Soaring Through Another Dimension, My Second Trip with LSD
By: Susie Medium
Tags: Psychedelics, Lsd, Ayahuasca, Magic Mushrooms

I would call myself a late bloomer. It’s only in the last year, I’ve discovered the enchanted world of psychedelics. As a woman in her late 30s who grew up in a conservative town, reaching a point were I felt open enough to experiment with mushrooms and LSD was a big shift in my life. For years, like so many, I viewed it as something “people on the fringes” do. But years of travel and diverse friendships have led me to take another view (as well as a bit of my own research into the benefits of psilocybin when it is taken with the right intentions.)

A few days ago, I organized an LSD experience for myself and four close friends. It was technically my 3rd time trying the substance, however, the 2nd experience was not strong or perhaps not a good tab. So it had really been 1 year for me since my initial, beautiful half dose a little over one year before at a festival in the Portuguese countryside. I should note, that first trip came with some nervousness and an inability to surrender. At the beginning of it, I had moments of fear which lightened in the course of an hour, aided by the good friends I was with and our environment.

I believe that LSD is a drug that should be taken by itself, with people you trust, and in a calming space. For me, nature is best because it adds the benefit of truly interacting with the earth.

Our crew comprised of myself, 3 girlfriends and a guy friend. We went together to a beautiful forest park with some nice private spaces. Our big towels and a sleeping bag to lay on went with us so we could get nice and cozy. We also packed a sizable picnic lunch — baguettes, berries, chips, meats and cheeses. At the very least, we felt prepared!

I can honestly say, going into it I was really happy to be with my friends on a sunny day in the park but didn’t not expect the full journey that was about to transpire. We just made ourselves comfortable under some sturdy cork oak trees and took our tabs together, excited about the possibilities.

About 30–40 minutes in was when we started questioning our senses. We were in a circle curiously looking at each other with little smiles. My friend Anna, who’d never tried LSD before, was wondering just what she had signed on for!

The first sensations for me were colors changing. Nature started to get a softer haze, and so did the faces of my friends. My friends’ Sarah and Anna’s faces became luminescent, with soft purples accenting them. And after a time, they started to vibrate and take on a partial transparency. It was a bit like looking at an old, grainy film… In this moment, it seemed as though they were composed of energetic vibrations, in the same way their surroundings were. And it became clear to me that everything was connected — the forest trees, the air, the ground below them — the colors bended and the lines softened, allowing me to see their oneness.

As the experienced deepened, I went back and forth between opening and closing my eyes. I could only lay down. Walking would have been too difficult, but also my body was being pulled towards the earth. My friend Julia also responded quickly to the drug and we were laying near each other, laughing a lot. I recall my whole body tingling and shaking. It felt good to move my legs around, a bit like a baby. And then sensations got heavier. I remember saying something like, “I’m in the roots now, I can feel it.”

I felt I was part of the trees; I experienced it in a way that was more profound than a lucid dream but that would be the closest way to describe it. At one point I felt my face and it didn’t feel the same as it normally would. It was as if it was just flesh on the bone. But it didn’t frighten me. I could see quick visions when my eyes closed. At moments I saw white skeletons, but in lighter tones with hints of purple that did not frighten me either. Then the visions became more brown and earthy. I was caught by the images of trees, and the trees around us seemed to multiply into infinity. Gravity pulled at my body, and I could see it was pulling Julia’s too.

My other girlfriends took longer to fall into the journey and seemed fascinated by what we were experiencing. Julia and I tried to communicate the sensations as best we could. At some point in this experience, the feeling of being taken under was overwhelming, with my eyes closed I was sure I was being absorbed by the earth, and I called to Sarah to be near me so I could hold her arm. Partially to ground me and partially so she could also experience what I was feeling. This lightened my experience. And the colors when I had my eyes closed became brighter again. I began soaring through the sky like a fairy. At times it was unclear if my eyes were opened or closed.

My heart was racing. The physical sensations were quite strong. It was as though my physical body had left me. It went away so that I could experience just the energy and vibrations that were left in its absence. I think it was the earth’s vibration. My whole body quaked and shivered in the most delightful way. Pure bliss without the shadow side of lust or desire. No aggressive energy. Completely safe space.

I held on to Sarah’s arm with intention, wanting her to see the world that was being revealed to me. There were at least three or four different planes, or perceivable dimensions. I was being swept across them so quickly. Each with its own color and feel. The predominant one as I held Sarah was all light, pastel and enchanted. It was the most ethereal part of my journey, like a heaven that existed but could only be glimpsed at. Words would not do it justice as it more feeling than sight. I said to her, “I’m not here right now,” as I was certain I was glimpsing a world beyond us.

It felt very safe and peaceful. As my fairy flight ended and I could focus on the space around me more, I said things to Sarah like, “Don’t you see it? We’re all a part of it.”

