When I got out of the marines, I was a complete ass. And couldn't see it. I thought it was everybody else (without really knowing it). A friend of mine gave me a bunch of little pieces of paper and said, "take this." Not to be daunted by little pieces of square paper, I did. Had one of the happiest few days of my life up til then. Realized that I had changed and needed to evolve back into the real world. I continued to take these little pieces of paper off and on for about a year or two, until it wasn't that fun anymore...I had gotten out of it what I needed and quit (for the most part...think I took 'the little pieces of paper or vitamin c tablets a few times over the next 10 years, but it was just not the same). It was more of an internal trip than an external trip for me.

First of all shrooms are the safest of all drugs of nature. Safer than marijuana even. And I have most certainly heard that their use is beneficial for many reasons mentally. My experience with them was brief and nondescript - but also in the 80's. So I plan on retracing that route soon.

I saw a frog on a motorcycle once while on acid. Maybe that was god. It was a dirt bike.

Psychedelics could have a purpose in study of the vast universe, and possibly in relaxation also. "Spiritual" is a term I no longer like because it can mean almost anything that you want it to mean.

I think psychedelics highlight things that are already in the user's subconscious rather than generating new experiences and beliefs. I've never believed in gods and/or the supernatural and for that reason I never once hallucinated or felt anything along those lines in the 20 years I used hallucinogens.

When I used psyychadelics back in college there was absolutely no connection to god-I was an atheist already.

Having never had any religious indoctrination in my upbringing, I don’t tend to find it in drugs. There is something spiritually connective about one-on-one lsd, mushroom, or mdma experiences, as well as small groups. At a minimum, the opportunity for deepening connection with each other is recognizable.

I had my LSD years, spiked with mushrooms and animal tranquilzers. Nothing changed my mind about the evils of religion and the non-existence of any god. I did, however, have several episodes with hamsters ( little brown fuzzy rodents) everywhere, especially in my bags and pockets.. And once i woke up in the middle of the night, totally convinced that I had the answer to the mysteries of life. I wrote it down, went back to sleep and found complete gibberish on my writing pad. Oh well, so much for god-like experiences.

It was always the interconnectedness of things which struck me under that type of influence. I can't say I was ever drawn to religion by an experience, more frustrated at the lack of awareness in those connections.

I attended an Ayahuasca ceremony once. Knowing the power of DMT and the fact that it was in effect an intense, extended DMT experience, I was curious. As a frame of reference, I have only ever experienced Marijuana a few times, and that wasn't for me.

It was intense and spiritual, but not in the way of religion. It was as if something somewhere else in the universe was communicating with me, and is difficult to explain beyond that.

Interestingly, it is considered to be a healing ceremony. I went in with a sinus infection and hours after it was over, I was breathing clearly, and the infection was gone, not to return. As a student of medicine (on my own terms, not formally, though a Biochemistry professor offered to subsidize Med school and I wish I could have accepted) I want to know how THAT worked.

I never find god(s) on mushrooms

Psychedelics affect the mind. The concept of a diety only exists in the mind. That's the connection.

I had a few profoud moments of self awareness and betterment when I was younger with a few different exposures to peyote etc. One particular incident while on my motorcycle trip through central / south america in my 20's in particular. Shared a medicine bag with a local and watched the Milky Way loom all night. It gave me a unique observation of the depth and beauty of the universe.

I had a similar post. I will say i have not used them, but if you listen to sam harris, you know that it does alter consciousness in some useful ways at least.

I'm skeptical about the claims, but a lot of people say you'd have to try it to really get why they think it's a way of communication with the supernatural. It does change people. I'm convinced it changes your personality. The most interesting thing is some of the most powerful psychedelics closely mimic human neurochemistry. The real question is, why is our neurochemistry so hallucinogenic?

my point is, there must be a benefit to this. What exactly is going on there is a mystery, but the important thing to keep in mind is it's up for exploring and nobody has to sway you one way or another about it. It's entirely possible we'll explain everything about it one day. There are plenty of people that take these things and don't have any profound experiences.

Sam harris, instead of a religious experience, just felt a sense of love and a lack of ego.

After over 300 trips from 1966 to 1969, I never saw god or any other mystic being! I did see the wonder of the sun, the moon, the ocean, and others to which all that that entails Have not drop since 1969! As an Army Brat living in many different places, religion or god(s) never entered my mind because of those experiences!

I'm pro experimentation in general, but alas it will have to wait until retirement. MDMA is on my bucket list.

[samharris.org]

Sam Harris has a video that talks about it. His experience with extasy

It can fuck your head right up like it partly did mine and religion is a crutch that does help them but it is a placebo. I didnt do that myself.

I already was reluctant to discount the possibility of a higher being existing. Psychedelics just made me feel more connected to the universe and made me not just more accepting of my opinions but others’ beliefs as well

Nope I think I might of made some connection then I'm pretty sure I just shorted out my brain a little.

For me it became many different experiences but it did ignite a curiosity about our interconnectedness as humans...It was colors that sparked an interest such as you experienced. It was of great influence and opportunity to examine more than challenge a god. . Just curious what was out there and if it was a Who

None of my 3 'acid trips' involved a god of any kind just bright colours and things not behaving predicatably - I just remember laughing a lot. I don't think any of it meant anyhtign just rearranging stuff in my brain.

I've used psychodelics in the past (mostly blotter), had a great time each time. The thought of a diety never crossed my mind, I was too busy laughing and watching tracers and stuff.

I have always been too cheap to spend money on drugs but I have hit some blissful runner's high (endocannabinoids) and, aside from painlessly floating just above the pavement I was running on, I never encountered god.