What is tripping like?

Cool that you are turned on to the aesthetic of psychedelic culture. Maybe that is enough, but your art will only be a reference if you don't dive into the pool --at least once-- to know what it is that's drawn you to this, and for you to then put it back onto canvas (or paper, whatever medium you choose). References are fine for many; Post modernism is stuffed like a fattened goose full of appropriation. If your art is solid, maybe that's enough. I don't want to tell you it's not. And to be honest, a lot of trippy and psychedelic art and "Visionary Art" (urg! I hate that name) is full of cliche and, well, basic illustration. And loads of those peeps have tripped, so it's not like a tiny piece of paper is going to guaranntee you more insight than asking a bunch of redditors.

But honestly, I don't think you can get much deeper into it than a surface treatment if you don't do the deed. Like the Seargeant said, like describing sunrise to a blind man... though I would like to add that it's not so much what one sees with their eyes. It's what you see with your mind, with your being. And that is harder to describe that pareidolia and apophenia, textures and patterns, enhanced colours and things seeming to breathe. Which to me is still harder to desrib than light difraction which to me is one of the most beautiful things there is (even from a street lamp by a park!) but all that is easier than explaininhg the instant-zen mind-detergent which can shake the caked-on dirt and gunk and help you see, I mean really see.... that there's the secret sauce.

No anecdotes will give you the experience, just more reference notes of other people's trips. Which might be OK for you. Personally (took 7 years to get my BFA graduated art schol 23 years ago) it's not enough for my art to ever not be involved in whatever my content is (not always psychedelic).

Now a terrible mindset is a tough one---- are you very depressed? introvert? dealing with some ptsds or other traumas? Cause LSD can be very helpful with those! On the other hand do you have family history of schizophrenia or are you yourslf borderline? Or are you BiPolar? if yes to the last two, maybe it's good that you don't drop acid. And if you can't but still wanna experince some of the visuals and mentals--- maybe you can do some breathwork it takes a lot more work, but well worth it (arguably more worth it) like maybe take a few months (minimum) of Pranayama yoga... but really, if you're not suffering from or borderline or family history of serious mental disorders, you probably will be fine. Just also have a trip-sitter, if possible, one who has gone through it already....

/r/LSD Thread