Meditation Protocol
The Pattern Project
Meditation Protocol for Low Dose 5-MeO-DMT Vape Pens
CONTENTS
Step 1: Determine a preparation routine
Step 6: Set An Intention and Begin
Disclaimer
There is a limited amount of data on low dose 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), and its effects on humans. As such, the authors have prepared a harm reduction guide to help improve knowledge on safe practices. It is recommended that readers review the guide before the Meditation Protocol.
In addition, anyone who uses 5-MeO-DMT or any psychedelics does so at their own risk. The authors do not recommend using any substance without close medical supervision, and as such, are not responsible for any consequences of the use of psychedelics or substances by readers of this protocol or otherwise. Always adhere to your local laws.
Info Gathering
This meditation protocol was developed from interviews with mindfulness practitioners, retreat leaders, psychedelic facilitators, and case reports of combining low dose 5-MeO-DMT and meditation. The authors note there is limited information on this topic, so this protocol will be periodically updated as more information is obtained and reviewed.
Meditation: From the Mystical to Mindfulness
For millennia, figures like yogis and monks have delved into the art of meditation and report profound effects, such as:
An all-encompassing sense of unity
Dissolution of boundaries between oneself and the world
Equanimity and serenity
Encountering a divine entity, guide, or higher power
Those new to meditation can also benefit from:
Enhanced mindfulness
Improved concentration
Reduced stress, anxiety, and depression
Improved relationships and self-awareness
5-MeO-DMT
Positive encounters with 5-MeO-DMT have many of the same mystical qualities and wellness effects of deep meditative states. This is supported by scientific research and case reports that 5-MeO-DMT use is associated with increased mindfulness, quality of life, and, for some, mystical experiences.*
*See The Pattern Project (2023). Harm Reduction Guide for Low Dose 5-MeO-DMT Vape Pens for cited scientific research, grey literature, case reports, and expert opinions.
Drawing the Line: Meditation vs. Entheogenic Experience
Meditation is a practice that promotes the stillness of the mind, mental clarity, and awareness of the present moment. Distractions are acknowledged and released, returning focus to the breath or meditative technique. Over time, this practice hones the skill of maintaining equanimity. In contrast, an intense entheogenic experience, like that induced by a high dose of 5-MeO-DMT, may be challenging as the medicine is guiding the experience, not the mind.
What’s important: If one adds 5-MeO-DMT to their meditation practice and can preserve their technique for being still with a modicum of mindfulness, they are meditating. If one adds 5-MeO-DMT to their meditation practice and cannot sustain their technique, they are not meditating.
7 Steps to Create Your Meditation Protocol
Determine a preparation routine
Determine a meditation technique
Determine a dosing strategy
Determine a duration
Determine a frequency
Set an intention and begin
Integration
Step 1: Determine a preparation routine
Taking steps to ensure the best mindset and setting for meditating with low dose 5-MeO-DMT is important. Find a peaceful setting, free of distractions and a comfortable position to sit in. Too much visual stimulation, sound or sensations of physical discomfort can dampen the effects of low dose 5-MeO-DMT.
Many of the sources we interviewed for this protocol encouraged breathwork, gentle movement, or postural yoga as highly effective for preparing the body and mind, enabling a more stable meditation and requiring less 5-MeO-DMT.
Step 2: Meditation Technique
If already experienced in meditation, continue with your established practice.
For those new to meditation, start by building a foundational practice. Only after developing the basic skills of maintaining and returning to present moment awareness should anyone consider incorporating low dose 5-MeO-DMT.
Tips:
Be sure to commit to the type of meditation practice before beginning the meditation. Otherwise, it may be tempting to improvise the technique mid-meditation, which may be a poor use of time.
For beginner meditators, a simple technique is to stay focused on the breath.
