A simple, useful guide to everything about psilocybin (magic) mushrooms, what to expect, resources, and more when taken medically.
The difference between seeing rainbows and seeing the lights turn off.
Despite being "natural" and "from the earth", many inherent risks exist when acquiring mushrooms. You must do your research and ensure you can trust the source of your mushrooms.
There are many look-a-like mushroom strains that can be toxic and sometimes fatal if consumed. Never feel bad to ask where they grew the mushrooms and if they're incubated indoors. In most cases, you only have to worry if the mushrooms were sourced from the wild.
Each genus and strain of psilocybin-containing mushroom can induce slightly differing experiences. Ask your source what strain the mushrooms are (such as "Golden Teacher", or Psilocybe cubensis).
Be educated about what you're about to dive into.
The psilocybin found in these mushrooms can induce physical, cognitive, visual, and, in rare occasions, auditory effects for a couple of hours in smaller doses, and several hours (or longer) in larger doses.
These subjective effects are largely influenced by how you've prepared for your session; your setting/surroundings, and mental state prior and throughout your session.
You can find a list of all possible subjective effects to prepare yourself. Before you worry, don't! We'll be guiding you through how to have a successful session, and what to avoid to reduce the chance for negative effects.
Important: Psychedelic substances can precipitate the early onset of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals, or exacerbate symptoms of various mental disorders (e.g., delusions, mania, psychosis).
If you take any medications (or products) that contain Lithium (some bi-polar medications), SSRIs (some anti-depressants and mood stabilizers) or otherwise actively taking Tramadol, you should not take mushrooms. These combinations can result in seizures and other bodily harm and are thus never recommended.
Excluding Tramadol, you should discontinue these medications for at least two weeks before any consumption, even though this may not be enough. Consult your primary physician for more information and guidance.
While not dangerous, we recommend not partaking in the following substances prior to, during, and shortly after your session:
Ensuring your body (and mind) approve of the substance.
For many, this will be the first time experiencing a psychedelic trip or otherwise consuming mind-altering substances. Similar to other substances, the effects and experiences can be amplified based on the dosage ingested.
Responsible drug use and harm reduction encourages slowly diving in, to learn how your body may react to new substances such as the psilocybin in these mushrooms. Remember, "You can always take more but you can never take less."
With this in mind, for your first time, we recommend you take a smaller dose to gain reassurance that the mushrooms won't harm you and to make sure you feel safe and comfortable with the idea of consuming the substance.
If consuming dried mushrooms, a micro dose would be measured at 0.25-1 gram.
How to set yourself up for a successful session with recommended tips from a long-time trip-setter.
"Set and setting" are paramount to a productive and positive experience. This refers to going into any psychedelic experience with an open and comfortable mindset ("set" for short) and a safe and comfortable environment (the "setting").
In traditional, therapist-navigated psilocybin sessions, it is relatively common to be in a physically relaxed state (lying down, or sitting upright) while listening to music. This may work for some, but not for others. A significant benefit of listening to your music is feeling in control auditorily.
While we understand that not all situations may allow for it, we generally recommend making anyone that is often in your general space (such as a partner/spouse or roommates) aware of your plans and/or to ask for privacy and mindfulness throughout the session.
A typical mushroom session will last six to eight hours; with the effects first noticed twenty to thirty minutes after consumption (on average). This gives you a reasonable window of time to get settled and ready for your session.
Make sure you have set aside time for this experience, and don't have any other plans on your schedule.
Depending on the route of consumption, psilocybin mushrooms can cause nausea or upset your stomach. Thankfully, this can typically be avoided by refraining from eating anything large 4-6 hours before ingestion.
We recommend avoiding driving (or operating heavy machinery) during your session, even if all effects have seemingly dissipated. In most countries, driving while on psychedelics is illegal as it can impact your cognitive abilities.
You may find yourself in a situation where you need to quickly or immediately stop your psychedelic session. While we greatly recommend against such (as it can negatively impact the experience and negate any benefits), you can utilize benzodiazepines, such as Xanax (Alprazolam), Diclazepam, or Lorazepam.
It must be noted, however, that these substances can interact in dangerous ways with other medications, so you should only take these if you have a prescription from a licensed physician.
You've begun your session, now what?
You may experience various physical, cognitive, and visual effects during your session. Some of these effects will be brand new and scary if you've never taken psychedelics.
It is vital to remind yourself that you are safe. If you feel anxious or like you are no longer in control, just say to yourself or out loud: "I am safe. This will pass." You may want to repeat this as often as needed. This common tactic in guided therapy sessions is used to re-center yourself and calm your mind.
Your session will often last about six to eight hours, with the "peak," or most intense period lasting for about two to three hours. You can expect for most effects to gradually lessen and return to normal in the last hour or two.
Take this time to talk to yourself and verbally say what you want out of this session. I often will say, "I want to be happier!", "I want to feel like myself again.", or "I want to beat this depression. I will do this."
If you feel like you need to stop your session early, the best advice we can give is to wait and remind yourself that anything you are experiencing will dissipate within six to eight hours. Alternatively, you can utilize the advice above.
We hope you have a healing and positive experience, and thank you for reading through our guide!