DOSE:

12 in

oral

Cacti - T. bridgesii

(tea)

BODY WEIGHT:

80 kg

Mescaline - The Grandfather Spirit

Set: Stress free, relaxed, and in good spirits. Excited for my journey.

Setting: At home in my living room.

Preparation:

I took a fat, foot long cutting of a Bolivian Torch cactus and proceeded to remove the spines with a Swiss Army knife. I cut it into star shaped slices and removed the hard, waxy outer layer of each star. The next step was to slice the stars in half so that I could more easily cut out the white core of the cactus.

Now with my prepared half star shapes, I stick them in a plastic zip lock bag and freeze them. Once frozen, I take them out and let them thaw, then repeat this freeze/thaw cycle 3 more times with the goal of breaking down the cell walls thus making the mescaline content more bioavailable, and reducing the time needed to boil.

Finally, with my thawed mush of cactus chunks, I proceed to blend them together with around a pint of water. I poured the slimy snot smoothie into a pan and boiled on a medium heat for around 2 hours. I added ginger in a futile attempt to disguise the taste and assuage the gastrointestinal upset. With my cactus tea almost ready, I strained it through cheesecloth into a large mug and squeezed out as much liquid as I could. The following trip ensued:

The Trip:

T + 00:00 – Knocking back a mug full of cactus slush is a laudable triumph of great difficulty. Not quite as repugnant as the ayahuasca brew but it’s no strawberry milkshake. Taking steady gulps, it takes me the best part of an hour to consume my dose. The nausea begs to be noticed and after taking my final sip, I can no longer resist the urge to puke. Reluctantly, I fill the toilet bowl with a kind of luminescent green gunge that wouldn’t look out of place on a Saturday night game show from the 90s. I feel an instant relief coupled with the disappointment that I may have purged away any chance of successfully tripping.

T + 01:00 – To my relief, such doubts begin to dissipate as the gentle ‘Grandfather spirit’ of the cactus enters the stage. My eyes widen, senses sharpen and the room I’m in begins to take on a different character. I notice everything; the textures in the carpet, the grain in the wooden picture frames, rich colour everywhere and the different gradients of the shadows cast against the magnolia walls. There are no morphing Aztec fractals one might associate with mushrooms, nor are there dripping walls and cosmic thought loops one might encounter with LSD, but rather a vibrant heightening of the senses and a playful, childlike curiosity of my surroundings and the contents of my mind.

The window frame before me perfectly houses an entheogenically enhanced image of the swaying oak trees outside. I revel in watching the birds dance in perfect symmetry; even those bastard seagulls are tolerable. The prospect of leaving the house becomes increasingly enticing yet I fail to muster the motivation to ready myself for the outside world. On this occasion, I’m happy to settle for my comfy sofa and my music as I become more acquainted with the cactus medicine.

T + 02:00 – Things are getting interesting. The anticipation of what’s to come fills me with giddy excitement like a child on Christmas Eve, and I can’t wipe this stupid grin off my face. I’m beginning to see the true face of this plant ally and, as is often the case, the apprehension and body niggles give way to a liberating state, alien yet strangely familiar and begging for closer inspection.

T + 03:00 – In the words of Hunter S. Thompson, “good mescaline comes on slow”. Three hours in and I’m stepping over the precipice and into the peak, and my God it feels good! As I write this in retrospect, I can feel my hairs stand on end and my pulse quicken. Euphoria that would dwarf that of an MDMA roll engulfs my entire being and I’m compelled to get up and dance like an idiot.

My whole body is vibrating with pure, clean, life affirming energy. I feel so connected, so grounded and serene, yet paradoxically I am high as a fucking kite. The fact that this feeling won’t last forever poses not the slightest threat. There’s plenty more playtime to be had and I know intuitively I’ll get all that I need.

T + 04:00 – I turn the music up a notch. I listen to this playlist often yet somehow it feels like I’m hearing each track for the first time. Layers and layers and layers of sonic nectar flood my ear canal, and I feel like I’m in direct communication with each artist. Every sound feels so perfectly curated and personal, and there is a primal ever-present sense that I am connecting with some fundamental truths via the medium of music. Every beat, every melody, every lyric a celebration of life. I am dancing with the universe, baby!

T + 06:00 – As the mescaline slowly settles, the peak gives way to a serene plateau and the toe-curling euphoria devolves into a state of beautiful equilibrium. I take stock of the topography of my inner landscape the way a lioness scans the open plains of the Savanna. Insights trickle forth as the mind becomes a canvas ripe for reflection. I contemplate catching some of these nuggets of wisdom and jotting them down on paper lest they be forever forgotten. Alas, that’s way too much effort. Besides, I put trust in my strange, spikey friend that at some level, I’ll take on all the information I need.

T + 07:00 – I pour myself a cup of loose-leaf Silver Needle tea I tend to reserve for special occasions (like tripping balls on mescaline), and despite not feeling hungry, I decide to graze on some mixed nuts. The little refreshment proves especially nourishing and I feel perfectly sated. For the next few hours, there is little else to report, but all is well and I’m at peace. What more could I possibly ask for?

T + 10:00 – The fireworks finally fade, and so begins the slow and steady return to baseline. I finish the night off with a reflective beer and rise early the next morning feeling fresh, rejuvenated and calm. Having closed the doors of perception for now, the cactus continues to grace me with gifts as I ride the tranquil afterglow with a recalibrated sense of purpose well into the ensuing days.

Evaluation:

Every psychedelic has something unique to offer, but the oft forgotten mescaline cactus - the unsung hero of the classic psychedelics, will always occupy a special place in my heart. A far cry from the harsh teachings of La Madre Ayahuasca, the spirit of the cactus is warm, gracious, and playful. At this dose, mescaline makes it okay to just feel incredible, and with the notable exception of a little nausea in the early stages – which feels almost trivial once it kicks in proper, there is no trade off. This remarkable elixir is sustenance for the soul.

Exp Year: 2022	ExpID: 116777
Gender: Male
Age at time of experience: 36
Published: Nov 17, 2022	Views: 926
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Cacti - T. bridgesii (448) : General (1), Preparation / Recipes (30), Glowing Experiences (4), Alone (16)