“There is a world beyond ours, a world that is far away, nearby and invisible.”
– Maria Sabina
Out of all the psychedelic compounds and spiritual practices, only ONE has the high consistency of encountering AUTONOMOUS entities: DMT.
Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, often catapults users into an other worldly dimension that defy conventional explanations. These encounters can be enlightening, terrifying, or mystifying. But who or what are these entities? What are their intentions? Are they just a product of our imagination or is there a deeper pattern, perhaps something else entirely? Can we use DMT to transform in a meaningful way, or is the DMT world ultimately a delusion?
“Realer than real” is an often used phrase to describe these experiences. But what does this actually mean? Let’s explore.
DMT Phenomenology:
Common descriptions of the DMT Experience include:
Inordinate complexity
Hypertechnological
Higher-dimensional
Highly intelligent entities
Lucidity and familiarity
Before we begin lets clear a massive misconception about DMT and drugs in general:
Many believe that drugs generate experiences within your mind, but in reality, especially with psychedelics, they unlock parts of your brain that give rise to experiences already dormant in human consciousness. Drugs are like keys, your brain chemicals are like keyholes. The key doesn’t magically open up new realities, it opens up the door blocking you from accessing realities that were already there.
Evidence: DMT functions primarily by mimicking serotonin, a key neurotransmitter, and binding to serotonin receptors, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. This binding changes the way the brain processes information and can alter perception, emotion, and cognition.
Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, often catapults users into an other worldly dimension that defy conventional explanations. These encounters can be enlightening, terrifying, or mystifying. But who or what are these entities? What are their intentions? Are they just a product of our imagination or is there a deeper pattern, perhaps something else entirely? Can we use DMT to transform in a meaningful way, or is the DMT world ultimately a delusion?
“Realer than real” is an often used phrase to describe these experiences. But what does this actually mean? Let’s explore.
DMT Phenomenology:
Common descriptions of the DMT Experience include:
Inordinate complexity
Hypertechnological
Higher-dimensional
Highly intelligent entities
Lucidity and familiarity
Before we begin lets clear a massive misconception about DMT and drugs in general:
Many believe that drugs generate experiences within your mind, but in reality, especially with psychedelics, they unlock parts of your brain that give rise to experiences already dormant in human consciousness. Drugs are like keys, your brain chemicals are like keyholes. The key doesn’t magically open up new realities, it opens up the door blocking you from accessing realities that were already there.
Evidence: DMT functions primarily by mimicking serotonin, a key neurotransmitter, and binding to serotonin receptors, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. This binding changes the way the brain processes information and can alter perception, emotion, and cognition.
There’s a reason why many who dare venture into the DMT space, no matter if it’s their first time, inevitable mutter the words “I’ve been here before”
This happened to my friend who smoked DMT for the first time in his life. He travelled to a parallel reality, and the overwhelming instinct took over his body that claimed “this isn’t your first time here, You’ve definitely been here before.”
This isn’t a dream state. Anyone who’s had experiences with both dreaming and a breakthrough DMT trip will all agree that these experiences have 2 distinct qualities.
What does this say about the human ego?
THE EGO
The ego is a bottleneck of reality so that we can navigate this social matrix. It’s like the CEO that manages all the various personality structures within us.
Carl Jung viewed the ego as the center of the field of consciousness, providing a sense of continuity and identity, but it is not the entirety of the psyche.
Without an individual sense of self and a limited scope of shapes, sounds and ideas, it would be impossible to be a functional human being. Homo sapiens would not have survived. Because instead of perceiving the sabre tooth tiger as a separate predatory threat, we would have been tripping out seeing fractals, seeing no difference between us and other - and getting eaten from the asshole up in the process.
When the ego lets go of control, the geometric and social structure of reality collapses. It’s like peaking behind the veil. And peaking behind the veil can often show you the overwhelming infinite nature of existence.
What we experience as waking reality is only the tip of an unfathomable reality. And perhaps under the surface includes autonomous entities waiting to say hi.
What are Autonomous DMT ENTITIES?
That is the question indeed. What are some plausible explanations of autonomous dmt entities?
Etymology:
The word "autonomous" comes from the Greek root words:
Auto- (αὐτός) meaning "self."
Nomos (νόμος) meaning "law" or "custom."
