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Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

sprott.physics.wisc.edu

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Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#71

Post by madaxe_again »

always_good wrote: post #51
GuiA wrote: post #16

There is some evidence that seems to indicate that the humans have an evolved "built in" reaction to snake/snake like patterns: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/journals/cd/12_1/Ohman.c... As reptiles, snakes may have signified deadly threats in the environment of early mammals. We review findings suggesting that snakes remain special stimuli for humans. Intense snake fear is prevalent in both humans and other pri…

Interesting. On larger doses of acid where I'm suffering immense mental agitation, the common visions are spirals, coils, and snakes. In particular, a snake with no head, but rather attached to itself to form a hula hoop. Trying to turn over, but it can't. So it's there writhing infinitely. The futility of it is a good representation of the abject overstimulation I'm feeling in my head. And, of course, a nice feeling…

I wonder if the ororobous imagery has an origin in this variety of experience...

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#72

Post by krylon »

simonh wrote: post #65
krylon wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was 17, I had a cold and the doctor prescribed some homeopathic remedy containing Atropine. Now, the whole point of homeopathy, of course, is to dilute any ingredients to the point where you are lucky to find even a single molecule of it in a given pill. (In my defense, I did not know anything about medicine back then.) But I think I must have gotten a package from a batch where they forgot a couple of dilutio…

There's bee a bit of fuss over here in the UK recently about homeopathic medicines, which are supposed to be ridiculously over-diluted, containing dangerous amounts of various substances. The basic idea that tiny amounts of substances that harm you in various ways might benefit you in a related way is magical thinking. But when you can't rely on the 'tiny amounts' part, you're in pretty nasty territory.

Indeed. I remember reading about some event in the UK where people deliberately "overdosed" on homeopathic "medicine" to demonstrate it has no effect. That could end badly if the stuff is not diluted as much as the label says.

Come to think of it, the company I work at does process engineering and plant design/construction mainly for companies in the food industry, but we have a a couple of customers from the pharmaceutical industry as well.

And the impression I got so far (being the in-house IT admin, I can only watch it from a distance), is that the pharmaceutical customers are extremely meticulous. And with good reason, of course. Imagine if a batch of paracetamol/acetaminophen tablets contained 5g instead of 0.5g.

But if the engineering and QA at homeopathic companies is as scientific as homeopathy itself, that is not surprising. :(

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#73

Post by madaxe_again »

GuiA wrote: post #16

There is some evidence that seems to indicate that the humans have an evolved "built in" reaction to snake/snake like patterns: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/journals/cd/12_1/Ohman.c... As reptiles, snakes may have signified deadly threats in the environment of early mammals. We review findings suggesting that snakes remain special stimuli for humans. Intense snake fear is prevalent in both humans and other pri…

Sagan's "The dragons of Eden" is almost entirely on the topic of primal snake fear, and the resultant hypothetical origins of dragon myths - it's a neat read.

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#74

Post by nv-vn »

Itsdijital wrote: post #35
3131s wrote: post #27

Datura users are also commonly reported by observers to act out hallucinations involving insects. While the user often recalls an entirely different mental experience, it's common for their physical selves to be seen picking at imaginary bugs on the floor in a primal manner (among other reflexive actions, such as convincingly smoking imaginary cigarettes). It is interesting and darkly humorous (keep in mind that datu…

A long time ago I had an experience not with datura, but a close relative - benedryl (both are dissociatives). Came home after rolling on ecstasy all night and wanted to go to bed. It's not that easy though after taking a bunch of stimulants. So I took a little bit of a lot of benedryl (iirc ~200mg or 8 pills). Ripped my bong for a bit and felt nice and chilled out. About 30 minutes later though, things started to ge…

Isn't it technically the deliriant effect that causes these hallucinations (and not the dissociative effect)?

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#75

Post by Lapsa »

notmarkus wrote: post #70
DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read that "The Machine Elves" are more associated with LSD than DMT. Perhaps they activate different parts of the brain associated with object recognition - LSD for humans and faces, and DMT for insects/reptiles as other comments have speculated - it makes me wonder what myriad other substances out there that we haven't discovered yet and what otherworldly effects they could have.

"Machine Elves" was coined by Terence McKenna to describe the beings in the DMT world. He didn't do much LSD and wasn't a big fan of it. Maybe others have had different experiences but at the very least the origins of the term are tied to DMT.

^_^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9z4uYEKvJw

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#76

Post by aerique »

unixhero wrote: post #61
nether wrote: post #4

I saw these weird drapes folded around me that were brown, green, and white stripes. They were gently heaving, and I knew that they were living creatures that were watching over me. I didn't take enough to have a full breakthrough, but in that moment I was certain that I was dying, with all of my consciousness welled up into my head, as if that's all I was. When I came to and regained awareness of my limbs, I was rel…

I really think that's walking a very fine line. You may benefit from finding a counselor for periodic visits in the near future.

You talk like someone who has never used hallucinogens.

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#77

Post by spacehacker »

nether wrote: post #4

I saw these weird drapes folded around me that were brown, green, and white stripes. They were gently heaving, and I knew that they were living creatures that were watching over me. I didn't take enough to have a full breakthrough, but in that moment I was certain that I was dying, with all of my consciousness welled up into my head, as if that's all I was. When I came to and regained awareness of my limbs, I was rel…

With the same skepticism you could also ask yourself to which extent the hallucinations were actually due to subconscious recall of all kinds of memes surrounding hallucinogens like "out-of-body experience", "consciousness", "parallel worlds", "breakthrough", "feeling like dying", as well as imagery from all kinds of drug films and literature etc.

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#78

Post by ajkjk »

anigbrowl wrote: post #68

I believe this world is basically a playpen in a universe having 5 spatial dimensions. I've had a very interesting side-effect immediately after coming back from a DMT trip of being able to see around things. Like you look at a box on the table in front of you and you can see the side facing away from you. Faded gradually after 5 minutes. This seems like extremely fruitful territory for trying with ESP test cards, MR…

Why would you believe that?

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#79

Post by burgerdev »

oh_sigh wrote: post #8

Do people of all cultures see insects, or is it just westerners on DMT? For example, I've heard that schizophrenia manifests itself in different ways across cultures. Voices are almost always negative/destructive in western cultures, but often times take on playful manners in non-western cultures.

It is most prevalent among westerners writing fiction novels about alien praying mantis entities[1].

Jokes aside, as far as I know DMT is not the only compound that makes you see insects. For me, it kinda makes sense to interpret little 'irregularities' in your visual / tactile perceptions as, say, ants.

[1] http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/neoreality.html

Re: Why Do DMT Users See Insects from a Parallel Universe?

#80

Post by tudorw »

"CYP2D6 is therefore a relatively highly specific, high-affinity, high-capacity 5-methoxyindolethylamine O-demethylase. Polymorphic cytochrome CYP2D6 may therefore exert an influence on mood and behavior by the O-demethylation of these 5-methoxyindolethylamines found in the brain and pineal gland."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12777961

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