Common archetypes of certain psychedelics

[Z]

I was wondering if anyone had encountered any stereoytpical (I don't know if that's the right word - maybe archetypal) entities on specific psychedelics.

For instance: almost everyone I know, male and female alike, that has done salvia has seen or felt the presence of a woman or girl. I've seen her when I didn't get rocketed into the bardo, but on trips where I did, there was no entity present...

Anyway, people seem to see this woman/girl without hearing about her from anyone else. I've heard of similar figures such as Mescalito, but I've never done mescaline/peyote/san pedro, so I don't know first hand.

[crown]

A great post Z.

The only sacrament which I can speak about with any degree of authority is Ayahuasca, and there are most certainly 'entities' and reflections that are quite common, even cross-cultural. What they mean or 'why' they mean is something I could never answer, only speculate.

A lot of people report the presence of jaguars and serpents. Looking to my own experiences, I can confirm this, but of course they are not these animals in any direct sense. Years ago after my first encounter with the brew I was very convinced that there had been a definite 'feline' presence (and even worse, that it might have meant something ;) ). After some time, I became suspicious that perhaps this presence was more in the aesthetics of my visualizations rather than the ideations that go with them. Honestly I haven't a clue anymore (happily).

The serpent however, has come to be something a bit more signficant. During one particular encounter, a serpent had offered me some insight as to 'why' it was. "Everyone has to grapple with me sooner or later...it's then that I'll tell you a secret." It is no surprise that serpents are so feared, as their nature is pointing to something very deep within us. It devours and dismembers, all the while with a twinkle in its eye...there's a clever wisdom there, quite cryptic.

I have also stumbled across the fabled Mantis. It was a benign presence, and a very sacred one as well. It appeared as a kind of scribe, and wrote a strange 'living' language into what I can only describe as psychic tablets. As each tablet was completed there was a "and so it is" feeling, an 'amen' I guess. I have spoken with one individual that saw the Mantis a psychic tool of some kind, yet operating as the surgeon simultaneously.

With these there are a host of structures and items such as scepters, crowns, temples, weapons, gemstones, etc. (and of course a lot of indescribable stuff). Yet the most powerful and most common is hands down: Light. No speculation needed there, that's something that speaks to everyone!

Sometimes I kick myself in the pants for not reading Joseph Campbell...more homework.

[Z]

Thanks for the reply. I really wonder about the nature of these archetypes, if they are to be thought of as such, or how to think about the nature of these archetypes. Are they internal/external/both? What way is best to think about them, that is, should we look at them from the standpoint of the Truth behind them, or should we look at them in a way that attributes them meaning and practicality?...

I don't know, I don't know...

I'd be interested to hear what other people have seen/felt under the influence.

[TarNutz]

Hey Z, Crown...

Sorry to disappoint, but under the influence of Salvia the first time, by myself, I didn't see any "people" or pheel any different presences... but the Universe did begin to "peel" at the edges to show me what was behind it. Made me laugh, it did. There was this pulsing wooshing sound, not necessarily timed to my heartbeat, which dropped in pitch as it went on. Almost like cicadas, but not.

I have felt "presences" while tripping before, however. My first psilocybe trip was alone, unfortunately, since my best friend puked before she started. I spent the first ten minutes helping her clean it up, then tried to go inside and stay cool. Five minutes after my brother turned into a frog-man, I decided it was probably about time to leave before I freaked him out. Decided to go by the old mansion down the street and call out the ghosts that people said were there. I didn't _see_ anything, but the presence was definitely there, and I heard them. I wrote down the gist of what they were saying: recently I came across the account while de-compiling my email archives. But the night was extreme. Something like a dozen cops went screaming down the street in their cars with the lights on but no sirens (it was a residential neighborhood at two AM); I got buzzed and spotlighted by a hovering helicopter. The one thing which saved me was a voice saying: "This isn't for you, don't be afraid: the only thing that matters is that there are people that love you. Go home."

Here's an excerpt from the original email:

"I tripped balls last night. The dead spoke through me after I disturbed them, Chaos went nuts, and I challenged my own problems face to face. Good thing I had a bit of support and most of the spirits I communicated with were sympathetic to my plight. I survived: barely. One of them, a spirit of a young girl, I believe, demanded that I die for disturbing her. Her father quieted her eventually. Weird shit. Fear and loathing."

