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146 * SET, SETTING, AND DMT urgency or haste; a swift or violent movement." Almost without thinking, several volunteers blurted out, as effects began, "Here we go!" Some com- pared this feeling to a "freight train," "ground zero," or a "nuclear cannon." Several people reported that the "breath caught in my throat" or "the wind was knocked out of me." Those who previously had smoked DMT were at an advantage in being able to anticipate its disorienting onset. However, they believed the rush of ['V DMT was more rapid and powerful than that of the smoked method. Nearly everyone remarked on the "vibrations" brought on by DMT, the sense of powerful energy pulsing through them at a very rapid and high frequency. Typical comments were: "I was worried that the vibration would blow my head up," "The colors and vibration were so intense I thought I would pop," "I didn't think I would stay in my skin." This tidal wave of DMT effects quickly led to losing awareness of the body, causing some volunteers to think they had died. This dissociation of body and mind paralleled the development of peak visual effects. We typically heard phrases like: "I no longer had a body," "My body dis- solved—I was pure awareness." There seemed to be a clearly identifiable sense of movement of consciousness away from the body, such as "fall- ing," "lifting up," "flying," a feeling of weightlessness, or rapid movement. Some male volunteers, but no females, experienced localized sensations in their genitals. While sometimes these were pleasurable, for others they were emotionally neutral or bland. No one ejaculated. The rush of early effects almost inevitably caused some fear and anxi- ety. However, most volunteers quickly settled in to the experience within 15 to 30 seconds by deep breathing, physical relaxation, or whatever else they knew would help them to deeply let go. Perhaps because of their previous psychedelic experience, they frequently could separate their emotions from their body's physical reaction without panicking. Visual images were the predominant sensory effects of a full dose of DMT. Usually there was little difference between what volunteers "saw" with their eyes opened or closed. However, opening the eyes often caused the visions to overlay what was in the room. This had a disorienting effect, and it was less confusing to keep their eyes closed. That's one of the rea-