As the effects came on for Sarah and Anna, they started to walk around a bit exploring the area. I was fascinated that they were able to walk and also worried a bit for them to go away. Perhaps there was a bit of separation anxiety, too. But Chris and Julia were near me, and were enjoying the deep inward journeys consuming them.

At one moment, I was laying in child’s pose and looking off to one side. I had the feeling of being on the ceiling — the ground being the ceiling — and I was just sticking to it. I cannot emphasis enough how beautifully aware of gravity I was and how grateful I was for it. I remember saying out-loud, “Gravity is having it’s way with me!” And as I looked over, I could see that Chris was experiencing the pull of the earth, too. His face in a state of bliss.

“Chris,” I said, “If everyone knew about this, there’d be no one left to run the world. We’d all be here.”

As the experienced lightened, we shared moments of going in pairs, hand in hand, and exploring nearby. A distance of 10 meters felt like a mile, and sense of direction was lost. Julia walked with me to the bathroom, and although the feeling of wanting to pee was there, the ability of how was a bit lost. I had to concentrate very hard. The bathroom was dark, and the gray tiles on the floor appeared to swirl beneath me like lava… I somehow managed, and fumbled with great effort to open the door to get out. It felt like escaping prison!

Walking up a small hill with gray stairs toward a large pavilion felt a bit like walking on the moon. Space was vaster than it had been before. The sun was hotter. Brighter. It felt like we had been in the park for days but in reality it was only a couple of hours. That was a satisfying feeling, to have the extra time with my friends and in this space.

The visuals continued, with the moss on trees appearing to swirl around like animal fur in the wind. I laid down again and put my feet on the bark, feeling the strength of the tree beneath me. I pressed at it and it seemed to press back. Spotify was continuing to play on my phone and the music seemed to coincide with what we were experiencing. It actually felt at times that the universe was playing with us. Choosing the music and showing us what it wanted to show us. It was the most freeing, childlike experience.

As I started to feel what I suppose is the down half of the journey, the visions changed somewhat. As I looked on Julia’s face, it would melt from yellowy angel to old lady. The lines on Chris’s face looked deeper than they were in reality. What had been ethereal before was now high definition, or something past that. My awareness of the plastic on the ground, from our water bottles and berry containers made me feel ashamed. It became clear that plastic was not meant for sacred spaces. The contrast with the nature made it all too clear.

And suddenly, the ants and flies were more visible too. At one moment Sarah said, “I feel like we’re homeless people who live here.” We were on a slight inclined and seemed to slowly move down the hill. She and Chris started dragging the blankets (with me on one!) moving us to a flatter space. Little by little, we regained bits of our consciousness. (Ah, or did we lose it?! That is the question to ponder when taking psychedelics…)

We walked about some more, and eventually found the courage to migrate our little camp from shade to sun for the sunset. After a little picnic (bread has never tasted so delicious), we summoned the strength to leave the park and return to my apartment for a cozy comedown. Even though it had been 6 hours or so now, regular tasks like ordering pizzas took some effort.

As I took a shower, I felt a whole new sensation, or chapter, of the drug. I really felt the strength in my body today. Not just physical strength, but inner. A whole world had passed through me it seemed, and I held the space for myself. I felt proud for organizing this day and bringing these beautiful, curious souls together. I felt proud that I had no sense of anything missing. No longing. For a very brief moment, I recalled my old lover and a thought became very clear to me, “He didn’t love me.” And I laughed, I laughed and I said to myself, “That’s okay.”

With fresh bodies we huddled together around hot pizzas in the living room. It was the most divine pizza I’ve ever tasted. And for the moment, I said fuck you to my lactose intolerance! All foods were welcome in this space. Julia, the artist among us, went on about the textures, particularly the pleasant salty crunchiness of the popcorn that followed the pizza. In a way, it was like eating everything for the first time.

Hours passed, and the strangeness continued but slowed enough for us to hold conversations and relax ourselves. Although I laid down at 3am, I didn’t sleep for some hours. The mental alertness was hard to release for me. I started watching some videos about the early research on LSD, now more fascinated than ever. And I thought about all the people I love that I wanted to share this experience of joy and liberation. I thought about my 70 year old father with PSD and felt sad that this drug had not been available to him. And that even now I know I could not convince him to try it.

Most importantly, I felt inspired to write this post and share my experience. I hope you have enjoyed it and I hope if you were on the fence, it inspires you to give psychedelics a try. If not LSD, then magic mushrooms, as they are softer. For who it may help, I took a dose of 180mg and felt it was a perfect amount for a day’s long journey. I recommend you give yourself a full day to enjoy it, and a full day after to come down and reflect. Things won’t look or feel quite the same afterwards. And, a final suggestion, choose a few really good friends as trip buddies to enjoy the experience with you and keep you grounded on the wild ride!