Welcome to the Psychedelic Blog. I write about the Impact of Psychedelics on Grieving, Relationships, Culture & Death. This week, I'm exploring the reasons that you might be ready to meet the toad. The active ingredient in the toad is 5-MeO-DMT. Known as the world’s most powerful Psychedelic, it goes by many names—Bufo, Sapito, Five MeO, and simply, the Toad. For the sake of consistency & simplicity in this piece, I will refer to it as the Toad.
Thanks for the piece. I was contemplating experiencing the toad and there are some great clarifying insights. However, what you said here was worth the read.
"We only get one life. It’s a reality that many seem to forget. When I’m out in the world, I sense that too many people are lost in the grind of future plans, real estate purchases, career & relationship choices, and other pursuits. Endless conversations revolve around what’s next. This leads to a wasted life, constantly preoccupied with what’s to come."
The Sonoran toad species is endangered in some areas and threatened in others. Please promote conservation efforts with your voice! A synthetic version is equally as powerful and causes no harm to the species.
Appreciate where you may be coming from with regards to nuance, i.e. animal spirit etc. However, not just one article nor solely Hamilton’s influence. I must have missed where your prior discussion is located - interested in your take. Thank you.
Wonderful post and I appreciate the words of caution when approaching Toad. I recently came across someone on a different platform who was thinking about communing with Toad as their first psychedelic experience. I shared my concern that this may not be the best medicine to begin with, but each person must walk their own path. On a personal note, my experience with Toad (technically Jaguar) was both transcendent and destabilizing, but in a good way.
I am inherently skeptical of anyone giving blanket advice about these powerful medicines online. I do my best to share my experiences & insights with caution.
Transcendent & destabilizing is the perfect description of what the Toad can catalyze. Beautiful.
I'm learning a lot about psychedelic use from your work Andrew. While I have given many talks to psychedelic users and facilitators about the risk of amplifying narcissism and saviour burnout, I have not worked with any psychedelic or mind altering substance to enter into altered states. Thankfully, I have a naturally occurring mechanism via spiritual practices, prayer and meditation that does that for me (not within my control). I have found what you described about being ungrounded and remaining in expanded states after a big spiritual/mystical experience that can contribute to a sense of powerfulness and grandiosity. When in those places, I would allow the clarity of mind to make decisions that were ultimately destabilising because they were not informed by a grounded reality, but a visionary future that I wanted to make manifest NOW.
I appreciate your messages about the necessity of returning to baseline reality (and to have the supports to ensure that you're grounded) to make good choices informed by the transcendent insights.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and for the important work you’re doing. Your insights on the risks of amplifying narcissism & savior burnout are incredibly valuable.
I’m humbled that you find value in my work—it means a lot coming from someone with your depth of understanding. I completely resonate with what you shared about the challenges of grounding after powerful experiences.
Thank you again for engaging and for the wisdom you bring to this space!
Cool. I had salvia divinorum still in my system when I smoked Changa so it was super intense. A part of me died that day and I needed months to process. I guess every medicine is slightly different for everyone. Thanks for sharing ❤️
It’s been about a year and a half since my experience with the toad and integrating the experience continues to be a wild ride. I was in a really stable and grounded place in life, as you suggest, which I agree is important. Still I’ve been shocked to see how many things have fallen away in my life since then, as they revealed themselves to be out of alignment. One of my favorite parts is that I see myself looking within for answers much more now, rather than buying into gurus selling ideologies.
The MOST OVERRATED EXPERIENCE IN “ Psychedelic Experiences “. Why ? Because you go into A WHITE CLOUD for 15 to 25 minutes with no AGENCY or ABILITY to SHAPE SHIFT REALITY.
IT WAS WONDERFUL PEACEFUL EXPERIENCE TO BE IN A WHITE CLOUD STATE. BUT NO SORCERY LIKE PEYOTE ( Shimmering Heart in Nahuatl) or TEONANACOATL ( Flesh of God ) .
Why would you go AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN INTO THE WHITE CLOUD. BORING.
Also, can I dm you a question I don’t want to post here?
Here is fine! Whatever you prefer.
Have you ever looked into the work of Dr. Britton Willoughby at the cheetah house?
Not familiar!
Thanks for the piece. I was contemplating experiencing the toad and there are some great clarifying insights. However, what you said here was worth the read.
"We only get one life. It’s a reality that many seem to forget. When I’m out in the world, I sense that too many people are lost in the grind of future plans, real estate purchases, career & relationship choices, and other pursuits. Endless conversations revolve around what’s next. This leads to a wasted life, constantly preoccupied with what’s to come."
