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I just start using one recently; basically these are tanks with water that is heated to body tempature.. and filled with 800lbs of epson salt so that you're body floats right on top.
In complete darkness.. this eleminates external sensory input. So far I haven't been tired enough going in.. but I will post if I have success WILDing in these.
There's some more information at www.floatdreams.com and www.floatation.com
watch out, those things can seriously destroy your mind. expect hallucienations after leaving the floation tank, flashing lights, flashbacks, voices in your head, and loss of sense of reality.
Well isn't that the point?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinomut
I've read about these. They seem very cool, but very expensive.
Hi TalkingHead, do you have one of these at home? Sounds very interesting, keep us posted with your results.
Joe Rogan (fear factor) has some interesting videos on his floatation tank. They are often used to enhance psychadelic experiences. Rogan specifically mentions DMT, a compound that may be released naturally by the brain during dreams. There are allegedly European spas that have commercial floatation tanks. Oh, boy do I want. :yumdumdoodledum:
check it out
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinomut
So far I haven't experienced any of these.. Aside being great L.D. aids.. most people use these because they have so much energy and alertness after using these.
Some of the things you mentioned can happen while in the tank.. but mostly just extreme relaxation and deep focus.
I've read a lot about these and others experience and haven't heard one incidence of this. Did this happen to you?
I eventually hope to get one at home.. but right now I belong to a little known "float club" in Oakland that allows us to use the tank whenever we want schedule permitting. My car just broke down but I should get back there by Tues or Wed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightmare
I would also recommend "The book of floating" to anyone who is interested as well.
Yikes. Sounds dangerous.
Do you actually fall asleep in these?
Ever since watching Homer's experience in one of these things on The Simpsons, I've made myself a promise to stay away from them.
Whoa I don't remember that episode! Is it a new one?Quote:
Originally Posted by ExoByte
I don't quite understand what these tanks are. So, you just float in some water? I'm too lazy to read up on this... :P
That sounds suspiciously like some sort of torture device.
I'd give it a try though. Sounds like quite the experience.
Nope! "Make Room for Lisa" is the name of the episode. Season 10, Episode 16 :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant
(Horray for IMDB)
Quote:
Season 10, Episode 16: Make Room for Lisa
Original Air Date: 28 February 1999
When Homer installs a cell phone tower on his roof to pay for his destruction of the Bill Of Rights, the machinery is put in Lisa's room, forcing her to move in with Bart. When the new living arrangement causes her stress, Homer agrees to try sensory deprivation therapy with her.
Sounds dangerous D:. If it works for you though good for you :P
I would put my life over lucid dreaming.
I've got it planned out.
Theres a flotation tank area about 30 minutes from me.
1) Book flotation tank and hotel room (theres one a block away)
2) Blow the rest of the day downtown, probably catch a show at the local venue.
3) Go to sleep in hotel room.
4) Get up 5-6 hours later
5) Walk to flotation tank area (Just got my license, can't drive until 6am)
6) Get into my pod
7)???????
8)PROFIT!!!!
You float in water, so you feel no pressure on you. You wear some kind of earplugs so there's no audio. It's in darkness, so there's no visual.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant
It's like it takes the sensory world away from you.
I wonder how near sensory deprivation is to death...?
Speaking of death, if I became too relaxed I'd inevitably roll over off of my back, face in the water. No matter what position I begin sleeping in, I end up stomach-down before I wake. I just hope I'd stay awake/aware enough to remember I'm in a flotation tank!
You wouldn't be able to breathe and would wake up. :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Abra
Sensory deprivation can't be anywhere near to death, I would think. Death is when the body no longer functions. Sensory deprivation is just where you brain has to function less because there's less input. Which is probably how you're able to get WILDs, hallucinations, deep meditation, etc. from it.
Unless there's some spiritual aspect to sensory deprivation that I'm not getting, I wouldn't group it near death.
Yay! I posted this in another thread about two weeks back and I've been waiting to see if somebody else would bring it up.
If anybody does this regularly, please post some in depth results! I'm planning on going to California some time this summer to give it a try because I know there are several spas there that offer sensory deprivation.
If anybody else is interested in finding a flotation tank near you, this website is pretty useful:
www.floatfinder.com
Didn't the Soviets develope something like this for use of interrogation?
I don't know, but it still sounds pretty cool.
Hey talkinghead have you tried a floatation tank yet? Can you tell us what it was like and just the details of your experence?
From what I understand, the water has 800 pounds of salt so you can float with no effort. Then the water is heated to something like 93.5 degrees which is the temperature of the surface of your skin so your body can't tell the difference between what's above and below water. While you're floating, your ears are under water so you can't hear anything and the tank is pitch black so you can't see anything either.
