Our ancient ancestors lived dipping in and out of this state all the time. Particularly warrior cultures. I imagine berserkers, which are in fact a pan-Indo-European phenomenon, not just among Vikings, used various techniques to intensify this feeling into a blind rage to help them fight—but you also see it in Bushido where it is suggested that the samurai meditate on his own death every day until he can live like a man already dead. Having attempted it, it creates a certain focus, but it doesn’t provide any decision-making aid, and that’s what I primarily lack, so that focus is just stressful for me without giving me any real value.
Our ancient ancestors lived dipping in and out of this state all the time. Particularly warrior cultures. I imagine berserkers, which are in fact a pan-Indo-European phenomenon, not just among Vikings, used various techniques to intensify this feeling into a blind rage to help them fight—but you also see it in Bushido where it is suggested that the samurai meditate on his own death every day until he can live like a man already dead. Having attempted it, it creates a certain focus, but it doesn’t provide any decision-making aid, and that’s what I primarily lack, so that focus is just stressful for me without giving me any real value.