Oct 21

Blog: Oct 21st

“The smoke” reminds me of similar experiences I have witnessed. The smoke is a hallucinogenic mixture that obviously one inhales. Another example of such a mixture is salvia, and it is even legal in the United States. It’s an organic herb, which causes hallucinations when smoked. One is supposed to inhale the smoke and hold it in their lungs for as long as possible. Whatever chemicals take hold of the individual and catalyze a trip-like state of mind. The individual will remain in this altered consciousness for several minutes and then return to normal. I have had two experiences involving the unique plant.
My first experience with salvia was during my freshman year at West Chester University. One of my buddies had some of the dried plant and we smoked it. At the time I didn’t know that salvia is categorized by grade or potency. Whatever he had must have been rather low, because I wouldn’t say that the herb had much of an effect on me. I had heard stories about crazy salvia trips my friends had witnessed, but for me, nada. It made me feel rather spacey and I was a bit disappointed. Nonetheless, I would say that smoking the plant did alter my state of consciousness. The spacey feeling did feel similar to a high. It was out of the ordinary.
The second and last experience I had with salvia took place in Niagara Falls, Canada. In this case, my friends and I all threw in some cash and purchased a strong potency of salvia in a store. We returned to our hotel room and took turns trying the herb. After filling my lungs with smoke I gradually felt like I was melting into the chair I was sitting in. Slowly, I melted away and became one with the chair. Talk about a bizarre feeling; it freaked me out. I also remember feelings pressure in my ears and hearing a ringing noise. Overall, not my idea of pleasant, but it was a trip. I was completely “out of my mind”, one could say.
Salvia is similar to the smoke Castaneda inhales; however that smoke was seemingly more intense. It lasted longer and anything like what I experienced over a longer period of time would drive one mad. Castaneda notes sweating, many hallucinations, immobilization, and difficulty annunciating (pg 130). I certainly wouldn’t enjoy that.
I thought that it was interesting that when Castaneda ate some of the hallucinogenic mixture it caused clarity and memory of his trip. The trip when he “becomes” a crow was particularly entertaining to me. Here don Juan goes on and on about Castaneda turning into a crow and when finally asked if Castaneda did indeed turn into a crow he answers, “No.” It’s like, duh. don Juan was ultimately trying to teach him a greater lessen; how to be a man.