Salvia Confusion...Should I Try It Again?

[ChainofPeople]

I smoked some salvia (15x) for the first time yesterday, and I can't make heads or tails of the experience.
I was not expecting to enjoy myself but I did expect I would learn something from the experience. Instead I got confusion and disorientation, and now I have more questions than answers.

I took my first hit from the bucky (gravity bong) and not a second later the edges of my vision were tearing away violently and I was transported into a confusing world where I was linked in some sort of chain or helix with countless other people. They were holding hands and feet, or something like that, and were brightly coloured, but only one colour per person, like bright reds, yellows and blues.
I was very, VERY confused and maybe a little scared as I knew I had to do something somehow. One of the people, a female who was I believe red, was telling me to do something, like turn in the chain and not let go. I didn't really want to be there and luckily I snapped back to reality (sort of) when my minder (a friend/flatmate) turned on the light.

I was straddling the bucket and water was tipping over the edge. My minder was laughing at me, which I interpreted as malevolent and I quickly sat on a nearby chair, where random snapshots of time, from my childhood - complete with emotional load, were running through my mind a mile a minute. I saw objects that were unrecognizable and yet seemed so familiar, like they symbolised me, which was strange because they meant so much yet they were simple shapes. I then realised my jeans were wet from water spilling out of the bucky so I went upstairs to change them.

I realised that this reality, while I accepted it as the REAL reality, was just as foreign and strange as the others. I felt as if my body was not me, everything seemed dreamlike and cold. My flatmate told me I was hugging the bucket making water spill over me and he found that very amusing. He explained that he asked if I wanted to take another hit to which I replied yes, but before he could refill it I was sucking on the ash so he pulled it away. I apologised profusely for wetting the floor with the bucket even though I wasn't really sorry because I felt I hadn't done anything wrong. I explained that this moment felt significant and that my life had flashed before my eyes.

In the next hour 3 other people did some, which mainly resulted in laughing and "this is SO weird!". I was confused that they found it funny, because it seemed the opposite to me. I decided to man up and give it another go. This time it hit me less hard, I pretty much found myself a part of the bed I was sitting on and forgetful of who I was. The strangest part of coming down was the fact that I couldn't understand why my vision was limited to 20/20. I felt as if the fact my vison was split between my eyes was unnatural, and I didn't understand why I couldn't see in 360. I felt like I was in a dark theater watching a video of a camera attached to someone's head and I saw what they saw but I wasn't them. Distinguishing objects was difficult. I could feel my body around me and it felt like I was possessing someone. I felt very serious, which people commented on as I had a deadpan expression.

Then a strange thing happened. I felt cold and distant to those around me. I realised they were conscious beings but I felt as if they didn't care about me. Even worse, I had a strong notion that one of my flatmates and long time friends really hated me and was conspiring against me. I couldn't deny it as I felt as if I was seeing things as they really were, not as I wanted. I felt disdain for him for being dishonest about his intentions.

As a few hours went by, the feelings went away but the questions remained.

-Is this something I want to ever do again?
-Does my friend really hate me or was that just the drug confusing me?

I should note that the experience was not bad per se, and I did feel quite good after the first trip but over all it was definitely not enjoyable compared to, say, mushrooms.

[Stonehenge]

Never heard of a trip coming on one second after taking a hit. Other than that, it sounded like a rich salvia trip. Whether you should try it again is up to you. What do you hope to accomplish? It's usually wierd and scary, few trips are fun.

[ChainofPeople]

I took my first hit from the bucky (gravity bong) and not a second later the edges of my vision were tearing away violently and I was transported into a confusing world where I was linked in some sort of chain or helix with countless other people. They were holding hands and feet, or something like that, and were brightly coloured, but only one colour per person, like bright reds, yellows and blues.
I was very, VERY confused and maybe a little scared as I knew I had to do something somehow. One of the people, a female who was I believe red, was telling me to do something, like turn in the chain and not let go.

I did not understand this at the time but in hindsight I thought of a few things:
-maybe this symbolised the interconnectedness of humanity
-maybe it was a chain of reincarnation
-I was studying for a genetics exam earlier yesterday and it did sort of remind me of DNA; it was a spinning helix type configuration and the people remined me of base pairs...I don't remember if there was four colours though, it could have been anywhere from 3 to an infinite  number. There was at least 3 though.

Another weird thing is that even though the smoke wasn't that harsh like people had told me, the taste/smell seems to linger in my mouth/nose. I can sort of taste it now and the memories that go with it... :?

[ChainofPeople]

Never heard of a trip coming on one second after taking a hit.

It could have been a few more, but it only seemed like one. It was a huge breath, at least a litre, which I don't remember exhaling.The edges of my sight were tearing away quite violently and I was dumbstruck. The speed kinda scared me, it felt like I was thrown through a window.
Far different to mushrooms which can take over an hour to get anything.
Edit: Erowid says it has a 20-60 second onset, but all four people who did it that night felt it within 5 seconds of inhaling. Weird.

Other than that, it sounded like a rich salvia trip. Whether you should try it again is up to you. What do you hope to accomplish? It's usually wierd and scary, few trips are fun.

I hoped to gain perspective and insight like I have on shrooms - which have given me understanding (not to mention intense bliss).
Salvia just took away all understanding of everything, I felt as if I had been reset and my peace was gone.

[ChainofPeople]

-Does my friend really hate me or was that just the drug confusing me?

Ok, I realise that this is a stupid question because you almost certainly don't know either of us, but what I mean is: Do you think that I was being paranoid or was this an insight? Has anyone else had similar thoughts when on salvia?

[laughingwillow]

I've never had negative insights about my friends while smoking sally.

Btw, I doubt your friends broke through by what you described. But it sounds like you sure did. Maybe the guy was jealous. Or maybe he didn't believe the experience you related after the fact.

lw

[ChainofPeople]

I've never had negative insights about my friends while smoking sally.

Btw, I doubt your friends broke through by what you described. But it sounds like you sure did. Maybe the guy was jealous. Or maybe he didn't believe the experience you related after the fact.

lw

I think I was being paranoid, so I'm gonna just forget about it.

I think one of my friends broke through because he started laughing and then he went silent. Afterwards he said he never wanted to do salvia again.

I dunno if I'll ever do salvia again but I am interested in other entheogens like DMT and peyote, not to mention acid, ketamine and 2-ce.

[fractal enchantment]

Was this friend laughing at you?? I have had similar feeling towards other ppl while besaged when they were laughing at what I was going through and not really understanding the depth of the experience i was having. La Pastora is a very individual and personal experience and i feel that she really doesnt like me going there when other people who dont "get it" are there to distract me. You need to try it in the dark with maybe just a candle and a sitter who wont laugh and mock you, and VERY mellow music if any at all..good luck if you choose to go the path of the sage again