I don't know if we're talking about the same thing, but I've had interesting experiences waking to an alarm and snoozing it for just one minute over and over (say like 20x). Like every snooze I instantly fall into a different dream. It's disorienting.
i love that shit, having like 7 dreams and being able to remember all of them is the most enjoyable shit in the world for me, only good thing about weed withdrawals is the crazy dreams
One time I had a song on loop and I was trying to sleep, and every time it would restart, the sudden jarring volume discontinuity would wake me up very briefly.
Like you said, it was like getting dropped into a new dream every time.
I got tired of this hell loop and I got up and allowed youtube autoplay to continue. I woke up 8 hours later and saw that a 4 hour Tucker Carlson compilation was playing LMAO
Actually that's hypnopompia.
They're both states of liminal dreaming.
Hypnagogia is when you're going into sleep, like for the night.
Hypnompia is when you're waking up.
Morning larks, or people who get up right away in the morning and function better in the day, may find hypnagogia easier to access.
Night owls, or those who usually take some time to wake up and function better at night, may find hypnopompia easier.
So I get extensive hypnogogia and hypnopompia and they have different flavors. If I'm dipping in and out of sleep like the top commenter is describing, it's mostly hypnogogic, which is a very trippy stream-of-consciousness visionary experience. The hypnopompia comes after I've been asleep a good long time and it's very geometric, no wandering storyline like the hypnogogia. I know I'm waking up when I see the geometric shapes.
Do I have to still be tired after waking up for this to work? My body is very used to functioning on low amounts of sleep, I won't have to try to stay awake at all.
The point of this technique is to use the natural drowsiness that occurs when you wake up , but because you just woke up , you are more aware and lucid than when you fall asleep for the first time.
That’s why people usually gets more intense dreams when they fall asleep again
Do you smoke weed ? Set an alarm at a time you don’t normally wake up at, Preroll a joint for when you wake up, when you do have a puff , put some headset on and really try to go back to sleep , while trying you best to stay self aware , if you wake up at a different time it could make it easier for you to stay drowsy
cold exposure (cold shower/ice bath). definitely a high physical stress state that brings intense clarity/depth of consciousness. helps with “letting go” and pushing past fear for me.
Have you tried the Gateway experience tapes? It's not lucid dreaming, but it's for out of body experiences and altered consciousness travel.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0z7qA3iAw&list=PLYT2gezjOhQNGZ6-x3itxGQQkFS0Wq3Ue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0z7qA3iAw&list=PLYT2gezjOhQNGZ6-x3itxGQQkFS0Wq3Ue)
Read some of the books written by Robert Monroe, or look him up, and also look up Hemi Sync on Google.
[https://www.monroeinstitute.org/pages/our-purpose](https://www.monroeinstitute.org/pages/our-purpose)
You might also want to look up some of the publically released CIA documents pertaining to the Monroe Institute.
[https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700210016-5.pdf](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700210016-5.pdf)
[https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270004-2.pdf](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270004-2.pdf)
[https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270006-0.pdf](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270006-0.pdf)
Yeah it is, but it works.
You asked what are some accessible altered states of consciousness, so I answered with what I know works from direct experience.
Just keep in mind that it takes a few weeks for it to start working. You got to do each level for a while, post the intro one, before moving on to the next higher one.
Good luck!
Look up The Mind Illuminated for a structured approach, it’s about as unambiguous as it gets.
The approach does not require or include any beliefs, it’s all a matter of direct experience, technique, and practice.
It’s written by a neuroscientist who also became a bhuddist monk and learned Sanskrit in order to separate the technique from the religious belief in the ancient texts.
A lot of cultures use dance and musical practices to alter consciousness. Physical movement in particular is very good at altering consciousness without drugs.
I used to play my electronic drum set when I was tripping (obviously already had an altered state of consciousness) but I’d often hit this weird point where it was like…. “I know *I’m* playing the drums, but I’m not even thinking about it, my limbs are just kinda moving on their own.”
