Trip #4
This description is adapted from the account "Chewing vs. Smoking II" by B. Schuldes, Germany, which appeared in the Autumnal Equinox 1995 issue of
The Entheogen Review, pp. 89.
Not fully satisfied with the effects of smoked Salvia
I tried 18 large leaves 1418 cm long (minus stem length). These were rolled into two cigars and held in my mouth, chewing occasionally, sucking and holding the juice about 35 minutes. I tried to wet the whole inner surface of my mouth for maximum absorption. The taste is very bitter. Then I swallowed and repeated the process until no more juice could be obtained and I spat out the empty cigars. WOW! I doubt if Ill ever bother smoking Salvia again! The first ten minutes: nothing. Then suddenly the effect came on overwhelmingly within the space of a minute. I tried to tell my wife about it, but couldnt speak: I was just too amazed and kept uttering: Strong, so great! This inability to speak became [unaccountably] amusing: I began to laugh uncontrollably and had to bury my face in the pillows, not wanting to wake the kids in the next room. (Sometimes when smoking I experienced this laughter also, but not with such intensity and durationa full five minutes of non-stop, very powerful laughter. Finally I got it under control and rolled over on my back in the darkened room. With closed eyes I was standing in strange buildings, similar to those in fantasy paintings or ancient oriental palaces: the Alhambra of Grenada. A large, almost endless empty hall with beautiful arches and hundreds of columns: all in a strange, gloomy, blue-grey light with colors expressive of deep magic and majesty. Then I remembered someones report of becoming a plant on Salvia: instantly I turned into a tree with bark like oak (many plateaus and valleys), yet somehow smooth and not rough like an oak. This bark was like a sense organ: I felt like a tree feels. (I know it sounds odd, but while it was happening I had no doubt that a tree feels that way.) Then I sensed the presence of something else, but couldnt get an image of it. This was accompanied by strong emotions which are impossible to describe. I became suddenly very attracted to my wife lying beside me - the effect changed from entheogen to aphrodisiac.
People have made a scale for the use of Salvia:
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Level -1 "S stands for SUBTLE effects." A feeling that "something" is happening, although it is difficulty to say just what. Relaxation and increased sensual appreciation may be noted. This mild level is useful for meditation and may facilitate sexual pleasure.
Level - 2 "A stands for ALTERED perception." Colors and textures are paid attention to. Appreciation of music may be enhanced. Space may appear of greater or lesser depth than is usual. But visions do not occur at this level. Thinking becomes less logical, and more playful; short term memory difficulties are may be noted.
Level - 3 "L" stands for LIGHT visionary state." Closed eye visuals (clear imagery with eyes closed: fractal patterns, vinelike and geometric patterns, visions of objects and designs). The imagery is often two dimensional. If open eyed visual effects occur these are usually vague and fleeting. At this level phenomena similar to the hypnagogic phenomena that some people experience at sleep onset occur. At this level visions are experienced as "eye candy" but are not confused with reality.
Level - 4 "V stands for VIVID visionary state." Complex three dimensional realistic appearing scenes occur. Sometimes voices may be heard. With eyes open contact with consensual reality will not be entirely lost, but when you close your eyes you may forget about consensus reality and enter completely into a dreamlike scene. Shamanistic journeying to other lands, foreign or imaginary; encounters with beings, entities, spirits; or travels to other ages may occur. You may even live the life of another person. At this level you have entered the shaman's world. Or if you prefer you are in "dream time." With eyes closed you experience fantasies (dream like happenings, with a story line to them). So long as your eyes are closed you may believe they are really occurring. This differs from the "eye candy" closed eye imagery, of level 3.
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Level - 5 "I" stands for IMMATERIAL existence." At this level consciousness remains and some thought processes are still lucid,[/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]but one becomes completely involved in inner experience and looses all contact with consensual reality. Individuality may be lost; one experiences merging with God/dess, mind, universal consciousness, etc.
At this level it is impossible to function in consensual reality, but unfortunately some people do not remain still but move around in this befuddled state. For this reason a sitter is essential to ensure the safety of someone voyaging to the inner levels. To the person experiencing this, the phenomenon may be terrifying or exceedingly pleasant; but to an outside observer the individual may appear confused or disoriented.
Level 6 - "A stands for AMNESIC effects " At this stage either consciousness is lost; or at least one is unable to later recall what one is experiencing. The individual may fall, or remain immobile or thrash around; somnambulistic behavior may occur; injuries can be sustained without pain being felt; on awakening the individual will have no recollection of what he/she did, experienced or said in level 6. People cannot ever recall what they experience in this very deep trance state. This is not a sought after level as later nothing can be recalled of the experience. [/font]
