Levels of psychedelic experience
Level 1
This level produces a mild 'stoning' effect, with some visual enhancement (i.e. brighter colours). Some short term memory anomalies. Left/right brain communication changes causing music to sound 'wider'. Can be achieved with common doses of cannabis and MDMA, light doses of MDA, and light doses of psilocybin mushrooms.
Level 2
Bright colours and visuals (i.e. things start to move and breathe). Some 2-dimensional patterns become apparent upon shutting eyes. Confused or reminiscent thoughts. Change in short term memory leads to continual distractive thought patterns. Vast increase in abstract thought becomes apparent as the natural brain filter is bypassed. Can be achieved with strong doses of cannabis, light doses of LSD, light to common doses of psilocybin mushrooms, light to common doses of peyote, strong to heavy doses of MDMA, and common doses of MDA and 2C-B.
Level 3
Very obvious visuals, everything looks curved and warped, patterns and kaleidoscopes seen on walls and faces. Some mild hallucinations such as rivers flowing in wood grain or 'mother of pearl' surfaces. Closed-eye hallucinations become 3-dimensional. There is some confusing of the senses (synesthesia). Time distortions and 'moments of eternity'. Movement at times becomes extremely difficult (too much effort required). Can be achieved with common doses of LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and ayahuasca.
Level 4
Strong hallucinations, i.e. objects morphing into other objects. Destruction or multiple splittings of the ego. Things start talking to you or you find that you are feeling contradictory things simultaneously. Some loss of reality. Time becomes meaningless. Out-of-body experiences and ESP type phenomena. Blending of the senses. Can be achieved with strong doses of LSD, strong doses of psilocybin mushrooms, strong to heavy doses of peyote, and common to strong doses of ayahuasca.
Level 5
Total loss of visual connection with reality. The senses cease to function in the normal way. Total loss of ego. Merging with space, other objects or the universe. The loss of reality becomes so severe that it defies explanation. The earlier levels are relatively easy to explain in terms of measurable changes in perception and thought patterns. This level is different in that the actual universe within which things are normally perceived ceases to exist. Can be achieved with heavy doses of LSD (1,000+ µg), heavy doses of psilocybin mushrooms, strong to heavy doses of ayahuasca, common to heavy doses of DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and Salvia divinorum, and high but sub-anesthetic doses of dissociatives such as ketamine.