Therfore, "autonomous" literally translates to "having one's own laws," implying self-regulation according to one's own laws or principles.
Different perspectives
3 distinct perspectives on the DMT experience
Hallucinations (materialist perspective)
Collective unconscious structures (Jungian perspective)
Alien Intelligences within an external reality (Spiritual perspective)
Psychologists would likely say they are archetypical projections of the collective unconscious. This is the Jung lens.
Some neuroscientists believe that DMT entities are merely hallucinations caused by unusual brain activity or random neural firings that the brain organizes into coherent images and presences. Basically it’s just brain noise the ego tries to extract meaning from.
Others suggest reality is structured like a digital code or computation. Psychedelics, particularly DMT, are viewed as technologies that can access, decode, and manipulate this digital framework.
The spiritual view says these entities are actual spiritual beings from other dimensions hidden from normal states of consciousness. DMT entities are intelligent and autonomous beings that exist in a hyperdimensional space. This perspective claims these entities are not mere hallucinations but have actual presence and reality.
Terence McKenna said that psychedelic entities are autonomous fragments of psychic energy that have temporarily escaped the controlling power of the ego.
In other words, these entities are like pieces of your mind that have slipped out from under your usual self-control.
These entities are independent from our conscious will and operate beyond our normal, waking consciousness. He suggests that these entities may be parts of ourselves — our fears, desires, or other psychic elements — that remain under the radar of our ego's control. When the ego’s usual boundaries dissolve under the influence of DMT, these fragments can manifest vividly, gaining a form and a voice.
The notion that these entities have "escaped the controlling power of the ego" points to the idea that under normal circumstances, our ego filters and interprets our perception of reality — it helps maintain a sense of order and continuity. Psychedelics like DMT temporarily weaken the ego’s grip, allowing a flood of raw, unprocessed psychic content to surface. This can explain why these experiences often feel more real than reality itself, presenting novel perspectives or insights that are not accessible during regular conscious states.
It’s difficult to know exactly what the nature of autonomous entities are - especially considering we can only compile subjective reports of individuals. But assuming everyone is telling the truth about their trips, it’s not ridiculous to say that there is a level of consistent shared reality to these experiences.
Within the subjective lens when you enter a psychedelic realm, you are literally going to an another place. A similar place others can confirm with their experiences. It’s not that different going to Machu Picchu and reporting “Yeah I went to this high altitude mountain with crisp air and a fresh, earthy aroma mixed with a hint of wildflowers. I encountered an archaic city compiled with ancient stones. I see an astronomical clock surrounded by small indigenous people chewing on green leaves” “Yes I know what you’re talking about I’ve been there too!”
The main difference with the DMT realm is that you can’t take a picture and show people. You only have your words.
COMMON PATTERNS
Rick Strassman - the author of DMT The Spirit Molecule (the catapult to the psychedelic research renascence) conducted a study where he gave intravenous DMT to willing participants. The results were unexpected…
Strassman estimated that at least half of the participants in his studies of high doses of DMT reported experiences of alternative worlds, and that contact with alien beings or entities were a variant of this category.
The most popular descriptive word for these entities in this 2020 study were
Being (60%)
Guide (43%)
Spirit (39%)
Alien (39%)
Helper (34%)
Angel (16%)
Elf (14%)
Religious personage (11%)
Plant spirit (10%)
Fairy (8%)
Chemical spirit (8%)
Animal spirit (7%)
Clown (6%)
Demon (6%)
Gnome (5%)
Monster (3%)
Deceased family member (2%)
Devil (2%)
Emotions:
Joy (65%)
Trust (63%)
Surprise (61%)
Love (59%)
Kindness (56%)
Friendship (48%)
Fear (41%)
Sadness (13%)
Distrust (10%)
Unreactive (5%)
Disgust (4%)
Anger (3%)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0269881120916143
My experience:
Most people who have experienced DMT don’t usually jump back in. Not including ayahuasca, I’ve had maybe 5-6 DMT trips - most of which were distinct experiences except for 2 or 3 where I went to same literal place.
I’ve shot through hyperspace with complex fractals without encountering entities for my first time.
My second and third time I encountered familiar beings such as the Buddha, Pegasus and some ancient Jamaican dreadlock pirate lady. But they did not communicate with clear speech. It was purely a visual and sensory experience.
