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Abstract

of a psychedelic trip, what the drugs do to your body, and potential risks and benefits will make your experience much smoother.</p><h1 id="0aa1">Set & Setting</h1><p id="1441">There are 2 key pieces of a psychedelic trip that you will see every scientist, book, research report, and Reddit forums talking about:<b> set and setting. </b>Set refers to your mindset going into the trip, whereas setting refers to the environment in which you’re taking the trip.</p><p id="7e97"><a href="https://psychedelicreview.com/set-and-setting-their-importance-in-psychedelic-therapy/">Research</a> has also demonstrated that psilocin (the metabolically active drug produced in the body by prodrug psilocybin), for example, promotes <a href="https://psychedelicreview.com/psilocin-promotes-structural-and-functional-neuroplasticity/">structural and functional neuroplasticity</a> in the brain, just like serotonin. Head of the <a href="http://psychedelicscience.org.uk/">Imperial Psychedelic Research Group</a>, <a href="https://psychedelicreview.com/set-and-setting-their-importance-in-psychedelic-therapy/">Dr. Carhart-Harris</a>, proposed in a paper that the pro-plasticity effects of serotonin “renders the psychedelic experience exceptionally sensitive to context.”</p><p id="6c05">Psychedelic trips can inflict intense feelings of euphoria and spiritual enlightenment. But it can also bring up feelings of paranoia, or confronting painful parts of your past and present. For those reasons alone, set and setting need to be paid attention to.</p><p id="5cf9">Tidy up your tripping space and journal it out to check in with yourself to see how you’re really doing. If there’s any looming anxiety, stress, or anger — it may be best to wait for another time.</p><h1 id="b7cf">Prepare Your “Suitcase”</h1><p id="3c33">And by suitcase, I mean your tripping supplies.</p><p id="80e8">Magic mushroom trips can last anywhere from 4–6 hours, while LSD trips can last 8–12 hours. I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot of hours.</p><p id="fc79">Despite the concept of time being skewed while under the influence of psychedelics, you want to make sure that you’re prepared with plenty of convenient supplies. For example, I never zip up my suitcase without ensuring that I have a curated playlist and headphones ready to go.</p><p id="d8f4">I also make sure to have a journal, pen, painting supplies, nourishing snacks, and comfy clothes nearby for if and when I need them.</p><h1 id="532a">Have a Trip Sitter</h1><p id="505f">Whether in person or virtual, having a trip sitter can be extremely beneficial for first-time psychonauts.</p><p id="32de">In the event that feelings of paranoia, anxiety, confusion, or fear surface, you have someone there that’s trustworthy — and even better, sober. You can go to them for comfort and be reminded that it’s part of your experience. The likelihood of spiraling into what some refer to as a “bad trip” decreases significantly.</p><p id="12e3">It’s important to note that the company you keep while entering psychedelic states is an ess

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ential part of the “setting” aspect aforementioned. While tripping, you become very sensitive to all of the content that you’re taking in around you. So, if you do opt for having a trip sitter, or just want to take a psychedelic trip with some friends, make sure that you feel 100% safe with them. Being around the wrong people can make for a bad experience, and if any uncomfortable feelings surface — you want to have someone trustworthy to turn to.</p><p id="4606">At the same token, many individuals enjoy taking trips in utter solitude. In that event, having a virtual trip sitter that you can FaceTime or call is just as helpful! But, if you are taking psychedelics for the first time, it’s highly recommended to have someone with you.</p><h1 id="d61d">Set an Intention</h1><p id="8d58">Intentions are a powerful thing. Going into a psychedelic trip with an intention or purpose may help you come out of the journey with new levels of understanding.</p><p id="8d4b">For example, before one of my recent psychedelic trips, I set an intention to uncover any childhood traumas or experiences that I was still holding onto. During my trip, these answers were revealed to me and I was able to integrate these lessons to better my life.</p><p id="1b4d">A little heavy, I know.</p><p id="321f">Other examples of intentions to set could include:</p><ul><li>Help me understand the nature of time and space</li><li>Teach me the ways of my heart</li><li>Show me what is at the root of my anxiety/depression/addiction/etc.</li><li>Help me fill the voids in me with love</li></ul><p id="fa36"><i>Ideas from <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nahala_oaks?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESMgow8RpK1u%2Fl60Svge9WlbZu7L2J%2FlxxAcd0WuGYigN0Y3BxM0y7YSNOd9Kg5nyl4PSvGgA%3D&language=en&sec_uid=MS4wLjABAAAAZ5ytv2tfgwYHpO1FLt9wZWhhPzhFaXb_9rLtK7MSMSLYiEBCowFM1dBEz2IRSP6n&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAMWEXO-Rb-gtwOPdk1P0VVYjTqCx7PaKoB_E1t63CVd3HcI5IOkwhpv5VV4f_dV55&share_author_id=6867054503284311045&share_link_id=F3125CBF-8E82-4B82-8EED-5E1CBDAACADC&tt_from=copy&u_code=dceljl02iea3el&user_id=6829693358551827462&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&source=h5_m">@nahala_oaks on TikTok</a>.</i></p><h1 id="418b">Enjoy Your Trip</h1><p id="7aef">Last but certainly not least — enjoy your trip! After all, this is what you came for.</p><p id="1eb3">Psychedelic trips are beautiful, unique, weird, enlightening experiences. You may experience overwhelming, difficult emotions. You may also experience feelings of enlightenment and a connection to the universe. You may just want to dance in your room by yourself for a couple of hours.</p><p id="4419">Whatever comes up, remember to surrender to the experience that you’re having. Send yourself love and take a few deep breaths. It’s all a part of the process!</p><p id="dc0c"><i>Consider signing up for The Trip: <a href="http://www.thet.rip/"></a></i><a href="http://www.thet.rip/">http://www.thet.rip/</a>. <i>No selling: just Art, Community and Perspective.</i></p></article></body>

How to Prepare for Your First Psychedelic Trip

Essential steps that make for a better psychedelic experience

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

With vacations being on temporary hold due to COVID-19 and worldwide quarantine restrictions, many people have turned to taking trips within their spirits instead.

