The Four-step Beginners Guide to a Positive Psychedelic Journey

Because no one likes a bad trip.

Psychedelics are having a Cover-girl moment. Hallucinogenic drugs have always been popular, but an increased interest in their medical efficacy for the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental diseases, has reinvigorated a renewed interest in the research of these miraculous medicines.

If you’re new to hallucinogens like psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, DMT, and Ayahuasca, one thing might be holding you back. And it’s probably not the legalities of these powerful substances; it’s your fear of a bad trip.

And no one would blame you. If you read about a scary psychedelic journey, it can be enough to keep you from trying hallucinogens because it sounds so damn horrifying. But never fear, there are steps you can take to ensure you have a positive experience.

Did You Know?

Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are powerful psychoactive substances. They alter your perception and mood and affect a whole plethora of your cognitive processes. According to research, they’re generally considered physiologically safe and won’t cause you to become dependent or addicted.

Their origin predates written history; early cultures used them in numerous cultural and spiritual ritualist ceremonies.

These powerful medications were legal once and were widely considered wonder drugs by the psychiatric industry. They’re highly effective at treating mental disease and psychological disorders, typically with no adverse side effects.

When their use spread beyond the doctors’ confines and fueled the anti-war movement, they were deemed illegal for political reasons. And propaganda about their dangers, like Reefer Madness, flooded the airways. They became morally reprehensible, and you likely grew up thinking you’d go crazy if you tried them. And that’s what governments want you to believe.

Since depression, anxiety, and PTSD, are at an all-time high, and the currently available treatments have failed miserably, researchers are pursuing legalization once again. And based on the research, governments can’t hide behind their misrepresentations any longer.

Why You Trippin?

Before you take steps to create a beneficial psychedelic experience, decide what you want from your journey. Let’s be real, despite the consciousness expanding, mind healing abilities of these medications, you may be interested in them for the sheer entertainment value. And that’s ok. Just make sure you’re honest with yourself when you set your intentions for your odyssey, which is step one.

So, why are you contemplating the countless perks of psychotropic substances? Do you suffer from depression, anxiety, or PTSD? If you do, it’s not surprising. These diseases plague countless individuals in modern society.

Or, maybe you want to silence your never-ending mental chatter? Hallucinogens can do that. And some study participants report a persistent positive personality change after just one use.

You might be an experienced meditator who wants to expand your consciousness further. Research shows many participants have that experience as well.

Onward Brave Soul

You’ve put some thought into your reason for self-medicating, and you’re ready to embark on your first hallucinogenic expedition, so here are the steps:

Step One —

Set Your Setting

In his book, “How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence,” Michael Pollan delves deep into how vital your environment is when you hallucinate and refers to it as set and setting.

Decide where you’re going to take your journey. My recommendation? Stay home, especially if you have nature nearby. If your home isn’t your happy place, find a quiet place where you feel safe, and where you won’t have unexpected human visitors.

Prepare a comfortable bed of pillows, blankets, and cushions so you can lie down when you’re ready. Trust me; if you take a decent dose, you’ll want to lie down and close your eyes.

Have a music source, and prepare a soundtrack. The type of music you listen to will have a significant influence on your experience. If your goal is spiritual enlightenment or mental healing, look for meditation style music, transcendental tunes, chakra expansion sounds, or classical music. If your goal is fun, pick whatever you like.

To summarize, to complete step one, choose your location and environment. Make it cozy, pick your music, and make sure you won’t be interrupted.

Oh, and turn off your dang phone.

Step Two —

Do you need a guide?

Here’s the thing, except for spiritual ceremonies, people have been tripping on acid for decades and shrooms for centuries without a guide. And if your goal is entertainment, you’ll probably be ok without a sober companion on hand.

But, if you’re looking to have a transformative and powerful spiritual experience, you’re going to take more than a recreational dose, which can make it more likely you’ll have an experience you identify as “bad.” In this case, it can be helpful to have a buddy who remains unmedicated to calm you down and remind you that you’re safe in case things get spooky.

