The Psychedelic experience- Part 2

It's not all about drugs when it comes to psychedelic trance. Drugs would help to enhance the effect of listening to trance music but it's not necessary.

The reason why i relate trance music to drugs is because you have a choice to consume drugs while listening to trance music to feel the vibe and gives an amazing effect; this is just another way of looking at it. Drugs are not entirely harmful substances if used the right way, i.e. medicational purposes. Psilocybin mushrooms( magic mushrooms) are used to treat severe cluster headaches (cited in wikipedia.com).

According to my personal experience, I'm aware that most drugs produce side effects immediately or in a long run; depending on your body immune/cardiovascular system.
I'm not promoting drugs, i don't have to say the negative side of taking drugs. In fact, i don't have to take drugs to listen to trance music. I personally listen to psychedelic trance when im working out at the gym just to give me the motivation needed to continue my work out on the running belt. When i run and listening to trance, i feel motivated to push myself to run faster and for a longer period of time. Without music, the "excitement" to work out won't be as much.
I've been to clubs, and raves which i've seen people taking ecstacy, lsd, ice to enjoy themselves.

For one thing, alcohol and drugs give you a temporary high effect with consequences after the effect. Under the influence of those chemical substances, you may not be aware of your surroundings and turn against the reality; it's like you are in a different world. Some say, if you are shy, and if you take Chivas for example, you won't feel embarass to dance in the crowd, basically you'd feel more confident. The fact is, you just need to know how to dance so you have more confidence- not by consuming chemicals that are toxic to your body. Come to think of it, it's better when you are aware of your surroundings and you learn how to dance.

When i hit the clubs, my friends would ask, why you don't you have some...they'd offer to smoke weed, to take ecstasy, but to me, there's no point because i don't get to feel what actually is going on around me. When i do go for parties, i like to observe the crowd, learn a few steps, enjoy the music, and i don't have to look silly if i take JD coke; I would look stupid if i do because I'm not aware of what i'm saying or doing, and so i won't enjoy my time there. Another reason being would be, i'm proud of myself for not having to do what others would normally do to be/look cool. I feel proud/ have a sense of respect to myself when I don't get involved in drugs; personally, I feel people around you would respect you more if you know how to control/respect/take care of yourself.

There are lists of side-effects of using drugs/ consuming alcohol that i don't have to mention. I value myself as important, respect myself and love myself. Love yourself first before you love someone else- sounds a bit selfish there but to my interpretation, if you have a healthy mind, body and soul, you'll make the best out of yourself. I love to challenge myself and i know it's very easy for me to be part of the party lifestyle, but the hardest is to stay away from alcohol and drugs- and that's a challenge for me. So once i overcome it, i feel a sense of relief, pride, and as if i won a fight (i might sound silly but that's how i feel).

Psychedelic trance party, is just another party for psychedelic fans and it's upto you to choose how you want to lead your life. Life is better when it's real and it's not all about alcohol and drugs; it's all in your mind. The power of mind let's you control what you want to feel, how you want to feel. If you listen to psychedelic trance with your friends, appreciate and understand the meaning of the psychedelic music and the psychedelic art- that is the real understanding of psychedelic trance. Learn the history, the content, the fundamental values of pyschedelic art and the combined interpretation of psychedelic art and music; these are the important elements towards understanding the different levels of psychedelic experience.

Till then.

History of Psychedelic Trance http://perso.orange.fr/psychedelic_trance/psy_history_part1.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9wxkHtRT58

A psychedelic experience

Heya folks!
It's been a while since i published post ( 3 months ago...)
You must be wondering why after 3 months and why the title? I'd like to dedicate this article to DJ Mushroom who introduced me to psychedelic trance. Most of my findings were taken from wikipedia.com., drugababuse.gov., and mescaline.org. Psychedelic trance is most common in rave parties; not common yet among Malaysians.

The term psychedelic is known to be hallucinogens, psychosis (loss contact of reality) and altered state of consciousness.

As for trance, there have been many definitions of trance as interpreted by various researchers. Trance is an altered state of consciousness- used by hypnotherapist/psychologist to create mental, emotional, spiritual healing.

When it comes to trance music, as you listen to some of the tracks, your mind will be wondering around some out of space that brings you to a different world- subject to whether trance is your favourite music :P

A state of trance is where you feel ecstatic; it could be from religious rituals, meditation, yoga, sufism, music, dancing, cannabis, magic mushrooms, etc.

Trance music/ electronic music is originated back in the 90's; it is a repeating melodic synthesizer, phrases and musical form. Instruments used are synthesizer, keyboard, drum machine, sequencer, and sampler. It is originated from Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and UK. There are lots of artists that are related to theorigin of trance. Then comes the progressive trance which is more of drum and bass with pioneer producers like Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Oakenfold, to name a few. Then it hits the mainstream and most notable recording company was the ministry of sound. Trance music is BPM 130-150 per minute, faster than house music but slower than rave.

