Mike Tyson On Psychedelics: ‘The Toad Showed Me God, And It Changed My Life’
In a conversation with Interview Magazine, legendary boxer Mike Tyson opened up to actress and boxing aficionado Rosie Perez about his surprising return to the ring at age 58. But beyond his upcoming bout against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, it was Tyson’s profound experiences with psychedelics that stole the show.
Tyson’s experimentation with psychedelics, particularly the powerful substance known as “the toad”, 5-MeO-DMT, has become a key part of his journey toward self-discovery and healing. He credits the toad with transformative experiences that fundamentally altered his outlook on life, death and his own legacy.
The Toad: A Journey Beyond The Physical
Tyson recounts his first encounter with the psychedelic toad venom with a mix of awe and reverence. “You see a toad, you bust its puss, put it on like a mirror, and it gets hard. You rub it until it becomes fine sand, then you smoke it,” he explains. The description may sound crude, but Tyson’s experience was anything but. “Then you meet God,” he says simply.
For Tyson, the psychedelic journey was not just a fleeting high, it was a life-changing spiritual experience. He describes a “spiritual death,” where he felt his ego dissolve and confronted his deepest fears. “I was scared to death. It was the closest I’ve ever been to death without dying,” he confesses. But rather than leaving him traumatized, the experience brought a sense of peace. “Dying is beautiful. How could death be bad and life be beautiful? It’s a contradiction.”
Perez, apparently fascinated, pressed Tyson on the impact of these experiences. “Did you see God?” she asks. Tyson clarifies, “No, you don’t see him. You feel him.” It’s an ineffable sensation, one that left the former heavyweight champion with a profound …