3. On experiences
Psychedelic experiences are hard to translate into the language of everyday life. Virtually every “trip report” starts with a similar preamble. Probably that's the reason William James put “ineffability” as the first trait of “mystical experience” in his classification.
One of the early names of psychedelics was “psychotomimetics.” What loosely translates as “substances that trigger the exhibition of symptoms of psychosis.” This is not surprising, in medical terms, to the external observer, the whole thing looks a bit crazy. Though “The patient has gone nuts” is a dismissive phrase that simply discourages further inquiry instead of prompting further investigation.
In more dry epistemological terms, this just means that there's no well-established linguistic bridge between “the norm” and the set of sensations that come with an altered state of consciousness. We're unable to easily translate from “Crazy” to “Healthy.”
That's the source of, maybe not all but a lot of issues in the discussions around the topic. There are at least two other “languages” to discuss such phenomenology, the language of religion and the language of “New Age.” Both provide the comfort of established cultural background, both smuggle connotations that, from the perspective of the modern secular science-centric culture, look awkward and actually prevent the transmission of the experience. 3 out of 5 test readers told me this paragraph is an overcomplicated boring mess. C'est la vie, I'm too lazy to “simplify” it.
At the level of experience, it's also a question of qualia. In part, such tales are akin to attempts to explain the red color to a person who was never able to see it in their life. You can say the color is bright, warm, reminds you of Coca-Cola, and its wavelength is 700 nanometers, none of which would transplant the experience of seeing the color into that person's head.
Conversing about it with those who had similar experiences is easier. But no guarantees here too. Despite the common themes and patterns, everyone brings something personal into it, and two models of interpretation may not intersect enough to reach a mutual understanding.
This whole thing is just a long-winded way of saying:
a) I realize how strange, alien, nonsensical, and sometimes truly awkward my descriptions may look. I'm reading them myself, being influenced by a cup of coffee and nothing else. I don’t see the world like this 24/7.
b) It would be appropriate for all to treat with caution anyone who says that they UNDERSTOOD everything and can translate their psychedelic insights with ease and no loss, that they can tell you about the universe and stuff. If that's not your tribe's shaman, question their authority.
That said, there are pieces that can be somewhat captured and explained.
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Andrey