Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 71 posts

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#21

Post by randomtoast »

creeble wrote: post #19

Almost all of the reports from people I know who have done ayahuasca have reported seeing "elves". It's not only common, they say it's not a "valid" trip unless you do, and even converse with them. Though I don't know any reports of profound conversations.

I have done ayahuasca and many people report seeing something like this: http://pbmo.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/machine-elf-2.jpg I can say from my personal experience, that this is only one possible "hallucination" although quite common.

> it's not a "valid" trip unless you do You can definitely have a life-changing experience without encountering machine elves.

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#22

Post by Klonoar »

creeble wrote: post #19

Almost all of the reports from people I know who have done ayahuasca have reported seeing "elves". It's not only common, they say it's not a "valid" trip unless you do, and even converse with them. Though I don't know any reports of profound conversations.

The idea that there is one “valid” trip is essentially gatekeeping and should be pushed back on whenever it comes up. It leads to one of the more unhealthy sides of the psychedelic experience - nobody should feel that they have to continually chase something that’s not happening for them.

Like, I know at least two people who’ve done it in group settings with people who saw “elves” and they themselves didn’t see any.

“Valid” as a descriptor is probably best replaced with “average”.

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#23

Post by temp0826 »

creeble wrote: post #19

Almost all of the reports from people I know who have done ayahuasca have reported seeing "elves". It's not only common, they say it's not a "valid" trip unless you do, and even converse with them. Though I don't know any reports of profound conversations.

Fwiw having drank ayahuasca hundreds of times, I've never seen elves (have seen plenty of other weird stuff though). Only times have been with breakthrough doses of smoked dmt. I guarantee it doesn't make it any less/more valid. There are so many more profound things to see, I don't know why people get so hung up on elves lol (if you ever experience meeting the medicine of a master plant/tree spirt during a traditional dieta you'd be flabbergasted).

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#24

Post by pstuart »

Teknomadix wrote: post #8
emymin wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mushrooms that the article talks about do not contain psilocybin (it's still not clear what psychoactive compound they contain), but you are correct in that DMT and psilocybin, at comparable doses, have extremely similar subjective effects.

Avid conosour of both DMT and Psilocybin and would not characterize the effects as “extremely similar”. Psychedelic yes, but profoundly different at their core in heroic doses—at least from my vantage point.

Same vantage point here (with sample size n=1 on the DMT front).

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#25

Post by nine_k »

creeble wrote: post #19

Almost all of the reports from people I know who have done ayahuasca have reported seeing "elves". It's not only common, they say it's not a "valid" trip unless you do, and even converse with them. Though I don't know any reports of profound conversations.

Can't help but remember this wonderful story: https://slatestarcodex.com/2015/04/21/universal-love-said-th...

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#27

Post by surfsvammel »

In my youth I experimented with hallucinogenic drugs. Having shared hallucinations are very easy. It often just requires that someone give you an idea of a hallucination, or someone tells you what they see, and your brain will make you see it as well.

Maybe people know these things make you see small people, and then they are primed to do so.

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#28

Post by itronitron »

creeble wrote: post #19

Almost all of the reports from people I know who have done ayahuasca have reported seeing "elves". It's not only common, they say it's not a "valid" trip unless you do, and even converse with them. Though I don't know any reports of profound conversations.

Some friends of mine in college were sitting in a cave, tripping, when a group of actual little people (not elves) walked past them.

The universe finds a way...

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#29

Post by [deleted] »

temp0826 wrote: post #23
creeble wrote: post #19

Almost all of the reports from people I know who have done ayahuasca have reported seeing "elves". It's not only common, they say it's not a "valid" trip unless you do, and even converse with them. Though I don't know any reports of profound conversations.

Fwiw having drank ayahuasca hundreds of times, I've never seen elves (have seen plenty of other weird stuff though). Only times have been with breakthrough doses of smoked dmt. I guarantee it doesn't make it any less/more valid. There are so many more profound things to see, I don't know why people get so hung up on elves lol (if you ever experience meeting the medicine of a master plant/tree spirt during a tradition…

[deleted]

Re: The mushroom making people hallucinate tiny humans

#30

Post by ACCount37 »

surfsvammel wrote: post #27

In my youth I experimented with hallucinogenic drugs. Having shared hallucinations are very easy. It often just requires that someone give you an idea of a hallucination, or someone tells you what they see, and your brain will make you see it as well. Maybe people know these things make you see small people, and then they are primed to do so.

In the brain, expectations modulate perception. If your perception is breaking down, expectations can control how.
Post reply on HN