Psychedelic trips.

Though psychedelics have always been a prevalent topic, they’ve gained quite a bit of traction in recent years. In fact, psilocybin, the psychedelic substance in magic mushrooms, was decriminalized and legalized in Oregon via a statewide ballot just this past November. And for good reason, too.

With more research coming out around the substance, there have been indications that it can be an effective treatment for some mental health conditions including depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, there have been reports that psilocybin has also helped people quit smoking and treat their addiction. The magical substance has even been linked to aiding in cancer-related or other end-of-life psychological distress, according to Healthline.

Perhaps the idea of partaking in a psychedelic trip — whether it be with magic mushrooms or LSD — has crossed your mind once or twice. Maybe, even three times.

But, before you embark on your journey, it’s important to properly prepare:

Do Your Research

As you should before trying or buying anything, do ample amounts of research. This is an essential part of the process that you 100% should not skip — yet, many make the mistake of doing so.

Before I began working with psychedelics, I did 3 years of research. I had read somewhere that psychedelics will come to you when you are ready to receive them, and I believe that to this day. Do research on the substances that you’re considering utilizing — whether psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and the like. It’s important to understand what these drugs do to your brain and body when ingested, and how you can utilize them in a beneficial way.

Additionally, it’s important to take note of you and your family’s history of mental illnesses — if any. Psychedelics should be avoided by individuals with certain severe mental health conditions.

It’s tempting to ingest the magic mushrooms and enter a new land. But, understanding the timeline of a psychedelic trip, what the drugs do to your body, and potential risks and benefits will make your experience much smoother.

Set & Setting

There are 2 key pieces of a psychedelic trip that you will see every scientist, book, research report, and Reddit forums talking about: set and setting. Set refers to your mindset going into the trip, whereas setting refers to the environment in which you’re taking the trip.

Research has also demonstrated that psilocin (the metabolically active drug produced in the body by prodrug psilocybin), for example, promotes structural and functional neuroplasticity in the brain, just like serotonin. Head of the Imperial Psychedelic Research Group, Dr. Carhart-Harris, proposed in a paper that the pro-plasticity effects of serotonin “renders the psychedelic experience exceptionally sensitive to context.”

Psychedelic trips can inflict intense feelings of euphoria and spiritual enlightenment. But it can also bring up feelings of paranoia, or confronting painful parts of your past and present. For those reasons alone, set and setting need to be paid attention to.

Tidy up your tripping space and journal it out to check in with yourself to see how you’re really doing. If there’s any looming anxiety, stress, or anger — it may be best to wait for another time.

Prepare Your “Suitcase”

And by suitcase, I mean your tripping supplies.

Magic mushroom trips can last anywhere from 4–6 hours, while LSD trips can last 8–12 hours. I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot of hours.

Despite the concept of time being skewed while under the influence of psychedelics, you want to make sure that you’re prepared with plenty of convenient supplies. For example, I never zip up my suitcase without ensuring that I have a curated playlist and headphones ready to go.

I also make sure to have a journal, pen, painting supplies, nourishing snacks, and comfy clothes nearby for if and when I need them.

Have a Trip Sitter

Whether in person or virtual, having a trip sitter can be extremely beneficial for first-time psychonauts.

In the event that feelings of paranoia, anxiety, confusion, or fear surface, you have someone there that’s trustworthy — and even better, sober. You can go to them for comfort and be reminded that it’s part of your experience. The likelihood of spiraling into what some refer to as a “bad trip” decreases significantly.

It’s important to note that the company you keep while entering psychedelic states is an essential part of the “setting” aspect aforementioned. While tripping, you become very sensitive to all of the content that you’re taking in around you. So, if you do opt for having a trip sitter, or just want to take a psychedelic trip with some friends, make sure that you feel 100% safe with them. Being around the wrong people can make for a bad experience, and if any uncomfortable feelings surface — you want to have someone trustworthy to turn to.

At the same token, many individuals enjoy taking trips in utter solitude. In that event, having a virtual trip sitter that you can FaceTime or call is just as helpful! But, if you are taking psychedelics for the first time, it’s highly recommended to have someone with you.

Set an Intention

Intentions are a powerful thing. Going into a psychedelic trip with an intention or purpose may help you come out of the journey with new levels of understanding.

For example, before one of my recent psychedelic trips, I set an intention to uncover any childhood traumas or experiences that I was still holding onto. During my trip, these answers were revealed to me and I was able to integrate these lessons to better my life.

A little heavy, I know.

Other examples of intentions to set could include:

Help me understand the nature of time and space
Teach me the ways of my heart
Show me what is at the root of my anxiety/depression/addiction/etc.
Help me fill the voids in me with love

Ideas from @nahala_oaks on TikTok.

Enjoy Your Trip

Last but certainly not least — enjoy your trip! After all, this is what you came for.

Psychedelic trips are beautiful, unique, weird, enlightening experiences. You may experience overwhelming, difficult emotions. You may also experience feelings of enlightenment and a connection to the universe. You may just want to dance in your room by yourself for a couple of hours.

Whatever comes up, remember to surrender to the experience that you’re having. Send yourself love and take a few deep breaths. It’s all a part of the process!

Consider signing up for The Trip: http://www.thet.rip/. No selling: just Art, Community and Perspective.