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pacific blue
Stranger

Registered: 11/25/07
Posts: 18
Loc: North Coast, Calif.
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Atheist wants first trip to be sacred
#7684611 - 11/27/07 05:17 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Long story short — I've never tripped. I think I should try it. I want to treat the sacrament with respect, but on the other hand, I try to be a very grounded skeptic. I don't believe in gods, immortality or magic, and although I can't rule them out, I consider them to be extremely unlikely.
Some people trip just for the hedonistic pleasure of the visuals, thrills, enhanced music, whatever. It is said that these people don't get nearly the same quality of experience.
So how do you find middle ground?
I would think that for me, as an artistic, imaginative soul who tries to remain skeptically and rationally grounded, the most spiritual way to approach tripping would be seek not a religious vision of hedonistic thrill but an aesthetic journey, expanding the limits of my aesthetic imagination.
(This all part of a deeper question I'm wrestling with, which is how to be atheist and spiritual.)
Can anyone recommend some readings to explore this issue?
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mikebart101
Bromden



Registered: 08/01/06
Posts: 619
Loc: New England
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: pacific blue]
#7684624 - 11/27/07 05:30 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I used to be an atheist, but now, after a couple journeys, I have my own belief system. You will discover what you feel to be and that's that. It's better for you to find your own beliefs because an indescribable feeling of confidence overwhelms you when you make the discovery.
My advice, be open-minded. The best trip I ever took was when myself and two friends talked about the universe, people, religion, purpose, for 6 hours. It's tough to be so personal about those subjects but you will find that the spirituality you are talking about takes sacrifice.
-------------------- So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
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sleepy
zZzZzZzZz


Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 3,888
Loc:
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: mikebart101]
#7684696 - 11/27/07 06:35 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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take 7 grams, you will know if there is a god
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: sleepy]
#7684727 - 11/27/07 06:55 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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*you will know you are a god.
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mikebart101
Bromden



Registered: 08/01/06
Posts: 619
Loc: New England
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: Middleman]
#7684750 - 11/27/07 07:06 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Middleman said: *you will know you are a god.
-------------------- So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
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Merkin
neep.



Registered: 07/04/03
Posts: 27,537
Loc: Ass Flavoured Pie Factory
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: mikebart101]
#7684797 - 11/27/07 07:31 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
I would think that for me, as an artistic, imaginative soul who tries to remain skeptically and rationally grounded, the most spiritual way to approach tripping would be seek not a religious vision of hedonistic thrill but an aesthetic journey, expanding the limits of my aesthetic imagination.
That sounds like quite a reasonable and interesting reason to have this journey I sometimes find I fall into this category myself..
Also, talking about aestheticism, have you read Doors Of Perception by Aldous Huxley? It's awesome.. He experiments with mescaline and speaks much about art and beauty
also I find it's best not to have expectations of the journey, after all nothing usually turns out the way you plan :P
start with a low dose, and work up ..
-------------------- Wheels of cheese wheeels of cheeeeese!!!
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: pacific blue]
#7685033 - 11/27/07 08:52 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Try looking into Buddhism or Taoism.
--------------------
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: pacific blue]
#7685191 - 11/27/07 09:34 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
pacific blue said: Long story short — I've never tripped. I think I should try it. I want to treat the sacrament with respect, but on the other hand, I try to be a very grounded skeptic. I don't believe in gods, immortality or magic, and although I can't rule them out, I consider them to be extremely unlikely.
Some people trip just for the hedonistic pleasure of the visuals, thrills, enhanced music, whatever. It is said that these people don't get nearly the same quality of experience.
So how do you find middle ground?
I would think that for me, as an artistic, imaginative soul who tries to remain skeptically and rationally grounded, the most spiritual way to approach tripping would be seek not a religious vision of hedonistic thrill but an aesthetic journey, expanding the limits of my aesthetic imagination.
(This all part of a deeper question I'm wrestling with, which is how to be atheist and spiritual.)
Can anyone recommend some readings to explore this issue?
You sound more like an agnostic than an atheist. There is no way to know ultimate reality. Your beliefs will create your perception of what is real. Choose them wisely.
I think you are in a very nice (philosophical) mind set for your first trip. Create any kind of setting you like to go along with it. Then see what happens. I'm sure you will be in a state of heightened intuitive feeling mode.
I suggest reading some Tim Leary.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 37,532
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: pacific blue]
#7685405 - 11/27/07 10:36 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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just focus on dreams & what they are made of & how events are connected when you are on the other side.
associative mentation is an amazing thing.
--------------------
_ 🧠 _
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spanky43
Just a thought


