Setting - Advice for those considering LSD.

[AcidAdam]

Hello everyone. I am writing this post for those who are considering, or preparing to take LSD. SWIM has done it several times. This post aims to provide advice, tips, and warnings to readers. It is by no means a comprehensive list- just a few things SWIM has learnt from his experiences.

The effects of LSD are ineffable. The change that occurs in you cannot be described. I think the reason for this is that our language is abstracted from and designed for our experience of the world- LSD can take you to the very fabric of your being, which is truly beyond the world of appearances- and so language is redundant there.

Because of the ineffable and unique nature of LSD I am skeptical of anyone who holds strong oppinions about it who has not personally experienced it. Words used to describe its effects are pale reflections of the true experience.

One thing I have noticed about the culture around LSD are the horror stories that one hears. I would advise you to take these stories with a pinch of salt, and to think about the ways in which the storytellers own prejudices and fears are being reflected on the story. This leads me to...

Tip #1) People who have never done LSD would never guess you were on it- so keep quiet! Telling LSD-sober people you are tripping might make them afraid/defensive because they do not understand the chemical. Bad trips are often caused by such people who 'make a problem' where there is in fact no problem. (THEY have a problem WITH it, and so they feel IT is a problem- foolish worldlings)

Tip #2) Learn meditation. Many people describe LSD as a spiritual experience. Experiences can be pleasant or unpleasant, just like in day-to-day life, but your heightened awareness can make them more intense. Meditation provides a stable perspective, it is a way or relating to your experiences that involves 'not-clinging'. SWIM practices Zazen (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zazen) on a regular basis, and has found it very helpful in maintaining a healthy relationship with his experiences on LSD and other psychedelics- not to mention his thoughts and emotions in day to day life.

As a side note to this: not clinging to negative experiences is very important, not clinging to positive experiences is also very important- do not become a spiritual materialist, it wont benefit you in the long run.

Tip #3) Mixing drugs.

My personal advice is not to mix LSD with other drugs. Certainly for your first time you should do it on its own- so that you can fully understand the experience as it is. Alcohol brings out the animal in people, which is contrary to the spiritual/beneficial effects of LSD.
Weed is interesting- certainly it intensifies the experience of LSD, but it can lead to a kind of deep-mental laziness/detachment from the world. SWIM's only bad experience on acid was attributed by him to smoking to much weed too early in the trip. Weed is best used towards the end of a trip.

Tip #4) Don't be afraid to trip alone- even if it is your first time. Keeping your little adventure a secret will be a weight off your mind anyway, the sense of independence you will get will add to the profound sense of freedom LSD can provoke.

Tip #5) Many people on psychedelics have a fear of being deemed to be insane by other people. Such thoughts can cause fears that really mess with a trip. The thing to remember is that people judge other people to be insane not because of what they think, feel or experience but because of what they do. As long as you remain mindful of your behaviour you will be fine- meditation can be helpful in this area also, as 'just sitting' is about as sane as it gets!

Tip #6) SWIM was 21 when he first dropped LSD. He was glad he waited until this age to do it. I have heard of people who have tripped at age 16 and found it very hard to make sense of their experiences. I would personally advise those under 20 just to wait a few more years- trust me, you'll understand when you do, and it will be worth the wait.


I hope some of this will be of use to you. This drug- it is a special thing, truly unlike any of the other psychoactive substances out there- it should be treated with total respect. SWIM has found LSD to be of great benefit to his life and hopes that it will continue to benefit people.

One day historians will look back on this witchhunt and be very confused!

Reputation Comments on this post:

Those are good advices. Although many were already written in other posts it's always good for people to remember them.