So, you’re ready to explore the fascinating realm of shrooms—glad to have you here! Experiencing psilocybin mushrooms can lead to profound insights. As the psychedelic renaissance flourishes, psilocybin trips are becoming more popular. Today, psychedelic mushrooms are being researched for their potential to assist with addiction, severe depression, end-of-life anxiety, and other issues where traditional methods fall short.
But before diving in, you might be wondering: should you buy magic mushrooms or grow them yourself? It’s a common question for newcomers. Buying from a trusted, reputable source ensures safety, consistent potency, and peace of mind—especially if you’re not ready to take on the complexities of cultivation. Whether you’re trying magic mushrooms for wellness, consciousness exploration, or simply for fun, there are crucial factors to consider before your first trip—like how much should a beginner take? And what’s the ideal shroom dosage to start with?
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Your First Shroom Trip
So, you’re about to embark on your first shroom trip? Exciting times ahead! But before you jump in, a bit of preparation will go a long way in ensuring a positive experience. Getting your dosage right and thinking about important factors like set and setting will make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
Set and Setting
Besides dosing (which we’ll cover later), the two key elements that will influence your trip are set and setting. Coined by Timothy Leary in the 1960s, these terms refer to your internal and external environments during the trip.
Setting is your physical environment. This includes the place you’re in and the people you’re with. For a first-timer, a safe, familiar environment is best. Think of a comfortable space where you have easy access to essentials like water, snacks, and a bathroom. A mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, like a house with a yard, can be perfect, as nature often feels incredibly inviting while tripping.
Avoid overly crowded or isolated spots like concerts, festivals, public parks, or remote camping areas for your first experience. These places can be overwhelming or unsafe if you need assistance. It’s also crucial to be around people you trust and have clear boundaries and a safety plan with them.
To enhance your experience, consider gathering some items beforehand. Art supplies, interesting textures, musical instruments, crystals, incense, and a journal can help you channel your creativity and note down insights. Thoughtfully chosen music and lighting can also set the mood. Turn off distractions from the outside world by letting others know you’re unavailable and putting your phone on airplane mode. If you’re a parent, ensure your children are under the care of a sober adult in a separate area.
Set refers to your mindset. This encompasses your mood, mental state, past experiences, expectations, and intentions for the trip. Make sure you’re well-rested, hydrated, and have had a light, nutritious meal a few hours before taking shrooms. Enter your trip with a mindset of openness, a willingness to learn, and self-acceptance.
Spend some time centering yourself before your trip. This preparation could start a week or two ahead, with activities that help you feel grounded and ready. Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, and spending time in nature are all great ways to prepare. Many people find it helpful to journal before their trip, pondering questions like: Why do I want this experience now? What am I hoping to learn or discover?
With the right preparation, your first shroom trip can be a profoundly positive experience. Happy tripping!
Think About Having a “Trip Sitter” or Guide
For your first experience with shrooms, it’s wise to have someone knowledgeable by your side. You can find psychedelic guides or shamans, some of whom may also have therapeutic training, through your network or online resources. If you don’t know them personally, be sure to check their credentials and methods beforehand. For those seeking help with significant mental health issues or trauma, participating in a clinical trial might be a good option, providing a supportive setting with professional facilitators. Begin your search for clinical trials through reputable resources online.
Alternatively, you can ask a trusted friend to be your sober “trip sitter.” Their role is to ensure your physical safety and offer comforting support throughout your experience.
Did You Know?
A trip sitter is a sober individual who stays with you while you’re under the influence of psychedelics, ensuring your safety. Having a trip sitter can greatly enhance your experience, making it more meaningful and less challenging. It’s crucial that your trip sitter is someone you trust, as they will significantly influence your environment.
Shroom Trips Aren’t for Everyone
While many have positive experiences with shrooms, psilocybin can lead to intense physical, emotional, and psychological effects. If you have any of the following conditions, it’s crucial to consult a knowledgeable healthcare provider, preferably one familiar with psychedelics, before using shrooms:
- Cardiovascular issues
- Psychotic spectrum disorders
- Mental health issues currently treated with medications
- Acute or chronic suicidal thoughts
- Serious physical health problems (e.g., kidney or liver disease, poorly controlled diabetes or blood pressure)
- Chronic health conditions or regular use of pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals (e.g., St. John’s Wort)
It’s important to note that this list is not exhaustive. Psychedelic research is ongoing, and there’s still much to learn about potential contraindications. Additionally, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to avoid psychedelic use due to the lack of research on its effects on a developing fetus or baby.