A guide can also give you another dose if your experience isn’t deep enough. Dosing is tricky, and once you’re hallucinating, it can be challenging to make rational decisions for yourself.

Typically, an experienced guide is available when you participate in a study, or if you find an underground organization that provides psychedelic experiences (if such a thing existed — I know nothing).

If you don’t have either option available, choose a good friend you trust who agrees wholeheartedly with your choice. Preferably, someone who has at least some experience with psychedelics.

If you decide to proceed solo, start with a minimal dose. You can’t un-take medication, and it can take up to an hour to kick in.

Step Three —

Set Your Intentions

Before you take a dose of this powerful medication, mentally or verbally remind yourself why you’re taking them and what you want to experience. Your mind is more powerful than you can imagine, so be as specific as you like.

For example, you want to expand your consciousness, become one with the universe, and experience a profound connection to the collective consciousness sometimes known as “God.” Demand your mind to give you just that.

If you want to laugh uncontrollably, see bright colors, talk to plants, and be amazed at a Praying Mantis’ prowess, ask for it.

Step Four —

Dose

Depending on your dose and choice of poison, a psychedelic trip can last from four to eight hours. Dosing is difficult. Why? There are a wide variety of variables that are challenging to calculate.

What Affects the Effects

• Your size
• Your sensitivity level
• When you ate last
• The potency of the medicine in question
• How much you take
• Your mind-set
• Your expectations
• Your set and setting
• The viability of the drug

And the list goes on, which leaves you with trial and error as the only method to determine your dose.

Trial and Error

If you’ve ever taken a marijuana edible and ate way too much, you’ll relate to what I’m about to say next. Start with a low dose!

(My first marijuana edible was a Rice-Krispy treat, and I ate the entire thing. After 45-minutes, I had the sweats, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I begged my partner at the time to call 911 because I felt like I was dying. But since marijuana wasn’t legal yet, he refused)

Here’s the deal, once you’ve ingested a psychotropic drug and realize it was too much, you can’t un-eat it. Even if you vomit, the drugs are on board, and all you can do is buckle your seatbelt and hang on for an e-ticket ride even Disneyland can’t provide. And it’s not fun.

Psilocybin dosage examples:

One typical psychotropic mushroom is enough for a small, relatively sensitive beginner to have an out-of-body experience.

LSD dosage examples:

One dose is typically 50 to 300 micrograms.

MDMA dosage examples:

The current average dose is 200 mg.

What to expect when you’re hallucinating

• Mild to intense euphoria
• Uncontrollable laughter
• Relaxation
• Drowsiness
• Trouble concentrating or thinking
• Visual or auditory hallucinations
• An out-of-body experience where you feel as though your essence leaves your physical form.
• A profound sense of the interconnectedness with all things
• A deep understanding of how the universe works
• A fascination with objects you typically think are ordinary
• A heightened desire for and enjoyment of touch and sexual interaction

And the After Effects?

Research participants report the following lasting effects of one psychotropic trip:

• An increase in overall happiness.
• Increased desire to be kind to all living things, and a renewed respect for the natural world.
• Permanent or temporary elimination of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
• Spiritual awakening
• Release of dogmatic religious beliefs

Terminally ill patients also report feeling mentally prepared for death, less afraid of dying, more able to let go of their loved ones, and less frightened of what will happen to them after they die. But, these are just a few of the purported benefits.

Are You Ready to Roll?

So, these are the four steps you need to have a positive psychedelic journey with lasting results. If you’ve done your due diligence, completed some additional research, assessed if you’re a candidate for hallucinogenic drugs, and followed these steps, you’re ready to roll.

But, the title of this article promised you’d have a good trip. Keep in mind, bad and good is all in your perception. During your experience, you might feel uncomfortable or perceive something as scary. Remember, your mind is powerful, and it could present you with an experience that feels unpleasant at the time, but it might be something you need to deal with to heal or progress. So, try not to label your experience.

Be smart, proceed with caution, and respect the power of your mental abilities and the substances you choose. There’s nothing wrong if you want to wait until these medications are legal, so your doctor can prescribe you an acurate dose and offer guidence.

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