Guided Meditations
There are many tutorials and guided meditations online that can assist you in finding an appropriate technique. Here are a few:
Mindfulness Meditation with Singing Bowls by Diana Winston (Audio) | 8:29 | Apple Music | Spotify
UCLA Health App Guided Meditations (in different languages)
The Do Nothing Meditation (Video) by Shinzen Young | 15:01
Loving-Kindness Meditation (Text) by the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
Have a meditation to recommend? Let us know at hello@patternproject.ca
Step 3: Dosing Strategy
System of Administration
A majority of meditators using low dose 5-MeO-DMT self-administer with a vape pen. This protocol emphasizes the vape pen for its brief duration, providing a shorter acting, beginner-friendly approach. However, reports indicate that meditation with a nasal spray benefits from a slower, gentler onset and a longer duration.
With a vape pen, the effects may be subtle, but as meditators gradually increase the dose, the immediate shift post-inhalation becomes evident. The sensations intensify for approximately 3 minutes (known as the ascent) before tapering off over the next 7 to 15 minutes (referred to as the descent).
Safety Starts with Your Choice of Pen
A concern at The Pattern Project is the strength of 5-MeO-DMT vape pens. Most vape cartridges on the market are 18% to 47% 5-MeO-DMT. Many of the meditators interviewed use a pen that is between 5% and 10% 5-MeO-DMT.
Factor in the possibility that an individual could be sensitive to 5-MeO-DMT, and the possibility exists that – without a safety-oriented dosing strategy – that sensitive individual is taking an unnecessary risk.
From a safety point of view, a low-dose pen from a trusted source should be labelled either:
10% or less 5-MeO-DMT
50mg of 5-MeO-DMT in a 0.5mL cartridge (or a number below 50mg)
1:8 or a ratio below this (e.g. 1:16)
The Only Starting Strategy: Low and Slow
Because the objective is to find a dose that compliments rather than overpowers the meditation, the Low and Slow strategy has been recommended for first-time users.
Start with the smallest possible dose and gradually increase over time. This approach ensures one can gauge their body's response, minimizing the potential for an overwhelming experience. It allows for a safer exploration of 5-MeO-DMT’s effects, and a balance between meditation benefits and comfort.
First-Time Dosing
Find a dose that promotes meditation while feeling control throughout.
Start conservatively with a 2-second inhalation of a low-dose pen. If the dose is strong enough, there will be an immediate effect. If it is too low, one may feel nothing.
Regardless, meditate for 15 minutes.
Decide if that 2-second inhalation was sufficient for the meditation based on how it felt mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually. If sufficient, take another 2-second inhalation. Otherwise, if comfortable, try a 3-second inhalation.
Meditate for another 15 minutes.
Increase the dose gradually, meditating between doses, aiming for a dose that deepens the meditation while still feeling manageable.
Write down the ideal inhalation time in seconds.
If effects are not felt immediately, it may be tempting to take more right away. Instead, keep to the timing above because as the meditation practice takes hold, one may then notice a benefit from the dose.
Tips:
Decide on the duration of the meditation and set a timer.
An eye mask can help keep focused on inward journeying.
Most vape pens take at least 1 second to warm up and activate.
After inhaling the vapour, continue to inhale fresh air for five seconds, ensuring that the vapour goes from mouth to lungs and is fully breathed in.
There is no need to hold your breath once the vapour is in your lungs.
Managing Intensity - if a dose increases to a point it feels too intense:
Open your eyes – the effects can dampen by looking around or focusing on a point in front of you.
Stick with it – since the ascent only lasts a couple of minutes, the intensity will fade quickly. Focus on the breath, counting each inhale or exhale.
Alternate nostril breathing – this method is believed to calm the mind:
Use the right thumb to gently close the right nostril.
Inhale deeply through the left nostril.
Close the left nostril with the right ring finger, open the right nostril, and exhale through the right nostril.
Inhale through the right nostril, then close it with the thumb.
Open the left nostril and exhale through the left nostril.
Repeat.
Dosing in Later Sessions
Do not assume that every experience will be the same at a given dose. The intention, setting of use, and other internal and external factors can impact an experience. The battery strength of a pen and the intensity of an inhale can also affect the dose.
Once you have established a comfortable low dose of 5-MeO-DMT for your meditation, you can adjust your dosing strategy accordingly.
