The two faces of Salvia

[bcubed]

I feel the need to write this, as I'm somewhat disappointed that Salvia has gotten such a "bad rap," even here at D-F.

In the short time I've been here, I've seen comments to the effect of: "It's the scariest, baddest hallucinogen I've ever done!" and "This is the ONE drug that OUGHT to be illegal!" Commenting on scary, overwhelming trips. Even an "objective facts" web article said that "Salvia use is experienced as unpleasant for many users" (sorry, can't seem to track it down again).

That's dissapointing to me, as SWIM's experiences here are much more positive. He thinks that focusing on what it can do (and granted, yes it CAN profoundly alter one's reality if used for that purpose) in the extreme is scaring away many kindred spirits.

In a sense, SWIM was lucky that his initial lighter was so inefficient (TOO hot, in that it immediately vaporized the 10X--plus it burnt holes in SWIM's screen) and that resulted in a milder, pleasant sensation of subjective distortion time and distance, plus a general amplification of sensation and sharpening of his senses. (SWIM has subsequently had more intense experiences, including CEVs and OEVs, but nothing where he totally lost connection with reality--he's not complaining).

I'm not saying that those who use it to acheive a profound alteration of reality are using it "wrong"; I'm just saying that 90% of what's on the net (and at least 70% of what's here) is about "tripping one's ass off" and SWIM feels that the pleasant, subtle effects are getting short shrift. Much of that, SWIM feels, is due to those selling Sally: seeing someone listening to music and commenting on how wonderful it sounds won't move much product for a bunch of teens looking to get "f'd up" (yes, I know that was me in the day, too).

He's torn: on one hand, he wants to let everyone know that Sally can be "recreational": (unless he's having paradoxical reactions?) On the other, drugs that are sufficiently unpleasant (like Jimson Weed) that no-one in their right mind does it don't get scheduled--the "fun" ones do. On second thought then, "Stay away from Salvia!! Scary! It'll ROT YOUR BRAIN!!!" (and on and on....)