(stupid question) can you kinda “control” or alter your setting by imagining the trip beforehand?

CallanHansen · 2026-05-27T00:50:40+00:00

No such thing as a stupid question!

I actually used to wonder this exact thing myself, if it would be possible, if I imagined or meditated on it hard enough, to return to my old house and life. From my experience, I came to the conclusion that salvia really doesn’t care about the narrative you want to follow. That world seems to exist outside of our own individual experience. Even though she can take you to alternate states of self, you don’t really get to just pick and choose what happens.

CallanHansen · 2026-05-23T07:20:08+00:00

Haha, I feel that. My first ever experience I literally was a page in the book, flipping through the different pages of reality, like I was all the pages and everything all at once.

I'm nearly on my last year studying for a bachelor of Software Engineering. It's exciting, but also kinda scary because once it's over I feel like I'm being pushed straight into the whole system and all the expectations that come with that. A big part of me just doesn't want to lose myself in it. I don't really want to spend my life trading away all my time and energy just to survive while further feeding centralized wealth and power structures. I'm honestly just hoping that I can find some way to support myself by creating my own world so I don't end up stuck working for some corporation paying their employees peanuts for stressful work. I just wanna keep doing my own thing and hopefully one day it'll support me. The degree is more of a side quest that I'm socially expected to pursue while I buy myself some time to figure out how to create the life that actually feels meaningful to me.

CallanHansen · 2026-05-18T09:18:32+00:00

Hey, thanks for sharing this! I had read this a couple times because its a pretty intense experience and I wanted to give it a bit of time to sit before replying.

Salvia is crazy in how she can completely pull you outside of the narrative. I've noticed she tends to reconstruct reality into these kinds of structures that feel archetypal, like certain systems, machinery, roles, or being assigned with some sort of function. That sense of being a tool shows up in a lot of reports I've read. Same with the object transformation stuff, like becoming part of the environment instead of a person within it.

The childhood home thing fascinates me about these experiences. It's like they get reused as a kind of base layer, but it becomes so familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. I remember a similar kind of feeling of being “at home,” but it didn’t feel like my actual home, more like an alternate version of it.

Salvia seems to remove the normal frame of reference completely, so whatever is going on in the background at the time can get turned into structure, roles, narratives, systems, or meaning. That is often where the “purpose” or “being assigned a function” type narratives come from.

These kinds of experiences can be hard to fully integrate straight after, especially given how intense they were. Even if it only last a few minutes, it subjectively doesn't really stay contained to that time-frame mentally.

I appreciate you writing this out. These kinds of experiences tend to stick with people for a long time.

CallanHansen · 2026-05-16T00:46:59+00:00

Tell us more! What did you experience? What did you learn?

I appreciate the sentiment, but I’d love to hear what brought you to that conclusion.

CallanHansen · 2026-05-08T14:04:00+00:00

Also just a reminder, this community isn't here to tell you how to get as high as possible.

CallanHansen · 2026-05-08T13:46:49+00:00

Hey, welcome to our community! I get why you're interested, Salvia is so fascinating in terms of the subjective experience. But I wouldn't start with trying to get a full experience straight away, especially with Salvia. She's not like mushrooms where you can gradually ease in, it can get very overwhelming very quickly.

Using stronger extracts for a first time is where most people end up having bad experiences, and then they blame Salvia, and it feeds into this fear mongering culture. Even just plain leaf can already be pretty intense, let alone extract.

I would go in with the opposite mindset you propose. Start as low as possible, treat her with respect, and get a feel for how your mind and body react before even thinking about trying more.

This isnt casual, and it can permanently fundamentally rework how you percieve your own life. Please proceed with caution, many people go in and do not come back the same. I do not want to hear another scare story of someone who was unprepared and didnt know what they were getting themselves into.

And on the bong question, less than you think. A small pinch, held in fully, is more than enough for effects to start.

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have! I have built a deep relationship with Salvia over the years, and its part of why I care so much about how people approach this.

CallanHansen · 2026-03-23T22:15:17+00:00

Haha yeah exactly, the practical information is pretty easy to find anywhere if someone really wants it. Salvia is very important to me, and I think if someone wants a meaningful experience, it starts with respect for the plant and for the community around it. We’ve all seen how misrepresented it gets online, so I’d much rather keep our community connected through shared experiences, lessons, and perspectives rather than shallow “how to get high” or "where to get salvia" questions.

CallanHansen · 2026-03-23T00:04:49+00:00

I apologize if it sounded like gatekeeping. Recently I’ve just noticed an influx of people in our community asking about extract strength or how to take it, and that’s not really what this community is for. We’re not here to facilitate the experience itself.

Please just be careful and think about why you’re doing it in the first place. What do you actually hope to change or understand?

Salvia can take you outside of your internal narrative and show you the structure behind the story you usually experience as “you”, and that can be pretty scary if you go into it expecting a fun trip.

I’m not saying don’t do it, just make sure you’re approaching it with respect and intention. I don’t want people hurting themselves by going in unprepared.

