Popping the Ska Pastora cherry...

[OOzOO]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum and new to the amazing pleasures of SD.

My husband was told about Salvia when he went to visit a friend in New York.  Recently he stumbled accross some at a store when he was travelling for work, and decided to try it.  He purchased the cheapest kind and had a very pleasant experience with it.  However, he shared it with one or two people who did not feel anything from it, so, after researching more about it, he decided to go all out and buy 40x.  This was what I tried.  Mistake?  I don't think so...

After finding more and more resources with good information, I'm very surprised that I had such a good experience using 40x the first time, and have some lighter extracts on the way.  But this is what happened:

After taking the first hit, within seconds everything felt "sticky" or slightly "prickly"...everything!  The insides of my eyelids, the insides of my lungs, the air against my skin...the sensation went beyond the confines of my skin.  I could feel the air hitting the couch cushions for about a foot in either direction.  My husband, who was trip sitting for me, was very amused when I yelled out "Everything is sticky!!"  He even took out his digital camera and filmed me laughing hysterically.  

He made me wait about 10 minutes before taking a second hit, when he knew I was comfortably handling the sensations arising from the first.  When I took the second hit, the bottom dropped out of the universe!

My entire existence, consciousness, awareness, being, whatever, shrank down to a single atom as soon as I handed him the bong.  It was the most shocking thing I've ever experienced.  But, very slowly, my awareness began to expand from that central point, covering everything like wet paint.  I literally could not see anything beyond the expanding puddle of my mind.  First I became aware of my husband watching me, and questioning me, but I couldn't understand the question because time had slowed down to the point that his voice was unintelligible.  When I became aware of him, it was as if I threw him a line from the paint puddle of my being, and the puddle began radiating out from that line.  The next thing I became aware of was David Gilmore playing in the background, on the other side of me from my husband.  Again, as soon as I became aware, a line formed from me to the music (somehow not to the stereo, but to the actual music) and the puddle of awareness began expanding from that line.  

At this point I was able to form a thought, albiet not rationally, and I became almost an observer watching what happened to my consciousness as it expanded.  I kept thinking that this was it, this was as far as reality went, what I could see and experience at this moment, but then it would expand further, encompassing more of the room.  The sensation was so strong, encompassing sight, hearing, smell, and touch, that I actually stood up from the couch and turned around, wondering what would happen if I broke contact with my expanding puddle of reality...but it was too quick and went down my legs to the floor.  I literally felt behind me with my hands, trying to catch the drips caused by this movement.  At this point I hopped, losing contact with the floor, to see if it would break contact with the puddle of my awareness, but it didn't.  It dawned on me that this thought was eternal, it would continue expanding to cover the entire universe, and it almost seemed like a trick, a la Matrix, like when you are dreaming and you wake up, only to wake up again, and find the first time was part of your dream, and then wake up again.

The whole thing seemed to take an eternity, but at the same time the excitement made it all too fast.  In reality, it took about 15 minutes.  I was so amazed by what had happened, as soon as I was coherent enough to form words, I began describing it to my husband.  My only desire at this point was to remember every sensation, every sight, every emotion as my "self" expanded from a single atom to encompass everything.  Then it occured to me to write it down, since my husband had judged me sober enough at this point to not need a sitter, and wanted to begin his own experience.  Some of what I wrote was incoherent, but my favorite part is "Consciousness is a bullet, sliding through the wet paint of existence, watching reality rush by."

Yes, it was frightening, shocking, almost maddening.  But it was also enlightening, thrilling, and strange!  It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there...but I definitely plan on visiting again!  After reading the experience of others, I realize that I probably shouldn't have started out with 40x.  But luckily I have a disposition which craves the strange and unusual, the "bigger than myself," and I was able to take the fear in stride.  

I've read a number of accounts on here from people who were so frightened by thier experience that they are unsure if they should try it again, and I've read a number of responses...try weaker extracts, or straight leaf, quidding, tincture, etc. and try turning out the lights and relaxing.  I can only say that I believe that it is entirely one's attitude going in that determines how one reacts to the experience.  Seeing and feeling the alteration of time and space is mind-numbingly terrifying no matter what...don't let it cow you!  Sit back and enjoy the ride!

[hyperzoanoid]

Well thats the first time I saw the cherry phrase used with this plant.  

I'm really interested in the smoking technique right now. Deep slow breaths or a quick huff, along with letting the material heat for like 2 seconds before inhaling.

It's awesome that you had a great experience. Salvia has given me only good experiences so far as well.

[lollipop guild]

quote oozoo: Again, as soon as I became aware, a line formed from me to the music (somehow not to the stereo, but to the actual music) and the puddle of awareness began expanding from that line.

I'm glad to hear you hooked up to the music. That's what its all about, imo; riding musical notes and phrases through eternity. (The liver the better, btw...)

guild rep #13

[OOzOO]

Thanks for the comments, guys.  

hyperzoanoid- I use a glass water bong, with long draws, and hold it in for as long as possible, similiar to the technique for smoking Mary, although Sally is much more gentle on the lungs.  

lollipop guild- I think my reaction had less to do with the music and more to do with a new way of viewing spacial relationships...I'm an artist, and I'm very visual, and rarely get into music for its own sake...it's background noise as far as I'm concerned.  Subsequent visits to Sally Space have taught me that most of my experiences center around visual/spacial perceptions rather than auditory.

I must say, though, that as trite as it sounds, visiting Sally while listening to Dark Side of the Moon was amazing!!!

[DrYRHead]

Yes, hit her deep and long. Some like to use water pipes/bongs, but one has found the hash type pipes work best for him.

[hyperzoanoid]

awesome. Thanks for the replies.

[RifeHeretic]

try not to swallow the smoke, haha