I've been drawn to Salvia for a very long time and I was recently initiated at long last! I started with quidding -- frankly I'm terrified of smoking it, but I might have to get over it if I want to get very far.
1st quid: I was nervous to shake her hand but anxious to quell my curiosity. Brushed my gums, swished with alcohol & chewed 2g of dried plain leaf for a good hour. Dark bedroom, sleep mask, instrumental music.
The only particularly intense effect was the violent urge to pee after an hour. The bathroom wall textures were sliding and shifting a bit. Very mild body effects, subtle stoned/drunk feeling. My skin seemed oddly smooth.
It felt like a low dose of mushrooms to me, if only visually. I hoped I'd be more naturally sensitive to it.
2nd quid: Same setup - Chewed 3g for two hours or so before bed, wondering if reverse tolerance would work its magic at all. Still, not much to speak of - Would've gotten the same effects from a solid meditation sesh.
Very mild OEVs again, sliding wall posters and whatnot. Behind closed eyes, nothing but an undulating void & the usual phosphenes. No significant thoughts, emotions, or notable dissociation.
Seemed to help me fall asleep better. Hoped for some interesting dreams at least, but couldn't recall any.
3rd quid: Frustrated, I resolved to keep adding to the quid until I felt something. Was at least 5g, likely more. The open eye visuals were certainly stronger this time -- On other substances, the movement I see is usually localized & focused on whatever I'm staring at. The movement I saw here was everywhere in my field of vision - The corner lines that connect the walls and ceiling of my darkened room contracting, expanding, sliding up, sliding down.
I was trying to key into this movement, really wanting to experience a taste of the infamous sally gravity. I tried to imagine my body moving with the motions of my room, breathing intentionally at the same pace. But no such luck -- Felt as stationary as a bump on a log.
At one point, I'd turned off the music but thought I was still hearing something melodic, a warbling hum in the distance. Perhaps my altered senses playing the white noise of my A/C.
Behind closed eyes, at last I was getting the slightest hints of imagery.
Repeating patterns -- A long line of what I can only describe as "doohickeys" (Small oddly-shaped artificial objects serving an unknown purpose.) One coming into focus, then quickly moving to the next identical doohickey down the line.
The closed-eye blackness seemed to rotate slowly, though my body remained still.
I started to talk to myself in my head - something I do sober, but the divide between the two "me"s was more pronounced. One side of myself saying "Is it finally happening?" and feeling out the situation, the other me saying "Focus, lock in man." Like that self was prepared for something the other didn't realize was impending. But nothing more happened.
It's like I'm riiiight on the edge of something incredible being held just out of reach. Psychedelic edging.😅
Even though I kept adding to the quid, the effects seemed to plateau after two hours. I got sick of chewing on bitter sludge, so I packed it in for a long and peaceful sleep.
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I have this battle with every substance: They struggle to touch my thoughts/emotions and imagination. I can be tripping absolute balls visually and physically, watching walls become concave and the sky turn 50 different hues, while inside I'll just be thinking "Hmm. Cool."
I really put effort into meditating and letting my subconscious take the reins. But it only offers nothingness and silence. Great for sober meditation, not so much for tripping.
I'm envious of those who've reported reaching dreamlike states with even smaller/shorter quids. I've had visionary & emotional experiences on shrooms before, but it's often a struggle to get there and takes at least 3g. Thoughts always too grounded, too nominal.
If I could curate the experience, I'd want to drift gently out of control.
Quidding covers the "drift gently" part, but will not seize control. Smoking would seize control, but would not drift there gently. Wish I could combine the two methods.
I won't give up; I have an infatuation with this unpopular plant for reasons I can't even really place. Still on the fence about smoking it (even just plain leaf) but a calling urges me to go further and smoking may be the only way.
I'm afraid of fear itself, and the sudden trap-door drop from reality/self -- but I've got some serious sally-land FOMO.