Beginner’s Guide to Shroom Dosage
Research by Roland Griffiths, PhD, a clinical pharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University, provides insights into shroom dosage. His studies on psilocybin therapy categorize one to three milligrams of psilocybin per 70 kilograms of body weight as a very low dose and 22 to 30 milligrams per 70 kilograms as a high dose. Doses above 20 milligrams per 70 kilograms can lead to challenging experiences, which can be transformative but should be approached cautiously.
The psilocybin concentration in dried mushrooms varies, making it hard to determine the exact grams to consume. Potency can differ between species, and growing conditions also impact psilocybin levels. Research from 1982 indicates that Psilocybe mushrooms can contain between 0.1 to 2.0 percent psilocybin and psilocin. (The body metabolizes psilocybin into psilocin, which induces the psychedelic experience.)
Due to the illegal status of psilocybin mushrooms, most people can’t access potency testing. Therefore, it’s common to dose shrooms by dry weight. For fresh mushrooms, multiply the gram recommendations by 10 to account for the water weight, but remember that fresh mushrooms are more potent than dried ones
Easy Guide to Shroom Dosage
Microdosing (0.1-0..5)
A microdose of dried psilocybin mushrooms typically ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 grams. Some sources suggest microdoses can go up to 1 gram, but this higher end might result in a more noticeable experience if you’re not accustomed to shrooms. While microdosing doesn’t induce a full psychedelic trip, many people use it for benefits like enhanced focus and improved mood.
If you’re interested in taking a larger, more impactful dose (known as macrodosing) but want to ease into the experience, starting with microdoses can help you get used to psilocybin’s effects. Due to its subtle nature, microdosing can be done more frequently than macrodosing. To develop a strategy, you might explore the Fadiman protocol or the Stamets stack.
The medical mantra “start low and go slow” applies here, too. Following this approach can help you achieve better long-term results and minimize risks as you become familiar with psilocybin.
Small Dose (0.5 -2 grams)
If you’re planning to have a psychedelic experience, it’s best to start with a dose between 0.5 and 2 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms. Beginning at the lower end of this range allows you to understand how mushrooms affect you and gauge the potency of your batch. Even at these lower doses, you can have a significant psychedelic experience, but it will likely be more manageable. Starting with milder trips helps you develop the skills to handle higher doses and more intense experiences in the future.
Moderate Dose (2-3.5 grams)
A moderate dose, ranging from 2 to 3.5 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms, will likely heighten your senses and provide a more profound psychedelic experience. Be mindful that this can become quite intense, especially at the higher end of the spectrum. While some sources suggest that first-time users take 3.5 grams, the potential for challenging experiences increases with higher doses, so it may be wiser to start with a lower amount.
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High Dose (3.5-5 grams)
Taking between 3.5 to 5 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms is considered a high dose, likely resulting in an intense psychedelic experience. At this level, you may encounter profound mystical and spiritual experiences, but caution is crucial. High doses are generally not recommended for beginners, as they can lead to challenging experiences and potentially what’s known as “ego death” in the psychedelic community.
The late Terence McKenna, a well-known advocate for psychedelics, called five grams of psilocybin a “heroic dose,” capable of “flattening the most resistant ego.” To fully benefit, McKenna suggested consuming it in a dark, quiet space free of distractions, encouraging a deeply introspective journey.
In this dosage range, you are more likely to confront difficult aspects of yourself or parts you may have ignored—referred to in Jungian psychology as the shadow. Encountering your shadow can evoke fears of death, insanity, or permanent change. While these experiences can be transformative, they can also be traumatic if you’re unprepared. Therefore, the supervision of an experienced and trusted guide is highly recommended for such intense trips.
What to Expect When Tripping on Shrooms
Experiencing shrooms can be an incredible mix of wonder, oddity, fascination, and unpredictability. It’s a journey that defies simple description, often feeling mystical, mundane, and intensely personal all at once. Dennis McKenna, brother of Terence McKenna, remarked that psilocybin allows you to focus on aspects of life you’ve been conditioned to overlook, reversing the usual background-foreground relationship.
