I took a fair number of trips when I was 16 and I think it literally brought my consciousness online. There was a pretty stark contrast between the me before who who just wanted to play video games and hang out with friends, and the me after who was overwhelmed by natural beauty and my smallness in relation to the vastness around me. It might have been responsible for the next 5+ years of my life where I shirked school/career in favor of delving pretty deep into hallucinogens and a hippy type lifestyle in search of some "Truth".
I don't know if it was just timing and it jump started a natural part of aging, or if it triggered something that would not have occurred otherwise. Either way it definitely did a number on my 16 year old brain, still unsure if it was a net positive or negative.
The sad part is they don't have such a profound effect on me anymore, it can still be pretty interesting but the life altering trips seem to be reserved for the first few times. My only expectation from them now is to feel nice and have some pleasant visuals. I don't approach it seeking some lesson or greater truth, just have a nice time, which is maybe the final lesson lol.
I don't know if it was just timing and it jump started a natural part of aging, or if it triggered something that would not have occurred otherwise. Either way it definitely did a number on my 16 year old brain, still unsure if it was a net positive or negative.
The sad part is they don't have such a profound effect on me anymore, it can still be pretty interesting but the life altering trips seem to be reserved for the first few times. My only expectation from them now is to feel nice and have some pleasant visuals. I don't approach it seeking some lesson or greater truth, just have a nice time, which is maybe the final lesson lol.