Pretty intense but if you could handle it, sounds cool.
Somebody mentioned Joe Rogan. He's actually giving away an isolation tank. He got a new one and he's giving away his old one. Paying for shipping, installation and everything. Cool guy. joerogan.net if anyone's interested.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragonoverlord
Hahaha.. I heard about that Simpson's episode.. And I know this sounds like the sensory deprivation torture device but somehow I think that was a lot different.. This really isn't intense at all and its not risky.
So far my experience has been really deep meditation.. And when I get out its like I have heigtened senses of everything. I'm trying it tonight with some melatonin so I'll report back
Quote:
Originally Posted by TalkingHead
Thanks for replying and good luck ;)
I always thought it was like on the simpsons though...to bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinomut
Woa relax. No need to fear flotation tanks and the unknown corners of the Mind they can take you too. People fear "The strange and Unknown" as long as recorded history goes back. I would name this Realm "The exotic, hidden features of the Human Psyche" instead, which I find mightily interresting and in need to be explored instead.
Doctor prescribed psycho-active medications like anti-depressants, mood-equalisers, more than anything ( think LSD, Mushrooms, Yopo or Cannabis ) are most likely and capable of inducing these Psychotic Symtoms you mentioned. These type of Psychotic Reactions are very rare in humans and only likely to appear in mentaly instable mindstates to begin with.
With which I'm telling you there's certainly no need to fear a Floatation tank unless you're rather schizoid to begin with.
I was thinking of just building one myself. Maybe an isolated stone structure with a large metal or plastic bathtub/container filled with Sea Salt-ed Water?
You could hang a thermometer in there and if it's properly isolated it will contain all heat and release/leak none and you could go in there and preheat the tank with a gas-lamp for a minute till the temperature reaches 37 degrees celcius.
I have one of those floatation tanks in my basement, which I used for a couple of years about 18 years ago, but then never hooked it back up after I moved to where I live now.
My wife calls it my coffin. :lol:
I was using it to try to have an out of body experience with, and used to sleep in it at night.
Although I never had an out of body experience while using it that I remember, I did have several times that I felt I must have been trying to leave my body, because my body would jerk like it was pulling me back in.
It was a little boring laying there floating in total darkness just listening to my heart beat, which was usually quite loud from my ears being underneath the water while floating, and my back would usually pop really good after floating in the water for a while.
Maybe if I had known about lucid dreaming at the time it would have been more beneficial to me.
I may set it back up again the next time I move, although it is a little expensive to buy the 800 lbs of epsom salts, and keep the water heated, as I had 4 water bed heaters underneath it that I used to keep the water heated with.
where do you live IADR? Is it a Samadhi?
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaeraz
Well if you're in the Bay Area I could let you use this one.
And last night I took 1.5 mg of melatonin .. slept for 3 hours then got in the tank.
Had a vivid dream followed by a very vivid LUCID dream. I think being in the tank mainly promotes heightened awareness, and now that I can actually fall asleep in the tank I think I'll do quite well.
Trying it again tongiht..
I've been wanting to try this in my own home. I don't have my own flotation tank but I was thinking of just using my bathtub. My bathroom has no windows in it (weird I know) so it can be really dark. I just need to make the water the room temperature (approximately) but do you really need 800 lbs of epsom salt? My problem trying to WILD is feeling the force of gravity being exerted on my body I can't detach myself from reality so I think this could be really useful for me.
Nebraska. No, it is something other than a Samadhi. Unsure what brand it is. It just looks like a large coffin.Quote:
Originally Posted by TalkingHead
BTW, here's a link to the Samadhi sight that has a lot of useful information about floating.
I was reading what one of the customers wrote about their first experiences in the tank, and their experiences were about the same that I experienced, no visions, no 3-D objects, no leaving the body, no entities, no infinite space, no nothing.
http://www.samadhitank.com/firsttime.html
I tried several things before purchasing my float tank from a float tank center.Quote:
Originally Posted by Through the Looking Glass
I had a swimming pool filled with water with a large piece of foam that I floated on in a dark wooded room I had built, which was fairly good, although the water got a little cold because I was not heating it.
So there may be a way a person could build something like this without having to use the epsom salts, although the epsom salts allow a person to really feel what it is like to be floating.
I've thought about having a permanent type of float tank built into my bathroom someday when I retire.
You would want the tank close to a shower because when you get out of it you need to take a shower since the epsom salts starts drying on your body.
