My Entheogens

of all my entheogens
not one nerfs my edges

not as i take them

not as they portray them

so yes, i am stoned constantly
but yet, i remain knife sharp
focused and thorough
with a whole mind
and a full heart

and with great confidence 

i accept danger
often and on the regular

for my real high in this life
is riding tall on the sharp edges
of massive mountains

confidently

remaining coherent within
very intense conversations

learning with vigor

and being interested

in my own nature

and feeling everything in the in-betweens

that my mother nature has to offer me

with a unique and profound sensitivity

    i am awake 

so as i like it
so i will do it

as only i have control
over this body i call mine

only i can know

the limits of what i call my own mind

and my judgement is sound

      you can trust me

for now

Author's Note

Reviews

[AYVID N]

To each their own is what I think here. Any chemical not intrinsic to the brain cells that alters/elevates brain activity is a drug and drugs do have at least some side effects, especially if taken heavily and/or long term. But then there are so many variables that go into the whole complex equation/interaction. Like Pot (if as in cannabis) hits the hippocampus, affects memory and release of feel good chemicals in the brain yet the damage is relative and varies from person to person and perhaps for some negligible, if at all.

I used to take Alprazolam, quite regularly to sleep, if tensed and also for recreational purpose on weekends but I felt it was interfering with my natural brain chemistry so I have almost quit now.

The bottom line is to avoid addiction at all costs.

[Davidgeo]

Some drugs will ruin your life. But it's usually a personality trait that controls the benefits of others (heroin, cocaine, meth, etc.. are drugs that should never be done recreationally).
Smoking weed is exponentially less risky than Xanax with just about the same medicinal effects. I've tried all of the anti anxiety meds, weeds a little better. But that's all up to individual brain chemistry. I would never pretend to say what will objectively work better or worse for someone else.

Taken the right way, most mind altering drugs can expand your mind and allow you to think about things you wouldn't otherwise consider.

But at the end of the day, without discipline and personal responsibility any drug can ruin anybody's life.

Alcohol is one of the most destructive drugs known to man... everyone does it though. What is legal is not always what's right.

[AYVID N]

Xanax actually kills brain cells, they say. That sounds awful. If I take alprax, I find I can't think or write a line the next day.

I agree about alcohol though. It's a very repulsive thing for what it does to the human body. Yet a socially acceptable form of self-destruction. There's a documentary "Rain in my Heart'. So profound.

[Davidgeo]

I know of this documentary. Four different drunks... and the destruction problem drinking can cause. Everyone who lives in a drinking culture should watch that at a young age.

It's a tough one to watch but only because it's so good at depicting a tough subject.

[AYVID N]

Wow. You've seen it. That too....

[Delmar Cooper]

"Do as thou will shall be the whole of the law." So take whatever is at hand to without regard to which class the drug falls.

[KWP]

geez man - you just described me - we are so alike :D I often think in this same thought pattern - we are here to live right ? actually live! I am not a fan of small talk, I'd prefer to be alone and think it out, but for those few who offer true and real and learning conversation I hold on to - well for as long as it takes. I don't feel this one is about the entheogens but what comes after - the awakening. I think there are some who are ready to be open and accept the knowledge - all the knowledge to become fluid, adapt-able and awake. This people know who they are without ego - life is not as hard for them because its all about acceptance and adaptability ... you know my friend and I started a new site called 'the in-between' for exactly your stream of thought here ... I like the nooks, I love the crevasses ... did you ever read 'Into The Void' ? Joe Simpson, the climber - great book - one big crevasse!

of course for some, drugs are not the way - but for others they can lead into a pool of knowledge and creativity originally untapped - and I see there ain't nothing wrong with that.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

