Calea Zacatechichi : The most bitter tea for Lucid Dreaming

Background

In the mountainous regions of Oaxaca, Mexico, the Chontal have been using the leaves of Calea Zacatechichi, or thle-pela-kano to induce a wakeful kind of sleep known as Lucid Dreaming. During it, one is aware of the fact that one is dreaming and transcends the role of a mere actor.

Instead, one becomes the director of his own dreams, being able to materialise his thoughts or assume superpowers like flying. It is said that the Chontal use this Oneirogen by smoking it, drinking it as a tea and even putting the leaves under the pillow before going to sleep.

Other native people like the Zoque Popoluca and the Mixe use the plant to treat various problems of the digestive tract. Throughout the rest of Mexico, Calea Zacatechichi is more commonly called bitter-grass and used as an appetiser. From now on I'll refer to it as just "Calea"

Photo by Batman, © 2003 Erowid

Intake

Oh I don't even know where to begin. The name bitter-grass would be a good start. I can only agree that the name is most fitting! I consumed the leaves in form of a tea, because I like to refrain from smoking something whenever possible. I poured hot water into a cup with 2-3 teaspoons of dried and cut Calea leaves. After I let it steep for 3 minutes, the tea had a color very similar to that of Japanese Genmaicha. After getting closer with my nose, I perceived a faint citrus-like, yet undistinguished smell. I took a sip of the tea, to acquire a profile of its flavour.

Right: The shredded leafs and petioles, I've used for the tea.

However, my tongue was instantly bombarded by an astringent and bitter taste. After just the second chug I had to fight the reflex of vomiting it all out again. I have rarely ever had the displeasure to experience something this bitter before.

I was forced to pour the tea into my little Chinese tea cups, so that I could just chug it down, trying to not get any liquid on my tongue. But to no avail! The aftertaste will NOT go away in a timely manner. It stayed there until I went to bed after 2 hours.

My Experience: Lucid Dreaming

The night I consumed the tea, I experienced what I can only describe as probably the weirdest but also most interesting dream of my life. I can't remember how it began, but the first thing I do remember was finding myself at a house-party hosted by a "friend". I never got to see the host in my dream, nor do I actually remember any faces of the people that I've socialised with at the party. But what I do remember, was one terrible apparition that suddenly banged on the door...

No one expect for me seemed to have notice the banging. Not even as it got louder and more violent until, the apparition kicked the door in and bolted into the room. It was a man in a suit, middle-aged and slightly shorter than me. He strange blonde hair, it must've been some sort of a wig. Then the unthinkable happened: He stood still and looked straight and me. I saw his face and I couldn't believe it ... it was DONALD TRUMP. DONALD TRUMP crashed our house-party and he was now looking at me with a look of pure hatred. I couldn't take it anymore and bolted through the back-door. To my detriment, he was on my heels. Quite impressive for a 70-something year old, I must say. But it gets even weirder... When I wished I could just fly far, far away from here, my feet suddenly rose from the ground while I continued running. I was actually flying! It felt more like running in mid-air but still I call that flying. He lost me after a few seconds and I ended up flying all over the town but I couldn't find my house. Suddenly, everything turned brown...

My eyes were open, my alarm was ringing. I was on my bed with a smile on my face because I knew: I just had a Lucid Dream.

Interested in Lucid Dreaming ?  Check out the videos on my YouTube channel Mind Bending!