Hi Omnigod0101,
Welcome to the Astral Pulse! [:)] You will most likely get answers from both sides of the fence on the drug issue. Personally, I don't think mixing drugs and spirituality equals spiritual growth. However, everyone has an opinion on this as I stated.
This discussion might be better suited to our "Spiritual Development" forum rather than OBE discussions so I've moved it there. If you disagree, please pm me and we'll work something out.
Very best,
I have to agree with Nick on this one. I have always thought that despite drugs and alcohols ability to cause various spiritually related things, I don't think that it is a good way to go. As you begin to build up a dependency over time which makes it near impossible to achieve the desired results any other way. That to me seems counter-productive. Also even if you do have an experience while intoxicated it makes it just that much more difficult to remember if you were way over your limits, which many people can't tell if they have passed.
I prefer to just do things the old fashion way with out any aids because when i achieve something new I feel as if I have earned it then, which is always a nice feeling.
Respectfully,
Link's Shadow
My first suggestion is CUT BACK ON THE SUGAR! That much sugar is really bad for your health, stop using it all together in your tea if possible. I do not know how bad caffiene is, but I know that the sugar is not good. I have cut it out of my coffee and tea. I rarely drink any drinks containing any sugar, except on occation I will drink some 100% fruit juice. I can tell a big difference. I have gone without caffiene and I can tell that I do have a little addiction to it. I get sluggish and tired in the morning without it, sometimes headaches. So I need to cut it out I am sure. I hear that those that have cut it out also feel a lot better anc can see a difference. I use to drink atleast 6 cans of Mountain Dew a day, sometimes more. I did not realize it until my kidneys started fighting back. I stopped drinking any pop (soda, cola, or whatever your area calls it) altogether for a few years. Big improvement. Now I drink it every now and then but rarely. Advice? Stop it cold turkey. Otherwise you will gradually go back. Start drinking lots of water. Water is good for you. You will feel a lot better trust me, I know. I know that it will be hard since you are so use to drinking things so sweet, but you will not notice it after a month or so. And after awhile you will probably not be able to go back to drinking sweet drinks again. I can hardly stand to drink any now.
I do not think that drugs are necessary for any spiritual pursuits. You can do anything that you need to do drug free. The experience will be more pleasant and you will be more in control with a clear mind. I know there are those that disagree, but this is my opinion. To each their own.
Drugs have been used for as long as human civilization
have existed to get contact with the spirit world. How clear
is the sober mind? Certain drugs make your mind even clearer
and expand the mind. The best drugs for this purpose
is in my opinion the natural drugs mescaline and Ayahuasca.
Psychedelic drugs can make a lot of people psychic that wasn't psychic before.
Some extremely psychic people don't need to use psychedelics, but for most of us it saves a lot of time. It just takes much longer to reach where you want to go without psychedelics. I don't mean that it's necessary to use drugs for this, but some states of mind can not be reached without them. But some things are better to do without drugs, like lucid dreaming and other dream explorations.
Personally i love the caffeine rush, however, i limit myself to 4-5 cups of coffee a week because the caffeine is bad news.
Caffeine makes your brain create cortisol, also known as the "stress" or "death" hormone.
Go here to see all the wonderful things ot does to your body:
http://www.3sistersapothecary.com/html/resources/library/cortisol.cfm
sugar will make you fat as it is often absorbed quickly and converted to fat rather than energy.
In short, quit that stuff, dude. i imagine being amped up on caffeine and sugar isn't going to help your APing efforts in the least not to mention contributing to your ill-mental and physical health.
If you want a sugar high with out having to worry as much about getting fat let me recommend honey. Honey can get you the same buzz sugar can but without the chance of getting fat. Honey is easily and almost always converted directly to energy. Unlike sugar honey doesn't get stored and plus it tastes so good.[:P] <- That is me licking my chops.[;)]
I don't understand why people keep posting the exact same argument against drug usage, when theres plenty of posts and documentation on this site as it is, let alone the rest of the internet (non government sites).
Well one of my main concerns is not so much about getting fat from sugar but Diabetes. I do not now if consuming large amounts of sugar your whole life will cause you to get it, but I do know that once you have it you have to cut it out of your diet and get exercise. Since both my dad and his mother have developed it it has made me think about the disease. I figure that if cutting back on sugar and getting exercise is important once you have the disease, then maybe doing it when you don't have it will help prevent you from getting it.
Thanks for mentioning honey, Links. It is a wonder thing.
I realize substance abuse is something that nobody should partake in, but I've got some questions that I've seen multiple answers to.
First and foremost, my question of my own addiction. I don't get 'hooked' on many things in life. In fact I've started many habits that are claimed to be impossible to break that I've gone cold turkey on and never looked back. My real foe however could be caffene and sugar. As I sit here with my 4th 20 oz (in the hour and a half I've been awake, nothing unusual) bottle of tea I've made today with 2 tea bags and a enough sugar to fill a quarter of the bottle I wonder how this may effect my abilities to develop myself further in this type of stuff. I've got a major caffene and sugar addiction that has only gotten progressivly worse over the years. I've always got to have a steady consumption of one or the other. I already medically need a consistant intake of fluids due to a slight birth defect in my diaphram, and with a need for more fluids every 20-30 minutes I really cannot take that much water. Any suggestions?
Another question that fills this topic however is drug use. I personally quit all my drug use for fear of my health and wellbeing as well as not personally enjoying the feeling I got from it anymore. However I've read on other pages that some people believe they recieve great spiritual experience from seldom use of drugs. Especially acid and ecstacy. I almost immidiatly marked these off as making as much sence as the people who are just looking for another good reason to give up on themselves for another drug, however I try to remain open minded. So I was hoping to get other peoples opinions on the subject. So the question is, Do drugs and spiritual enlightenment mix? Yay, or Nay?
Personally I say Nay, for the reason of, one more obstacle to overcome to fully experience the journey, one more obstacle to block your memory of the even afterward, and one less level of active and positive judgement you have to guide you in your adventure.