In ancient times, the shaman salvia divinorum plant has been used for divination and healing purposes. Until today, it is being used as a means to explore spiritual realms, meditative states, and shamanistic healing, since it is still largely associated with mysticism. The experience may vary from person to person, but it is certainly unlike the experience one gets when taking other psychogenic drugs. It is very dangerous to do things under the influence of salvia since it interferes with coordination.

There is a six-level scale used to describe the shaman salvia experience, and it can be summarized through the acronym SALVIA. In level 1, the person using salvia experiences subtle effects. The person feels relaxed and more receptive to sensual stimulation. People who want to mediate and experience sexual pleasure go for this level.

In the next level, the person experiences altered perception. During this stage, the individuals short term memory and logical thinking may be affected. Music appreciation is also enhanced. However, the so called visions that other salvia user experience do not occur at this point.

The light visionary state happens in the third level. The person is able to see two-dimensional imagery when the eyes are closed. When the eyes are open, these visual effects look vague. The visions here are dream-like, and the person experiencing it often does not confuse it with reality.

In The Fourth Level, the individual experiences a vivid visionary state. Unlike in the third level, the visions here are three-dimensional, and voices may be heard. People who have gone into this state describe their experience as being mystical, as they are able to travel to other times or enter the life of a different person. The fantasies here are very vivid when the eyes are closed. Contact with reality is not entirely lost when the eyes are open.

The Fifth level stands for the state of immaterial existence, since the person becomes completely immersed in the mystic experience and loses contact with reality. However, a small part of the persons consciousness still remains lucid, although it is hard to function properly at this state. The individual experiences merging with objects and imagined entities. These experiences may either be wonderful or terrifying to the user. Also, this is the level where the salvia user has the tendency to move around, so the individual needs to have a sitter at this point so as to ensure his safety.

The Last Level, which is the amnesic state, is something that salvia users want to avoid. This is because consciousness is totally lost at this point of deep trance, and the user does not remember any of his experiences upon awakening. Somnambulistic behavior is at its peak during this stage, so the person may sustain unwanted injuries. Just like in level five, a sitter is very useful at this stage. Not all people get to experience everything in this scale. It all depends on how much Shaman Salvia is taken and the sensitivity of the person using it.