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The Swirling Vortex Behind Me...
Salvia divinorum & Cannabis
Citation:   Spankowitz. "The Swirling Vortex Behind Me...: An Experience with Salvia divinorum & Cannabis (exp2749)". Erowid.org. Nov 30, 2001. erowid.org/exp/2749

 
DOSE:
1 bowl smoked Salvia divinorum (plant material)
  1 bowl smoked Cannabis (plant material)
BODY WEIGHT: 180 lb
Well, I live in Berkeley, which is very close to San Francisco. I'd heard a lot about Salvia, but from what I understood, it was kind of hard to get your hands on and also a bit on the expensive side. Anyways, I went to Haight-Ashbury one day and was surprised to see that head shops were selling it for about $3 for a small baggie. Of course, I bought some just to see what all the hype was about.

When we got back later that evening, my friend and I decided to fire it up. We went outside onto my patio where it was nighttime and there was some light from the moon. Mixing it in a 1:1 ratio with weed, we put it in the bowl of the bong and smoked it. After a couple of minutes, I felt a bit more paranoid than I typically am while high. After a few minutes, I wasn't absolutely positive that I could attribute my feeling to the Salvia (it was kind of subtle), but I knew that I normally didn't feel this.

Then, I felt something that was quite scary - and although I remember telling myself that it was completely irrational to be scared of it - I couldn't shake the feeling. It was the feeling that behind me there was a huge swirling vortex/black hole that was coming closer and closer, about to suck me in.... Of course, when I turned around, there was nothing there - but as I was looking behind me, it suddenly felt like it was behind me on the other side (always behind my eyes, perpetually out of view, where I could never see). My friend noticed my unease and told me to relax. I was uncomfortable and a little paranoid for a while, but really that was it. My friend didn't get the same experience, he just said he was in an unusually contemplative state for a few minutes.

Another friend of mine later told me that she had the same experience as me (she didn't know about my experience when she did it, though). Anyway, it was a mildly frightening experience, but I basically dismissed it as my mind's fear of the unknown, or fear of what I couldn't see....

I've done it a few more times with similar but less frightening results. Salvia is OK, I'd do it again, but honestly, I don't really get a lot from it, entheogenically speaking. Give it a shot if you want - I don't think it was anything that scarred me for life. :)

Exp Year: 2000ExpID: 2749
Gender: Male 
Age at time of experience: Not Given
Published: Nov 30, 2001Views: 9,910
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Salvia divinorum (44), Cannabis (1) : Small Group (2-9) (17), Difficult Experiences (5), General (1)

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