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As with Dmitri, Ben's non-blind, low-dose DMT session was relatively powerful. His high sensitivity to DMT warned us that the next day prob- went in. throat. 198 +» THE SESSIONS During one of his longest stints of employment, Ben had served as a mili- tary policeman for two years. Ben was an intense fellow—short-cropped, nearly shaven head, a muscular build, and a very direct manner. He actively sought novelty and change, so it's not surprising that in his written statement about why he wanted to participate in the New Mexico research, he replied: "I am an explorer, and I expect this will be an interesting experience." ably would be one of the biggest psychedelic experiences of his life. I told him to be ready. While a little nervous the next day, Ben was eager for his non-blind high dose to begin. I spent a little more time than usual getting him ready, advising him to try and take some big deep breaths as the DMT "You may take in a breath and have that be the last thing you remem- ber; you may not even notice the out-breath. That means you're there." Ben tried to breathe deeply as the drug was going in. Then his breath- ing settled down as he obviously fell under the influence of the drug. His heart beat visibly in his chest. At about 3 minutes, his neck showed some hives, something that had also happened to several other volunteers who had truly astonishing stories to tell us later. At 8 minutes, several total body spasms occurred, and he cleared his It was time to try and ground him. "We're going to put a blanket on you. Try to breathe into that tension if you can." He slowed his breathing and starting calming down, a big smile on his face. He stayed silent for 36 minutes, longer than most of our volun- teers, before I felt the urge to rouse him. It started with a sound. It was high-pitched like a tightly taut wire. There were four orfive ofthem. They were on mefast. As crazy as this sounds, they looked like saguaro cactus, very Peruvian in color. They were flexible, fluid, geometrical cacti. Not solid. They weren't benevolent but