Questions about the DMT Code project and preparing to observe
The project
Is this a controlled experiment?
No. Stage one, the public registry, is a screening collection, not a controlled experiment. It is open, self selected and unblinded, and priming is not ruled out, because people can browse other submissions before recording their own. All stage one can show is whether there is a hint of agreement worth digging into. Nothing here settles the question. Stage two is capture before exposure, where an account is recorded before the contributor sees the catalogue. Stage three is a randomized blinded arm with control conditions, blind scoring and pre registered hypotheses; it is designed and has not been run. Reports of seeing nothing are wanted and counted, and they are published at /null-reports.
What is the "DMT code"?
People who take N,N-DMT often report seeing structured visual forms, grids, glyphs, geometric symbols, and a smaller group describes something that reads almost like written characters. The DMT Code project collects those reports in one place so the overlaps can actually be measured instead of argued about. We are not claiming the forms are a message. We are asking a narrower question: do independent people, who have never spoken, keep drawing the same shapes?
Is the code real? Are you saying reality is made of code?
No. We hold that question open on purpose. Our job is to gather the observations, keep the method honest, and publish everything so anyone can judge for themselves. If the overlaps turn out to be coincidence or shared cultural imagery, the data should show that too. A result that cannot fail is not worth much, so we built this to be able to fail.
Is this a religion, or are you telling people what to believe?
Neither. Nobody here is asking you to believe anything. Plenty of people who take this seriously think it will turn out to be pattern-matching or shared imagery, and that is a fine place to stand. We care about the observations and the method. What you conclude from them is yours.
What will I actually see? Does everyone see the same thing?
We cannot promise you will see anything in particular, and honesty matters more than hype. Reports vary a lot. Some people describe grids or geometric forms, some describe symbols, and some see nothing they would call structured. The registry exists to find where those experiences genuinely overlap and where they do not, not to tell you what to expect.
Who is behind this and why should I trust it?
Trust the method, not us. The reason to take this seriously is that it is open, it is falsifiable, and the counts are public, not that anyone here says so. We keep a neutral position, we never seed or fake a count, and we publish the parts that would let you prove us wrong.
Safety and law
How do I do this safely?
Start with the <a href="/downloads/DMTCode_Screening_Card_v1.pdf">screening card</a>. Before you consider anything, talk with a qualified prescriber about MAOIs, SSRIs and related medications, any cardiac history, and any personal or family history of psychosis. We deliberately do not publish medication timing windows. The sources disagree and getting it wrong can be dangerous, so that decision belongs with a clinician who knows your history. This is for adults 18 and older.
Is this legal?
The equipment we discuss is ordinary optical gear. We do not sell, source, or explain how to obtain any controlled substance, and nothing here is legal advice. Laws differ by country and state and they change. For your own situation, check your local law or a qualified professional.
Is the laser safe for my eyes?
A laser is not a toy. The kit modules are low-power visible red lasers (vendor rated 5 mW, FDA Class IIIa, also written Class 3R; the ray box in the Triad and Circle is under 1 mW). Never look into the beam or aim it at anyone, keep reflective surfaces out of the beam path, follow the safety card that ships with the kit, and keep it away from children. This is for adults 18 and older. If you are unsure how to handle optical equipment safely, do not improvise with it.
The method and the data
How do you stop people from just copying each other's answers?
That is the whole design problem, and it is why the flagship is a blinded comparison. Wherever we can, people record what they saw before they see the existing catalogue, so a match means two strangers landed on the same form independently rather than one person nodding along to another. Convergence only counts when it is earned that way.
What actually counts as a match?
A symbol is not called a match because it looks vaguely similar. People compare specific forms, and a response is recorded when a reader says a form echoes something they saw. Because that reader has already viewed the form in this catalogue, the response measures recognition after exposure rather than an independent match. Every symbol shows its count, so you can weigh each one yourself.
Can I see the raw data?
Yes, all of it. The registry is public, the machine-readable corpus is at /dataset and /data.json, and it is all CC-BY-4.0, free to read, quote, and check. Every symbol shows how many people have recognized it. If something looks off, we would rather you find it.
Can I add a symbol I saw myself?
Yes. The registry is built from contributions. You can submit what you saw, add context to symbols others have logged, and take part in the comparison. That is how the dataset grows, and it is free to do.
Can I download the whole dataset?
Yes. The full corpus is at /data.json and /dataset under CC-BY-4.0, with an archived, citable version by DOI. Read it, quote it, run your own analysis, and tell us if we got something wrong.
Taking part and kits
What do I need to get started?
Everything is on the Prepare page: four kits. Solo for one observer, Dual for one to two, Triad for two to three, Circle for up to six. The core of every kit is a 650 nm laser module and diffraction optics; the exact contents of each kit are listed on its card. The same page has free downloads you can use before you buy anything: the Observation Field Sheet, the Sober Baseline Protocol, and the AVP Passthrough Protocol, each in English, Spanish, and German. You can also source every part yourself. We show the do-it-yourself figure next to each kit so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Why a 650nm laser?
It is the specific red wavelength the observation protocol is built around, so every observation is made with the same instrument used the same way. Consistent equipment is what lets one person's observation be compared against another's instead of guessing at the differences.
Do I have to use DMT to take part?
No. A lot of the work here is observation and comparison. You can browse the registry, add context to symbols other people have logged, and help judge where the forms actually converge without taking anything. The dataset gets stronger every time someone compares carefully.
Do I have to buy a kit to take part?
No. A kit gets you the equipment to run a careful observation of your own, but you can browse, contribute, and help judge convergence without spending anything. The kits make doing it well easier; they do not gate the project.
Can my friends and I do this together?
Yes, and it is often better that way. Dual covers one to two observers, Triad two to three, and Circle up to six, so the shared optics amortize and the per-person cost drops as the circle grows. Every observer in the group is an adult and goes through the same screening card. A group session protocol is in progress; until it is published, use the free Observation Field Sheet and Sober Baseline Protocol from the Prepare page for each observer.
What are your shipping and refund terms?
Kits are sold and shipped by Meridian Optics Lab, our store of record. That is the name on your card statement and on the parcel, and kits ship in plain packaging. US shipping is free and orders arrive in 7 to 10 business days. Unopened kits can be returned within 30 days; the full refund and shipping policies are linked on the Prepare page and at checkout. If anything arrives damaged or not as described, email info@dmtcode.com with your order number and photos and we will sort it out.
See the open data at /registry, /dataset, and /data.json. CC-BY-4.0.