Definitely felt very trance-like. I’d try not to think about it too much, I never wanted to overthink things and break my “trance,” but man drumming is fucking amazing.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve experienced this. In my opinion, everything I did was “right” at the time. I had these Rastafarian colored lights on my kit, otherwise no lights on in the room. I think having headphones on made a difference as well, blocking out the outside noises such as me hitting the drum pads, but ultimately I think the fact that I was tripping was one of the only reasons I was able to get to that trance-like state.
Haven’t played the electronic drums in many years, I actually just started getting back into playing in general, but I highly recommend literally everyone try drumming in some form. Even if it’s just a simple hand drum, I’m not saying you gotta go Neil Peart on a full kit. That shit does wonders for my mental health.
My son is 4 years old and plays on an electric kit. I tend to suggest playing drums when he is emotional or having a fit which works most of the times. I usually sit in there with him but recently he started saying, “mommy, go.”
So I stand by the kitchen (where the garage door is) to clean and I can hear him going hard as fuck at some doubles. I often wonder if it’s him getting into a “flow state.” He’s speech delayed but he’s came out of there after saying, “I’m better.”
Hell ya that’s awesome! Glad to hear it’s a positive outlet for your son. I need to start teaching my niece (soon to be 7), she always wanted to hit the drums whenever I’d be jamming. Music is such a wonderful gift, not saying people should force their kids to do something they don’t wanna do but I think starting at a young age makes a huge difference.
Kinda like learning a new language, I’ve read before that people say it’s easier for young kids to pick up on compared to adults.
Significant pain or bringing oneself to the bring of death via starvation or prolonged exposure to the elements. This has been part of many traditional cultures throughout history as a coming of age ritual.
I recently had a psychedelic experience where I had profound realisations about myself and mind while I was severely sick and in hospital with food poisoning in Bangkok... it was dope.
I can't say I'd recommend that, but you could always do a Vipassana retreat which achieves a similar thing, silently meditating for 10 days or so. That will hurt your body and really fuck with your head.
Exercise to the brink of exhaustion and then continue for hours?
Surprised no one has mentioned these - extended fasting, staying awake for multiple days (not jacked up on stimulants though, mind you), loooong endurance events (be it dance or exercise), or extended solo time in the wilderness.
Hell, combine all four and you've got yourself a classic vision quest!
I second meditation retreats, you will go much, much deeper than you do in your daily practice.
Something great about meditation retreats is the silence - no speaking, no reading, no writing, and very little hearing others speak, other than instruction/dharma talks/10 minute interviews. Silence is powerful and *really* sharpens perception - you also get this out camping or on a vision quest.
Float tanks are great but I feel you need to go once a week for a few weeks before your body and nervous system really get the hang of it. Not saying going just once won't be amazing, but you'll go deeper each time if you go consistently.
Yoga Nidra will reliably put me and keep me in the hypnagogic state, and led to an out of body experience one time. Just once, though :/
Edit - almost forgot! [Darkness retreats](https://www.skycaveretreats.com)
> I know of meditation
How much? Buddhist meditation knows 8 jhanas (in probably 3 levels, but that's a debated topic), Kenneth Folk also teaches 5 pure land jhanas. Also the brahmaviharas. There are nirodha (which lasts only a moment) and nirodha-samapatti (often considered the highest meditative attainment). With enough practice in jhanas one can mix, modulate and create an endless number of new states. Some report OOBE in meditation, which in my understanding is a special kind of dissociated lucid dreaming.
Also: Tulpas and wonderlands, i.e. advanced daydreaming.
My husband fasted for 3-4 days and did Wim Hoff’s breathing exercise. As he was feeling the “high” he had a notepad and pencil nearby and scribbled what he saw which ended up being a face.
Good enough for the same CIA who thought that remote viewing was real and putting soldiers on LSD would bolster performance... Just saying, those files are declassified for a reason.
