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PSYCHEDELICS - Sciencemadness.org

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36___________<br />

____________________________________________________ Psychedelics<br />

mouth was a mammoth cavern and I seemed to be able to<br />

visualize the mastication, the swallowing, and the descent of<br />

the apple pulp through the esophagus. Following a sudden<br />

urge to take advantage of this heightened sensory ability, I<br />

groped my way toward the kitchen. Strong waves of distinct<br />

aromas swept into my head through huge, yawning nostrils.<br />

Thyme, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, all at once and yet separately,<br />

registered themselves upon my consciousness. Impulsively,<br />

I swallowed some vanilla. This was a mistake.<br />

"Vanilla is to be smelled, but not tasted," I announced with<br />

profundity.<br />

I tested my tactile sensitivity. I worked my way back to<br />

the couch and found Alice. My exploration of the softness of<br />

the sweater and the warmth of her flesh was an ecstatic sensual<br />

experience. However, it was devoid of sexuality, devoid<br />

of passion. While on the couch, the stimulation of touch became<br />

less important to me as I began to experience the dichotomous<br />

sensation of sinking into the cushions and yet floating<br />

slightly above them.<br />

It was at this point that I became aware of the music from<br />

the phonograph. I was hearing the music as I had never heard<br />

it before. The composer, the counterpoint, the arrangement<br />

were unimportant. Only the sheer beauty of each individual<br />

tone mattered. I was listening to the music vertically rather<br />

than horizontally.<br />

The visual sense provided additional surprises. Virtually<br />

every item in range of my vision was transformed. The<br />

alarm clock was a work of art from a Cellini studio. Alice's<br />

gaudy jewelry was on loan from the Empress Josephine. The<br />

faces of my companions radiated light. Auras shone about<br />

their bodies. For just a moment I felt an inexpressible kinship<br />

with them.<br />

Steve muttered something and broke the spell. His utterances<br />

seemed superficial and inappropriate. Words were<br />

useless; speech was a waste of time. I headed for an adjoining<br />

bedroom. I could not walk, as my large body muscles<br />

failed to respond to my orders. I found myself creeping along<br />

the floor into the dimly lit room.<br />

My visual perception was still astounding me. Pieces of<br />

lint on my trousers sparkled like lustrous sequins. A painting

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