Dosing Strategies
While always following the Low and Slow approach to dosing, the following approaches have been reported by meditators:
One and Done: A single dose is taken near the start of the meditation, and only that one dose. This allows for more meditation time with the influence of 5-MeO-DMT fading as the meditation continues.
Situational Sipping: More than one dose is taken during the meditation. This allows one to note the effects of 5-MeO-DMT at specific points during the meditation. To avoid a stacking effect, each dose should be taken at least ten minutes apart.
Step 4: Determine a Duration
Initial Session Duration
For the first meditation session with 5-MeO-DMT, earmark an extended period. At least 60 minutes. This will accommodate the Low and Slow dosing strategy, ensuring the experience is not rushed. While every journey will be unique, granting this buffer helps understand personal reactions and preferences.
Designing Timelines
After the initial session, one can customize their meditation timelines based on comfort and experience.
Allocate time for meditation without the 5-MeO-DMT at the beginning of a session. This sets a grounding foundation.
Ensure a reserve time at the end of the session to wind down without the aid of 5-MeO-DMT, facilitating a gentle return to baseline.
Dedicating Extended Sessions
Occasionally dedicating a longer block, such as 1-2 hours, can be transformative. Delve into preparatory activities such as breathwork, stretching, or yoga postures. Many find these practices magnify the depth of their meditation.
Tips:
Allow plenty of extra time for the first session.
Using a timer during meditation minimizes distractions and concerns about the time.
Step 5: Determine a Frequency
While experienced meditators often meditate daily, most choose to add 5-MeO-DMT occasionally. Some consider once a week or less as more than enough.
Unfortunately, there are no reliable guidelines on how often one can safely take low dose 5-MeO-DMT. Therefore, before any use, individuals should consult with a qualified healthcare professional knowledgeable about potential risks and benefits.
Step 6: Set An Intention and Begin
Setting an intention before meditation is a traditional practice, and it becomes even more valuable when incorporating 5-MeO-DMT as a way to anchor oneself during the session.
If one is new to using 5-MeO-DMT with meditation, start with an emotionally neutral intention. Opt for phrases such as “My intention is to be present” or “May this practice benefit myself and all those I meet”, rather than delving into complex areas like "My intention is to learn from my pain.”
Step 7: Integration
Integration in meditation means applying insights from deep contemplation into daily life. This process ensures meditation's clarity and peace become consistent aspects of one's existence, promoting personal growth, mindfulness, and a harmonious balance between inner calm and external challenges.
Some questions to consider for your integration:
How am I feeling now compared to before my meditation?
What thoughts or feelings stood out during the meditation?
How can I apply these insights to my daily life?
Is there one small action I can do today to bring my meditation into the world? For instance, if during meditation I notice impatience, set a goal to practice patience in one specific scenario.
Was I chasing the 5-MeO-DMT effects — taking more than I necessarily needed?
Tips:
After any 5-MeO-DMT experience, it's advised not to make any major life-changing decisions for several days. This allows time for the experience's insights to settle and for one to gain perspective.
Keep a journal. Record not just thoughts but also feelings and body sensations. Date each entry to track progress, the dosing strategy, and revisit past insights.
Regular, gentle movement and time spent in nature may also help facilitate the integration process.
The Last Word
Meditation is a powerful practice on its own and doesn't need enhancements to yield benefits. The inner peace it can provide is powerful. And with regular practice, an open and expansive inner world can be revealed. Be sure of your motivations and prioritize safety above all else. Your well-being is paramount.
Experience Survey
Due to the limited amount of data on low dose 5-MeO-DMT, the authors are collecting data on individuals’ experiences. If you have tried low dose 5-MeO-DMT, please fill out the brief survey linked below.
Click Here For Experience Survey
The survey is anonymous and confidential. All data collected will be used to understand subjective experiences, safety, and potential applications of this compound.
If you have any advice for improving this protocol, or an interest in contributing a low dose 5-MeO-DMT protocol for The Pattern Project, please email hello@patternproject.ca.
Your support – sharing this protocol with others or a paid subscription to The Pattern Project are appreciated.