Thanks
Cristiano
Thanks, man! Really appreciate the thoughtful comment.
The Sonoran toad species is endangered in some areas and threatened in others. Please promote conservation efforts with your voice! A synthetic version is equally as powerful and causes no harm to the species.
Thank you for sharing this.
I’ve covered this topic extensively and have interviewed leading 5-MeO-DMT experts multiple times.
Relying on a single article and making assumptions often leads to overlooking critical context & nuance.
Appreciate where you may be coming from with regards to nuance, i.e. animal spirit etc. However, not just one article nor solely Hamilton’s influence. I must have missed where your prior discussion is located - interested in your take. Thank you.
Wonderful post and I appreciate the words of caution when approaching Toad. I recently came across someone on a different platform who was thinking about communing with Toad as their first psychedelic experience. I shared my concern that this may not be the best medicine to begin with, but each person must walk their own path. On a personal note, my experience with Toad (technically Jaguar) was both transcendent and destabilizing, but in a good way.
Thank you!
I am inherently skeptical of anyone giving blanket advice about these powerful medicines online. I do my best to share my experiences & insights with caution.
Transcendent & destabilizing is the perfect description of what the Toad can catalyze. Beautiful.
I'm learning a lot about psychedelic use from your work Andrew. While I have given many talks to psychedelic users and facilitators about the risk of amplifying narcissism and saviour burnout, I have not worked with any psychedelic or mind altering substance to enter into altered states. Thankfully, I have a naturally occurring mechanism via spiritual practices, prayer and meditation that does that for me (not within my control). I have found what you described about being ungrounded and remaining in expanded states after a big spiritual/mystical experience that can contribute to a sense of powerfulness and grandiosity. When in those places, I would allow the clarity of mind to make decisions that were ultimately destabilising because they were not informed by a grounded reality, but a visionary future that I wanted to make manifest NOW.
I appreciate your messages about the necessity of returning to baseline reality (and to have the supports to ensure that you're grounded) to make good choices informed by the transcendent insights.
Thank you as well for tagging me!
Thank you for sharing your perspective and for the important work you’re doing. Your insights on the risks of amplifying narcissism & savior burnout are incredibly valuable.
I’m humbled that you find value in my work—it means a lot coming from someone with your depth of understanding. I completely resonate with what you shared about the challenges of grounding after powerful experiences.
Thank you again for engaging and for the wisdom you bring to this space!
Very interesting. Sounds intense. How does the toad compare to "Changa/Dmt"? ❤️
Changa is a beautiful medicine but nowhere near as intense as the toad.
On a scale of 1-10, I’d put Changa at a 6 or 7. The toad is a 10.
5-MeO-DMT is a rocket ship to the source of all creation.
Cool. I had salvia divinorum still in my system when I smoked Changa so it was super intense. A part of me died that day and I needed months to process. I guess every medicine is slightly different for everyone. Thanks for sharing ❤️
Sounds beautiful 🙏🏻
It’s been about a year and a half since my experience with the toad and integrating the experience continues to be a wild ride. I was in a really stable and grounded place in life, as you suggest, which I agree is important. Still I’ve been shocked to see how many things have fallen away in my life since then, as they revealed themselves to be out of alignment. One of my favorite parts is that I see myself looking within for answers much more now, rather than buying into gurus selling ideologies.
Love this...thank you so much for sharing!
It’s fascinating what transpires after a journey with the toad—things that no longer serve us naturally fall away from our lives.
As our intuition & awareness elevate, our reliance on external factors diminishes. Beautiful.
Great piece. I’m equal parts compelled & scared of the toad. It’s a matter of when, not if for me. You’ve given me a lot to consider
Thanks, brother.
It's one helluva ride. When done safely, it can be life-altering in profound & beautiful ways.
The MOST OVERRATED EXPERIENCE IN “ Psychedelic Experiences “. Why ? Because you go into A WHITE CLOUD for 15 to 25 minutes with no AGENCY or ABILITY to SHAPE SHIFT REALITY.
IT WAS WONDERFUL PEACEFUL EXPERIENCE TO BE IN A WHITE CLOUD STATE. BUT NO SORCERY LIKE PEYOTE ( Shimmering Heart in Nahuatl) or TEONANACOATL ( Flesh of God ) .
Why would you go AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN INTO THE WHITE CLOUD. BORING.
Thanks for choosing me to share this opinion with.
What you articulate is vastly different from my experience and that of countless others.
I am communing with Peyote next month, look forward to sharing that experience.