Question two has added -

2. Does taking meds create problems in your life connecting with God? (does it cause a roadblock)

a wondering stumble bump?...

Hi Deb - some particular prescription meds are definitely known to cause weird dreams, and in some cases hallucinations. Naturally, not ALL prescription meds cause this - they all have differing actions & side effects.

Interesting question re the effect of this on connections with God. I'll have to think about that a bit more.

Some of the meds I take cause "vivid dreams" for me. They are vivid in the sense that I can recall some of them for quite a while afterwards and in the sense that they are very creative, to say the least. Sometimes I wonder how my imagination and subconscious come up with such weird dreams ...

I wouldn't say that I have communication problems spiritually or with God from my meds, though.

Several psychoactive drugs, such as psilocybin mushrooms and peyote, have been used in a religious context to induce hallucinations in an attempt to create spiritual visions.

Carolla:
Hi and thank you for your input on the question of dreams & meds. Have you though and wonder if this is a normal occurrence for a specific med or subject to an individual's sensitivity as the determing factor to strange dreams while sleeping? I do look forward to your reply on the second question after you thought about it a bit more.
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Punkins:
Hi and thank you for relaying your personal experience and comments on question one and two, it is appreciated.

itdontmatter:
Hi and thank you for your response on the questions. It is interesting that some drugs are used in a religion for spiritual visions. I wonder thinking of Punkins' response in regards to an imagination of the mind and wonder if the spiritual visions created by the drugs are just the mind's imagination. How would one tell if it is really a vision from God? Most interesting. Do you know?

When I quit smoking using the patch, I had very vivid dreams. It was like sitting in a movie theatre all night. I had to stop using it at night because I would not feel rested in the morning. My mother and several other people that I know have had this same experience.

Deb, I don't know what the spiritual beliefs are of the Native Americans who use peyote in a religious setting. Peyote is an hallucinogen, so I would imagine that they could see quite a few things that they could interpret to be spiritually meaningful.

Hmm, I don't know. Besides the last two months I really wasn't taking any meds (as they didn't do anything for me anyway). I haven't noticed any differences in the way that I dream and same with my spirituality, it hasn't changed since I was a child. Interesting thought though I must say.

somegirl :
thank you for contributing to the thread from your experience... vivid dreaming can tired a person out while sleeping due to a use of medication.

itdontmatter:
I wonder how that works if drugs alter the mind, and that visions are along similiar among each other? Could be the drug used induces the same type of vision? But, would that make sense. Strange about this type of spirituality and thanks for sharing. I wonder if they have visions without drugs too? Or visions only occur when drugs are taken then I would suspect one's imagination is involved.

realmseeker:
Thanks, you for responding that proves that some types of drugs have no affect.

Has anyone experienced ie a roadblock or difficulties connecting to God while on medication?

I am wondering if the mind has to be alert, healthy. For meds may alter or dull the mind and from above responses will cause disturbances such as in sleeping. We use our ie head and heart to communicate with God. If the mind is dulled would this be a problem? ... in regards to communication problems.

Deb_D

For thousands of years man has sought to alter his (or her) consciousness through many different means.  Some cultures use teacher plants (aka "drugs") to facilitate this, and others use different techniques (some in combination with these plants) including chanting, dancing, drumming, meditation, prayer, sweat lodges, vision quests involving dehydration and starvation.

No one can say which method is right or wrong, but whatever method works for the individual to bring them into a closer relationship with the Divine perhaps is the correct path for that person.

Nicotin patches are known to give you vivid dreams, that's why they are often taken off at night.

I had God speaking to me through a dream without medication. It's a matter of interpretation. If God was only speaking to you hrough your dreams, than not remembering your dreams would be a problem, however, God expresses him/herself in many ways.

I would interpret dream caused by medications with caution....

I have had all kinds of wierd dreams including ones caused by medication including anesthetic.

I have also had what I call "God Dreams".

The difference is that God dreams deal with a specific issue and answer it, if I am paying attention. I have found that God Dreams never predict the future - they just  tell me how I should react to situations around me in order to best do God's will.