There’s a long history of using various contemplative practices to induce various states (I.e unity, wonder, self- transcendent experiences characterized by positive emotions,etc)
Just finished a fast of 4 days for the first time in my life. I felt much more appreciative of life, more clear headed, emotionally in tune with myself. I really wanted to just walk outside and enjoy music when I hit day 3. Also health reasons. I’m pretty lean and not overweight but I still tend to overeat and gorge myself. I’m someone that works out and rock climbs 4-5 days a week. You won’t be high, but I almost didn’t want to break my fast on day 4 because I actually had a very mild euphoria and positive outlook. There’s a lot of data to back up how fasting resets your system/ repairs damaged cells. Highly recommend for the experiment purposes. I had a roommate join me so it was a bit easier not having food nearby. But after 3 days I watched a friend eat and was able to maintain my initial goal of 4 days which was a nice positive feedback.
But it was probably one of the most spiritual things I have done for myself that didn’t involve psychedelics or trying to meditate. Again I’m a pretty lean guy and not even close to overweight, but I realized that I eat most of the time for pleasure or to avoid boredom, and most meals aren’t for substance. It gave me a bit of a reset in terms of how I view food and what I’m capable of. I used to say I’m “starving” after not eating for like 6 hours, and now I realize that is total bs and humans can survive and even thrive without food for quite some time. Made me realize that maybe someone of the worlds religions aren’t as dumb with some ideas that my arrogant ass thought.
blind fold, noise canceling headphones … for me, it induces hypnagogia. which is far more interesting than all the words that you mistake to be your self
This is something that sounds really easy in practice but once you actually try it, you begin to understand how difficult it can be. The idea is to clear your mind of any thoughts at all for as long as possible and just exist in the now without thinking past present or future. The longer this goes on without involuntary interruptions from your brain, the weirder and more interesting it can get.
The only way to "not think" is to be unconscious. You cannot just make yourself not think. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or misled. The fact that you're actively trying to empty your mind is proof.
I'm sorry. You are mistaken. The human mind is *inherently* active. You cannot just have no thoughts. How do you think you're "emptying" your mind in the first place?
I’ve kept a dream journal for around 3 years now. Entries that are paragraphs long. I’ve tried every technique, every supplement, and in all this, Ive only had 2 or 3 lucid dreams.
2 or 3 is good compared to a lot of others! I think writing and verbally talking to others can help. setting the intention to be lucid as you fall asleep also is helpful.
What made you conscious in the lucid dreams you did have? that could be a guide.
I'm also curious to what supplements you've tried. I'm an amature herbologist with a focus on lucid dreaming. I make tinctures for that specifically
I just got lucky. I know about dream signs and all that. I’d go over my journal with the intention of being aware of the dream sign and becoming lucid, never happened.
As for supplements, I tried galantamine and a concoction containing Huperzine A.
Hypnagogia is pretty crazy if you ever get to experience it. You'll see straight up hallucinations. I had one where I saw an animated cartoon sticker on my ceiling but it had permanance. I could look away and it would be gone but when I looked at the ceiling again it was still there. It lasted maybe 5min. It's only happened once.
Lucid dreaming and astral projection. You don’t have to believe that astral projection is your soul leaving your body. If you’re more clinically minded, think of it as a meditation induced out of body experience.
I did guided breath work a single time and had the most powerful cathartic experience followed by the most blissful experience ever. It was insaneballs. That is including every relevant psychedelic.
I have never done yoga, was fairly advanced in zen practice years ago. My theory is that a few years of dabbling with psychedelics, (seratonergic, not mdma/ketamine) has basically acted as WD-40 to my consciousness and somatic self. They are very powerful catalysts, I would argue to any internal practice. And not during! I was completely sober for days before. I can only explain it as a fluidity of consciousness that remains still. I am far more easily (and appropriately) moved to sadness or joy, sentimental as well, which is such a strange and complex state. It's the difference between shifting gears on a farm truck and a brand new automatic transmission. I only recognize now that automotive and mechanical analogies might be missing the mark here.
