I've listened to quite a number of Terence McKenna's lectures and blend them in with Alan Watts. I love to hear both of them speak, their voices are soothing to me and sometimes, I just set a playlist of my favorites and go to sleep while they are playing. Terence speaks of "Ego Death" with the usage of psychedelics and I had never tried any psychedelics until I turned 43 and now I realize how important and respectful they are. Terence says that one shouldn't delve into psychedelics more than twice a year as any more than that is simply a waste of resources and doesn't really do anything beneficial except show disrespect for the "great teacher". I agree with this statement because before 43, I wouldn't have thought twice about taking such a powerful medicine. Before, I just looked at mushrooms as just a recreational drug but now it is medicine.
Magic Mushrooms or the psilocybin types of mushroom are my favorite go to. I look at them as clearing out the recycle bin in my head. I spend a lot of time harping at myself on past mistakes and eagerly looking back on my accomplishments as well but that's when it hit me. During my "trips", the worst in me would always surface and most people that has undergone "trips" usually refrain from going any further because they are scared or fearful of their dark side coming to the surface. Most people have "bad trips" during a psychedelic engagement but this is normal. This is your brain's way, with the help of the teacher, of surfacing those problems and your conscious trying to make sense of it all. If you keep having bad "trips", you might need to up your dosage and have a compassionate sober friend nearby to help you manage your way through your ego mess. Your ego may be so overpowering that taking psychedelics might relate to you as being harmful, but in reality, upping the dosage will make you realize that your ego is the worst thing about you and it needs to be violently ripped from your body for a while so you can see yourself better.
3.5 gms dried is a usual dose for normal people while 7gms dried is considered by many to be an epic dose. I've had 7gms before and I really want to up the dose to about 9gms dried just for my own posterity, because I do have lingering issues with my ego that I need to face head-on. I will need some help with that "trip" so i'm going to plan it very carefully before hand.
What are your thoughts on ego death and psychdelics? What is your personal experience with psychedelics and how have they helped you become a better person?