I read your poem and do like it David
is that your name? Its a strong poem with bits of you in it and i like honesty in a person and rawness of character portrayed here. I cannot see the sense in writing if it is not true, although I do like some non fiction as well. I like your poem thats all i can say and yes I was in an alcohol relationship very heavy less than 4 years ago for a stretch of several years. I miss it and am sober now I only stopped drinking due to a health condition (heart) and that is probably Karma you get what you put into your body in later years in a different way (disease) so yes to each their own but I know I wouldnot of got this heart condition which stops me from drinking if I HADNT drank so heavily several years ago, but then again I dont have the answer to any addiction I am also slightly addicted to playing powerball weekly (I dont do slot machines or poker machines).
so really I have seen 2 addictions in my life and they all have consequences. I f I could live my life over no I would not drink and No i would not play the powerball or lotteries. I would be a lot wiser having seen heart disease and also being broke on pay weeks. As I said I like your poem David

[Davidgeo]

Yes, David is my real name.

Alcohol is an ugly drug when it gets out of hand. And you know the health risks are significant; which is why I'll always prefer marijuana over alcohol any day of the week. I'm glad your sober, that's not an easy task and the potential for relapse is always there. Stay strong, stay positive, stay sober.

Gambling addictions are also bad... but it sounds like it's more of an annoyance than a debilitating addiction. You probably still spend far less on that than you did on alcohol when you were drinking.

It sounds like you have an addictive personality, if that's the only thing you're doing I'd say you're doing alright. You already know how much worse it could be.

Thanks for your thoughtful review and I'm glad you liked this poem. Not all of them are very good but I think this one has a decent message that is personal to me.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

Yes maybe an addictive personality yes I have had other addictions over the years which I am not ready to share yet, but one of them was home shopping which also left me broke and fighting with my then husband lol
there were other addictions which i cannot share but one day maybe thankyou

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

ps goes without saying addicted to writers cafe, writing and making up and judging comps here

[Chris Shaw]

I say each to their own, but I have to say I worry that some people will become addicted. I have seen first hand the results of drug addictions and how they can decimate families. Death, illness, violence, children taken into care. I have not seen any positive traits at all. You say you are constantly stoned and yet you remain sharp as a knife? I do actually believe that cannabis should be legalised for the use of medical conditions.(It may be legal where you are anyway) I have heard that it can make a huge difference to the daily living of some with conditions such as epilepsy and MS. If that makes your daily living more bearable and tolerable, who am I to judge? If it actually makes people appreciate and enjoy life instead of hating it and feeling fearful about their future, then maybe I would do the same in their shoes. You always make me think hard with your writes, and I am not naturally a deep thinker. You call it brain gymnastics. Mine certainly needs a work out. Your poetry takes people to places, sometimes out of their comfort zone.maybe that's good.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

Addiction is a risk with a lot of things. Even things that have nothing to do with drugs like porn or video games or even social media. There are personalities that are always going to be prone to excessively use things to their detriment. That being said, there are drugs that should never be taken recreationally, ever, like cocaine, meth, heroin, morphine, etc.. Some drugs are addicting no matter what kind of personality you have. It says I'm stoned all the time in that poem but it was kind of an exaggeration. I like to smoke weed but not so much during the day or if I'm doing something very dangerous. I find that cannabis is far less damaging than prescription anti depressants and anti anxiety meds. I've taken most of them at one point in time or another and without fail they all significantly changed my personality to the point where I didn't even recognize myself. Marijuana doesn't do that, you get the benefits and you get to keep your identity without turning into a shell of your original self. It's just the psychological benefits that I use it for, as you mentioned there are serious physical ailments that it also helps with very little side effects compared to other meds. Scientists have been able to isolate the active individual compounds into pill form so the patient doesn't get high in any way, shape or form. It's about the same as taking over the counter Tylenol.

A lot of the violence that surrounds drugs is due to it being an unregulated black market enterprise run by criminals for profit and pursued by law enforcement with vigilance. Making anything illegal is going to create that kind of environment. Organized crime rose to power in America directly as a result of the prohibition of alcohol in 1920 through 1933.

And I think definitely... stepping outside of your comfort zone is always a good thing. It's how we grow and find things out about ourselves we wouldn't otherwise be able to.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you David.