So you've seen the videos and read about the wild experiences of people on salvia trips. Now you are looking to enter the realm of salvia divinorum yourself. Many have asked me for tips and advice on using salvia divinorum. "What's it like?" "How much should I take?" "What advice do you have for my first time?" Well, the first question that needs to be answered is whether your expectations and ideas of salvia are truly what the plant is about, and whether your intentions are actually compatible with what salvia divinorum has to offer. This can mean the difference between a positive and a negative experience - between a meaningful encounter with lady salvia and a complete waste of time.

So my first tip on using salvia divinorum is to ask yourself "What am I looking for?". If it's a fun time, if you are looking for a party drug, something to get crazy with with your friends, then I would advise that you look elsewhere. Sure, you might end up having fun. But at the very least you'd be wasting the opportunity for serious exploration of consciousness. And at the very worst you'd have a frightening experience that isn't fun at all. The party atmosphere would completely undermine what this sacred plant has to offer.

But if you approach the salvia experience with reverence and awe, then you will not be disappointed and will be ready for the profound lessons in store. 

I really like the approach that Terrence McKenna advocates in this video.

A couple of more cautions: I strongly discourage teenagers from partaking of this plant. While there is no evidence so far of harmful effects, it isn't smart to expose growing brains to such a powerful hallucinogen. Also, if you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychosis, stay away. The psychological intensity of the experience could trigger a psychotic episode.

Your immediate environment is very important. Have a sober sitter there to watch you during the trip. The sitter should not try to distract you or interact with you in any way except if there is a need to keep you from running off or bumping into things.

If you like, you can have peaceful music playing, at a low volume, such as the person in this video. Do not embark on the salvia journey with chaotic activity going on - flashing lights, lots of talking, TV or radio blasting - these will just serve to confuse you and undermine the lessons that lady salvia is offering.

Dim the lights, if possible. The less visual distraction, the better.  

How much you use and how you use it depends on what you are willing to experience. Keep in mind that everyone has different sensitivities to salvia divinorum, and there is a small percentage of people who experience no effects at all.

Easing into it

If you want to start easy and not go for the full-blown trip until you feel more comfortable, or if all you are interested in is a mild, manageable salvia experience -

• Try chewing about twenty leaves (approximately 5 grams). Soak them in sugar water for a few minutes to cut through the bitterness, then dry the excess water with a paper towel and roll the leaves into a fat cigar, or "quid". Rinse your mouth with mouthwash to prepare the lining of your mouth to better absorb the salvinorin A, then put the entire quid in your mouth and chew slowly - about one chew every few seconds - while moving it under your tongue. Try not to swallow any of it. You may start to feel some effects in five minutes, but keep chewing until you've gone as far as you want to go, then spit out the leaves into a bowl. You shouldn't need to chew longer than 15 minutes.
• Smoke some crushed leaves or a low extract, such as 5x-7x, preferably using a water pipe to cool the smoke. Keep the flame over the leaves as you take the hit, then exhale and repeat taking hits until you've gone as far as you want to go. If you use plain salvia leaves, it is recommended to use a torch lighter to vaporize as much of the salvinorin A as possible.

Breaking through

If you are ready to take the dive and feel the full effects -

1. Start with 10x extract, then go with higher extracts as you feel motivated on later trips.
2. Using a water pipe to cool the smoke, keep the flame over the salvia extract while you take as deep a hit as you can.
3. Hold the hit in as long as you can.
4. You should start feeling the effects by the time you exhale, or shortly after.
5. If you have a low sensitivity to salvia divinorum and do not feel anything, you can continue taking additional hits in the same manner.

First make sure that salvia is not illegal in your state or country. You can look up a smoke shop in your area and chances are that they have it. There are also a number of sites on the web that offer salvia divinorum. For example: