Wonderlands and Spiritual Journeying.

[GrillNinja]

Howdy! I have been working on developing my own wonderland and using it to journey inward.

I am looking for techniques I have not thought of to do this, mostly for interesting things to try. Or maybe things that yield more accurate or consistent results - if any. In addition any advice on if there any cues or indications that any characters or incidents I experience has a reality(?) beyond my own imagination.

 

I know what I believe about this, and the metaphysical shenanigans I use is in my own symbols, but I want second opinions and other peoples ideas about it.

 

Here is my technique so far:

I use a giant building surrounded by a twisted gnarled forest in a land of perpetual dusk. The building is full of places I have not been to yet, I have defined rooms and sites, as well as an elevator room that takes me to corresponding places to parts of my psyche and/or body. Once I decide where I want to go, I let the door open with a goal in mind and then let it happen.

 

Sometimes a character or situation will unfold and I will interact with it. I consider this as having some level of truth or meaning to it, although I do not take it at face value. Sometimes, but not often, I will feel like the scenario has more momentum or reality to it and will get a sense of resolving something or possibly a new insight about myself. Sometimes I just imagine stuff or fall asleep :D

 

Please Note:

I am sketchy about saying this but, I have also tried this practice while tripping. I found it to be profound and insightful, but I do not condone it as an average spiritual practice.

It's too easy to get tripped up (no pun intended) if you do not know yourself well.

The main difference between this experience and normal meditation was that it just rearranged what I already knew and allowed me to look at my knowledge from a fresh perspective.

 

Also be aware I have already achieved that intensity with other techniques that did not involve hallucinogens. Like intensely drawing, walking long distances, have a very hot bath, practicing a ritual, or being flogged by an attractive friend while being scared out of my wits (which only happened once), intense focused physical work, and maybe roller coasters.

 

Doing anything genuinely new puts me in a more receptive place for what I call being "off the map". Something that makes me feel profoundly happy, scared, or is a novel experience would qualify as a similar experience to tripping if done correctly and had given me as much if not more profound results in active self awareness.

 

Thoughts? Comments? Do I sound like a crazy person? Your own techniques? Let me know!

[Quilten]

My technique:

 

Sitting down, shutting up, closing my eyes, and telling my brain what to do and think. If it responds in a a way that tells me that its skeptical, I just tell it that it's full of bull. Repeat.

 

I have tried some other things, including sitting down and staring and a certain point for a prolonged period of time, and then standing up and stretching hard, causing me to nearly or completely faint for a few moments. Sure, i'm killing a few brain cells every time I do so, but the results are always interesting and honestly I have the cells to spare, as if it would make a considerable difference. I also use lucid dreams sometimes, as well OBE-like things and stuff like that. Nowadays, though, I mainly use the always-popular and classic grit-and-patience method.

[Enoch327]

Maybe take up the study of hypnosis if you haven't already. In the field of hypnosis there are scores of methods for going back in time, going to other places, etc. Even so it sounds as if you are are the right path. If you get good at self-hypnosis you can drop the drug trips. Self-hypnosis can give you the tools to recreate and even surpass whatever states you experienced while you were tripping. And there is no hangover or coming down. Keep us updated on your progress.

[GrillNinja]

Cool thanks Quilten. Yea this seems to be just like art - practice, practice, practice. With a side dish of practice.

 

Yea Enoch, self-hypnosis is something I used to read about years ago, but is something I hadn't considered for this project. That would be something to look back into.

 

Have you guys ever forced using something like dream logic?

For example - when I am interacting with a character in my head I sometimes see what I want them to look like with the first shape they take whether I want them to or not. When I settle that I test them by having them interact on their terms. I sometimes find it helpful for resolving the differences with my perceptions by using the same state of mind I use to keep a lucid dream from shifting. I had found that if I focus on something too hard in a dream that it begins to wink out, but if I diffuse my perception - sort of like a magic eye puzzle - that it goes back into focus.

 

There are other techniques I think would be helpful but they may not make sense to other people. If someone else has done this it might give me insight on possible common ground and maybe learn something new.