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Now that I think about it, the best way to experience something like this without messing with all of the epson salts, etc, would probably be to use a water bed, one without all any foam built into it, and just build a dark little room around the water bed, as this would give you somewhat of a similar experience to floating without all of the hastles. Although the advantages of floating with your ears underneath the water is that this allows you to hear all of the internal workings of the body, like the heart beating, the stomach growling, etc.
How high is the chance of falling into the water, I can just imagine. Your first WILD ever in there, you feel so great as you enter into the lucid dream after 7 months of practice. Finally you feel what it is like to be lucid...but the dream starts to fade, you try to stabilize it, but you cant breath! You wake up extremely annoyed and extremely disipointed.
i didn't know it sticks to your body. I'll remember to keep that in mind if I ever decide to try it. And as for what hootman said, that's my biggest fear. I'd definitely make sure part of my head is resting above the water. I mean what if you don't wake up!! :holyshit:
Yes, not only does the epsom salts dry on your body really fast, but it can be a bit painful if you have any cuts as it really burns for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by Through the Looking Glass
There's really little chance of drowning because the epsom salts keeps your face above the water.
I slept in mine for a couple of years with no problems.
From the literature I've read on it, the most dangerous condition you might face is if you allowed the water to get too hot, as it could put you into a coma, so you really have to make sure you have the water adjusted to the right temperature before using it.
Of course, it would be advisable for anyone who suffers from anything like epilepsy or similar conditions to not attempt floating.
Isn't this like sensory deprivation? Doesn't sensory deprivation basicly FUCK YOUR MIND?
I asked this in another thread,do you ever feel like your mind regresses like
in the movie 'altered states'?..or is there a progression of ideas,and new
worlds?Please explain what it's like.The main character in that movie(while
fantasy) went mad in more ways then one.If you happen to turn into a cave
man,please post a pic!:lol:seriously,it does sound interesting!
Im not worried about drowning, Im worried about wasting a perfectly good LD.Quote:
Originally Posted by iadr
It sounds like it would be like floating in the womb, because of the water and the sensory-less-ness (? XD). I'd try it, but I'm sure I'd be afraid of rolling over and drowning, even if there was no risk.
Quote:
Originally Posted by polarisdreamtime
HAHA.. I've heard about that movie. I just added it to netflix. It definitely takes you to the deeper parts of your mind; but this isn't the case after you come out so I wouldn't call it regression- It does connect the various parts of your mind though.
http://http://farm3.static.flickr.co...06160b2e_o.jpgbest deprivation movie ever!
Lol, has no one seen the movie Altered States? Theres a reason you shuoldn't use float tanks! rofl. Rediculous movie but partly true on the sensory whackjob that it can perform on you. Otherwise it is the perfect stimuli for your mind because you have nothing to disturb you in those. GL and be safe.
BAH Major Edit **** I didn't read through the posts and didn't even see Altered States. Way to jump the gun. ANNNYWAYS.
No, at least I never felt that way, as the only thing I ever experienced was an eerie silence and the beating of my heart.Quote:
Originally Posted by polarisdreamtime
As for the possibility of drowning, anything is possible because someone can drown in their own bathtub, but since the water is only 10 inches deep and has epsom salts in it which makes a person float, the chances of drowning in a floatation tank would probably be less than drowning in a bathtub.
That's why I was able to sleep in mine for 2 years without any problems.
frankly i think due to the floatation in water the need to roll over is nulled due to fact when in bed pressure beign extered on your arms or back or w/e makes need to roll over since your weightless the need to do so is gone
That makes a lot of sense. You'd probably feel more comfortable floating in water. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by mastergamerx
It's too bad all the facilities are super far away from my house...and it's not like I can go up to my mom and be like "hey, can you drive me for an hour so i can sleep in a tank full of water?"
>>;
I'm not afraid of drowning anymore nor am I afraid of going crazy. It's true you might hallucinate while in one but after you get out there's no resaon you would suffer permanent damage. I just want to utilize to LD. I mean a lot of people use them regularly to relieve stress and iadr said he slept in one for two years. I don't know why everyones like "It'll screw up your mind and you'll think you hear a dog telling you to kill people". C'mon, if the foundation of your sanity is that weak you should probably already be going to a shrink. You'll feel fine as soon as you get out of the tank. I don't think I'd mind the silence and peacefulness.
