Johns Hopkins researchers recently conducted a new survey into the anti-depressant qualities of DMT art – a short-acting psychedelic that offers therapeutic benefits. They reported that it resulted in extraordinarily positive improvements on well-being index tests, and noted an association with 5 methocy-, N dimethyltryptamine (5MeO DMT). Results thus revealed unexpectedly improved symptoms for those who are experiencing self-reported depression and anxiety.
5-MeO-DMT is a psychedelic that can be found in the venom of Bufo Alvarius toads, as well as plants species. Synthetically produced 5meODT has been shown to have more intense dissociative effects than its parent compound DMT with a shorter duration – making it potentially useful for clinical applications such as extinction sessions or therapeutic use against anxiety disorders like PTSD rather than longer-lasting psychedelics psilocybin and LSD which may not work due to their mild potency.
The DMT Entities
Below will further describe the entities that inhabit the DMT Art and other psychedelic realms.
The Feline Beings
Some of the DMT creatures are more tellurian. Cats play a conspicuous role, considering their ancient reputation as familiars to the supernatural and feral genius for ecological adaptation. The jaguar is important in New World shamanism; it frequently features imagery connected with ayahuasca use among Amazonians. In DMT visions the cats may be benign or auspicious, but they may also be extremely frightening as in the following classic account of intramuscular DMT injection:
The Reptile Creatures
Reptiles are reported with some regularity, especially the immaculately black variety. These snakes often have a shiny appearance and can be seen bipedal or anthropomorphic in their portrayal on DMT trips as well–snakes figure prominently among images depicting what it’s like to experience this substance type for oneself!
A number of indigenous Amazonian cultures believe that these creatures play an important role when one consumes ayahuasca. The speed of onset and the rate of DMT visions are much faster than those of ayahuasca. If one encounters visionary hostilities there is little possibility of the psychonaut getting outside assistance to intervene in the visionary experience (for example, by providing calm reassurance, or otherwise improving the subject’s psychological state).
The Insectoid beings
Some people report that they have seen insects on DMT. For some, these creatures are frightening and aggressive while for others the honeybees or bumblebees seem gentle enough to be mistaken for pets in their human’s home with nothing more than an occasional buzz from one of them landing near you as they go about whatever errands bring themselves into your life temporarily before leaving again without ever causing any harm beyond being around long enough so I could see them up close (and vice versa).
The Jester Tricksters
“Harlequin” is the name given to this curious type of zany character from 16th-century Italian comedy. They are covered with distinctive, brightly variegated triangular or diamond patterns that reference their checkerboard-like form constants (Klüver 1966) or the ‘entoptic phenomena’ of palaeolithic art (Lewis-Williams & Dowson, 1988). A psychonaut from Brisbane, Australia, reported finding himself in the presence of a clown-like being after smoking DMT.
The Aliens
DMT users are often greeted by aliens in the form of little green men. A common clichéd symptom, these beings can be encountered at any time but it is interesting to note how many people see them and then dismiss their existence as a mental illness. Some of the aliens are alien in the extreme: as much faerie as alien. These beings are described variously as ‘tykes’, ‘elves’, ‘leprechauns’, and ‘children. They are usually intensely curious, joyous, frequently shiny, friendly, and often appear sweet and innocent. They are reported to play in a rumpus-room world full of toys and outlandish machines. Although often child-like, they change form continuously and seem to bewilder, amaze, and disconcert as a matter of course:
A quick google search along the lines of “DMT trip art” garners results such as these. Some are more abstract than others, but one thing is for certain: users report having conversations with intelligent beings during their 15-minute encounters! Terence Mckenna talks of meeting gnomes, and they said that according to him the sadness is because they can’t see him as often. Joe Rogan also talked about seeing a huge Buddha statue in his trip on DMT where not being astonished at all what he saw was important advice given for those who go into these things blindly with no knowledge but just trust themselves or else risk losing faith when there’s so much fear involved from others judging us.
Two artists that have spent most of their careers exploring DMT through art are Pablo Amaringo and Martina Hoffman. The next two images are the work of Amaringo, the rich colors and the intricate patterns are similar to patterns seen on DMT and in a less vivid way on LSD.
Martina Hoffman paints the spirits associated with DMT, for example, the image below depicts Mother Ayahuasca. A spirit associated with care giving and femininity, and the environment. Hoffman uses very rich color in her work.
The FDA granted Breakthrough Status to a psychedelic drug known for its potential in treating major depression. The long-lasting nature of this effect poses one of many challenges scientists need to overcome before turning them into clinical treatments but it also means they’ll have more time and assistance from our government agency as we work together!
Psilocybin is typically used in a clinical setting to treat patients with mental health conditions, while DMT provides an extremely brief treatment session. Psilocybin’s effects last up to eight hours whereas those of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) tend not only to be shorter but also have no negative side effects and can even produce therapeutic benefits for some disorders such as anxiety or depression.