Shortly after consuming mushrooms, you might experience nausea as your stomach starts processing the fibrous fungi. For those with sensitive stomachs, making mushroom tea or using the lemon tek method can help reduce nausea. Physically, you may feel either heavy or light, and you might notice your pupils dilating and increased sensitivity to light. The world around you, including everyday objects, can appear novel and unfamiliar—potentially beautiful or strange. You might become captivated by details you usually ignore, like the intricate texture of tree bark or the gentle sway of tall grass.
During your trip, you might see walls that seem to breathe and objects that appear to dance, shift, move, or melt. Your senses could feel altered, enhanced, or distorted, and you might experience synesthesia, where you “hear” colors or “smell” sounds. Closing your eyes could reveal elaborate geometric shapes and patterns. Emotionally, you may feel a profound sense of love, acceptance, interdependence, and a oneness with all things.
After carefully considering your dose, set, and setting, heed the advice of Bill Richardson, author of the psychedelics guide Sacred Knowledge: “Trust. Let Go. Be Open.” This mindset can help you navigate the varied sensations and experiences of a mushroom trip.
Duration of a Shroom Trip
After consuming mushrooms, expect to start feeling the effects within 30 to 60 minutes. If you used the lemon tek method, this might happen even faster. The trip usually lasts between four to six hours, but effects can extend up to eight hours or more. Peak effects typically occur within one to three hours, though many people experience varying waves of intensity throughout the trip.
Factors Affecting Psilocybin Potency
Different species of psilocybin mushrooms can have varying potencies, with psilocybe cubensis being just one example. Even within the same species, potency can differ based on cultivation methods; indoor-grown mushrooms may be more potent than those harvested in the wild. Storage conditions also play a role, as exposure to sunlight can degrade the tryptamine alkaloid in psilocybin over time.
Besides species and quality, other factors influence the effects of psilocybin mushrooms. Your recent food intake, individual physiological and personality traits, and other yet-to-be-understood elements can all impact your experience.
Handling Difficult Mushroom Trips
High doses of psilocybin can sometimes lead to challenging visuals, thoughts, or emotions, potentially causing anxiety or discomfort. To minimize these risks, carefully consider your dose, set, and setting, and practice coping skills with lower doses first. If you encounter difficulties during your trip, remember that the experience is temporary and will eventually subside. Practice patience and avoid resisting the trip. Meditation techniques, such as nonjudgmental observation, can be helpful in navigating challenging moments. You can also seek support from a guide, trip sitter, or a peer support hotline if needed.
Afraid of a Bad Trip? Here’s Advice from Our Editor
“Experiencing a tough trip can be incredibly uncomfortable and even terrifying,” advises Lydia Pelenis. “However, these challenging moments often pave the way for substantial growth and healing. Instead of fleeing from the discomfort, embracing it and working through these experiences can lead to profound personal insights. Although you might feel vulnerable and exposed during the process, the outcome is often a sense of achievement and deeper self-awareness. Remember, the discomfort is temporary, and pushing through it can leave you stronger and more resilient in the long run.”
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Reflecting on Your First Shroom Experience
After your shroom trip, dedicating time to contemplate the experience can be incredibly beneficial. Reflect on the journey you undertook, the emotions you felt, and the visions you encountered. Consider jotting down your thoughts in a journal, capturing the essence of what you went through. Discussing your experience with a trusted friend can also help you process and understand the insights gained.
During your reflection, think about the lessons and realizations that came to you during the trip. These might be profound insights into your life, relationships, or personal growth. For example, you may have discovered a newfound appreciation for nature, a desire to develop a new skill, or even a realization that it’s time for a career change. These insights can be valuable guides for your future actions and decisions.
However, it’s important to approach these revelations with a sense of balance. While the mushrooms may have provided you with significant guidance, it’s wise to take some time to process and integrate these insights before making any major changes in your life. Allow yourself the space to fully understand and absorb what you’ve learned. This period of reflection and integration is crucial for transforming the psychedelic experience into meaningful, lasting change.
