Mescalin

From this point on, I will never look at a cactus plant the same! According to our reading assignment, The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley, not much harm occurs by eating the cactus’s peyote root. The drug, mescalin, is the active principle in the root. The quality of consciousness is changed extremely, but it is much less toxic than other drugs.

It was really surprising to read about some of the things summarized during a supervised administration of mescalin. What amazed me the most was that one’s ability to remember and to “think straight” was not altered very much at all, while under its influence. This was not the same for visual impressions, though; he points out in his story that perception of color was heightened not just slightly, but enormously. This was mentioned throughout the reading. I could almost visualize the exceptionally bright and beautiful colors of orange, yellow and pink in the flowers, and the books shining like jewels. The story mentioned that the books and flowers were seen in his “outer world”, while the “inner world” is visited only through dreams and thoughts.

The total experience must be a very supreme uplifting one, because it was also noted that when someone comes back from the experience, they are never the same, but in a forever altered uplifting state of mind.

I do have one last thought. I certainly hope there are no needles on the cactus’s peyote root. Ouch! An altered state of pain would surely have been experienced too!