As many of you should know by now, Cannabis is a marvelous tool for personal development and self-discovery. I’ve personally used it in this capacity for more than 15-years and have seen my relationship to the plant evolve in kind.
However, when cannabis becomes routine the magick of marijuana is lost and what is meant to be a tool for personal exploration & development turns into a crutch to carry and tend to your “inner-bitch!”
If you find yourself in a Cannabis Rut, where smoking has become routine and “it doesn’t really do it for me” or “I don’t really get high” are common thoughts…the following article will help you re-engage with the plant.
Cannabis is a powerful tool, but only the wise understand how to use it effectively.
Challenge 1: The Terrence McKenna T-Break
Terence McKenna was an American ethnobotanist and mystic who advocated the responsible use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants.
He spoke and wrote about various subjects, including psychedelics, plant-based entheogens, shamanism, metaphysics, alchemy, language, philosophy, culture, technology, environmentalism, and the theoretical origins of human consciousness.
Terence had this fascinating method of using marijuana, where he would refrain from weed consumption for a couple of weeks to lower his tolerance; Then he would take a large dose and chill in a dark room in complete silence in order to feel the full force of the plant kicking in.
The T-break by itself will be a challenge for many and some might fail in the process. This would also be a good point of reflection of your relationship with cannabis. Understanding how dependent you are on cannabis is a good way to discover more about yourself. Abstinence will make apparent the things weed are “covering/treating” in your life. The most intense part of the experience is the first 24-hours and if you can make it 72-hours, you’ll be able to pull of 14 days.
Anyhow… .
So, where to start? Basically, you need to kick weed out of your system for 14 to 21 days to do a proper tolerance break. You can do it for a longer time if you wish, however a minimum of 2 weeks should be more than enough for you to feel 90% of the full effect of weed.
Once it’s “D-Day” aka “Doob Day” - you’re going to have to decide if you’re taking the edible route or the toking route. If you’re going to toking up, you’ll want to roll a few blunts or joints, maybe get a dab or a bong. You’re going to be smoking beyond when you feel “stoned”, you’re going to “over-consume” your regular dose.
If you’re going to the edible route, the journey might be more intense. Edibles make you 10x higher and it can be an incredibly potent psychedelic experience. You know all those “ER visits” you hear about in the news - it’s because people greened out on edibles and couldn’t handle their shit.
Be prepared for the unexpected and remember…
Water is essential on this inner journey, we all know a strong dose can give you a dry mouth if you are not hydrated enough, make sure you are well hydrated and have enough electrolytes in your system. It is highly recommended to keep a bottle of water next to you at all times.
The weirdest thing that people might expect from this challenge is the dark silent room, trust me, it is definitely the most exciting part of the challenge. You will be sitting comfortably, with no distractions in sight, hearing nothing but your heartbeat, surrounded by things that bring you a genuine sense of comfort and safety. Setting is important!
To ease the experience, you’ll want to engage with some active, BREATHING! However, since you’re going to be sitting in the dark.
Sit and breathe slowly, inhale for 5 seconds and then exhale for 6 seconds and repeat until you feel centered and relaxed. This will keep the panic from creeping in and keep your nervous system stable.When you’re experiencing an intense hit of weed in the dark, shit can get scary!
You’ll walk through the fields of thoughts and whatever lingers in your subconscious mind, but remember as long as you are relaxed, and enjoying the mystical experience inside of your head and body, you’ll be okay. No one has ever died from a cannabis overdose, and if you’re experiencing anxiety, just revert back to breathing.
Try to be mindful and enjoy your trip inwards. If you want to take something with you from the experience, you have to write down the ideas and epiphanies that came to you, and believe me, they will come! Obviously, do this after the experience. During the whole process, just allow whatever thought and feeling to come…
Challenge 2: Stoned Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline that originated in ancient India and that includes breathing exercises and postures called asanas.
These asanas and breathing exercises work on the body, mind, and spirit, and promote balance and health of the body, mind, and spirit.
Dee Dussault is an internationally-recognized leader in the cannabis-enhanced movement.
In 2009, Dee became the first person to offer public cannabis-enhanced yoga classes in the West.
A few years later she authored the best-selling Harper Collins book Ganja Yoga, and from there started to train others in her methodology.
Stoned Yoga is exactly what it sounds like: eating edibles or smoking pot before you practice.