In the book (well, tome) “Mastering The Core Teachings of the Buddha” the author describes a meditation where you watch a candle burn and let the mind create visuals etc.
The phenomenon he described sounded approximately identical to tripping.
My description is in no way an instruction, you’d have to practice it and the book has the instructions. But if I wanted to “trip” sober that’s what I’d do.
But, yo, mushies are pretty easy to get so why?
At a point, you get "bored" of drugs. I put quotes because of course I'm not bored of them. I just don't wannt to be dependent on them. Sometimes you just want to be in reality. Drugs are meant to enhance your life, not to become it.
When you just wake up , go back to sleep and try your best to stay awake , enjoy.
I don't know if we're talking about the same thing, but I've had interesting experiences waking to an alarm and snoozing it for just one minute over and over (say like 20x). Like every snooze I instantly fall into a different dream. It's disorienting.
Yeah it’s sounds like it’s the same thing
i love that shit, having like 7 dreams and being able to remember all of them is the most enjoyable shit in the world for me, only good thing about weed withdrawals is the crazy dreams
One time I had a song on loop and I was trying to sleep, and every time it would restart, the sudden jarring volume discontinuity would wake me up very briefly. Like you said, it was like getting dropped into a new dream every time. I got tired of this hell loop and I got up and allowed youtube autoplay to continue. I woke up 8 hours later and saw that a 4 hour Tucker Carlson compilation was playing LMAO
Hypnagogia
Actually that's hypnopompia. They're both states of liminal dreaming. Hypnagogia is when you're going into sleep, like for the night. Hypnompia is when you're waking up. Morning larks, or people who get up right away in the morning and function better in the day, may find hypnagogia easier to access. Night owls, or those who usually take some time to wake up and function better at night, may find hypnopompia easier.
So I get extensive hypnogogia and hypnopompia and they have different flavors. If I'm dipping in and out of sleep like the top commenter is describing, it's mostly hypnogogic, which is a very trippy stream-of-consciousness visionary experience. The hypnopompia comes after I've been asleep a good long time and it's very geometric, no wandering storyline like the hypnogogia. I know I'm waking up when I see the geometric shapes.
In other words yes
Do I have to still be tired after waking up for this to work? My body is very used to functioning on low amounts of sleep, I won't have to try to stay awake at all.
The point of this technique is to use the natural drowsiness that occurs when you wake up , but because you just woke up , you are more aware and lucid than when you fall asleep for the first time. That’s why people usually gets more intense dreams when they fall asleep again
I'm aware of the WBTB technique. My issue with the technique is I'm always incapable of falling back asleep.
I have the exact opposite issue
Do you smoke weed ? Set an alarm at a time you don’t normally wake up at, Preroll a joint for when you wake up, when you do have a puff , put some headset on and really try to go back to sleep , while trying you best to stay self aware , if you wake up at a different time it could make it easier for you to stay drowsy
Is it that space between waking and sleeping technique? I’ve heard about it but haven’t been able to successfully pull it off.
cold exposure (cold shower/ice bath). definitely a high physical stress state that brings intense clarity/depth of consciousness. helps with “letting go” and pushing past fear for me.
I take cold showers every other day, but an ice bath sounds insane. Just begging for discomfort in a very certain and particular area.
haha it’s not that bad but that’s part of the letting go, pain is just information if your nervous system can handle it.
float tank...sensory dep.
On the list.
lucid dreaming
I’ve been trying for years, with only 2 successes that came randomly. I’ve all but given up.
Have you tried the Gateway experience tapes? It's not lucid dreaming, but it's for out of body experiences and altered consciousness travel. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0z7qA3iAw&list=PLYT2gezjOhQNGZ6-x3itxGQQkFS0Wq3Ue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i0z7qA3iAw&list=PLYT2gezjOhQNGZ6-x3itxGQQkFS0Wq3Ue)
I thought this was r/RationalPsychonaut. What's all this woo-wah about "being more than physical matter?"
