Unlocking the Door: A First-Time LSD Experience
Table of Contents
- Introduction
1.1 Background on Psychedelic Interest
1.2 Trip Preparation
1.3 Set and Setting - Initial Dose and First Impressions
2.1 Ingestion of 105μg LSD
2.2 Anticipation and Early Reactions - The Onset of Effects
3.1 Physical Sensations and Initial Perceptions
3.2 Mild Hallucinations - Reflection on Psychedelic Consciousness
4.1 Encountering the Psychedelic Ego
4.2 Observing Familiar Surroundings - Conclusion
1. Introduction
1.1 Background on Psychedelic Interest
For the past two years, I have been captivated by the exploration of consciousness through the use of entheogenic substances. My journey into understanding psychedelics began with thorough research on various compounds, leading me to focus on Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-25 (LSD). By the beginning of 2018, I was ready to embark on my first experience with this powerful hallucinogen, after months of preparation.
1.2 Trip Preparation
I spent about a week carefully planning every detail of my first LSD trip. I knew that for an optimal experience, proper attention to "set and setting"—the mental state and physical environment—was crucial. I decided to take the trip at my house, alone, in the early hours of the day to minimize distractions and external disturbances. The goal was to dedicate the entire day to both the trip itself and the subsequent recovery period.
1.3 Set and Setting
The trip was scheduled for January 22, 2018, and I planned to start just before sunrise. I intended to take the LSD on an empty stomach, believing that it might enhance the absorption and overall experience. However, upon waking at 6:00 AM, I was quite hungry and decided to eat a light breakfast—two pieces of toast with blackberry jam—before proceeding with the experience.
2. Initial Dose and First Impressions
2.1 Ingestion of 105μg LSD
At 6:23 AM, I placed the 105μg dose of LSD on blotter paper under my tongue, beginning the journey that would unfold over the next several hours. Almost immediately, I felt a surge of excitement, which caused my heart to race. However, this feeling was more anticipatory than anxious. I relaxed as the acid dissolved in my mouth over the next 15 minutes, and I swallowed the paper, recognizing that I had now crossed a threshold. There was no turning back.
The experience felt like unlocking a door and discarding the key, knowing that my mind would be opened to profound effects over the next 8-10 hours. As Terence McKenna famously emphasized, the nature of psychedelic experiences guarantees a journey into the depths of one’s subconscious, whether for better or worse.
2.2 Anticipation and Early Reactions
After swallowing the blotter, I waited for the effects to become noticeable. The first signs emerged as a mild body high and a sense of euphoria, though my thoughts remained clear. I paced through the house, anticipating what was to come, but at this early stage, I still felt somewhat grounded in reality.
3. The Onset of Effects
3.1 Physical Sensations and Initial Perceptions
Roughly an hour after taking the LSD, I began to notice subtle shifts in my perception. Physically, I felt a heightened sensitivity to the environment, and waves of euphoria continued to flow through me. However, my visual field still seemed relatively unchanged, aside from small distortions. Mentally, I felt like I was waiting for the drug’s full power to emerge.
3.2 Mild Hallucinations
At around the one-hour mark, I began noticing mild visual hallucinations. As I moved through the house, I observed a light fixture casting a shadow on the wall. Despite the fixture remaining still, its shadow seemed to sway gently back and forth. This was the first clear sign that my perception was being altered by the LSD. Other than the shadow’s unusual behavior, my thoughts remained mostly intact, and I felt lucid enough to fully analyze what was happening around me.
4. Reflection on Psychedelic Consciousness
4.1 Encountering the Psychedelic Ego
As the effects of the LSD continued to develop, I found myself reflecting on the nature of the experience. I realized that I was no longer in control of the journey. I had surrendered to the effects of the substance, and my mind was guiding me through a new level of consciousness. In this state, often referred to as the “Psychedelic Ego,” I felt a sense of detachment from my normal, everyday self. It was as though I was simultaneously observing and participating in the trip, which created a unique dynamic between my thoughts and my surroundings.
4.2 Observing Familiar Surroundings
Throughout the trip, I wandered around the house, interacting with the environment as though I were a visitor in a familiar but slightly altered reality. Everyday objects, which I usually took for granted, now appeared more significant, as if they held deeper meaning. The house itself became a kind of tour through my own mind, with my perception as the guide. The changes in my visual field, such as the swaying shadows, were mild but intriguing enough to hold my attention as I marveled at the subtle tricks my mind was playing on me.
5. Conclusion
My first experience with LSD was both gentle and profound. The initial dose of 105μg allowed me to ease into the world of psychedelics without overwhelming intensity. The mild euphoria and subtle visual distortions were enough to pique my curiosity and offer a glimpse into the vast potential of these substances. Throughout the trip, I remained lucid, grounded, and able to observe the effects without being overwhelmed.
This first encounter provided me with a valuable insight into the nature of the psychedelic experience. It was a journey into the subconscious, where the boundaries of perception and thought begin to blur, and reality itself takes on new layers of meaning. By the end of the day, I felt more in tune with my environment and my mind, having unlocked the door to a new realm of consciousness.