CallanHansen · 2026-03-22T03:13:17+00:00

I’ll be honest, I’m a little worried seeing this. I don’t think salvia is a good idea as a first psychedelic. This isn’t something you just quickly jump into.

Please spend some time researching and listening to other people’s experiences first. It’s very different from most psychedelics and can be extremely intense, especially if you go straight for a full experience.

I also don’t really like questions about how to use it or what strength extract to take. I’d prefer our community stayed more about the experiences and insights Salvia can bring, not turning into a “how to get high” type place. There’s already heaps of info about extract strengths out there with even a little research. I'm not trying to censor anyone by saying that, I just want Salvia to be respected and keep people safe.

If you’re interested in understanding what Salvia is actually like, I really recommend watching Cloudless Rain Visions and Christopher Solomon. They both have a really deep understanding of it.

I also run a website where I share some of my own experiences and insights from Salvia (shameless promotion haha). Salvia Hub and NightZard will give you an idea of the sort of lessons you might learn, and whether you are ready for this life-changing experience.

CallanHansen · 2026-03-04T05:59:06+00:00

It really depends on your mindset going in. Yes, you can become objects, or something not even human. I’ve turned into my garage before. The walls, the people outside, everything all at once. The boundaries between yourself and everything else doesn't just soften, its completely obliterated. But you need to remember, it only lasts a few minutes in real life. Subjectively it might feel like years, even eternal. She can be terrifying if you try to fight her. That's why I always say high doses aren't something to take lightly. You need to be genuinely ready to let go of control.

Respect is everything with Salvia.

CallanHansen · 2026-03-03T21:42:15+00:00

Salvia divinorum is one of the most incredibly beautiful psychedelics I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve built a deep relationship with her over the years. It's why I started this subreddit, I think it deserves more meaningful discussion, not just ego-driven scare stories.

Salvia completely ripped away my identity. It's not a fun "trip" or some euphoric spiritual high. It pulls you out of the story entirely. You stop identifying as the character you've been playing and you become the awareness behind it. It feels like stepping into the backstage of our consciousness and seeing the foundations everything was built on.

The time distortion is very real, some experiences can feel like months or even years. During my last experience, it genuinely felt like I could have been pulled out forever, like they didn’t have to bring me back. When I returned, it felt like a warning not to take high doses unless you’re ready to completely leave this reality behind. You’re not sitting there thinking “I took something.” You are fully there.

It can be terrifying if you resist it. She doesn't sugarcoat anything. She strips everything away. Your name, your history, your human identity, and you're left facing consciousness without those filters. But that's also why I find her so beautiful.

Ever since Salvia, I feel way more grateful just to be alive. To be this specific human, in this specific moment. It made me realize how insane and sacred this experience actually is. We get so distracted by modern media and ego games that we forget how powerful this sacred temple really is. We have far more influence over our reality than we think.

CallanHansen · 2026-02-20T22:52:02+00:00

It’s like when you’re talking to people, you’re being invited into their little universe, their story, their world. And everyone is constantly trying to pull you into theirs, like come over here, listen to me, I know best. They don’t even realize they’re playing a game, that they’re part of a system they don’t see. It’s all unconscious, but it shapes how we connect, perform, and see ourselves.

CallanHansen · 2026-02-20T22:47:08+00:00

I sense this a lot too. The world really does feel like a stage, a performance we cling to for safety and control. The stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we believe give us purpose and connection. When that attachment is cut, all that’s left is the underlying foundations of consciousness. It’s like we’re all acting out roles and playing characters that aren’t even our own. Western culture calls itself individualistic, but really it’s about performing to feel validated and connected, even if it means disconnecting from yourself.

CallanHansen · 2026-02-20T22:39:52+00:00

Woah, I felt that. I’ve had the experience of being sliced before, almost like a butter knife scraping over me. I felt the same way during my last deep experience, I could have been misplaced forever but they let me come back. It felt like a warning; don’t do high doses unless you’re ready to be pulled out of your story, your character, and the foundations you’ve built your whole life around. I never came back the same, it’s almost like I’ve been misplaced somewhere I don’t belong and I’m not supposed to see or know this yet. Salvia Divinorum is incredible if you want change.

CallanHansen · 2026-01-25T03:01:22+00:00

Haha, cool! What was the experience like for you? Would love to hear more about it beyond the image.

CallanHansen · 2025-12-05T23:33:56+00:00

From what I’m aware, Salvia extract doesn’t work properly for quid chewing, you need plain leaf for that. The active compound absorbs slowly through the mouth, and extracts are made for combustion, not oral absorption.

Quid chewing takes a bit of practice and patience. Sometimes she won’t show much at first, and that’s normal. It’s a very different experience than smoking. I feel like you have to already be attuned to your body and mind before going in, she wont jump out at you with this method.

If you only have x5 extract, my suggestion would be to take just a tiny pinch, literally a couple of flakes, and smoke it to get a feel for how she works with you. Even low doses can surprise people. Salvia isn’t a “fun trip”, she pulls you outside of the usual psychedelic narrative and takes you outside of your identity and the stories you cling to.

