Critical listening and altered states

Thanks for the tips. Whiskey flavors are so distinctive it is great in the sense you can find "the one" that is pure magic which I always imagined but never experienced until Angel's Envy. Delicious! Found myself holding it in my hand allowing the warmth to release more aroma, which made it like slow-motion sipping enjoying the smell as much as the taste, then holding it in my mouth putting off swallowing as long as possible because then that wonderful flavor goes down the gullet. But then comes the warmth and the finish, the lingering never-ending finish. Have I mentioned I like this stuff???!😍 

Just found Metropolitan Market has a bottle and not far from home! Will keep those others in mind for my next visit to Mikelavigne's tasting, er I mean listening room.😁

Initially became an audiophile through exclusive listening to first and only audiophile system in my circle of friends while on hash/honey oil  or hashish. The shock of discovering high quality sound, much new music and genres of music, and the buzz from the medication all compounded into meditative states with the right music.
My need for altered state prior to listening sessions continued for many years as a result of prior peak experiences from the early listening sessions. Over time repeated exposure to same experience grew old and tired. Then, being 'straight' became the new altered state, this coincided with period of much critical listening. Wholesale changes, systems never in static, I'd often start drinking later in session in attempt to mitigate what I didn't like.

In time, as I learned to put together a coherent system I found myself increasingly immersed in music, not needing much in the way of added enhancement to 'straight' mind. Over the past few years, my system has exclusively delivered an altered state. I may have one or two bourbon based cocktails over five to six hour listening session, so may have a slight impact on state of mind.

The altered state my system, more importantly the music delivers to me is most similar to what I feel when alone out in nature. The world becomes a wonderful, beautiful place for me. Sometimes, with some special music I can even believe that I somehow know the performer, and/or they know me. And so now, far more than my state of mind affecting my perception of music, it is now the music that affects my state of mind, or altered state.

I tried pot once. It made me want to rape and kill.

Frank

Psilocybin mushrooms were a lot of fun. Humans have been using them for thousands of years. THC is here to stay and will be legal everywhere soon enough. On 5 mg I am perfectly functional and the pain I have does not interfere with me as much. If you don't smoke it it is much less dangerous than alcohol. Long term effects? The long term effect of being alive is death. There is nothing fun about aging. I know many very smart successful people who use THC on a regular basis. Might they be more successful not using? Maybe but, who cares. 

My own ability to analyze the quality of a recording or system does not change with lower doses of THC. It might even improve a little. With alcohol I just fall asleep. I never have more than one glass of wine. I use to like scotch but for some reason it makes me sick now, probably aging again. For me the main benefit of THC is that pain interferes less with my ability to perform in the shop or on a bicycle. 

I see there are still Victorians among us. The only thing prohibition ever did for us is explode crime. Why give the criminals something to make money on when we can sell it for less and tax it at 50% to boot. We can use everyone's addiction to pave some roads.  

@oregonpapa 

You had the good stuff!