Excellent article, Keith. I certainly don’t regret the trips I took when I was much younger (all macrodose trips, though back then, we didn’t have that terminology). As Aldous Huxley famously wrote about, tripping did open many doors of perception, which I think still benefit me, today.

I probably tripped a total of 12–15 times between the ages of 16 and 22. At 22 I realized that I was an alcoholic, then at 25, saw that for me, abstinence had to include all mood and mind-altering substances. Otherwise, I would eventually abuse whatever I used. Once I take something, there’s no telling what will follow.

But I can see the medicinal value of tripping for those who aren’t addicts like me, but who are suffering from a variety of maladies. For me, I’ve just learned to double-down on my discipline of daily meditation, which keeps doors of perception open for me without needing an outside stimulus — though, I don’t discount the fact that having had the benefit of having gone to certain places under the influence of acid and mescaline, I can get there more easily through natural means than I might have been able to, otherwise.

I find your approach fascinating, and liked reading about it. Thanks for a great article.