Salvia Divinorum Effects: Beyond the SALVIA Scale The Salvia Scale was invented to rate the intensity of the Salvia Divinorum effects, this scale was made just to give a basic idea of what can be expected from the Salvia Divinorum trip, but a simple scale will never be enough to illustrate the complex palette of feelings, visions, thoughts and knowledge gathered through the Salvia use, so use this scale as a guideline of what to expect from your trip, but be prepared to experience a lot more than this scale shows. S-A-L-V-I-A scale: Level 1: S -ubtle effects: A feeling that "something" is happening, although it is difficulty to say just what. Relaxation and increased sensual appreciation may be noted. This mild level is useful for meditation and may facilitate sexual pleasure. Level 2: A -LTERED perception. Colors and textures are more pronounced. Appreciation of music may be enhanced. Space may appear of greater or lesser depth than is usual. But visions do not occur at this level. Thinking becomes less logical, and more playful; short-term memory difficulties may be noted. Level 3: L -IGHT visionary state. Closed-eye visuals (clear imagery with eyes closed: fractal patterns, vine-like and geometric patterns, visions of objects and designs). The imagery is often two dimensional. If open-eyed visual effects occur, these are usually vague and fleeting. At this level, phenomena similar to the hypnagogic phenomena that some people experience at sleep onset occur. At this level, visions are experienced as "eye candy" but are not confused with reality. Level 4: V -IVID visionary state. Complex three-dimensional realistic appearing scenes occur. Sometimes voices may be heard. With eyes open, contact with consensual reality will not be entirely lost, but when you close your eyes you may forget about consensus reality and enter completely into a dreamlike scene. Shamanistic journeying to other lands--foreign or imaginary; encounters with beings (entities, spirits) or travels to other ages may occur. You may even live the life of another person. At this level you have entered the shaman's world. Or if you prefer: you are in "dream time." With eyes closed, you experience fantasies (dream like happenings with a story line to them). So long as your eyes are closed you may believe they are really occurring. This differs from the "eye candy" closed-eye imagery, of level 3. Level 5: I -MMATERIAL existence. At this level one may no longer be aware of having a body. Consciousness remains and some thought processes are still lucid, but one becomes completely involved in inner experience and looses all contact with consensual reality. Individuality may be lost; one experiences merging with God/dess, mind, universal consciousness, or bizarre fusions with other objects--real or imagined (e.g. experiences such as merging with a wall or piece of furniture). At this level it is impossible to function in consensual reality, but unfortunately some people do not remain still but move around in this befuddled state. For this reason a sitter is essential to ensure the safety of someone voyaging to these deep levels. To the person experiencing this the phenomenon may be terrifying or exceedingly pleasant; but to an outside observer the individual may appear confused or disoriented. Level 6: A -MNESIC effects. At this stage, either consciousness is lost, or at least one is unable to later recall what one had experienced. The individual may fall, or remain immobile or thrash around; somnambulistic behavior may occur. Injuries can be sustained without pain being felt; on awakening, the individual will have no recollection of what he/she did, experienced, or said in level 6. People cannot recall what they experience in this very deep trance state. This is not a desirable level, because nothing can latter be recalled of the experience.  I think that, although these are good guidelines, the intensity and quality of the Salvia Divinorum experience depends mostly on each person's state of mind, in their unique character and psyche, for example: a deep puff of a 10x extract would send one person to a parallel reality where strange creatures talk to him, while it would cause uncontrollable laughter to another, making it impossible for him to even think for a few minutes (even if age, height, sex, etc. factors are equal) That being said, I would like to share some of the Salvia Divinorum effects me and some friends have experienced: - Complete separation of the mind and body - State of lucid mental clarity that allows deep meditation - Feeling of entering (or becoming aware of) a parallel, non-material reality - Feeling of communication or awareness of a divine presence (most of the times a female presence) - Perfect body balance and relaxation due to an alignment of the spine (this seems to be a common one among yoga practicing people) - Truly realistic "visits" to places and experiences from the past (I haven't had this Salvia Divinorum experience yet, but a lot of people report being transported to a place they frequented as children and describe this experience as amazingly real) - Uncontrollable laughter, this is one of the Salvia Divinorum effects that goes away after the 3rd or 4th Salvia use - Inspiration and clarity about personal life and affairs (this is a big one for me, Salvia Divinorum has been a great source of inspiration to make my life richer and more enjoyable... as soon as I smoke Salvia Divinorum and think of my personal life, great ideas start racing through my mind) - A "fusion", like melting into the world (starting with the chair, bed, room, people around you, etc.) This are some of the Salvia Divinorum effects that we feel and enjoy when using Salvia, some of them are recurrent and can be felt at will, others come unexpectedly and uncontrollably, but all in all, the Salvia experience is unique for each individual and the Salvia Divinorum effects you experience are a result of your own experiences and personality.
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