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Cool. 204 * THE SESSIONS These were Rex's reasons for volunteering: "I want to explore the po- tentials of the mind, the nature of actual and perceived reality and our relationship to reality, and to God. I hope to gain at least greater self- knowledge." Rex's response to his first dose of DMT, the non-blind low dose, was sur- prisingly strong, and I knew he would be a having some powerful experi- ences the next day. At 5 minutes after the low-dose injection, he said, There was a humming sound. I couldn't tell if it was the air condi- tioner. Then [felt like I was suddenly in the presence of an alien or of aliens, vaguely humanoid. There were serpentine colors surrounding them, producing an outline of their shape. Based on my reading, I expected lepre- chauns, not anything like this. The bed was spinning, rocking, it was uncomfortable, alarming. There was some constriction in my chest. Thatfeeling then turned into the alien presence. I tried to make contact and relax into it. It seemed a lot more in control than I was. It was interested in myfear and in me. I remember that feeling from when I was a kid. When I was scared I would relax and say to myself, "The worst thing that can happen is I'll go to God" when I was afraid. I knew that the next day he would have a potentially cataclysmic encounter with the beings he had just encountered. It seemed only fair to warn him, to prepare him, as best I could, based upon other's experi- ences. Nevertheless, it felt strange to hear myself say, "They do seem interested in you, in people, especially in their feelings." He tried to sound casual, "Be ready to be dismembered tomorrow. I know that's a grim sugges- tion, but it sounds like you may be in for a fairly rough ride." I awoke nervous that next morning. How would Rex do? We both were alarmed by his reaction to a dose one-eighth of what he'd receive today. We got right down to business. He told me, "I guess I'm most afraid of the vertigo, of getting sick."