Thread: meditating on shrooms?

Yes, thinking in retrospect the answer to whether or not meditation gets more intense does seem to be "no". It is definitely unpredictable at the larger doses and I think at that point meditation becomes more of a tool to navigate and/or deal with the state of mind which is present. Even at more reasonable and small doses, someone might as well just use music, chanting, ect instead of a psychedelic.

I do think that interesting things happen with meditation, but perhaps it is due to the psychedelic effects and region that can be explored, and not meditation in itself. I think Terence McKenna said something along the lines of not having a need for experimentation (of psychedelics) to "see if it works", since people have already done it and how its already established that they work. I think this applies here as well, since of course people have tried meditation before on shrooms, and sometimes its deep or novel or whatever. But it does work. Just maybe not what the person intended though, as was expressed in the above post.

Going back to the OP, as far as an aid at low doses, I would say shrooms are unnecessary. There are plenty of non-substance related things to try which can aid in meditation without the rest of the interference of experience shrooms bring. However (hypothetically) meditation seems to be more of a tool to interact with inner space, than to be aided.

The disorientation does serve to force one to adjust one's attitude, though, toward a more mindful one. I recommend trying it.

I would say that for the curious (and safe) people, definitely go for it though! Just keep in mind it isn't your warm milk or green tea before you go to bed, its profound and facilitates changes at any dosage. At least with what I've found, knowing how to focus and initiate a meditative state of mind, and then experiencing shrooms, is like bypassing the amount of practice it would usually take to reach that place. Again though, it can be subjective and so it won't be the same for everyone, but it can be worthwhile for a serious explorer.

Sure, it's not green tea, and if you can't go with flow, you're going to have a bad time. When I was instructed in kundalini, I was told not to practice the specific meditation I was learning while on drugs because you will open up the chakras faster than you're ready and the results can be unpredictable and even permanently damaging. I did anyways and it was fucking amazing, I felt like a blooming flower stretching toward the sun. I see nothing any more dangerous about meditating on shrooms than taking shrooms in the first place. In fact, if you're anything like me, you need mindfulness and presence while on shrooms so you don't get trapped in an anxiety attack.

The only hindrance is that now I have that amazing meditation to compare all my subsequent, sober ones to and they don't measure up. It's like sex on ecstasy in that regard.

Originally Posted by Original Poster

Sure, it's not green tea, and if you can't go with flow, you're going to have a bad time. When I was instructed in kundalini, I was told not to practice the specific meditation I was learning while on drugs because you will open up the chakras faster than you're ready and the results can be unpredictable and even permanently damaging. I did anyways and it was fucking amazing, I felt like a blooming flower stretching toward the sun. I see nothing any more dangerous about meditating on shrooms than taking shrooms in the first place. In fact, if you're anything like me, you need mindfulness and presence while on shrooms so you don't get trapped in an anxiety attack.

The only hindrance is that now I have that amazing meditation to compare all my subsequent, sober ones to and they don't measure up. It's like sex on ecstasy in that regard.

Yes definitely, I don't want to come off against them in any way, as I'm all for shrooms and the psychedelic experience. I think that there are all these benefits as described, and it is an amazing experience. It may be my own ego that is cautious and giving counter-intuitive advice, since I've had experiences where I'd got some anxiety or felt the full effects of the psychedelic (not shrooms, but similar as it as plant, leaving it ambiguous) coming on stronger than my desire to meditate.

Either it or my ego was conveying to me that I didn't need to go all out just for some introspection or meditation, as a lot more was happening at a dosage that I had lots of experience before, and never went that intense on me before lol. But you're definitely right and I like your advice a lot too. For most people, this stuff is completely safe, I'm just erring on the careful side just because I can't sit down and talk to the people that are reading my posts. So yes, definitely I've had some of the most beautiful, amazing, and mind-expanding things happen on meditation, and am not meaning to downplay this in any way. I think what we're saying is coming from the same place, I don't know what I'm more reserved, maybe because its the internet.

I can't say meditation is something I'm super knowledgeable about,

But. For what my own experiences are worth in areas not generally related, i can say that with psilocybin in particular i have always associated a distinct sense of child-like curiosity/enthusiasm. And with it, a desire to appreciate this perspective under the right circumstances, or in the right environment.

I would suppose given my limited understanding of meditation that these two aspects might be a good fit.

It does seem a bit like more advanced experimentation in either case, but I personally can't say I wouldn't be willing to give it a try. In small doses.

Like I said, I personally went against the advice of my instructor. He knew I smoked pot and advised against even that, but the horror story he gave me was about shrooms. I don't remember if the kid he talked about went insane or got arrested or what, but that advice is given to everyone he instructs kundalini to, including me, because of the rare times when people can't handle it.

