Life
Underground
By Jo P and Sally D
After my previous nine Salvia journeys, I’ve decided on the ingestion method that works best for me: tincture-enhanced quid. Today’s trip turns out to be my strongest yet, as intense as any smoking experience and many times longer. I’m shocked at how unexpectedly potent this combination of tincture and quid can be.
For tonight, I have a quid of six re-hydrated SBC leaves squeezed dry, then moistened by a solution of ¾ teaspoon homemade tincture, 3 teaspoons water, and a drop of peppermint extract. A little honey sweetens the quid. From past experience, I know that the small quid will be palatable and easy to chew, and the tincture solution dilute enough so as not to fry my taste buds. [The tincture recipe I followed can be found under “Salvia peppermint elixir” in the sagewisdom.org FAQ. However, I used 195-proof Everclear alcohol instead of the liquor recommended in the manual.]
On the computer room floor, I ponder the eerie acoustical puzzles of “The Magnificent Void” (Steve Roach).
Fifteen minutes of chewing have finely shredded the leaves. Now I just hold as much of the green sludge under the tongue as I can, and wait.
The first vision: miniature camels cover my body. A real
adventure must be coming. The last time I saw camels was in the cherished “
A giant zipper runs across the floor and cuts through my body. Floor and body dissolve into each other, creating a rolling wooded countryside in near darkness.
The zipper closes, and I’m swallowed by the hungry earth. Suddenly, the lights appear to go out, even though I had carefully left a small night light on before chewing the quid. I’m startled, but my new subterranean life is too interesting to fear. Beneath the surface, it’s warm, moist, and wonderfully tranquil. I’m able to get around effortlessly, by just willing it. In a flash, I realize that my body’s disappeared: I’m now pure soul.
For many “years”, I explore deep inscrutable vistas of gnarled plant root systems and great expanses of void. Once, I encounter a strange mole-like creature sniffing the roots, apparently to select the choicest one for its next meal. This remarkable entity is completely covered with eyes that pop out of and back into its skin. However, the eyes are probably blind—I have to tap it on its “head” so it doesn’t bump into me, after which the creature discreetly changes course.
I hear a creaking noise, and then remember that I’m actually a person seated on the floor of a computer room. Maybe it’s someone at the door. I’m a little concerned, but helpless. There’s simply no trace of my body left; besides, even if there were, I can’t see any door!
Forget it, I tell myself, just go with the flow. Again, I’m lost in the hermetic underground world. The trip is now so intense that no trace of ego remains—I can’t even panic at my overwhelming situation.
15 September
As the effects diminish, I feel huge beads of sweat on my brow. I try to wipe them off with my hands, but find that I haven’t completely resurfaced yet. My movement creates strong tremors and opens gaping new chasms across the earth’s surface.
In a few minutes, I’m able to crawl to the armchair. I have some kaleidoscopic visuals on the computer with a “Mandala program”. Despite this, I soon fall asleep on the chair.
The incipient sore throat I had before the trip is gone.
Having seen its own reflection, the imperishable Being beyond time glows brighter than the sun. I awake, blissful and renewed, to the Great Illusion.