Fear as a core of experience

koldjgdaro · 11-01-09, 09:28

In most of my experiences on psychedelics I and as I believe many others have felt fear. It wasn't necessarily connected to a bad trip but the experience felt so overwhelming as if I was falling in an endless pit - I felt small etc.

I'm writing about this because I'm reading DMT: The Spirit Molecule atm and it strikes me that fear is so deeply related to the psychedelic experience. An experience that I believe is close to the ultimate experience of reality:

I (Rick Strassman) asked him (Stephen Szara), "Did you ever give too much DMT to your volunteers?"
Dr. Szara thought for a moment, then answered in his refined Eastern
European accent, "Yes. They could not remember anything. They could
not bring back memories of the experience. The only thing that remained
with them was the feeling that something frightening had happened. We
did not believe it worthwhile administering those kinds of doses."

Here's the big question:
WHY?!
Please feel free to write anything you know about fear, psychedelic experience, spirituality and life in general.

Gnarcat420 · 11-01-09, 12:25

I agree with you strongly, fear is just part of the whole experience and good bad of indifferent its still an experience. I always find myself getting nervous before delving deep even when im enjoying the ever familiar mushrooms ( i especially get nervous before taking DMT) But i think that if you arent a little bit nervous about it then you dont have enough respect for the substance IMO.

beautypath · 11-02-09, 02:07

As some one once said 'Make fear your friend or most surely it will be your enemy.'
I always have fear just before I ingest, and for me it is always an act of courage. Great Spirit has been good to me but not always gentle, and that is fearsome.

I believe fear is due to one of the below:
1. Not getting right with one's self before the trip.
2. Not getting right with Great Spirit before the trip.
3. Bad setting.
4. Not trusting the process. For example, believing that having a bad time during the trip means it was a bad trip. Some of my worst trips were also the most enlightening.
5. Cllinging to one's ego. This always happens to me. Last time I had the trip all planned out as to what I was seeking. Great Spirit batted that notion away as soon as the mescaline hit the synapses. Gave me a lesson that was every bit as needed and I came away grateful.
6. Getting caught up in mental loops. This also happens a lot to me, and I have learned to stop it by chanting. Yes I felt like a fool when I first started doing this but it does work. The sound of one's own voice saying or singing something that means something to you can really alter a trip.
7. Starting the trip without giving a prayer and maybe an offering. This sets the tone and should not be omitted.

I'm sure I've not listed all the causes but those are the ones I run aground on every now and then.
Peace, Courage and Beauty to you.

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View Poll Results: Is fear related to your psychedelic experiences?
Yes, sometimes, rather rarely	5	45.45%
Yes, quite often	4	36.36%
No, never had that feeling while tripping	2	18.18%
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll

11-01-09, 09:28	#1 (permalink)
koldjgdaro Psychonaut Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 747	Fear as a core of experience In most of my experiences on psychedelics I and as I believe many others have felt fear. It wasn't necessarily connected to a bad trip but the experience felt so overwhelming as if I was falling in an endless pit - I felt small etc. I'm writing about this because I'm reading DMT: The Spirit Molecule atm and it strikes me that fear is so deeply related to the psychedelic experience. An experience that I believe is close to the ultimate experience of reality: I (Rick Strassman) asked him (Stephen Szara), "Did you ever give too much DMT to your volunteers?" Dr. Szara thought for a moment, then answered in his refined Eastern European accent, "Yes. They could not remember anything. They could not bring back memories of the experience. The only thing that remained with them was the feeling that something frightening had happened. We did not believe it worthwhile administering those kinds of doses." Here's the big question: WHY?! Please feel free to write anything you know about fear, psychedelic experience, spirituality and life in general. __________________ To fathom Hell or soar angelic, just take a pinch of psychedelic

11-02-09, 02:07	#3 (permalink)
beautypath Mycophage Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 111	Fear My Friend As some one once said 'Make fear your friend or most surely it will be your enemy.' I always have fear just before I ingest, and for me it is always an act of courage. Great Spirit has been good to me but not always gentle, and that is fearsome. I believe fear is due to one of the below: 1. Not getting right with one's self before the trip. 2. Not getting right with Great Spirit before the trip. 3. Bad setting. 4. Not trusting the process. For example, believing that having a bad time during the trip means it was a bad trip. Some of my worst trips were also the most enlightening. 5. Cllinging to one's ego. This always happens to me. Last time I had the trip all planned out as to what I was seeking. Great Spirit batted that notion away as soon as the mescaline hit the synapses. Gave me a lesson that was every bit as needed and I came away grateful. 6. Getting caught up in mental loops. This also happens a lot to me, and I have learned to stop it by chanting. Yes I felt like a fool when I first started doing this but it does work. The sound of one's own voice saying or singing something that means something to you can really alter a trip. 7. Starting the trip without giving a prayer and maybe an offering. This sets the tone and should not be omitted. I'm sure I've not listed all the causes but those are the ones I run aground on every now and then. Peace, Courage and Beauty to you.

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11-01-09, 12:25	#2 (permalink)
Gnarcat420 shamanista Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 45	I agree with you strongly, fear is just part of the whole experience and good bad of indifferent its still an experience. I always find myself getting nervous before delving deep even when im enjoying the ever familiar mushrooms ( i especially get nervous before taking DMT) But i think that if you arent a little bit nervous about it then you dont have enough respect for the substance IMO.