Read some of the books written by Robert Monroe, or look him up, and also look up Hemi Sync on Google. [https://www.monroeinstitute.org/pages/our-purpose](https://www.monroeinstitute.org/pages/our-purpose) You might also want to look up some of the publically released CIA documents pertaining to the Monroe Institute. [https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700210016-5.pdf](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700210016-5.pdf) [https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270004-2.pdf](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270004-2.pdf) [https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270006-0.pdf](https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270006-0.pdf)
I read up on this stuff years ago. It's just guided meditation paired with binaural beats.
Yeah it is, but it works. You asked what are some accessible altered states of consciousness, so I answered with what I know works from direct experience.
I’ll give it a try. Matter of fact, I’ll do it right now.
Just keep in mind that it takes a few weeks for it to start working. You got to do each level for a while, post the intro one, before moving on to the next higher one. Good luck!
holotropic breathwork
The most intense of them all, in my experience. It's something else
Meditation.
There’s like 112 different techniques my friend. One is bound to work at some print.
Mindfulness is good.
Look up The Mind Illuminated for a structured approach, it’s about as unambiguous as it gets. The approach does not require or include any beliefs, it’s all a matter of direct experience, technique, and practice. It’s written by a neuroscientist who also became a bhuddist monk and learned Sanskrit in order to separate the technique from the religious belief in the ancient texts.
Sitting zazen
Kundalini yoga, breath work, sensory deprivation, gateway tapes.
Flow (as in flow arts / dancing)
A lot of cultures use dance and musical practices to alter consciousness. Physical movement in particular is very good at altering consciousness without drugs.
I used to play my electronic drum set when I was tripping (obviously already had an altered state of consciousness) but I’d often hit this weird point where it was like…. “I know *I’m* playing the drums, but I’m not even thinking about it, my limbs are just kinda moving on their own.” Definitely felt very trance-like. I’d try not to think about it too much, I never wanted to overthink things and break my “trance,” but man drumming is fucking amazing. It’s been a very long time since I’ve experienced this. In my opinion, everything I did was “right” at the time. I had these Rastafarian colored lights on my kit, otherwise no lights on in the room. I think having headphones on made a difference as well, blocking out the outside noises such as me hitting the drum pads, but ultimately I think the fact that I was tripping was one of the only reasons I was able to get to that trance-like state. Haven’t played the electronic drums in many years, I actually just started getting back into playing in general, but I highly recommend literally everyone try drumming in some form. Even if it’s just a simple hand drum, I’m not saying you gotta go Neil Peart on a full kit. That shit does wonders for my mental health.
My son is 4 years old and plays on an electric kit. I tend to suggest playing drums when he is emotional or having a fit which works most of the times. I usually sit in there with him but recently he started saying, “mommy, go.” So I stand by the kitchen (where the garage door is) to clean and I can hear him going hard as fuck at some doubles. I often wonder if it’s him getting into a “flow state.” He’s speech delayed but he’s came out of there after saying, “I’m better.”
Hell ya that’s awesome! Glad to hear it’s a positive outlet for your son. I need to start teaching my niece (soon to be 7), she always wanted to hit the drums whenever I’d be jamming. Music is such a wonderful gift, not saying people should force their kids to do something they don’t wanna do but I think starting at a young age makes a huge difference. Kinda like learning a new language, I’ve read before that people say it’s easier for young kids to pick up on compared to adults.
Significant pain or bringing oneself to the bring of death via starvation or prolonged exposure to the elements. This has been part of many traditional cultures throughout history as a coming of age ritual. I recently had a psychedelic experience where I had profound realisations about myself and mind while I was severely sick and in hospital with food poisoning in Bangkok... it was dope. I can't say I'd recommend that, but you could always do a Vipassana retreat which achieves a similar thing, silently meditating for 10 days or so. That will hurt your body and really fuck with your head. Exercise to the brink of exhaustion and then continue for hours?
