:. My dream sharpened after that for a little while longer.

I would like to get into it again at some point. I think that maybe the mind works much differently in that state, and it may be possible to learn things about reality, or about ourselves, or about whatever, that might otherwise be beyond our grasp. I dunno. But even if not, its really, really awesome

Cheers for the tips matey, I'll be sure to give it another try