Mindfulness. Psilocybin. One.
My journey into the depths of mindfulness reached a pivotal moment on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. This transformative experience was facilitated by the guidance of a shaman and the molecular influence of psilocybin, ingested in the form of 1.3 grams of mushrooms. This was not just an exploration into the realm of psychedelics but a profound dive into the essence of mindfulness.
On that day, under the careful watch of the shaman, I embarked on a journey that transcended the ordinary bounds of perception and thought. The psilocybin, a natural compound known for its powerful psychedelic effects, acted as a key, unlocking parts of my consciousness that seemed previously inaccessible. It was as if the layers of mundane reality were peeled back, revealing a more vibrant, interconnected tapestry of existence.
The experience was far from being just a psychedelic adventure; it was a deep lesson in mindfulness. Every moment felt intensified, filled with an extraordinary sense of presence and awareness. I learned that mindfulness is not just a practice but a state of being, where every moment is inhabited fully, without the shadow of boredom or distraction.
Through this experience, I discovered that mindfulness is the key to truly living each moment. It's not just about being present but engaging with the present in a way that enriches one's life. This profound experience taught me that life, in its essence, is a series of moments, each holding the potential to be extraordinary if only we are fully present and engaged.
In retrospect, this journey with psilocybin, under the guidance of a shaman, was a transformative milestone in my personal exploration of mindfulness. It offered a glimpse into the potential depth of human consciousness and the power of living each moment to its fullest.
This profound experience I had was like stepping into a different realm of consciousness. It began with entering a state of ultimate relaxation and pleasure, a sensation akin to Nirvana. After about two hours in this blissful state, a realization dawned upon me. I understood that it might be possible to reach this state of being without the aid of a shaman or psilocybin. This insight came with an acute awareness of the beauty surrounding me in nature; everything was intensely beautiful, almost too magnificent to fully grasp.
The experience of simple things – the sound of music, the sight of a color, the scent in the air – was overwhelming. They brought me pure joy and pleasure, a kind of ultimate bliss. Tears streamed down my face, and my body shook with pleasure from these seemingly minor experiences. It was then that I understood the importance of carrying this perspective into the rest of my life. To truly live, one must see beauty in everything and take joy in it. This beauty is a gift, meant for our enjoyment. Beyond mere existence, we are privileged to savor experiences – sounds, colors, tastes, textures, smells, music, art, and literature.
I realized that the goal of life is to be in this mode of experiencing at all times, to be fully present in every moment. This state of ultimate, pure pleasure is the pinnacle of existence. While these ideas aren't new, experiencing them at their zenith was transcendent, otherworldly. It felt like being in the Garden of Eden, Olam HaBa, Nirvana – though I don’t need a name for it. It was pure goodness, a oneness with all of nature and the universe, a feeling of being an integral part of the cosmos. But even this was secondary to the profound sensation I felt in the moment, feeling like I had unlocked the true secrets of the universe.
It's important to note that when I say I came to these realizations, I can't be certain if I spoke the words, thought them, or if they were imparted by the shaman. In that state of complete connectedness and meditative emptiness, it's hard to discern whose words were spoken, or if there were words at all. It felt as if we were connecting on a deeply spiritual level, beyond the need for spoken language.