Registered: 06/08/07
Posts: 305
Loc: Vermont
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: redgreenvines]
#7685516 - 11/27/07 11:10 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I wouldn't put your self into a category at all; Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Janist--whatever. We're all humans, our beliefs don't change that.
Go into the trip with an open mind, waiting to take in whatever comes and go from there. And the part about realizing your are a god is spot on.
-------------------- "Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we have learned here. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts."
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vitadura
Dream Seeker


Registered: 03/11/07
Posts: 451
Loc: Here, Now
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: pacific blue]
#7685610 - 11/27/07 11:39 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I have to agree with:
Quote:
Icelander said: You sound more like an agnostic than an atheist.
However, don't feel like you need to have a label. I labeled myself as an atheist for at least 8 years, only to find that I didn't fit, and the label definitely didn't cover it all. Yet, it was good to belong to it, and be able to tell people what I believed without going into some long explanation. However, beliefs really can't be summed up in a single word -- they can't even be summed up in all the words you speak in your lifetime.
I think you will greatly benefit from this trip, and don't worry about whether or not it is simply aesthetic or if it is too spiritual. Just experience your trip and let your mind go wherever it wants to. You'll find what you're looking for.
And please, if you feel comfortable/can find the time, write us a trip report! I'd love to hear what happens.
Happy tripping vita
-------------------- "You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here." -Max Ehrmann, Desiderata
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Basilides
Servent ofWisdom



Registered: 02/10/06
Posts: 7,059
Loc: Crown and Heart
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: pacific blue]
#7686080 - 11/27/07 01:31 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
pacific blue said: Long story short — I've never tripped. I think I should try it. I want to treat the sacrament with respect, but on the other hand, I try to be a very grounded skeptic. I don't believe in gods, immortality or magic, and although I can't rule them out, I consider them to be extremely unlikely.
Some people trip just for the hedonistic pleasure of the visuals, thrills, enhanced music, whatever. It is said that these people don't get nearly the same quality of experience.
So how do you find middle ground?
I would think that for me, as an artistic, imaginative soul who tries to remain skeptically and rationally grounded, the most spiritual way to approach tripping would be seek not a religious vision of hedonistic thrill but an aesthetic journey, expanding the limits of my aesthetic imagination.
(This all part of a deeper question I'm wrestling with, which is how to be atheist and spiritual.)
Can anyone recommend some readings to explore this issue?
I would imagine some of Leary's work might help you. I approached psychedelics with a largely curious mind set and I held very little expectations regarding it - nonetheless, the journey through psychedelic use proved to be life altering. A wise curiousity is always a good companion.
--------------------
    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


Registered: 12/09/99
Posts: 14,279
Loc: South Florida
Last seen: 3 years, 2 days
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Re: Atheist wants first trip to be sacred [Re: pacific blue]
#7686229 - 11/27/07 02:22 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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"(This all part of a deeper question I'm wrestling with, which is how to be atheist and spiritual.)"
It's called Buddhism.
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nolongerinuse


Registered: 05/14/06
Posts: 947
Last seen: 10 years, 1 month
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My advice is try not to force anything. Dont make try to make yourself think a certain way, or feel a certain way.
Trip with someone, and try to have a discussion about religion, god, connections and what-not. I recomend eating a few shrooms and start to discuss, as the debate continues eat more.
Get in touch with the Tao, get into the Te'
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