How many leaves to use?

How many dried salvia leaves on average would you smoke to get a very slight effect, a medium effect, and a strong effect?

I have a salvia plant but I've never tried to use it as a Psychedelic... I just don't want to trip major balls since I'm going to try it.. I would like to work my way up very slowly because Psychedelics scare me.. So far small amounts of marijuana are what I enjoy.

If you're scared of tripping salvia isn't the drug for you.

Yeah if you're scared to trip the Salvia is going to wipe the floor with you..stick to what you're doing, and when you're ready to explore deeper take the plunge.

You don't want to do it if you're not ready. If psychedelics scare you, this isn't going to help.

Well I want to have the experience but I would want to ease into it... Marijuana scared the heck out of me when I first tried it but over time with small amounts I have grown to love it. I hear that salvia is measured in levels
and I would like to start at the first level.. Here's a link that explains the levels:
http://canadiansalvia.synthasite.com/

"Level - 1 "S" stands for SUBTLE effects. A feeling that "something" is happening, although it is difficulty to say just what. Relaxation and increased sensual appreciation may be noted. This mild level is useful for meditation and may facilitate sexual pleasure"

I think an experience like that would be a nice start in understanding this plant.. and

"Level - 2 "A" stands for ALTERED perception. Colors and textures are more pronounced. Appreciation of music may be enhanced. Space may appear of greater or lesser depth than is usual. But visions do not occur at this level. Thinking becomes less logical, and more playful; short-term memory difficulties may be noted."

Would be, if anything comparable to the feeling of relaxation, happiness, and confusion marijuana brings, would be nice two.

I basically really want to experience more but I want to start off very low on the chain...

If this plant just doesn't work like that and it's either a full blown trip or nothing I'll probably not try it.. But if it's anything like the levels described above I want to try it.. For example Marijuana for me (depending on sativa or indica) Starts first with feeling a little more relaxed... then you may start to slightly trip up... then you start to get a feeling over your body.... you start to not be able to really feel the breath enter your lungs, pain is decreased, you start to trip up and can't correct yourself (as in the 'You're in the Box'), Then if you go farther time seems to be slower and slower and you move slowly.. The first time I tried it I got the trainwreck experience.. where your walking and all of the sudden you almost fall on your face, lol. I hated that.. and it scared me, but I tried it again going slowly 'instead of smoking the heck out of it like everyone else seems to do' and eased into the levels and since I was expecting it it was a really nice experience and now I can't get enough of it.

If you want to experience it without getting full blown effects, then yeah you can sprinkle a tiny bit into a bowl and maybe not even hold it in for a long time.

It's not just an increased high with trippy effects though..it isn't really a high at all..don't let weed trick you into thinking smoking salvia is anything close to the same thing. Those levels explained there aren't far off, but I don't see the sexual pleasure part in level 1, maybe that's just me.

Hmm.. I see.. Well when you say a tiny bit exactly how much dried leaf is that? Like cut out a piece of leaf the size of a quarter and break it up in a bowl?

are you 12?

I would like to point out that you want to make sure that your plant is actually Salvia divinorum and not some other species of Salvia (there are many).

Others can help with how much, but I can tell you, despite only having one experience with it that what you'll experience from a small amount isn't anything like what you'll experience when you take enough to actually trip. It's not like a weaker experience. You either get a buzz or you trip. They're distinctly different experiences from everything I've heard.

I've had a good bit of experience with hallucinogens and I was completely unprepared for the Salvia experience. And if there's one piece of wisdom I can pass along, is listen to others about this: If you're scared of it, don't do it. You need to be very comfortable with what you're getting into or you may very well have a really bad trip.

If I might suggest, though you'll still be unprepared for salvia, a moderate dose of shrooms done in a really positive setting would be a better place to start with hallucinogens. That's my personal opinion. Despite the longer trip, I think you'll be much more likely to have a good first trip and that may help you build up the confidence to do Salvia.

Originally Posted by pedrito68

You need to be very comfortable with what you're getting into or you may very well have a really bad trip.

Best thing about this is, you really never know until you finally try

Originally Posted by aaarce07

Best thing about this is, you really never know until you finally try

Oh, there's no doubt about that. But like I said, I've had experience with other hallucinogens (LSD and shrooms), so not entirely uninitiated. I was very comfortable with doing the salvia (based on the incorrect conclusion that my previous experiences would somehow prepare me). But I was completely unprepared for the effects. I don't think there's any way to really be ready for that level of intensity or realism until you've experienced it.

My wife wants to try it (probably tonight). She's never tripped before. I have to say I'm a bit concerned about how it's going to go, so I'm trying to at least get the environment as good as possible.