The Pharmacopeia: Morning Glory Seeds

Seeds of Vision: The Sacred, Medicinal, and Psychedelic Legacy of Morning Glory

Morning glory seeds don’t scream for attention. They aren’t loud about what they are. But behind those soft blue flowers lies a doorway—a thread that connects the Aztecs, modern science, and maybe even a few of us trying to figure out who we are and how we’re all connected.

I’ve always been drawn to the idea that plants hold mysteries—whispers from a deeper world. Modern science hasn’t even scratched the surface. And if you’re quiet enough, sometimes those plants speak back.

I’ve had a few experiences with these seeds. Some were rough. Some weren’t. But all of them showed me something unexpected.

See My Morning Glory Seeds – First Experience for my own documented experience. It turned out to be a pivotal moment in my life. For that, a corner of my heart will always belong to these unassuming seeds.

The Ancients Knew

Long before I ever ground these seeds into powder and sat in silence waiting for something to rise from my gut, the Aztecs were already doing it. They called the seeds ololiuqui, and they used them to speak with the gods. Not for fun. Not recreational. Sacred.

These weren’t just hallucinations. They were visions. Messages. Directions. Warnings. Healing.

Yes… sometimes terrifying. That’s part of it.

What I’ve come to realize is that fear in any life experience isn’t a bug—it’s a feature. Fear is the part of you that clings to the illusion of control. It’s a spotlight shining on what we must embrace to move through it.

These seeds don’t ask you to let go. They force the question:

“What are you still holding onto?”

Not Just a Trip

The effects don’t come fast. LSA (lysergic acid amide) isn’t like LSD. It’s quieter. Heavier. More ancient-feeling. It pulls you inward, not outward. It feels like being wrapped in damp fog while old voices call through the trees. Not always clear—but very, very real.

Yes —it’ll likely make you throw up. Nausea is part of the initiation. Like the plant is saying,

“Clear that stagnant energy. Empty out what doesn’t belong.”

When I choose to go there, I prepare. Cold water extraction. Clean, untreated seeds only. I sit. I meditate. I ask. I don’t command—I invite the experience. And I let the seeds decide what needs to be shown. I also like to choose a full moon for my experiences.

The Fungi Within

What I didn’t expect to find while researching this was that the seeds aren’t just plant matter. They’re a collaboration.

Science says there’s a fungus living inside the seed that helps create the active alkaloids. It’s a kind of symbiosis—fungal and floral, working together to create the visions.

We tend to forget that many sacred plants aren’t just plants. They’re relationships.

Why It Still Matters

We come to plants like this looking for answers. Healing. Insight. Vision. And maybe we find them—but only if we come in the right way.

These aren’t “drugs.” They’re invitations.

The nausea, the trembling, the thick fog you crawl through mentally—it’s not punishment. It’s purification.

I’ve felt emotions rise that I thought were buried. I’ve seen my inner landscape rearrange. I’ve heard questions echo in my heart long after the experience ended. And sometimes… I’ve simply been humbled by how little I truly know.

Preparation Matters

This isn’t something you just pop in your mouth and go. The more care you give to preparation, the more grace you invite into the experience.

Here’s the basic method I use:

1. Start with clean, untreated seeds. Heavenly Blue (Ipomoea tricolor) only. Organic if possible. Commercial seeds are often coated with chemicals—don’t mess with those.
2. Remove the outer coating. Lightly scrape the seed surface with a blade or sandpaper, or rinse them with warm water and gently rub them clean. (Not mandatory, but I hear it is helpful…I have always left it on)
3. Grind the seeds into powder. I use a mortar and pestle but a coffee grinder works too— I like the mortar and pestle because it is slow, intentional, almost meditative.
4. Cold water extraction. Mix the powder with cold, purified water. Let it sit for 1–3 hours, stirring occasionally. Keep it covered and cool—light and heat can degrade the alkaloids.
5. Strain and sip. Use a fine mesh or cloth to filter out the seed material. Sip the liquid slowly on an empty stomach. I have heard some eat the remaining seeds too….I have done both…experiment and do what seems right for you.

Some people add ginger or peppermint to soften the earthy bitterness—I’ve come to appreciate the taste myself.

Dosage

This varies depending on the person, their sensitivity, and the quality of the seeds.

• Mild: 50–100 seeds (about 2–3 grams). — Good ‘Handshake’ dose — Start Here.
• Moderate: 150–200 seeds (around 5–6 grams)
• Strong: 250–300 seeds (8–10 grams or more)

I’d never recommend starting with a strong dose unless you’re experienced with entheogens and your body’s reactions. Even then, tread lightly.

Always give the seed a chance to speak in a whisper before asking it to scream.

And absolutely avoid combining it with alcohol, stimulants, SSRIs, or anything else that may strain your system or dull your awareness. This is already going to be a strain on your body…keep things light.

Respect Is Required

If you’re drawn to this plant, start slow. Do your research. Approach it like you would a powerful teacher.

Don’t chase the high. Ask for the lesson.

And remember—some of the strongest medicines come in the smallest, plainest packages.

Like seeds.

Like silence.

Like that quiet hour before dawn, when the veil is thin…

and something sacred might just bloom inside you.

One last note: Don’t take this article as a final authority or instruction to use these seeds. You make your own decisions, I am only sharing my experiences and what I have found, nothing more. Search for advice on how to take morning glory seeds safely beyond just me.

---

Blog Recommendation

Here is another great blog on the seeds I found too: Morning Glory plants in Ancient Mesoamerica (Ololiuqui, Rituals, Psychedelics, and Art History)

Further Reading

• Aztec and Mesoamerican Use: Florentine Codex; ethnobotanical research by Schultes & Wasson.
• Pharmacology of LSA: Hofmann, A. (1960). Sandoz Laboratories; Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
• Traditional Prep Methods: Indigenous Mazatec & Zapotec ceremonial practices; codices and oral histories.
• Modern Use & Dosage Info: Alexander Shulgin, TIHKAL; Erowid.org experience vaults; Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
• Fungal Symbiosis in Seeds: Clay, K. & Panaccione, D. (2010). “Endophytic fungi and ergoline production in morning glories.” Phytochemistry.