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The Dark-Haired Woman and the Gargoyle Within
Salvia divinorum (10x extract)
Citation:   Gnostikoi. "The Dark-Haired Woman and the Gargoyle Within: An Experience with Salvia divinorum (10x extract) (exp25660)". Erowid.org. Jul 28, 2003. erowid.org/exp/25660

 
DOSE:
1 hit smoked Salvia divinorum (extract - 10x)
BODY WEIGHT: 220 lb
I've used Salvia repeatedly in the past, with mixed results - it's always had an effect of some sort on me, but it's generally varied widely. I had one experience in particular, however, that made a big impression on me - it was particularly intense, vivid, and strange.

I was home alone - I would recommend a sitter, by the way, at least for your first few experiences with Salvia. I sat myself in an easy chair and packed a pinch of Salvia 10x extract on top of a small amount of plain Salvia leaf. I took it from a one gram package, and I would estimate it was about 1/10th of the total package, but that's a pretty rough estimate. I sparked it up and inhaled deeply - in fact, I smoked all of it with one breath. I held it in as long as I could, probably about thirty seconds.

As I exhaled, I experienced the more-or-less normal physiological effects that I've come to expect from Salvia - my limbs felt distant and weak, sweat began popping out on my forehead, and I had the distinctive sensation that the whole world was beginning to twist and warp; it's always reminded me of what plastic looks like when it burns, somehow.

What came next was the strange part. I was suddenly looking at my own body, except the chair wasn't there, and...neither was my lower body. From about my upper thighs down, I was melded into the wall behind me, exactly like a gargoyle on the wall of a cathedral. At the same time, there was a woman behind my left shoulder, and she was talking to me...this part is really difficult to describe because it was like I was seeing more than one point of view simultaneously - I was still looking at myself, but I was also looking FROM myself over my shoulder at the woman. It was extremely confusing, and I couldn't see anything clearly, but I remember that the woman had dark hair. She was talking in a calm, sort of lecturing voice, but either I couldn't understand what she was saying or I immediately forgot the content.

I honestly don't know how long this went on for, because I didn't look at a clock or reference, but the next thing I was clearly aware of was laying on the floor, all the way across the large room, curled up against a couch. I have a feeling that I must have lost some time, because I definitely have no recollection of moving across the room. I was feeling pretty shaky, but I gradually calmed myself down and got up. The woman that I had imagined or invoked was so convincingly real that I actually ran out to the driveway to see if by some chance someone had really come into the house while I was under the influence, tried talking to me, and then left. No one ever mentioned it to me, so I assume that it was an effect of the Salvia.

This was the strongest experience I've had with Salvia, and the only one that involved true hallucinations. If I hadn't been already convinced that Salvia is a powerful substance, that experience would have done the trick. In fact, I haven't used it since then, several months ago, although when the time is right I will. I have enormous respect for it, and anyone who is considering using it should too.

Exp Year: 2003ExpID: 25660
Gender: Male 
Age at time of experience: Not Given
Published: Jul 28, 2003Views: 23,683
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Salvia divinorum (44) : Alone (16), Mystical Experiences (9), General (1)

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