I like to believe I know what I'm getting into at this point. My first time on acid, I had a worry I'd never be normal again, but I haven't feared any problems since, and the majority of people have nothing to fear, either. Granted, over-confidence can lead to experimenting with analogs, which can cause permanent mental distortion, and a lot of the acid you find these days is just analog.

And if you're referring to DMT or salvia then yeah, there's no meditation to be had. You also can't really meditate on DXM or ketamine just because you're already basically dissociated.

Again I can't confirm what I am talking about, but it is a several-hour long experience, so meditation and introspection are great things to do while on it. And has a Earthy-feel and spirit as well. I don't know, I haven't gone out super far into the depths, but what I have seen is that the unexplored regions can be so unfamiliar to our Western paradigms that it warrants some caution. This is in part due to a bad trip I had, so I can send you details in a private message if you like. So I think warnings are warranted for the heavy and heroic doses, but as to trying out meditation and whatever, I think it should be fine at more reasonable doses. This is for those who haven't had these experiences. For those that are familiar, then they know what to expect and have already done their homework.

And yeah I know what you mean about not knowing if you'll return to "normal". I feel that part of this territory deals with the kind of madness (from our cultural perspective) that goes on at higher doses. Partly because it is so unfamiliar to us. What got my through my difficult experience was mostly due to the fact that it would wear off eventually. Now smaller amounts seem to do more, somehow. It definitely taught me that even something as gentle and healing has its depths and intense levels, and not to underestimate things.

And I do think that meditating does present some of the most novel things, since it already floods in so much information, and consciously focusing or observing just opens up and give even more blinding clarity to what is happening. At higher doses, and from my experience. Not sure if people should jump right in without knowing about this beforehand, but if its something like shrooms and prepare their set and setting right, it should be all good by the come-down even if it gets terrifying.

But as far as advising against certain things, I think common sense applies here in regard to safety. Is someone taking medication? Is a sitter necessary? What's their frame of mind going into it? If its not a traditional one, is there a overdose and what are the risks? And if it is shrooms, is everything all squared away and several hours set apart to do it? However, I don't think there are any spiritual reasons against doing this stuff, so if that is someone's only concern I'd just say go for it.

That's true, and this is an opportune time for a public service anouncement: Do not take ayahuasca on anti-depressants. Clear them from your system first. They interfere.

I tried meditating on shrooms once. Not sure I would call what happened meditation, but my closed eyed visuals started to intensify and I felt like something was trying to rip me out of my body. Had to stop because I got freaked out.

I think it is very worthwhile to train yourself with meditation (before) ingesting magic mushrooms.It is especially worthwhile to be able to still the mind. Stillness of the mind is what allows the visions to unfold.
I don't think that meditation is particularly altered in any kind of substance. Meditation is what it is. But it will bring a whole new aspect or dimension to the experience.

Sitting in lotus position and actively trying to achieve something isn't always the best thing to do. Although it can be interesting. I dosed my friend with mushrooms and he thrives on it by meditating. He just eats them or drinks the tea now and everytime he will meditate. Albeit, the mushrooms always are strong on him. But he meditates himself out of body each and every time!

I asked him about it and how he can do this so easily. He responded by telling he explored his mind in his youth. Just lying in bed and finding out what is there. He can achieve these states sober, but he finds that mushrooms are a great help in achieving higher states. The first time he did MDMA with me he read on Wikia that people use this for meditation. He sat in lotus for 30 minutes and came back crying.. He noted to me that he spoke with his dead relatives.

In fact, interestingly, when he meditated next to me during mushrooms he mentioned talking to his grandmother again and i felt an energy flow from him whilist my vision became overwhelmed with an energy of a dead elderly woman. I'm talking complete over-taking of my visual field with an image of a woman decaying in sand. I started to feel really old and ancient! Another thing he does is speaking with elements of the earth. I don't know much about it, but I think it is linked to the first time he used shrooms with me and connected him to the earth's consciousness. This followed with his sudden interest for meditation and yoga etc.

Now. In my experience with mushrooms I am a hard-head. I am trying out micro-dosing lately and find it helps me keep a calm and joyful mind during activities. I try to stay away from technology etc.

The thing with mushrooms is that they can give psychedelic experiences. You don't always have the focus to even remember to meditate because you are dealing with the experience itself that comes from taking mushrooms. But practice makes perfect. I'd say mindfulness is generally the most useful for dealing or coping with experience. And not just negative. Positive visions can present themselves to you. It is my experience that mental chatter will block the unfolding of this visions. If one can just still the mind and allow it to unfold it will expand into greater and even greater fields. There is literally no limit to what one can experience here. Just remember to keep a pen and notebook ready. I recommend lying in a darkroom and just let the vision take you to where it wants you to be. It helps to be alone on this one. Use the practice of meditation to be content in this state. And enjoy the ride!