My first experience with bufo occurred about two weeks after completing my first dark retreat, the effects of which still lingered, putting me in a good state of mind. Having just started to dabble in psychedelics this year, I decided to attend an official ceremony instead of trying to go all alone for the first time with such a powerful substance. Allow me set the stage a bit and describe the ceremony. Upon arriving at the location where the ceremony was to take place, I was warmly greeted and escorted to a waiting room, where over the next half hour, ten more people would join me. When the time came to enter the ceremonial room, my gaze immediately fell on the young female shaman, who radiated such love, kindness, warmth and security and gave me a long motherly hug. I immediately knew I was placing my life in good hands. After an introduction by the shaman, each of us was allowed to express our intention for the day. The correct breathing technique was practiced to make inhaling from the pipe as effective as possible. This was followed by an exercise in holotropic breathing, which allowed the last bit of tension to leave the body and prepare the mind. Each participant received their own glass pipe to hold close to their heart while staying consciously connected to their intention for the experience. The shaman went seemingly at random to the participants and administered the medicine. The first woman to inhale the smoke sank onto her mattress and kept saying, “No, no, stop, please help me,” which briefly raised my level of nervousness. What had I gotten myself into? I tried to concentrate on my intention. I just had to avoid resisting the experience, let go and allow whatever was to come.   Suddenly, the shaman sat in front of me, I handed her the pipe, and I began the deep breathing. Then everything happened very quickly. In one long, drawn-out breath, I inhaled the smoke. Even before I had finished the inhalation, the medicine began to take effect. I was supposed to hold the air for ten seconds, but after two seconds, I had lost control of my body. The shaman pulled my sleep mask over my eyes and laid me on my back. I heard myself exhale. With incredible speed, my experience deepened, and everything familiar faded away. I was no longer human, though that’s not quite accurate, for there was no longer any past in which I had ever been human. There was no future in which I would ever be human again either; all memories were erased. I was in a completely timeless and spaceless place made of pure being. Pure direct experience, completely without abstractions and concepts. A grand being brimming with profundity, life and potential. I was pure awareness of this single timeless, infinite moment and completely filled with a love that far outshines the most beautiful human love. I felt a profound connection with everything that is and is not. The sound of my exhalation formed the sweetest background music, which shifted into a soundless melody, so beautiful as if angels were singing, yet so still and submerged that no one could disturb it. I was completely boundless and fulfilled. There was no lack of anything, and the mere concept of lack — if it existed in this moment — would have been laughable. I understood the entire universe, there was no mystery before me. I knew everything by being everything. I knew all, without needing pictures or explanations or details. Everything was crystal clear and obvious in a strange yet deeply familiar way.   From one moment to the next, I was human again. I instantly knew where I was, just as quickly as I had forgotten it. My mind re-engaged within a second. My first thought was, “The mind can never comprehend this; no human could ever grasp it.” Within a single second, I was infinitely far removed from the experience that had just lasted an eternity and that I was so close to as to be one with it. Everything I had just understood vanished within a single second. My mind was far too limited to even begin to grasp the greatness of it all. All the talks of spiritual teachers made sense now. Being it was the only way to really understand it. I was overcome with a deep emotion and tore the sleep mask from my eyes. I began to weep out of awe at the beauty I had just witnessed. Shortly afterward, my crying turned into loud laughter in disbelief at what had just occurred. I looked around. More than half of the participants were still seated on their mattresses, waiting to receive the medicine. I couldn’t believe the ceremony was still ongoing, even though I had been gone for literally eternity. The shaman looked at me and nodded knowingly. I felt that she understood at that moment exactly what I had just experienced and her smile was the only way to really communicate it, because no words will ever do it justice. It was very clear to me, why God is talked about best in poetry, because it defies all explanation.   I am so deeply grateful for this opportunity, the hosts, you who is reading this, this forum and Leo. I would never have had even the notion to have this experience and I would have missed the most beautiful thing in my life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all!