My next few times I travelled to the classic DMT jester realm, and encountered not-so-nice entities.
Personally DMT did not help my life in any way shape or form, outside of scratching my curiosity itch, but it did open my mind to other realities. So from a scientific exploration point of view I see how DMT is valuable, but based on my observation it doesn’t necessarily improve your life, at least for most people - particularly those inclined to escape their reality.
The 12 DMT Archetypes
Entities can take any form but subconscious archetypes are present and commonly include:[3][8]
Humans, shadow people, bodiless super intelligent humanoids, aliens, elves, animals, giant spheres, insectoids, beings of light, anthropomorphic beings, plants, conscious inanimate objects, fictional characters, cartoons, robotic machines, gods, demigods, goddesses, bio-mechanical intelligences, hooded figures, demons, indescribable monstrosities, spirits, angels, shamans, ghosts, souls, ancestors, fantastical or mythological beasts, glitch creatures and more.
Even though there may be more or sub branches I’ve narrowed down the main DMT entities into 9 categories based on common trip reports.
Remember that visual style can differ dramatically. Sometimes the DMT world can be like comics, drawings. Sometimes it’s photographic or even fully 3 dimensional - realer than real, as they say.
Jesters or Tricksters (threshold guardians):
Common in psychedelic experiences, these entities are known for their mischievous behavior. They can play tricks or present puzzles to the experiencer, often leaving them with more questions than answers. I’ve had a few encounters with these bastards. They kind of fuck with you, perhaps giving you the middle finger and laughing maniacally at your petty human problems. The environment is like a cartoonish demon-esque carnival. Giving into the fear is like showing your afraid to angry dogs. They smell that shit and will come after you even more. If you see past the cosmic joke, breathe through it and become confident and grounded in your own being, you’ll zoom right past these fuckers. Remember that the trickster archetype is an immature shadow pattern. They have no real purpose and tend to project their insecuties to others by dragging them down. That being said they do have they’re place like deflating puffed up egos, but besides that, they ain’t going to give you any real guidance or insights besides “reality is a cosmic joke”
Machine Elves:
DMT folklore
Most common which includes all little people type entities such as
Imps
Elves
Gnomes
Often described by users, these entities appear as small, elf-like beings that seem to be working on something incomprehensible. Terence McKenna popularised the term "machine elves," noting their playful nature and intricate activities.
True Hallucinations":
During my own experiences smoking synthesized DMT in Berkeley, I had had the impression of bursting into a space inhabited by merry elfin, self-transforming, machine creatures. Dozens of these friendly fractal entities, looking like self-dribbling Faberge eggs on the rebound, had surrounded me and tried to teach me the lost language of true poetry…
James Kent suggests a simpler explanation for machine elves seen during DMT experiences. He believes that DMT disrupts how we process visual information, leading to chaotic interpretations driven by intense visual noise (phosphene activity). Since humans naturally lean towards seeing human-like shapes, we might perceive humanoid entities in this confusion. In these moments, our imagination becomes more active, making us interpret internal thoughts and sensations as if they were coming from outside us.
Reptilian Entities:
Some users report seeing entities that have reptilian features. These beings are often described as imposing and can either be perceived as wise guardians or intimidating figures.
Reptilian Features: These entities typically possess characteristics associated with reptiles, such as scales, elongated faces, or clawed limbs, often presented with an otherworldly twist.
Intimidating Presence: Reptilian entities can appear menacing or imposing, contributing to a more intense and sometimes unsettling experience.
Powerful Interaction: They often interact with users in ways that can be perceived as authoritative or dominant, sometimes challenging the experiencer’s fears or preconceived notions.
Confrontational Encounters: Users often describe their interactions with reptilian entities as confrontational
Their encounters can be transformative, pushing individuals to confront their deepest fears and reconsider their place within the larger tapestry of existence.
Insectoid Beings:
These are typically described as resembling insects, often with a high level of intelligence and advanced technologies. They are sometimes seen operating controls or engaging in behaviors that suggest they are caretakers or architects of some kind.
many people have reported specific experiences with the praying mantis. However, similarly to reptiles, the insectoids appear in many diverse ways in terms of their form and intent. Although many different species of insect present themselves, they are all usually in the form of some sort of diamond fractal. Farming for emotions
People have an encounter of a huge praying mantis performing some kind of neurosurgery.