According to ancient texts, this isn't new: Yogis have been using herbs to supplement practice for millennia.
Both yoga and weed, Dee writes, "bring a shift in consciousness that allows one to become more open to psychological, emotional, and energy states that aren't usually operational in the grind of daily life."
There are multiple benefits that can be gained from practicing stoned yoga. The most common benefits are:
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Increased relaxation and focus; making the experience more meditative and enjoyable.
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Improved coordination and balance, which leads to better yoga form and prevents injury.
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Higher sense of self-awareness, which can make it easier for practitioners to recognize certain aspects of their practice that need improvement.
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Reduced feelings of anxiety during the experience, making the yoga practice more enjoyable.
Let us talk about how.
There are levels to this practice, but luckily there are no strict rules, as long as you are practicing your yoga safely without overdoing it, you should be more than fine.
You can either take the edibles 30 minutes or one hour before your set, depending on your knowledge of yourself and how it affects you. As I said, each person is different, therefore only you can truly know what is best for you.
Practice makes perfect, so I would recommend starting slow for the first time, testing the waters, and then going higher and higher each time you practice until you find your sweet spot.
Here are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable:
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Use weed during yoga at home. This way you can do your practice in a comfortable environment without worrying about what others think or having to leave class early if things get too intense for you. There’s plenty of online teachers. I personally like Tim.
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Different strains have different effects. Indica dominant strains are generally more lethargic and relaxing while Sativa strains tend to be energizing.
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Don't overdo your practice when using cannabis in any form, make sure to be mindful while doing yoga and be aware of your physical limits.
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And finally, moderation is key! This one is applicable to almost anything in life, and should not be overlooked.If you do consume too much, trust me - you’ll feel it!
Try to let go of your daily-life scenarios happening in your head, focus on your breath, and become completely immersed in the experience.
Challenge 3: The Heroic Dose (Greening Out)
We’ve spoken about “Greening Out” by accident, but why the hell would you want to do it consciously? While this is related to the Terrence T-Break, the green out is purposely overdosing. It’s not necessarily a “fun” experiment…but ask anyone who greened out at one point whether they learned shit about themselves…most of them will say yes!
Every person’s body is unique, we differ in genetics, environments, and our endocannabinoid systems.
Greening out is hard to predict. It may be more likely to happen to people new to cannabis or who don’t consume it often.
It could also occur in consumers who are lacking sleep, hydration, or sustenance, or when consuming cannabis in certain forms, such as edibles and dabs, which are high in potency.
The majority of cannabis consumers have a story about eating a pot brownie that was way too potent.
Thankfully, cannabis in any form or amount is not life-threatening and there have been no cases of overdose, so greening out won’t kill you or damage your body in any way.
This third challenge is not for the faint-hearted, Greening Out intentionally is not made for everyone, but it presents a wonderful opportunity for seasoned cannabis users to experience new highs and go on a wild adventure within themselves.
It is recommended to take at least 3 edibles in one sitting, strap on and let go! But you could also do the “Joey Diaz 1,000 mg Dose” and call it a day!
The experience can become extremely intense all of a sudden, it might even seem scary at times, but rest assured and remember that it is all in your head.Well, not all in your head, your body will probably be feeling weird too, but remember that breathing exercise - yea, it will be your friend!
Focus on breathing deeply and consciously and the unpleasant feelings will start to slowly fade away as you focus more on your high and how good and refreshing it feels to be in such a raw, chaotic yet euphoric state of being.
When greening out, I recommend staying with a buddy you can trust, drinking plenty of water, and getting plenty of rest, and the physical symptoms should be gone by the next morning.
That is the beauty of cannabis, no matter the intensity of the experience, you eventually come out of it unharmed.
However, don’t think this will just be “Fun”. It could be! But it could also be a deep learning experience which shows you a different side of cannabis.
If you love exploring hidden parts of your unconscious mind, tripping where no one has ever been, exploring the unknown, and straight up being high as f*ck, then the Heroic Dose is for you.
When done correctly, It should leave you with a deeper respect and appreciation for the cannabis plant and will bless you with a new perspective on life in general, like I said, each person is unique, and each experience comes with its own messages and symbolisms to the consumer. You may even stop smoking weed a bit after this, but it’s definitely something that you should experience.
Terence McKenna used to say “Take It Easy, Dude, But Take It”
MORE WEED CHALLENGES, READ ON...