There are many types of trance music, namely:
1) Acid Trance/ambient trance/chill trance (Banco De Gaia)
2) Anthem Trance/uplifting trance/epic trance (Tiesto, Buuren, ATB)
3) Buchiage Trance (Arpeggio)
4) Classic Trance (Sven Vath)
5) Dream Trance/Dream House (Robert Miles)
6) Euro Trance (Cascada)
7) Electro Trance (Gabriel&Dresden)
8) Future Pop (Icon of Coil)
9) Goa Trance (Yahel Sherman)
10)Hardstyle (Scot Project, Hennes & Cold)
11)Ibiza Trance/Balearic House (Chicane, Cafe del mar)
12)Pizzicato Trance (Sash!, DJ Quicksilver)
13)Progressive Trance/Melodic Trance (Sasha, Faithless)
14)Psychedelic Trance (Infected Mushroom, Skazi)
15)Tech Trance (L.S.G., Darude)
16)Vocal Trance (Buuren, Chicane, Van Dahl)

Best known trance festivals in the world are in Netherlands.

Drugs (to name a few):
Trance/rave parties are known for recreational drugs like alcohol, cocaine, LSD, Cannabis and psychoactive drugs which are a chemical substance that sets on the central nervous system where it changes the brain functions that result in altered perception, mental consciousness, and behaviour; they are primarily used as medication.

Club drugs:
1) MDMA (ecstasy 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine)- it regulates body temperature, not known to be addictive as far as im concern, it can results in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure.It gives psychological effect like confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug cravings, and severe anxiety that occurs days/weeks after consumption.

GHB, Ketamine, Rohypnol- colorless, tasteless, odorless, used as date-rape drugs.
2) GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate, croach), used mostly by body builders to reduce fat and increase muscle mass, and also to treat alcoholism and depression. It as also known as Liquid Ecstasy, Easy-Lay, to name a few.

3) Ketamine- also known as Special K, Vitamin K, it can be injected, or smoked (the high effect hits faster). It is also known as Monkey Mix or Monkey Business when mixed with Cocaine and MDMA. It gives hallucinatory effects that last upto 15 minutes and total experience(high) that lasts to 2 hours.

4)Rohypnol- when mixed with alcohol, the individual can't remember events they experience under the drug influence.

5)Methamphetamine (speed/meth), methamphetamine hydrocholoride (ice,crystal- to smoke): Function - increased libido (increase need for sex, enabling prolonged sexual activities, 6x less likely to use condom),euphoria (very high state of happiness) and is addictive. Chocolate dosed with meth is called Fliegerschokolade/Panzerschokolade.

6)LSD (Lysergic Acis Diethylamide): gives you mood swings, flashbacks, hallucinations- distortion of reality, see images, hear sounds and feel sensations that seem real but don't exist. It is not addictive but produce tolerance if taken repeteadly- must increase dosage to achieve the same level of intoxications as before.

Addictive drugs are namely cocaine, amphetamine, heroin, morphine, methamphetamine

Now then, let's go to the most important part of what the case study is all about.

Psychedelic Trance
It emerged after Goa Trance in 1990's, originated in UK, Israel, Goa (India), and South africa.

Goa Trance is discovered in Goa, India, known as a music that is developed as a spiritual culture. During the 1990's, a lot of tourist and hippies came to Goa, India.Goa Gil (a hippie)is a pioneer of Goa Trance, alongside Laurent, Fred Disko, to name a few. The goal of Goa Trance is to have organic/cybernetic sound (psychedelic sound)and this sound is especialy good on psychedelic drugs, namely magic mushrooms, LSD, mescaline, LSA, Ayahuasca, MDMA, 2C-B, DOM, 5-MeO-DIPT, and Cannabis.

Psychedelic drugs create enhancement of the overall social and musical experience.Goa parties are usually held at unusual places like in the middle of the forest, and beaches; it is decorated with fluorescent paint, graphics of aliens, Hinduism, Shamanism, Mushroom, psychedelic imagery, and technology ( there is no wonder that Goa Trance can be prohibited in Malaysia).

Psychedelic mushroom/psilocybin/shrooms/magic mushroom/hallucinogen mushroom
-used as a shamanic/medical treatment
-recreational drugs
-results in muscular tiredness, exhaustion, relaxation, visual hallucinations, visualisation of colours upon hearing sounds( pouring water can be extremely visually stimulating), laughing for the duration of psychedelic experience, increased abilities to concentrate on memories,can concentrate on stressful matters/results in bad trip, lose touch of reality which can be intense and frustation occurs when lack of proper words to describe the experience.

Lastly, Mescaline, found in cactus species such as Peyote (discovered in Mexico) and San Pedro (discovered in Andes Mountain region of South America. It gives hallucinations effect, uncontrollable laughter, and psychedelic experience (altered state of consciousness, psychosis), euphoria. The cost of production is expensive because to produce a psychedelic trip, it needs 1/2 gram of mescaline sulfate= 2500 doses of LSD, it ranges from $100-$200 per gram (too expensive to become a popular drug)cited in mescaline.org, its hallucinations effect lasts upto 12 hours.


Now then. That was a brief case study, and for those who haven't tried out, just give it a shot, though im not encouraging it, but it's worth a try as mescaline, shrooms and LSD are non-addictive drugs and for those who love psychedelic trance, the experience is an unbelievable one! given a chance, yeah, I'll be gone to South America, Goa and Europe to experience the difference with the all-natural chemical substances :P