Disclaimer: Psychedelics are largely illegal substances across the world, and we do not encourage or condone their use where it is against the law. However, we accept that illicit drug use occurs and believe that offering responsible harm reduction information is imperative to keeping people safe. For that reason, this article is designed to enhance the safety of those who decide to use these substances. Psychedelics at the very least should be respected. For the best guidance, consider seeking out legal psychedelic therapy centres. Author: Resident Writer, Alexander Allen.
Exploring psychedelic experiences with mirrors.
In my opinion, staring at your own face in the mirror during a psychedelic experience can trigger a powerful inner journey. The face that I hold in my mind — my own face — when I think of how I look is not as accurate as reality is, and the mirror reveals it all.
The Psychedelic Experience and Self-Perception
A Shift in Reality
It seems to me like the brain is programmed to show us how we want to see ourselves or in ways to benefit survival and reproduction. LSD, Psilocybin, Mescaline, and many other sacred molecules can interface with the human spirit and many times reveals what we unknowingly ignore.
For some psychedelic adventurers the “mirror trip” can be uncomfortable and challenging. It can highlight the unshaken feeling of the strangeness of being ourselves, but this strangeness is supposed to be the norm, seeing that the real world is an extremely strange place.
Seeing Beyond Physical Eyes
A person’s experience of reality is constituted by their senses and especially by their vision. Vision is mediated through the lens of the eye which projects an image onto a light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye upon which photons (particles that produce sensation when they impact) are reflected.
The reflection causes nerves to fire along neural pathways to specific areas within the brain where information about what we see is interpreted as sight.
The Mirror as a Portal to Self
Reflection and Self-Identity
Mirrors seem rather strange at first glance. A reflection in a mirror seems like an image somehow projected out from one’s physical body and into another dimension, yet we accept this phenomenon as normal.
We are used to seeing ourselves in mirrors but when we try to imagine how it looks from outside our perspective things get weird.
Just when I think I've seen it all, the mirror becomes a window to a world beyond words. I'm floating through fractal galaxies, each one a microcosm of existence, with stars that pulse and galaxies that breathe. It's a symphony of visuals, a feast for the eyes that defies logic and embraces pure, unfiltered imagination.
But amidst the chaos of colours and shapes, there's a serenity, a sense of oneness with the universe. I realize that the mirror isn't just reflecting me; it's reflecting the boundless potential that resides within us all.
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The Brain's Interpretation
I think the reason mirrors are strange is because they give us an insight into our cognitive processes. When we look at a mirror, it seems like another person is staring back out from within ourselves. This has been interpreted as meaning that humans have some kind of individual essence or soul inside themselves which can be observed by looking in a mirror. I don’t think this view makes much sense though.
The Mirror During a Trip
Altered Sense of Self
In an ordinary state of consciousness, we’re used to our body being a stable structure that doesn’t change much over time. We can feel it and touch it as something real and unchangeable as a rock.
This is why when you look at yourself in the mirror during a psychedelic trip, it’s strange because of your sense of reality changes.
You are no longer just looking at some image in the mirror, but part of that world as well.
Diverse Perspectives on Mirror-Gazing
In the Voice of The Courageous
We have a number of cognitive biases that influence the way we see ourselves and the world. We feel like we are completely in control, yet this is an illusion. Our sense of self can be described as a narrative or story that we tell ourselves to make sense of our experiences.
In reality, these stories change over time as new information comes in, so they aren’t really accurate descriptions of what’s going on around us.
Psychedelics & Mirrors: My final Thoughts:
So there you have it, fellow travellers. To me, it’s clear that staring at your own reflection during a psychedelic trip can be an immensely meaningful experience. The psychedelic will give you the context to understand reality without cognitive bias. The mirror is more than just glass and silver—it's a portal to the infinite, a gateway to the undiscovered realms of our own consciousness.
The next time you embark on a psychedelic journey, don't forget to pay a visit to that magical looking glass. Who knows what wonders await you on the other side?
Stay trippy, stay curious, and keep exploring the mysteries of the mind! ✨🍄✨And when you stare at the abyss, the abyss stares back.