They have more of a neutral energy. Not particularly benevolent or malevolent.
Humanoid Figures:
These entities appear more human-like but often possess extraordinary features or emanate a sense of advanced wisdom or spiritual authority. They can range from ancestors and spirit guides to divine beings.
Human-like Appearance: Humanoid entities typically resemble humans in form but often possess extraordinary features or attributes that set them apart, such as unusual skin colors, additional limbs, or ethereal qualities.
Dialogue and Communication: Users often report engaging in detailed conversations with humanoid entities, receiving advice, or discussing existential topics.
Moral or Ethical Challenges: Encounters may include tests or challenges, posing moral dilemmas or encouraging self-reflection and personal growth.
Visions of Past or Future: Some report that humanoid entities show them visions of past events or potential futures, helping to provide context or understanding of life’s trajectory.
Angelic Forms:
Some users encounter beings that resemble traditional descriptions of angels—radiant, often winged, and exuding peace or profound love.
Radiant Appearance: Angelic entities often appear luminous, radiating light and exuding a sense of purity and peace.
Benevolent Interaction: They are typically described as deeply compassionate, offering reassurance, comfort, and a sense of unconditional love.
These entities are probably the more high vibe interactions and leave you with a loving after glow - assuming they’re not biblical accurate angels with a million eyes and terrifying presence. We’re talking about the benevolent common view of an angelic being that exudes peace and love.
Angelic Forms:
Some users encounter beings that resemble traditional descriptions of angels—radiant, often winged, and exuding peace or profound love.
Radiant Appearance: Angelic entities often appear luminous, radiating light and exuding a sense of purity and peace.
Benevolent Interaction: They are typically described as deeply compassionate, offering reassurance, comfort, and a sense of unconditional love.
These entities are probably the more high vibe interactions and leave you with a loving after glow - assuming they’re not biblical accurate angels with a million eyes and terrifying presence. We’re talking about the benevolent common view of an angelic being that exudes peace and love.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to conclude what the genuine nature of the DMT experience is, yet there is a significant consistency between individual experiences.
Science explores every crevice of the physical world both macro and micro. It pushes the limits of outer space, but still at its infancy of mapping out the inner space which is both within the universe and our minds.
"We have been to the moon, we have charted the depths of the ocean and the heart of the atom, but we have a fear of looking inward to ourselves because we sense that is where all the contradictions flow together." ~ Terence McKenna
It’s important to note of course that exploring drug induced states is completely based on subjective reports, and doesn’t hold much empirical scientific weight - especially since Science is terrible at understanding phenomenology.
But moving aside any objective claims about what the purpose of DMT is, like any tool it depends on how you use and integrate it. Many report positive transformative experiences helping them breakdown their ego structures to become a nicer person. and it can have a detrimental effect on others. Some get further deluded while claiming they’re enlightened while their life stays in shambles. Like any tool, it depends on the individual that wields it.
A hammer can be used to build a house, protect your family or smash your head.
INTEGRATION IS ALWAYS KEY.
Whether DMT Entities are hallucinations, archetypes from the collective unconscious, or aliens from another world, they can still be valuable experiences for some people.
The first 2 perspectives are more plausible from a scientific lens (at least right now), while the third being the most speculative.
What do you think?
Maybe the materialists are right and DMT Entities are just simulations fabricated by brain chemicals. But then again you could argue that love isn’t real as it’s just oxytocin, but good luck keeping a healthy relationship not believing in genuine love.
Besides two seemingly opposing beliefs can be true at the same time. Love can be a transcendent experience as well as a chemical reaction. Life is a paradox after all, so don’t get trapped in the dialectic “either or” paradigm.
Human beings care about stories and emotions more than facts and data anyways.
It’s difficult to trust our senses painted by our subjective lens, so I don’t think we can say for certain that our DMT experiences are accurate representations of what’s out there or in the mind. But I also think it’s foolish to disregard the DMT experience entirely. Regardless of how you personally feel about DMT, you cannot deny they hold valuable information of how the human brain and mind functions - and perhaps even the nature of reality.