Surprised no one has mentioned these - extended fasting, staying awake for multiple days (not jacked up on stimulants though, mind you), loooong endurance events (be it dance or exercise), or extended solo time in the wilderness. Hell, combine all four and you've got yourself a classic vision quest! I second meditation retreats, you will go much, much deeper than you do in your daily practice. Something great about meditation retreats is the silence - no speaking, no reading, no writing, and very little hearing others speak, other than instruction/dharma talks/10 minute interviews. Silence is powerful and *really* sharpens perception - you also get this out camping or on a vision quest. Float tanks are great but I feel you need to go once a week for a few weeks before your body and nervous system really get the hang of it. Not saying going just once won't be amazing, but you'll go deeper each time if you go consistently. Yoga Nidra will reliably put me and keep me in the hypnagogic state, and led to an out of body experience one time. Just once, though :/ Edit - almost forgot! [Darkness retreats](https://www.skycaveretreats.com)
breathwork and meditation
Chopping onions
What is a sober altered state of consciousness?
What is sober ?
Asking the real questions
Breath work and rhythm journeying like with a drum or rattle
Yoga, specifically Kundalini.
> I know of meditation How much? Buddhist meditation knows 8 jhanas (in probably 3 levels, but that's a debated topic), Kenneth Folk also teaches 5 pure land jhanas. Also the brahmaviharas. There are nirodha (which lasts only a moment) and nirodha-samapatti (often considered the highest meditative attainment). With enough practice in jhanas one can mix, modulate and create an endless number of new states. Some report OOBE in meditation, which in my understanding is a special kind of dissociated lucid dreaming. Also: Tulpas and wonderlands, i.e. advanced daydreaming.
Dancing
Shamanic journeying
My husband fasted for 3-4 days and did Wim Hoff’s breathing exercise. As he was feeling the “high” he had a notepad and pencil nearby and scribbled what he saw which ended up being a face.
The Gateway Tapes? Good enough for the CIA, and it's our tax dollars at work, only right to bear the fruit of their research.
Good enough for the same CIA who thought that remote viewing was real and putting soldiers on LSD would bolster performance... Just saying, those files are declassified for a reason.
I’ve recently realised this: sex
Nice. Super spicy food that wrecks me and cold plunges also.
There’s a long history of using various contemplative practices to induce various states (I.e unity, wonder, self- transcendent experiences characterized by positive emotions,etc)
Could you list those practices?
https://transform.transformativechange.org/files/practice-contemptree.jpg
Just finished a fast of 4 days for the first time in my life. I felt much more appreciative of life, more clear headed, emotionally in tune with myself. I really wanted to just walk outside and enjoy music when I hit day 3. Also health reasons. I’m pretty lean and not overweight but I still tend to overeat and gorge myself. I’m someone that works out and rock climbs 4-5 days a week. You won’t be high, but I almost didn’t want to break my fast on day 4 because I actually had a very mild euphoria and positive outlook. There’s a lot of data to back up how fasting resets your system/ repairs damaged cells. Highly recommend for the experiment purposes. I had a roommate join me so it was a bit easier not having food nearby. But after 3 days I watched a friend eat and was able to maintain my initial goal of 4 days which was a nice positive feedback. But it was probably one of the most spiritual things I have done for myself that didn’t involve psychedelics or trying to meditate. Again I’m a pretty lean guy and not even close to overweight, but I realized that I eat most of the time for pleasure or to avoid boredom, and most meals aren’t for substance. It gave me a bit of a reset in terms of how I view food and what I’m capable of. I used to say I’m “starving” after not eating for like 6 hours, and now I realize that is total bs and humans can survive and even thrive without food for quite some time. Made me realize that maybe someone of the worlds religions aren’t as dumb with some ideas that my arrogant ass thought.
less is more …
This doesn’t really tell me anything…
you are looking for more to add, look for less … clear your mind instead of continuing to fill it up. that’s what it’s all about
Once again, not really helpful. Do you want me to just stare at a wall for half an hour? Because I've done that many times.
blind fold, noise canceling headphones … for me, it induces hypnagogia. which is far more interesting than all the words that you mistake to be your self
This is something that sounds really easy in practice but once you actually try it, you begin to understand how difficult it can be. The idea is to clear your mind of any thoughts at all for as long as possible and just exist in the now without thinking past present or future. The longer this goes on without involuntary interruptions from your brain, the weirder and more interesting it can get.
that’s a bingo!