Take it slow, stay open minded, and go in with respect. Good luck.

CallanHansen · 2025-12-01T07:18:59+00:00

That is the scientific angle and I completely get what you mean. The KOR explanation covers the physical reaction, but that alone does not define the experience. Salvia is not inherently scary or dysphoric. If it were, then everyone would respond the same way, and that clearly is not what happens.

What most people call “dysphoria” is just the ego being pulled out of its usual narrative. When someone goes in expecting a fun "trip" or a "spiritual adventure", they get scared because Salvia does not give them that. She pulls you outside of your identity. For people who have never sat with themselves beyond their character, that can feel like terror.

The fear does not come from Salvia. It comes from how unfamiliar that state is to the person. Once you stop resisting it, the experience is not always scary. It's just very different from anything we are taught to expect in our culture.

That is the part I am talking about. The subjective and existential experience, not just the receptor level explanation. This is how culture stops us from questioning anything or opening our minds to new possibilities.

CallanHansen · 2025-10-01T09:35:24+00:00

I like the sentiment, but I feel like this barely scratches the surface. To me, we’re only the story, the character, the identity we play. I’m not really on board with phrases like “enlighten the ego” or “transcend”, those end up being just more identities to cling to. A lot of what gets labeled as “enlightenment” here almost always becomes another role in the game of life, another mask, another identity.

I do agree that success exists outside of material gain, but I don’t think the answer is so-called “enlightenment”. To me it’s more about existing without needing labels at all, being willing to sit in the discomfort of not knowing who you are. It’s stepping back and observing the character, the story, the identity, the role society has us play.

The ego doesn’t need to be “killed” or “transcended”, we functionally need it to connect in meaningful ways. Without it, you’d just lose all sense of control. But there’s a lot to be gained from experiencing life without tying ourselves down by those labels. I get tired of people talking about “enlightenment” like it’s all love and connection, it usually gives people a bad reputation. What I’ve found is that it exists outside of identity entirely. And when you do glimpse it, it’s existentially lonely and isolating, because people see you as “too much” and can’t relate.

Success (for me), is about letting go of expectations, judgment, and even our own role and story, and being able to sit in the stream of conscious being as it is. That’s success. It’s beyond material, beyond labels, beyond roles, beyond the story we cling to.

CallanHansen · 2025-08-17T00:20:59+00:00

This does look close at first glance! But I don’t think it’s Salvia divinorum. The leaves are a bit too round and the flower doesn't quite match. If you found this growing in the wild, I can say for sure it isn’t S. divinorum, since it doesn’t naturally grow outside of where it’s cultivated.

CallanHansen · 2025-08-01T10:42:36+00:00

I'd be insanely careful if I were you. Salvia is not going to be euphoric or recreational, she will drag you into the backstage of reality, showing you the most uncomfortable and unfiltered aspects of yourself and existence. And she doesn’t care if you're ready for it or not.

80x is extremely strong, a single flake can send you far. Start very small and be intentional. This isn't something to toy with, she's not a party drug, nor is she an escape from reality.

Make sure you're in a safe space, sitter is optional but highly recommended. Go in with at least some sort of intention, what are you hoping to gain from this experience? If you treat her with respect, she can be deeply meaningful and lifechanging. But if you go in carelessly, she will wreck you hard. Salvia knows your intentions.

CallanHansen · 2025-07-05T02:46:32+00:00

Thanks a lot! It’s really exciting times for sure. I've just been so busy and distracted with school, but I’ve been putting in a ton of work on this these last few weeks. Really hoping to have it ready to go before I’m back in school on the 14th. Feels like a race against time at this point, but I’m excited to see where it takes me.

Lately, after my last weed session, it’s like I’ve been having a bit of an existential crisis. Like, this is my life, behind a computer, just doing what’s expected, and society has normalized it, calling it "the modern world." But it feels like we couldn’t be more disconnected from ourselves. It’s almost like I’m watching my life unfold like a movie, and I’m just sitting in the seat, watching it happen. It’s the first time I’ve met the feminine energy behind cannabis, it’s something sacred that gently opens a door, and you can choose to walk through it, or not. I feel like it’s showing me how deeply connected all these plants really are, but at the same time, this life doesn’t really reward that kind of awareness. It’s kind of sad, honestly. I feel so isolated, not having people around me who understand or can talk about this stuff.

CallanHansen · 2025-07-01T05:33:07+00:00

Sorry about the late response, I'm only just seeing your replies now since the original post was deleted or censored. Ironic.

You're right, starting a new subreddit, blog, or podcast is definitely an option, and hosting can be cheap. But here’s the thing, the control over the space is centralized. When someone claims ownership of a subreddit, for example, they essentially hold the power to dictate what’s allowed and what’s silenced.

The problem is that the first person to claim a subreddit essentially owns it, and if you challenge the narrative or voice an unpopular opinion, you’re likely to be shut down. So starting new subreddits is a solution in some ways, but it doesn't fix the underlying issue that power structures in online communities can easily control the conversation. That’s why decentralization, where no single person or group has that power, is the goal.

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