Hain

... but not so far as William Hurt in Altered States.



So, next best things to 'shrooms! I am considering trying sensory deprivation. I have been researching and found it's benefits on memory, relaxation, physical training, etc. I read that it has been used as torture. I have read some people hallucinate after prolonged periods of time. I was looking to find some advice from within as to why I do not get emotionally attached to anyone anymore.

I was wondering if any TFP folks have tried it out? I was hoping for some kind of, "You'll have an epiphany unlike any epiphany before!" Either that or being told I'll experience an episode of Jerry Springer with myself and all my personality traits as guests, including a monkey, a lizard, and a demon in off to the end, and the entire audience is my friends, people I've pissed off, and every girl I dumped.

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JeremyRising

Sensory Deprivation has been a practice for an uncertain amount of time. But, a very long time, a vast history. Similar to many different techniques, sensory deprivation has surely been practiced by shaman, oracles, and such.

But, it is a sensitive and risky practice that requires education on the methods, caution, and mastery.

I have not tried this specifically, but I am going to predict that this practice will enhance one to undergo in depth self-reflection, and even enlightenment experiences. The removal of all your extroverted senses (sight, smell, touch, hear, taste) will leave your spiritual and "paranormal" senses lingering without any interruptions.

This is ideal and practiced for forms of deep meditation to magic rituals. Once you guide your mind into focusing on itself and not on the shock of closing those senses (the shock of losing these senses is what made sensory deprivation to be used as a tool of punishment...the psychological aspect of being captured by a tyrannical authority...plus being threatened for death, and then bound as such made sensory deprivation scary and mentally disturbing).

It will take some getting used to, and I suggest you not only research the methods, as well as Pros and Cons to sensory deprivation, but also study different philosophies and practices of Meditation.

Meditation, in itself, can essentially be very similar to sensory deprivation, or even be it's own form of this practice. During deep meditative states, especially in astral projection experiences, the senses of the physical world are ideally subject to separation as one's soul relieves itself, and enters new dimensions...or even, figuratively speaking, one spiritually "loses oneself deep within the mind and soul....completely far away or avoiding the physical body's captivity".

Lastly, other than learning to focus your mind off of the initial "shock" of sensory deprivation, you will have to adjust to controlling your mind to focus and act, as much as you control your legs and arms to act. For instance, you want to look at why you feel the way you do. Your mind must precisely recollect all those feelings and the experiences/events attached to them, and "go back in time" to see what you were thinking, to even what started those feelings.

Does this help?

Good luck!

jewels

When I was reading Thoreau and Whitman, I was so enamored that I found myself waist high in anything relating to naturalism and transcendentalism. I read everything I could get my hands on at the time and did my own form of transcendental meditation. I did mushrooms (fresh from Alabama!), mesc or hash in the pastures at my school and would scribble in my journal for hours every weekend. No darkness, no sensory deprivation. A deep awareness that made everything crystal clear (or so it seemed) inspired me to write deep thoughts of deep philosophy, of life and the purpose of man.

I'd imagine sensory deprivation would exponentially intensify these feelings.
But I can't tell you that it'll solve your problems. What about self-hypnosis? (That was the phase that followed, but I still find it effective without the ensuing burnout. )

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

Hain

I used self hypnosis in high school, was a big help for motivation. Shortly thereafter I exercised avidly. Any track runner or body builder can tell you after a while you stop thinking and you are just doing it. Working out was something I regrettably could not make time for once my second year of college started.

You are supposed to make the time. If it was easy, everybody'd be doing it.

Regardless, my little green dot on the wall doesn't seem to be as useful as it once was. I even went to show with a hypnotist, that was a riot! I went under... until the guy grabbed my arm and I bolted right out of the state and nearly clocked the guy.

"Just sit down Augi." "Yeah.... OK."

I've all ready had the transcendental "awakening" (age 14, before I knew what it was called) and pretty much base my life on making positive connections with people. It's a pretty good way to look at life.

And that is where I am lacking. If I am able to step back from my situations and ask what do I need to do, that doesn't really leave anything for getting emotionally involved.

I want to "step" way back from myself and try to get a really good look at what is working in the background.

Thanks for the replies so far. I hope more are on the way.

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Push-Pull

Out where I live, it can get VERY dark, and it is nearly always dead silent. I enjoy being able to bask in these conditions now and again, and find myself quite relaxed for it. I don't do it for self-reflection so much as for just allowing my mind to reset. As such, I don't do this for hours on end, but more like a short cat-nap-like respite.

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"No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me-

"Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown-

DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer-

funydjane

The weirdest thing about it is it can completely negate the effects of an acid trip but by itself can emulate them...

Hain

Wait so on acid and in tank... you just see and think... black? What a let down...

Paddy Chayefsky, you lied to me!

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