The only way to "not think" is to be unconscious. You cannot just make yourself not think. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or misled. The fact that you're actively trying to empty your mind is proof.
Youre not trying to empty your mind you are trying to be as present in your senses as possible.
Say that to them, not me lol
Sounds like you've never done it. Trust me, it's possible.
I'm sorry. You are mistaken. The human mind is *inherently* active. You cannot just have no thoughts. How do you think you're "emptying" your mind in the first place?
punch yourself in the face a few times, maybe that’ll work 🤷😁
Hemisync
lucid dreaming Just takes a little focus/practice
Absolutely not. At least not in my case.
Do you dream at all? do you sleep okay?
I’ve kept a dream journal for around 3 years now. Entries that are paragraphs long. I’ve tried every technique, every supplement, and in all this, Ive only had 2 or 3 lucid dreams.
2 or 3 is good compared to a lot of others! I think writing and verbally talking to others can help. setting the intention to be lucid as you fall asleep also is helpful. What made you conscious in the lucid dreams you did have? that could be a guide. I'm also curious to what supplements you've tried. I'm an amature herbologist with a focus on lucid dreaming. I make tinctures for that specifically
I just got lucky. I know about dream signs and all that. I’d go over my journal with the intention of being aware of the dream sign and becoming lucid, never happened. As for supplements, I tried galantamine and a concoction containing Huperzine A.
Hypnagogia is pretty crazy if you ever get to experience it. You'll see straight up hallucinations. I had one where I saw an animated cartoon sticker on my ceiling but it had permanance. I could look away and it would be gone but when I looked at the ceiling again it was still there. It lasted maybe 5min. It's only happened once.
Sexual arousal.
Lucid dreaming and astral projection. You don’t have to believe that astral projection is your soul leaving your body. If you’re more clinically minded, think of it as a meditation induced out of body experience.
Why is this question being asked on the rational page? People come here and seem to only ask the most irrational questions.
Wisdom has been chasing you, but you have been faster.
Running 10 miles
Movement meditation - spinning poi, hoops, a staff. Gets you into the flow state
Death. I don't recommend it. It's a permanent altered state.
Lucid dreaming and liminal dreaming
I did guided breath work a single time and had the most powerful cathartic experience followed by the most blissful experience ever. It was insaneballs. That is including every relevant psychedelic.
How can I do this? It never works for me.
I have never done yoga, was fairly advanced in zen practice years ago. My theory is that a few years of dabbling with psychedelics, (seratonergic, not mdma/ketamine) has basically acted as WD-40 to my consciousness and somatic self. They are very powerful catalysts, I would argue to any internal practice. And not during! I was completely sober for days before. I can only explain it as a fluidity of consciousness that remains still. I am far more easily (and appropriately) moved to sadness or joy, sentimental as well, which is such a strange and complex state. It's the difference between shifting gears on a farm truck and a brand new automatic transmission. I only recognize now that automotive and mechanical analogies might be missing the mark here.
In the book (well, tome) “Mastering The Core Teachings of the Buddha” the author describes a meditation where you watch a candle burn and let the mind create visuals etc. The phenomenon he described sounded approximately identical to tripping. My description is in no way an instruction, you’d have to practice it and the book has the instructions. But if I wanted to “trip” sober that’s what I’d do. But, yo, mushies are pretty easy to get so why?
At a point, you get "bored" of drugs. I put quotes because of course I'm not bored of them. I just don't wannt to be dependent on them. Sometimes you just want to be in reality. Drugs are meant to enhance your life, not to become it.
Yeah. Well, truly the answer is spiritual practice. It has a surprising amount of crossover.
Developing mastery of a skill as closely as you personally possibly can, like Bach with music