So yeah, I've felt presences (including what can only be described as "God"), but no animal archetypes or teachers yet. I think I wasn't ready to see them yet: maybe a few trips alone would help? A friend of mine reports seeing a weaving pattern almost like vines and leaves on every surface when she trips. We're not sure what it is: it doesn't seem to carry any code or information to her: I think I've seen it once or twice. Anyone got any idea as to this?

P-Tar

PS: What is "the Bardo"?

[Z]

Your Salvia experience seems like it may not have been full-blown. If you smoke it 'correctly' and you smoke a strong, fortified leaf (5x or above), it should be extremely profound - often to the point where you leave this world and the workings of this world make absolutely sense when you begin to re-enter.

For a full-on Salvia experience, make sure:
1) you have fortified leaf
2) you do it in the dark - I've noticed that the same amount smoked during the day will be noticeably less profound (and just different- good in it's own way, though, I guess)
3) you *hold the flame over the leaf while inhaling* - Salvinorin-A has a high vaporization temperature, so the cherried leaf isn't quite hot enough
4) you take hits in succession, that is, dont pass the bowl or bong around
5) you hold in hits for a while, around 20-30 seconds

These procedures have worked every time for me. The first time I tried Salvia, I tried it in daylight and though it was interesting, I was disappointed. I spoke to people online who told me to do it in the dark, and it blew me away...

Of course, you still may not see/feel the girl - not everyone I know has (I don't think).

[CASPER 1]

Hey Crown!:Speaking of Joseph Campbell I was watching an interview with him on the KCET public television network here in Cali.One that I have seen before but never hesitate or mind watching again.Very insightful knowledge had that man.One thing that caught my mind which I can't forget is when he was speaking of the word OM used by Monks to meditate and put them in touch with the ONENESS of the universe before a ritual.He explained that when the OM is said or sung properly by large groups,it recreates the sound made by the overall energy of the entire universe.They also showed footage of this in practice and what a sound it does make!The word itself is spelled OM to us but actually consists of AUM.Each letter pronounced in English AH /OOH /MMM.Pronouncing the word correctly makes the sound itself and mouth compose a circular motion.It is said to be composed of four elements:The AH /OOH /MMM and the silence that underlies it.It is truly great knowledge.Peace!!!

[CASPER 1]

BY THE WAY:Sorry Z I meant to say welcome before I posted.I realize my post had nothing to do with your topic but this is the opportunity to make up for it.The only stereotypical experiences I've had while on psychedelics would be the alteration or amplification of my senses which I believe are more than only 5.Also brighter colors and the ever beautiful ALTERATION OF MUSIC!I have not have many experiences with psychedelics but everyone has been enlightening at the levels of the term regarding weight and light.The time that I had my most intense experience on mushrooms-After the peak moment at which I closed my eyes and felt as if I blasted off straight into outerspace to an unexplainable height and saw a world that was coposed of many colored circles that seemed so alive and were moving about like rushing ants in inward and outward motions through what seemed like a dark maze to and fro a circle like them that was composed of pure white light.Or at least that's how I remember it.Any way,afterward I opened my eyes again and enjoyed the rest of my trip with eyes open.I walked around my freinds backyard and felt that everything was placed ever so properly.Every motion I made felt like it was properly fixed as held together by something at all angles that space allowed.Thats the best way I can explain it.I also remember looking at a couple of pine trees that were ther and seeing them moving calmly in the wind and literally feeling a certain freindliness in teir life as if they were speaking to me,without talking that is,a warm welcome.I was very appreciative of it also.It was an intense experience which I could have been very detailed about in writing but my present situation will not allow.I do have mre to share.Until next time.Peace!!!

[CASPER 1]

By the way.I forgot to mention that Joseph Campbell explained that language,which we all know is composed of letters or characters,is all just an interruption of the supreme sound which is OM.The OM is composed of every sound that can be made down to the slightest detail.

[El Eternauta]

Interesting post, All run down so far my experience of encounters with archetypes.
Mushrooms: Male, organic but intergalactic hehe, benevolent a good symbiotic relation.
DMT: Alien, from dimension x to weird to relate not sure if meeting with them is prudent or beneficial.
Ayuasca: I have done it once in a low dosage, at one point in the experience I felt I was been transformed into a jaguar, I was very surprised after to find out that this is a common theme with ayuasca, at the time I had no knowledge of it.