I read about this one guy who was sensory deprived for 3 days and he was fine. He wasn't in a tank of water (so really the only thing he felt was gravity pulling on him but 3 days is a long time), but he was in a pitch black soundproof room and wearing gloves to dull the sense of touch. When he got out they did tests to do simple things with hand-eye coordination and he failed miserably but he's not crazy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Through the Looking Glass
I don't know if I said this but its great for Wilding because it 1) relaxes your body and 2) free's up your mind making you more conscious
This reminds me of Daredevil. That guy slept in water every night. I'd love to try this, but there is noplace near me that i can go to...Surrey is too far. I live on an island that's both sinking, and moving away.
I love float tanks and just did my 20th float. I float for 90min at a time. There's no danger in using them at all. I get lucid at times which is very easy to do in the tank.
I record my visions here: patterntology.blogspot.com
I'm in Tucson Arizona and float here:
Still Waters
That's where I live! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by TalkingHead
I wouldn't mind trying one, but I'm not sure if I'll get around to it. It sounds like an interesting experience... scary...
My step father had a buddy who had a creepy experiance in one of those. He was thrown bye an unknown force way into the sky and a voice said "so you wanna fuck around" pushed his body down to earth and next to his living body!
The Simpsons 1016 Make Room for Lisa
Never done it. Would be fun if I had the money/time/location. Still, hallucinating really just isn't on my list of things to do :(
I've seen some outlandish claims about floatation tanks by people that have never done it before. Hallucinations? Hallucinations after the float? Never. Dream visions like the ones gained from meditation or relaxation or WILD, yes.
It ain't drugs. It's like meditation. Advanced bathing. With the lights off. Nothing to be scared of. You can't be scared of a really good waterbed. The tank I float in has lights and underwater speakers you turn on and off yourself.
There is something weird about it, aliens and mad scientists or something. The movie Altered States doesn't help. I assure you, it's a perfectly benign thing to try. It's a great creative tool for me.
ya know guys, you're not supposed to sleep in these tanks, that ruins the whole point of using them lol..
The idea is to have the senses taken away, so the mind can wander....if you look up the greek meaning to hallucination it means 'to wander in mind'
So, the point is the stay conscious and to let your mind wander, you will see things...feel things...hear things and from what I understand the use of cannabis prior to the tank REALLY helps propel visions and sounds.
I really don't recommend sleeping in those things, defeats the purpose and you will wakeup with mushy skin from being submerged too long. Plus, I think epson salt isn't really great for your hair if you sleep in that thing.
I wish I had a sens. dep. tank...I would practically spend all my time in there during the day because day to day life is such a boring repetitive drag.
Sleeping in the tank doesn't defeat the purpose, it's just using it for something else, i.e. having lucid dreams (WILDs) more easily. Which, personally, I think is much better than taking drugs to hallucinate. I doubt that's what they were originally intended for. :roll: Besides, like a couple of people said already, using a float tank doesn't make you hallucinate. I think the original purpose of float tanks was just to relax, but I'm just guessing.Quote:
Originally Posted by guerilla
You also don't recommend sleeping in it because staying in too long is bad for your skin/hair. And yet if you had one, you would spend all your time in it. I highly doubt it matters whether you're awake or asleep when you spend extended amounts of time in there.
yea I guess you have a good point with that last paragraph with the hair...that was a dumb blonde moment, only im not blonde lol..
oh and just to confirm this, relaxing in the tank does cause profound hallucinations if you let yourself go, watch that joe rogan interview, he has been using those tanks for years and he goes in sober and still hallucinates...
Heck, I can make myself hallucinate normally, I bet a sens tank would make me have a full blown trip.
And the whole idea of using drugs in the tank was sprung about from the movie Altered States, I recommend seeing that movie...its so crazy.
But its not exactly...realistic, people can't turn into prehistoric monkeys from psychedelic states lol
I've never seen Altered States... maybe I will.
I started learning about DMT from the Joe Rogan interview, which led me to his site. Then I saw the flotation tanks, and he was talking about them and he mentioned the "Altered States" Movie. I have netflix so I watched it on the site and I was like WTF??? That movie tripped me out.
I would love to try a flotation tank. I think I'll trip out if I smoke some mary jane beforehand. I am craving a psycadelic experience ever since I saw the Movie, and the Joe Rogan interviews. The nearest flotation tank is at least 3 hours away.
Yeah. I saw one of them on a simpsons episode and I said, Like OMG!! It's just like lucid dreaming!! COOL!
Anyone have any ideas how to make one of these tanks? I know you need some kind of UV filtration and a way to heat the water but does anyone have any idea how this works and what kind of things you need?
I have an underwater heater which has a temperature control on it to regulate the water temp, but I'm thinking I should use a thermostat to more accurately control it.
Other than that I guess it's just a matter of building water-tight 8ft tank that is complete pitch black,sound proof and ventilated.